Resource Browser Page
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Average Rating | |
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| February 4, 2012 |
Texting - A Churchly ActivitySocial Media Do any of you use texting in your church? I think it’s a promising idea. Some churches encourage texting during church services, some use it for sending news, encouragement, prayer requests, whatever information they wish to share. What’s going on out there in your world? |
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| January 15, 2012 |
Craigslist - It's For Churches, TooHow-To Do you use craigslist, eBay or other similar sites to buy or sell things? Or perhaps to find employees or services? Have you used it on behalf of your church? Craigslist can be a useful tool for your church -- a way to save money and find good people. |
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| January 2, 2012 |
Top 10 in the Church & Web NetworkHow-To Happy new year! Top 10 lists are all over the place right now. I figured, why not join in? Below is a list of the articles or blogs that I consider some of our “Church and Web” top entries. What do you think are important topics we have or should discuss? |
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| November 8, 2011 |
Why Give a Tweet?Social Media Ever wonder why using Facebook and/or Twitter for your church would be a good idea? Or what in the world would you write about if you set up a Facebook page? Or what if I start using Twitter and someone posts something negative? There’s a webinar on The Network that will help you ... |
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| October 25, 2011 |
Online File StorageCommunication, Getting Started We’ve talked a little in the past about back-up, but there’s another side to file storage - just plain storing files in order to share them with others. How do you easily share large files among yourselves in the church, and others with whom you interact? |
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| October 16, 2011 |
Wi-Fi - Make it SecureHow-To Does your church use a wireless network? Many do, and it’s a useful tool. But, like pretty much any technology, wi-fi can be used for good or bad so it’s a good idea to protect your church as much as possible. |
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| September 20, 2011 |
Art & Design - Solving Problems, Looking Good for GodMedia “What is the end goal of...design? Make sure you look good for God.” That's a quote from an article I recently read. How are you using technology at your church to “look good for God?” Many artists say that design should solve a problem, not just look good. What problems are you solving with the art in your church? |
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| August 15, 2011 |
I Can't Open That Attachment!Communication, How-To More and more committees, businesses, and organizations are going paperless. This is great for many reasons such as: using less resources (paper, postage, and staff), great portability, and faster distribution. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as your church disseminates information via email, their website or any other electronic means. |
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| July 12, 2011 |
Twitter and the Church - Just Another Internet Site or a New Way to Engage?Social Media We are constantly in conversation with people. We love having the opportunity to talk to people about our interests, our faith, or even how our day went. Guess what? You can do this online as well...it's this "little" site called Twitter. |
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| June 26, 2011 |
YouTube BasicsGetting Started Why might your church use YouTube? Like a photo sharing site, it’s a central place for storing and sharing video files, but beyond that, with its millions of visitors, YouTube is another potential avenue for spreading the good news to the world. |
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| June 6, 2011 |
Creative Commons - ImagesChurch Websites, Media Creative Commons--have you heard of it? I first read about it on the back cover of a Reformed Worship magazine, and I’ve been glad to know of it ever since. One place I use it frequently is on Flickr. It’s a great way to find images you can use with no worries about copyrights. |
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| May 31, 2011 |
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered by BackupHow-To Backup - Bewitched because I know it’s necessary. Bothered because it can be a bother to set up and maintain. Bewildered because there are so many choices! How do I know which method, software, server...whatever...to use? |
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| May 16, 2011 |
Welcome VideosChurch Websites, Marketing Does your church website have a welcome video? An engaging video can be an effective way to invite people to your church, answer questions they might have and take away the natural fear of the unknown they are probably feeling. |
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| May 2, 2011 |
Easiest Prayer Chain EverCommunication, How-To Do you remember phone trees? Perhaps your church used a phone tree to let the members know when there was a prayer request. Now technology gives us tools for a much more reliable, efficient way to communicate our concerns and joys with our church family. |
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| April 18, 2011 |
(Church) Family PhotosChurch Websites, How-To What would you save if your house was on fire? Many people answer, “My family photos.” Family photos are precious. Our church is a family, too, and it is good to figure out the best way to store our church family photos. |
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| April 12, 2011 |
Grants for TechnologyHow-To, Media Did you know that our denomination provides grants for smaller churches to use to purchase new technology? The grants are provided by the Sustaining Congregational Excellence (SCE) program, which “is predominantly for smaller congregations in the Christian Reformed Church in North America. |
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| March 22, 2011 |
