August 2010
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Cover Story
The State of Mobile Computing
by Steve Hewitt
Everyone seems to agree that the fastest growing sector in computing today is in the area of mobile devices. Smart phone sales and use have grown at such an alarming rate that they have swamped wireless networks, created new markets for apps (instead of programs), and have created new and exciting ways to compute; leaving many of the former technology leaders in the dust, trying to catch up in an industry that is advancing at break-neck speed. And, the innovation that Apple has brought to the market with the iPhone has drawn consumers into an awareness of what mobile computing can do, as well as push the entire wireless industry far past the simple ability to place a phone call on a mobile device.
Just as there are never ending debates on which brand of computer is the best to buy, or what virus protection program does the best job, opinions vary as to the best direction to go when it comes to purchasing a mobile device. What are the most important features when deciding which direction to go? Is the actual hardware the most important thing to consider when you make your purchase, or is the operating system? Or, should the wireless carrier be the determining factor or should it be specific applications that might run on one device but might not be available on another?
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Editorial
Our New ChMS Online Feature Comparison Chart is UP!
by Steve Hewitt
Our newly designed Church Management Software (ChMS) chart is up on our site with around 30 different products and services for you to view. While it looks similar to our previous chart, it is actually very different. What makes it different? We have designed the chart to allow each company listed to have control over editing their portion of the chart. This means the chart will be constantly updated! As a ChMS company adds a new feature, they can simply come back to our site, log in, and update the chart on their own. This also means it will be very easy to allow new companies to join the chart as they enter the marketplace or launch new ChMS products.
read more
Our New ChMS Online Feature Comparison Chart is UP!
by Steve Hewitt
Our newly designed Church Management Software (ChMS) chart is up on our site with around 30 different products and services for you to view. While it looks similar to our previous chart, it is actually very different. What makes it different? We have designed the chart to allow each company listed to have control over editing their portion of the chart. This means the chart will be constantly updated! As a ChMS company adds a new feature, they can simply come back to our site, log in, and update the chart on their own. This also means it will be very easy to allow new companies to join the chart as they enter the marketplace or launch new ChMS products.
read more
Special Feature
7 Ways Technology Helps Churches Win at Making Disciples
by Lauren Hunter
It’s tough to break a cycle. You know this, and I know this. The cycle of not paying attention to the ministry data available through current church management software (ChMS) technology is one that you need to change, like yesterday. No longer can you close your eyes and hope to make disciples within your church without focusing, planning, evaluating, and realizing that church membership software data can work to your advantage by giving you a snapshot of how new members are really becoming disciples within your church.
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7 Ways Technology Helps Churches Win at Making Disciples
by Lauren Hunter
It’s tough to break a cycle. You know this, and I know this. The cycle of not paying attention to the ministry data available through current church management software (ChMS) technology is one that you need to change, like yesterday. No longer can you close your eyes and hope to make disciples within your church without focusing, planning, evaluating, and realizing that church membership software data can work to your advantage by giving you a snapshot of how new members are really becoming disciples within your church.
read more
ACS Technologies
Five Sundays: The Power Of Online Giving
by ACS Technologies
Online Giving has been compared to having five Sundays every month – that’s the equivalent of 64 revenue weeks each year. What would that kind of extra revenue mean to a church’s ministries? Would they be able to send more funds to relief organizations or missionaries throughout the world? Help more people in the community?
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Five Sundays: The Power Of Online Giving
by ACS Technologies
Online Giving has been compared to having five Sundays every month – that’s the equivalent of 64 revenue weeks each year. What would that kind of extra revenue mean to a church’s ministries? Would they be able to send more funds to relief organizations or missionaries throughout the world? Help more people in the community?
read more
Fellowship Technologies
Dynamic Churches Focus on Equipping
by Fellowship Tech
Helping people move from casual attendees to fully devoted followers of Christ is the unending work of every church leader. It is because of this continuous need that these leaders place a high priority on creating repeatable, measurable processes for equipping people.
