Facebook Tips
Here is a link to a short video list of 10 basic tips that you need to follow when using Facebook for ministry purposes.
http://mainstreetopen.com/facebook-in-ministry-10-tips
Online Tools
For those ministries that can’t afford Adobe Photoshop or able to hire a creative ministries director. I have two online services that will brighten your day and lighten your pocketbook.
1) Sumo Paint - is online application that runs in the browser, (no installs) that mimics Adobe Photoshop or Gimp.
2) Web 2.0 Domain Generator – is online tool that creates creative names that have a Web 2.0 twist. Use this service to come up with a name for your ministry.
Yonkly
Since we are talking about micro-blogging, I should also mention Yonkly. This is a similar service to ShoutEm, except it’s focus is more on monetization and customization. You also have the ability to add your own domain name to your micro-blog. They have free and paid based micro-blogs that you can use for your ministry.
Tags: Microblogging, Ministry, Monetization, Yonkly
ShoutEm
“Ning for Twitters” is how a fairly new micro-blogging service called ShoutEm describes itself. One can send text messages, share links, photos, and include geo-location based content. There is also wide range of mobile device support. I would recommend micro blogging services to anyone that wants a simple way to network and communicate without all the complexity of other social networking sites.
Tags: Microblogging, Ning, ShoutEm, Twitter
SDALink
A new online service recently launched for the Adventist church. SDALink is video sharing, social networking like site that allows Adventists to submit and stream videos onto the BiggyTV owned network. This is a first for the Adventist church, so time will time how well adoption will be. On a side note the service has bulletin video-conferencing software for a small fee.
Tags: Adventist, Biggytv, sdalink, socialnetworking, Video
Gospelr
Gospelr is a ministry-microblogging service (like Twitter) for the Christian Community. They have Twitter and mobile phone integration. Use it for prayer requests, announcements, scripture sharing or just sharing those random thoughts. I would say this service is more designed and a target for Christian to Christian sharing.
Tags: Christian, Gospelr, Microblogging, Sharing, Twitter
The Sticks
There is a new conference being launched this year in three different regions of the country, ironically called “Sticks”. What is unique about this conference is that its target is rural America, small town churches. I’m amazed that this is the first large conference of its sorts since most of America’s churches are located in small towns and in rural areas. Finally a conference not for the Mega-Churches!!
New E-Book: Twitter for Churches
“The Reason Your Church Must Twitter” by Anthony Coppedge is a new E-Book that you can purchase for your ministry or church. Twitter has been gaining momentum recently and is suspected to break-out into the mainstream very soon. This is a perfect time for your ministry to start sending out Tweets. If you want to know what Twitter is or what a Tweet is, follow this link and/or read the book.
The Medium and The Message
The question is not “Does the Internet change the message of our ministry”, it is “HOW does the message change when it is communicated via the Internet?” We all interact differently depending on the medium, television and radio both are different mediums that require different ways to interact with the audience. The Internet one could say is a hybrid of all mediums of the past and thus requires us to change the way we communicate our message to the world.