Recording, Streaming, and Podcasting Worship ServicesHow-To, Media Questions about how to record or stream worship services have come up several times in our Church and Web network. Many churches make audio recordings of their services. Cassette tapes were a common media for this for quite a few years, but now that technology is pretty much obsolete. Churches now... |
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| August 19, 2010 |
Salesforce for Church - Part IICommunication, Getting Started, How-To, Marketing Let me explain right away: This article is not about how to use Salesforce to sell anything. Sounds kind of like those telemarketers, doesn't it? "I'm not trying to sell you anything, I'm just taking a survey." Right. Salesforce, like Google Apps, is available to non-profits for free, so I truly am not selling anything. I am writing this article to tell you about how I've set up Salesforce for our church to track membership and our offerings. This is part two of a two part series on Salesforce. To read part I, click here. |
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| August 10, 2010 |
Salesforce for Church - Part ICommunication, Getting Started, How-To, Marketing Let me explain right away: This article is not about how to use Salesforce to sell anything. Sounds kind of like those telemarketers, doesn't it? "I'm not trying to sell you anything, I'm just taking a survey." Right. Salesforce, like Google Apps, is available to non-profits for free. I am writing this article to tell you about how I've set up Salesforce for our church to track membership and our offerings. This is part one of a two part series on Salesforce. |
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| April 12, 2010 |
How to Choose a Domain Name and Guidelines for RegistrationChurch Websites, Getting Started, How-To Location, location, location. Everyone knows that choosing a great location is crucial when buying real estate. The same is true in the digital world: choosing a domain name is an important choice for a church's online presence. If your church is just starting a website, this is one of the first decisions that you will need to make. |
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Date |
Average Rating | |
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| May 20, 2013 |
5 Social Media Improvements You Can Make TodaySocial Media Using social media well is more than setting up an account and pushing out information about yourself or organization. By nature it’s relational. Whether you’re new to social media, or someone who’s been doing it for years, here are five things to consider that could make your online relationships stronger. |
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| May 15, 2013 |
The Double Edged Sword of Email ListsCommunication I joined a church just after graduating from college a few years ago and suddenly started receiving emails from a number of people all at the same time. I wondered what was going on and then realized my email was published in the directory.Without giving consent I was immediately subscribed to the church “weekly update”, prayer chain, and social justice club list. |
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| May 7, 2013 |
Security and the Church’s DataOrganization, Risk Management Churches have always had data. In the 21st century there is more to it than just being able to put address labels on envelopes or send out yearend giving summaries. Like it or not, churches need to be aware of cyber security issues. |
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| April 15, 2013 |
Church Websites: Catering to VisitorsChurch Websites, Communication Visiting your website should feel like stepping onto your church’s physical property. This is especially true when you’re thinking about catering to a first time visitor. |
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| March 25, 2013 |
Facebook News Feed Changes: 3 Things to ConsiderSocial Media In upcoming weeks, Facebook will roll out a redesigned, less cluttered News Feed to users, and there are some things your church needs to think about to be ready. While it’s hard to know exactly how the modifications will affect how you administer your Facebook page, here are a few things to consider. |
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| March 12, 2013 |
Getting Started with TwitterSocial Media Twitter may not be the biggest social media platform, but it’s growing. Its short-form, 140-character style of posting makes it a unique arena to quickly communicate with your followers. If your church is thinking about tweeting, here are a few things to consider as you get started. |
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| February 28, 2013 |
Social Media Image Sizing GuideSocial Media There is an art to creating a social media page. You have header images to make, background pictures to add and content to create before you can even start sharing. Here's a free guide to help you figure out the sizing of all those different images so you can get the most out of your various social media sites. |
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| February 13, 2013 |
#helphimjesusPreaching, Social Media Two weeks ago I was privileged to sit in on a consultation on preaching hosted by my colleagues. One theme we circled back to often had to with the use of social media in the preaching event. Many of us who were at the consultation had been pastors of congregations in the past and we admitted to each other that it's an odd thought to ponder someone in a pew Tweeting about a sermon even as we are delivering it... |
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| January 22, 2013 |
Facebook Graph SearchLast week, Facebook gave a preview of its new search feature that looks for answers by exploring your Facebook experience as well as what your friends have shared. While Google searches the entire web, Facebook Graph Search gives you results based solely on your Facebook social life. It’s personalizing search. |
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| December 26, 2012 |
Personal PreferencesCommunication We may be doing everything right in terms of good communication, great Sunday worship and connecting people with the community, yet personal preference may keep someone from making a first (or return) visit to your church. It’s the classic relationship line, “It’s not you, it’s me.” So if we know that people’s preferences play a role in determining where they go to church, there are a few things I think we should always keep in mind ... |
