Media Outreach

In the case that you enjoy witty, resourceful and gifted writers, you’ve got to check out ChurchTechToday.  As technology continues gaining unstoppable force in the routine of our everyday lives, people like Lauren Hunter spend their time and effort trying to patch the lingering whole between the church and the community, by advocating websites, mobile devices and all things tech, as a means to connect with the un-churched.

MediaOutreach loves to find amazing bloggers like Lauren; covering topics like web ministry, online management, mobile computing, software and much more, ChurchTechToday is a great source for churches at all different levels of technological experience and expertise.

We’ve had the chance to get to know Lauren a little better. Although a mother of four – she kindly took the time to answer our interview questions below.

1. Tell us three interesting things about you, that your blog subscribers may not even know.

1. I’ve been married to my high-school sweetheart, John, for ten years (together for 15) and we have four beautiful kids:  Two boys and two girls, ages 7, 4, 2, and 3 months old.
2. I sing on my church’s worship team, participate in M.O.P.S and Bible study, and serve on the technology committee.
3. I’ve run my own public relations consulting business, Lauren Hunter Public Relations, for eight years, this coming January.

2. When and why did you start blogging?

I started blogging because it seemed like a natural development of all the writing – freelance, ghost, and bylined – I have done for my clients in the church technology market. I love the concept of blogging and find that it is encouraging to self-publish shorter morsels of information on a broader range of topics, whenever I want to. I guess it’s one way to share my thoughts, and the thoughts and opinions of others, on church technology in a new way that reaches a somewhat different audience. It’s been great connecting with new thinkers and leaders in this industry, and the blog has really helped me take a step back from my consulting work and ponder technology from the church’s perspective.

3. What are your favorite three posts?

1. My Son Loves the iPod: http://churchtechtoday.com/blog/?p=32
2. Technology Convergence: http://churchtechtoday.com/blog/?p=311
3. Does your church website suck?: http://churchtechtoday.com/blog/?p=190

4. With a blog that covers the church and technology, what are you most passionate about?

I’m most passionate about technology that empowers churches, church leaders, lay leaders, and small group leaders to engage one another in loving, serving, and unleashing God’s compassion in meaningful and intentional ways.

5. What is your biggest pet peeve when visiting a website (or church website)?

When I can’t find the church’s city, town, address, and contact information very easily. It should be at the bottom (or top) of each and every page so that anyone can find the church without digging around for 10 minutes to find it!

6. What do you deem as the most vital part of a church’s website?

The most vital part of a church’s website is being a connection point for visitors and attenders. Of course, it’s important to list events and details about your church’s worship style and core beliefs, but it’s critical these days to offer a way for people to look up volunteer opportunities, give online, and connect to their church community on a regular basis. Gone are the days of a church’s website existing just to provide directions (even though I hate it when you can’t find this easily, see number 5). The days of utilizing a church’s website as a portal to church life and the means by which your members connect to one another and serve the church and community at large are here to stay.

Lauren’s blog offers you an invitation to take part in what she, and so many others are doing to improve the church’s presence in a technologically immersed culture.

“I invite you to join in this discussion. Meet me here to look ahead into the future, while rejoicing in what God has done in the past and in the present. Technology can be used for His good purposes if we devote our lives to loving Christ throughout everything we do. That is my goal for my life, and for this venture.”

We are excited to know Lauren better as we follow her articles, both on her blog, and through the many different publications she contributes to.