Monthly archive: March, 2009

Websites are not democracies

March 31, 2009, by esilvas No comments yet

Anyone who has ever managed a church website knows one thing for sure:

Be careful what you put up since it is often up to you and no one else. Or put another way, no matter how many times you ask, it will often be up to you to make up content for each ministry department.

I think about this every time I add anything to my church website. As a youth minister, I have plenty to add on my own. But, I also want content from the other ministry departments. Honestly, it is often very hard to get anything. I will look through whatever they handout at church or mention during announcement time. I would, however, prefer to receive it electronically so I can copy/paste and create PDFs for download.

That would be easier for me. And I won’t feel like so much of a web overlord.

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ministry, technology

The perils of eBay

March 30, 2009, by esilvas No comments yet

Last week, I went onto eBay and bid for a set of aluminum milk bottles for the upcoming church carnival. While I held the lead until late Sunday (yesterday) night, I did not win. Someone came in at the last minute and outbid me. Bummer right? Yes, but I knew this was possible. I did try to get some items for the carnival cheaper than purchasing new ones, I learned (or re-learned) a valuable lesson:

Never have a sole source for something you need.

This was only about aluminum milk bottles. But, I constantly look over offerings for other sign companies, hosting providers, internet providers, t-shirt printers and anything else required in my and the church’s ministry.

If I am not prepared to use someone else to get my ministry work done, I am in danger of failing. While this is not always an option, it should be your first instinct.

By the way, I did win a milk can. In addition to the one I purchased from a Craigslist posting.

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ministry, technology

[Updated] Sermoncast Volunteers

March 26, 2009, by esilvas No comments yet

This past weekend I asked my youth group to think about volunteering to manage and upload any sermoncasts that we create. Usually, the youth group is about many things within the church and are often at the forefront of technology related requests. However, I wanted to give them an opportunity to do something that can be a significant presence for the church. I am hopeful one or more of them will volunteer.

I know folks in church that can not attend for many reasons. In addition, there will be others who come across our church website and may listen now and again. If all goes well, I can even see expanding the ministry to include copies of sermons on CD. I know many ministries do this, but St. Margaret’s has dabbled in technology and often uses it when something else is not possible.

I also hope this serves to introduce our members to a variety of ministry possibilities.

[Update] Still no volunteers. I expected at least one of the youth to stand up and say, ‘Yes, I will do it’. However, I am not going to press them. I want a personal commitment, not guilt because your youth minister asked again.

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christian, ministry, technology