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| December 13, 2012 |
3 Things Churches Underestimate About the WebChurch Websites Building and maintaining good, useable websites are a struggle for churches of all sizes. Large and small alike have websites that don’t accurately represent who they are and don’t help people better connect with their church. There are many reasons why websites don’t reach their potential, but here are three things I think churches commonly underestimate about the web. |
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| December 6, 2012 |
The Current Status of FacebookSocial Media Managing a Facebook page has become a frustratingly depressing task for many. But like many things we do, managing a Facebook page isn’t easy. You have to look at how all the features of Facebook work together and also understand the realities of how Facebook fits into your overall communication strategy. |
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| November 14, 2012 |
Responsive Web DesignAre you familiar with the concept of responsive web design? If not, then it may be time to learn a little bit about it. Responsive web design is a new way of building websites that eliminates the need to think about a separate mobile version of your website for each of a variety of platforms. Instead, you spend time designing one site that works on any platform: desktops, tablets or smartphones. |
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| October 23, 2012 |
The Art of Web DesignChurch Websites There's a great PBS short video that explored the art of web design. It’s not only a brief look at the history of where the web’s been, but also a guide to what’s happening now. As I watched, nine greats points emerged that I think are useful for both web design veterans and newbies. |
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| September 26, 2012 |
Good Websites Remove BarriersChurch Websites, Communication We often talk about the importance of a website acting as your church’s front door. It’s a way to make a good first impression about who you are and what you believe. Yet often times our websites are full of barriers that keep people from fully being a part of our congregations. |
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| September 17, 2012 |
Digital Security is Your ResponsibilityHow-To Don't rely on your websites to protect your information – that's your responsibility. Your accounts are all linked because they belong to you and use your personal information, and that can make you vulnerable to a chain reaction. But never fear: there are some little things you can do to make a big difference in your security. |
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| August 23, 2012 |
Syncing Social Media AccountsSocial Media It’s tempting to link all of your social media accounts together. If you post something to Facebook, it’s simple to have it automatically feed to Twitter. While linking accounts may feel like a way to simplify your work flow, I would argue it’s weakening the community and impact of your social media accounts. |
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| August 9, 2012 |
Choosing A Facebook Cover PhotoSocial Media One of the biggest changes Facebook has made in recent memory is the switch to Timeline. With that came the ability to upload a cover photo that displays across the top of your Facebook Page. This large, central picture is sure to make a strong first impression to your Facebook friends. Yet, some churches aren’t utilizing that space the best they can. |
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| August 1, 2012 |
Church Website StatisticsChurch Websites Hopefully we realize church websites have a growing role in leading visitors to our church while also helping our congregations better connect with their church community. Some new statistics on church websites show how people are using them and what they expect to find. |
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| July 11, 2012 |
The JuicysCommunication Church Juice, a project of Back to God Ministries, is giving away two $2,000 grants to churches that have great vision for effectively using communications tools to reach their congregations and surrounding communities. We know communications can be the thankless job in a church. So we want to stand up and say “You’re doing an awesome job! Now, here’s some cash for your next great idea.” |
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Date |
Average Rating | |
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| October 9, 2011 |
Worship Planning OnlineHow-To A highly recommended online worship planning program. Worship Planning Online has a place to plan services, keep libraries of music (mp3 files, songs, chord charts, ties in with CCLI and iTunes) and Power Points, schedule everyone participating in the services and communicate with everyone involved. The program includes email communications to let each person know their schedule, and individual logins for all concerned. You can even chat live during a service. |
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| March 18, 2011 |
Recording Your Worship Service LiveHow-To, Media Article from "Technologies For Worship Magazine" on how to set up to make audio recordings of your worship services. |
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| February 19, 2011 |
How Do You Know When to Invest in New Technology?Media There is a right time to adopt new technology, but too-early adopters incur high costs for the new toys. For congregations, the hard question is: When is the right time? Read this article about useful guidelines and questions to ask as you make your decision. |
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| June 22, 2010 |
Christian Reformed Church Logos and GraphicsChurch Websites To show your association with the Christian Reformed Church and its agencies, you can include these logos and graphics on your website. |
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| June 1, 2010 |
Website 101: Seven Basics Vital to a Good SiteChurch Websites, Getting Started, How-To This white paper by Church Juice explains 7 key areas to consider when starting or revamping your website. |
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| March 29, 2010 |