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Dynamic Churches Focus on Equipping
by Fellowship Tech
Helping people move from casual attendees to fully devoted followers of Christ is the unending work of every church leader. It is because of this continuous need that these leaders place a high priority on creating repeatable, measurable processes for equipping people.
read more
Tech Talk
Google Chrome Redux
by Dr. J. D. “Doc” Watson
Back in November of last year I did a review and recommendation of the Google Chrome web browser (you really might want to review it: http://www.ccmag.com/2009_11/ccmag2009_11.pdf). While I did not actually switch to it exclusively then, I since have. I honestly never thought I would ever switch from my beloved Firefox, but I did. Why? Because not only is it simple, sleek, secure, and speedy, but it’s getting more supercharged by the day, and we’ll look at how in this two-part article.
read more
Google Chrome Redux
by Dr. J. D. “Doc” Watson
Back in November of last year I did a review and recommendation of the Google Chrome web browser (you really might want to review it: http://www.ccmag.com/2009_11/ccmag2009_11.pdf). While I did not actually switch to it exclusively then, I since have. I honestly never thought I would ever switch from my beloved Firefox, but I did. Why? Because not only is it simple, sleek, secure, and speedy, but it’s getting more supercharged by the day, and we’ll look at how in this two-part article.
read more
Higher Power
Setting Up a WordPress Blog
by Kevin Purcell
Recently Yvon Prehn shared that churches should create their own blog or website (part one: http://bit.ly/czlVyj and part two: http://bit.ly/9MLRWv). One of the easiest solutions for doing so is WordPress (WP), the content management system that I use for my church’s web site (http://www.highpeakchurch.com) and my personal site (http://www.kevinpurcell.org). WordPress is simple enough for the average user but can scale to become a powerful and advanced tool for the best web coders out there. Setting up a WordPress site is a simple, three-step process.
read more
Setting Up a WordPress Blog
by Kevin Purcell
Recently Yvon Prehn shared that churches should create their own blog or website (part one: http://bit.ly/czlVyj and part two: http://bit.ly/9MLRWv). One of the easiest solutions for doing so is WordPress (WP), the content management system that I use for my church’s web site (http://www.highpeakchurch.com) and my personal site (http://www.kevinpurcell.org). WordPress is simple enough for the average user but can scale to become a powerful and advanced tool for the best web coders out there. Setting up a WordPress site is a simple, three-step process.
read more
Nick at Church
Getting the Most Out of Your Church Management Software
by Nick B. Nicholaou
I get to visit with churches and ministries around the country throughout the year. Whether I'm serving in a consulting role or speaking, I've noticed that most are either somewhat dissatisfied with their church management software system, or dislike it so much they are looking for a replacement product. Why is the dissatisfaction level so high? And is there a way to improve it?
read more
Getting the Most Out of Your Church Management Software
by Nick B. Nicholaou
I get to visit with churches and ministries around the country throughout the year. Whether I'm serving in a consulting role or speaking, I've noticed that most are either somewhat dissatisfied with their church management software system, or dislike it so much they are looking for a replacement product. Why is the dissatisfaction level so high? And is there a way to improve it?
read more
Launching Online
Client-Side Programming
by Russ McGuire
Up until now I’ve focused on server-side technologies for our online social network. PHP and MySQL (especially leveraging many of the other platforms and web services we’ve looked at) can deliver tremendous capabilities. But today’s modern websites rely heavily on client-side programming capabilities to deliver a pleasing user experience.
read more
Client-Side Programming
by Russ McGuire
Up until now I’ve focused on server-side technologies for our online social network. PHP and MySQL (especially leveraging many of the other platforms and web services we’ve looked at) can deliver tremendous capabilities. But today’s modern websites rely heavily on client-side programming capabilities to deliver a pleasing user experience.
read more
Ministry Communication
Clipart, Images, and Articles-If It's on the Web, is It OK to Use it?
by Yvon Prehn
Google can find anything you want—an image, a devotion, an article, a sermon. One click and you can view it; copy and paste and you capture it. But, just because it’s that easy to do it, does that mean you should do it? If we want our digital lives to match the beliefs of our analog lives, as believers and servants of Jesus, the answer is no. Read on for specific guidelines...
read more
Clipart, Images, and Articles-If It's on the Web, is It OK to Use it?
by Yvon Prehn
Google can find anything you want—an image, a devotion, an article, a sermon. One click and you can view it; copy and paste and you capture it. But, just because it’s that easy to do it, does that mean you should do it? If we want our digital lives to match the beliefs of our analog lives, as believers and servants of Jesus, the answer is no. Read on for specific guidelines...
read more