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Does a church really need an app?

2013-05-03T16:05:12Z

This piece originally appeared at http://ChurchExecutive.com

By Chris Sharpe

It seems everyone is talking about “apps” these days. A term once associated with dinner parties is now synonymous with mobile applications.

With this app craze, people everywhere are thinking, Hhmm, maybe I should get an app for [insert creative thought here]. A few words of caution: Not all app ideas are worth the investment, and not every organization needs its own app.

So, how do you know if your church should go on an “app-venture”? And if so, where do you start? The road of mobile development can be daunting, so it helps to plan well.

2 critical steps
There are many kinds of apps. So, for the sake of this conversation, I’ll focus on apps built for churches and ministries.

For churches looking to build an app, two simple rules must be followed: The app should (1) provide content and (2) deliver quality. Both steps need to be executed really well; an app must offer a reason for people to use it regularly.

Step 1: Provide incredible content. An app won’t be very successful if there’s no reason for someone to download it, and then repeatedly want to use it. You need content — lots of fresh, meaningful content.

Fortunately, quality of content is one of the biggest reasons many churches and ministries have wildly successful apps.

At Subsplash, we created The Church App and have had the subsequent opportunity to work with incredible ministries of all sizes. Overall, we see more than half a million page views daily on our platform. The No. 1 reason people use ministry-based apps is to access media, and churches are in the unique positions of being content creators. There’s always a new sermon they want to get into people’s hands.

Not only that, but there’s a whole host of other offerings unique to church-based app-builders, including blogs/news, events, online giving, sermon notes and bulletins, music, small group resources, Bibles and reading plans — and pretty much anything else you can think of.

Keep in mind, however, that an app shouldn’t just be a duplicate of the church’s website; rather, it ought to be a vehicle to deliver relevant content into people’s hands. Keep it simple, and put your church’s best foot forward.

Step 2: Deliver on quality. Along with content, your church needs to make sure its app is executed incredibly well. As technology continues to develop, people demand more. They want the app to be cooler, faster, smarter and really fun to use. So, if your church has incredible content, but it develops a sub-par app, people will hit the eject button before you get a second chance.

A church app is a powerful tool — but only if it’s done well. Take audio features, for example: If your app audio player only allows users to hit “play” and “pause,” or to do a simple fast-forward/rewind, it’s going to be frustrating for the end user. What happens when a user gets a phone call while listening to a 45-minute sermon? Shouldn’t the app remember where he or she left off? Or, what if a user lives in a place without great cellular coverage? It would be nice if he or she could download that audio for offline listening.

These are just a few examples. They might seem like “luxury items,” until you start using the software and realize how truly important they are. Often, app users don’t notice quality until they use something that doesn’t meet their expectations. Don’t get caught being the church that built an app that was frustrating to use.

Overall, your app should be simple and user-friendly. It should work as expected. And, it should look really nice. It doesn’t have to win awards — but, make sure it’s visually appealing and offers a delightful experience.
Most of the churches that have used our software have seen more downloads of their app than attendees in the pews on a Sunday — as much as 50 times more. Most church-based users also see their sermon downloads increase, as well as a spike in online giving. As an example, one church with a membership of 1,000 people saw 2,000 downloads, 22,000 launches and increased giving in the first six months of offering its app.

So, if your ministry has content — and wants to present it well — launching an app might be the right next step.

Chris Sharpe is marketing director at Seattle, WA-based Subsplash, a design-centric software company and creator of The Church App. He can be reached via the Subsplash website: www.thechurchapp.org.

Source Article from http://churchexecutive.com/archives/does-a-church-really-need-an-app
Does a church really need an app?
Originally posted at http://churchexecutive.com/feed
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Gov. Rick Perry, Dr. David Jeremiah Dedicate First Baptist Dallas’ New $130 Million Campus

2013-05-02T12:09:54Z

This piece originally appeared at http://ChurchExecutive.com
Government, Business and Ministry Leaders from around the Nation Attend Special Worship Services

DALLAS/PRNewswire/ — Recently, First Baptist Church of Dallas, led by nationally known pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress, dedicated its new $130 million campus with the help of government, business and ministry leaders from around the nation, including Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Dr. David Jeremiah , senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church and host of Turning Point radio and television ministries.

Following the Grand Opening on Easter Sunday , March 31, services further celebrated God’s provision in helping First Baptist complete the largest Protestant church building campaign in modern history during one of the worst economic recessions since the Great Depression. Honoring the Church’s past heritage and commitment to Dallas, the service began with an archival video of former First Baptist Pastor Dr. W.A. Criswell in 1974 saying, “It is our desire, under God and the presence of the Lord, to build in the heart of Dallas the most beautiful lighthouse for Christ on this earth.”

Mark Lovvorn , chair of the new campus Planning & Development Committee, publicly thanked Dr. Jeffress, for his original God-given vision to create a spiritual oasis in the heart of Dallas, announcing for the first time that the Committee unanimously voted, unbeknownst to the First Baptist leadership, that the Fountain Plaza, a focal feature in the middle of the campus, will now officially be known as the “Jeffress Fountain Plaza.”

“Thank you so much for this undeserved but greatly appreciated recognition,” Dr. Jeffress said upon hearing the news. “I can’t think of a greater honor than to have my name associated with a church I’ve loved my whole life.”

