Communication Technology

[paul]

This morning I was in a video conference ( IM ) with our director in India and also the regional directors. We spent time together in prayer, tlaking about the work and a time of answering questons they had.

Our childrens director was here and spent time with the childrens director there giving imput and setting up some ways to get material to them. I use this form of communication with our directors where it is available. Also set up a video conference where each of our directors can meet and prqticipate together. It has helped build a relationship between myself and between them also.

How is your church using communication technology ? I am always looking for better way to reach out and be more effective.

Also the methods you are using, are you seeing them as effective. does your state or region use video conferencing or some other more effective means?

[Billy n NC]

Paul, that sounds so kewl. Connecting via the internet and webcams is so futuristic from when I was a kid. It is simply amazing.

At the present we are not doing anything communication wise but we will be breaking ground on a new facility soon (fingers crossed) But I hope to have our building completely network ready.

To have the ability to have a walking talking missionary to speak from there home church to a congregation could have a big impact on mission giving .

I even read of a company online that is providing laptops to kids for $200. The world is getting smaller every day. To use a cellphone and make a video and send is almost unbelievable.


And to think, My Mom did her homework by lantern and candles.

[DeWayneTN]

You're right - I love this technology. Georgia has used video conferencing via Skype. Dr. McKinley shared a devotion with us on the big screen at a men's retreat from his home in TN. At one point, I was going to have EagerBeaver share a devotion during my Wednesday night class from Iraq. We did connect through that while he was away.

[EagerBeaver]

Skype is amazing. I chatted with DeWayne indeed a few times. Also Bro Cardin had me sit in on a conference with the Tomlinson Center board as proof of what audio/video conferencing could do. It was amazing.

[RamboPreacher]

I promote it in our region (technology, media and PR director), but the challenge is money. I hate to say it, but some of our pastors and leadership don't even have high-speed Internet, and a few have NO Internet! yes, that's right, none - nada, zero/zilch.

I think that we have 1 or maybe 2 churches that have internet in their church build, and probably ONLY because the pastor has HS Internet at the parsonage next door and it is "available" for use. (and most of you know how I feel about that topic!).

Internet at church, is not just a simple matter of getting cable or dsl (at least in this region). You have to get "commercial" access, not "residential" - which costs much, MUCH more. (I researched for our local church and the price is 3 times that of residential.)

So having any "official" capacity to do any communications that way is not happening (yet). Most of the pastors that do have Internet at home, have dial up!

It is difficult to get pastors and leaders to understand the value and benefits of having, even a website presence for their church, when they don't use the Internet much themselves, and so assume nobody else really does either.

I had skype, but unloaded it since I cold never get it to work longer than about 15 minutes or so until it lagged so bad it was useless. I have used telephone conferencing, but that loses attention quick if not everyone has Internet access to a presentation as well.

kinda frustrating to have all the gear to stream services, but no Internet Access at church.

/rant.