CRC Social Media and Blog ListingsChurch Websites, Getting Started, Social Media The CRC maintains a list of its social media presence and blogs on this page so that you can easily follow or friend them on platforms like Twitter, or Facebook. Also, you can read the blogs written by different ministries. |
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| March 8, 2010 |
OpenDNS Cache CheckChurch Websites, Getting Started, How-To This tool will help you when you change the DNS settings on your website. If you change your DNS settings you need to double check the changes you made which Cache Check enables you to do. If you don't, your site may be inoperable as the changes take a while to propagate. Using this tool... |
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| January 25, 2010 |
Facebook PagesGetting Started, How-To, Social Media Visit this link to create a Facebook Page for your church. Once you click the link above, go to "Create Page" and then choose a category (probably "Brand, Product, or Organization" and then "Religious Organization") choose a name and then start adding content. |
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| January 19, 2010 |
Google AnalyticsGoogle Analytics is a free service provided by Google that enables you to look in depth at all your site traffic. You can look at basic information like page views, traffic sources, which pages are most frequently visited. However you can dive in and look at heat maps, browsers used, and returning visitors. This valuable... |
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| January 18, 2010 |
Google Apps for Non ProfitsChurch Websites, Communication, Getting Started, How-To |
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| January 11, 2010 |
WhoIs - Domain Registration LookupChurch Websites, How-To |
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| January 4, 2010 |
Twitter as a Ministry ToolCommunication, Marketing, Social Media Church Juice's in-depth description and ideas for using Twitter in your church is a must-read if you are considering using Twitter in your church. |
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| December 28, 2009 |
Website Markup ValidationUse this site to check if your website is standards compliant. While it is debated how important it is to pass, it is still useful for cleaning up the code on your site. The site is described as... |
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Date |
Average Rating | |
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| July 27, 2011 |
LivestreamCommunication, Media Livestream is a program for streaming video. Livestream, formerly known as Mogulus, is a live streaming video platform that allows users to view and broadcast video content using a camera and a computer through the internet. -- Wikipedia |
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| March 18, 2011 |
AudacityHow-To, Media Free software for working with sound recordings. |
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| May 15, 2010 |
Church Marketing LabThis Flickr group is a pool of images for special events, sermon series and other items at churches. Browse the images for ideas to spice up your marketing material or website. But also read the comments for the community's critique of the images and maybe even leave your own input. If you have some images you are working on, upload them and you'll get feedback on what's good and what needs to change. Also this site is a part of Church Marketing Sucks. While the images are copyrighted, if you find some that you could use contact the person you uploaded them and see if they'll grant you permission to use them. |
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| May 10, 2010 |
UnMarketingCommunication, Marketing, Social Media This blog offers straightforward advice to an organization's online presence, and marketing. |
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| January 25, 2010 |
Church CrunchChurch Websites, Communication, How-To, Marketing, Media, Social Media Church Crunch is a popular blog that will not only inform you, but it will make you laugh. It will inform you about using social media, design, SEO, and more on your site. With its light-hearted humor they will make you laugh while your learning about how you can improve your church's presence on the web. |
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| January 20, 2010 |
Church Website HelpChurch Websites, Getting Started, How-To This blog oriented website hopes to "give you the tips and ideas you need to help your church website reach as many people as possible, in the most effective way possible." Not only is the author familiar to social media and runs her church website, but also shares his advice by reviewing church websites. |
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| January 13, 2010 |
Heal Your Church WebSiteChurch Websites Dean Peters help in "Teaching, rebuking, correcting & training in righteous web design" through his blog. Visit here to find tips and hints on how to ratchet your website to the next level. |
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| January 6, 2010 |
MashableChurch Websites, Communication, Media, Social Media A leading blog that features the latest tools and trends on the web, especially related to social media. Mashable describes itself as "world’s largest blog focused exclusively on Web 2.0 and Social Media news. With more than 15 million monthly pageviews, Mashable is the most prolific... |
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| December 30, 2009 |
Church Marketing SucksAs you can tell from the name of the site, Church Marketing Sucks is straightforward, and focused. They aren't just critical of the stagnant status of church websites, but offer incredible advice to transform your church website. They say, "[o]ur mission is to frustrate, educate and motivate the church to communicate, with uncompromising clarity, the truth of Jesus Christ." |
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| December 23, 2009 |
Church Communications ProChurch Websites, Communication, Marketing, Media, Social Media |
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| December 16, 2009 |
Church JuiceChurch Websites, Communication, Getting Started, Marketing, Media, Social Media Church Juice is a service to help churches with their communication, online presence, and marketing. They provide useful information through blog posts, articles and free consulting for churches. |