Gov. Perry expressed his appreciation for the church’s faithfulness while marveling at the physical and spiritual aspects of the campus that will serve the city of Dallas for years to come. “Let me add my profound, ‘Wow!’” he exclaimed. “This is quite a place, and the way we do it in Texas. It is a beacon — a place where our salt and our light can truly be seen.

“Dr. Jeffress, the fountain that will appropriately have your name on it in downtown Dallas is a beautiful place that will draw men and women who need Christ,” Gov. Perry added. “People who will come for its beauty, but discover much more. Thank you for sending a powerful message, not just to this city, state or nation — but to the world. First Baptist Church of Dallas is truly reaching the world with God’s love.

“I think of the woman [in the Bible] who met Jesus at the well,” Gov. Perry reflected. “It is not our job to judge souls, but to point people to the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We as fellow sinners will never condemn someone to salvation, but God can use us to show them grace and love them to it.”

Visiting pastor Dr. Jeremiah shared a dedicatory message on the relevancy of the Church.

“If the church is being ignored because we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, that’s one thing; but if we are deemed irrelevant because we aren’t playing the world’s game nearly as well as the world does, then that’s a tragedy,” Dr. Jeremiah said. “If we’re going to be attacked or ignored by the world, let it be for turning the world upside down like the early apostles did. Not for trying to become so much like the world that you can’t tell the difference between the two.”

Dr. Jeremiah reminded the congregation the work is not over just because the building is complete. “When we have finished building the church, we must continue being the Church,” he said. “The temptation with finishing the building is to take a deep breath, relax and say, ‘Finally, we did it.’ But some of the most challenging days you have will be before you.

“Today biblical Christianity is no longer being preached from the majority of pulpits of this land. As a result, America is losing her way, and it’s due in no small part because the Church has lost her way,” he continued. “How thankful you ought to be that in the very center of this city is a church that knows what its mission is and a pastor who knows how to proclaim it.”

Dr. Jeremiah challenged the First Baptist congregation to remember three priorities as it continues its ministry: the purpose of the Church, which is to bring glory to God; the program of the Church, which is the commandment of God to be light in a dark world; and the priority of the Church, which is the Great Commission to tell as many people as possible about Jesus.

“This is the commencement of this ministry – the beginning of the new phase of this ministry,” Dr. Jeremiah concluded. “God has given you some great new tools and he’s blessed you with a man of God as your pastor. You’re located in one of the most strategic cities of the world and you’re in heart of that city. I hope you are ready to begin the greatest days of First Baptist Dallas.”

Located in the heart of downtown Dallas since 1868, First Baptist Dallas opened its state-of-the-art, $130 million campus last weekend, changing the Dallas skyline and adding three-quarters of an acre of green space to downtown. It includes the latest features and technological advances for any church, providing a unique worship experience and ministry opportunities.

The 122-year-old historic sanctuary is integrated with a 3,000-seat Worship Center connected by a glass sky bridge to the five-story Horner Family Center and Parking Garage. A high-impact cross-tower and fountain, featuring a stainless steel cross atop a pedestal rising 68 feet high and choreographed fountain jets accompanied by an original score of Christian hymns, sits in the center of the campus. For more information about First Baptist, visit the church website.

Source Article from http://churchexecutive.com/archives/gov-rick-perry-dr-david-jeremiah-dedicate-first-baptist-dallas-new-130-million-campus

Gov. Rick Perry, Dr. David Jeremiah Dedicate First Baptist Dallas’ New $130 Million Campus

Originally posted at http://churchexecutive.com/feedChurch Executive Helping Leaders Become Better Stewards

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Prayer

2013-05-01T17:36:34Z

Today marks the date of the 62nd National Day of Prayer which was established as an annual event in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. I find it odd that less that a full decade later Prayer in school was taken out.

As with any year, this year we have much to pray for but before we pray for anything I think it is a proper for those of us whole call ourselves Christians to repent.

I have been asked “Why would you say that, we are SAVED and already repented?” and I get that but all we need to do is peek our head out of the subculture we bury ourselves in to realize the reputation we have given Christ in our nation. Sure, some people who have an axe to grind with the church and Jesus are leaning on crutches they themselves don’t fully understand but the truth is our culture is where it is today because we became more like Judas and less like Jesus.

Let me explain.

We have become greedy. Seeking to make a buck on anything and everything that we can put a fish sign or cross on.
We are proud of more than what we have right to be proud of.
We lust for power in our churches, politics and businesses.
We have turned our back on discipleship of new Believers.
We have replaced real worship with a feeling generated by dimmed lights and melodies.
We have excluded ourselves from so many social conversations and social issues because we are simply tired of being “different” or unable to engage in a conversation with someone who does not agree with us.
We have allowed Jesus to become little more than a political talking point or product pitch man instead of the Messiah.
We have become dependent on wolves in sheep clothes to tell us what the Bible says and means more than we are willing to take the time and read the text ourselves.
We have continued to embrace the faith and actions of the crusades over the example Jesus gave us to follow.

For these things, we MUST repent and ask him to recapture our heart and retrain our mind so that we can follow Him and he can heal our land.

Will you join me in repenting?

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