However, the whole idea of “checking in,” especially on Facebook, weirds me out. I highly dislike to be “checked in” by my friends. (HINT HINT)

I don’t think I’m the only one who feels this way.

There’s a difference in using a location based service to get real-time information and checking into a business.   Location based services include getting directions or searching for nearby restaurants. Check in is used to specific the location of an individual. Some businesses use check in services to offer

In a recent report done by Pew Internet & American Life Project, 74 percent of smartphone owners use real-time location based apps to get information, whereas only 18 percent of people use a geosocial service to “check in” to specific locations.

The number of smartphone owners are up 35 percent since last year. Almost half of Americans own a smartphone, now.

What does this mean for you?

Well, nothing if you dismiss it. But you could use “check in” services to have church members check in to your church on Sunday morning. Of course, only if they’re comfortable with it.

One of my coworkers and I joke about starting a company called “Youth Pastor Shirts” to capitalize on the youth pastor fad of wearing untucked, button down shirts with grunge floral. You should take note, after this moment, should a site like this pop up, you stole my idea and I will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. Or not. But it’s a great idea.

So many churches adopt another church’s culture because they see something working across the country. Don’t get me wrong, seeing success and trying to replicate that success is great. But what works in NYC may not work in Sandusky, OH. What works in Miami, FL may not work in Austin, TX.

Jesus is Jesus. Truth is truth. If you build your ministry around the core of the Gospel, then let the culture emanate from that thought… That is when we all win. Don’t lose focus. Shatter through the idea of building a ‘church culture’ and build a ‘Jesus culture’. The rest will follow.

1. 82% of the unchurched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if invited – Dr. Thom Rainer, The Unchurched Next Door
2. Only 2 percent of church members invite an unchurched person to church. 98% of church-goers never extend an invitation in a given year.  – Dr Thom Rainer, The Unchurched Next Door
3. 7 out of 10 unchurched people have never been invited to church in their whole lives. – Dr Thom Rainer, The Unchurched Next Door
4. The US Church is in a general state of decline, with fewer than 20% regularly attending church. That suggests that 7.9 million people may be leaving churches annually – that’s 150,000 each week!  – Outreach Magazine
5. 55% of those who go to church were first invited by someone they knew – George Barna
6. Less than a quarter of Americans (24 percent) are very or somewhat willing to receive information from a local congregation through a visit to their door. Still, 31 percent say a visit to their door would be very or somewhat effective in getting them or others to visit a church. – Lifeway Church
7. 94% of churches in America today are either stagnant or declining. – Outreach Magazine
8. “Perhaps one of the most underestimated reasons people return to the church is that someone simply invited them back. 41% of the formerly churched said they would return to the local church if a friend or acquaintance invited them.” – Outreach Magazine
9. Approximately 60% of those 18–35 would consider returning to church if someone they knew asked them to come back. –Outreach Magazine
10. “A study including more than 15,000 adults revealed that about two-thirds are willing to receive information about a local church from a family member, and 56 percent from a friend or neighbor. The message is clear that the unchurched are open to conversations about church.” – Philip Nation, LifeWay Research and National Spokesperson for Back to Church Sunday

Photo By: Tracy Hunter

It’s never been easier to record a vlog. Most computers now have built in webcams. Or if you have a smartphone, most likely you’re able to record videos quickly and upload them to your computer.  It’s probably faster than typing out a blog, now!

If you’re toying around with the idea of starting a vlog but not sure you’re ready, here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Don’t be shy- I hate cameras and seeing myself on a video. However, if you’re going to be a vlogger, you’ve got to get past that. Pretend the camera is a friend and talk to it like you’d talk to a friend.
2. Keep your camera still. Try to avoid moving the camera as much as possible.
3. Keep it short-  Outline your thoughts before you start recording, so you don’t ramble on and on and on and on…
4. Edit your video with a simple editing tool like Windows Movie Maker- You don’t have to edit a ton, maybe include subtitles or a link to your website or other important things you want your viewers to remember.
5. Give some Vlog love- Do short videos of other vloggers you like and follow. Hopefully, they’ll do one in return for you.

Is it ironic that I typed out a post about vlogging instead of recording it?

*photo by fensterbme

Photo By: yoppy

As always, the quality of your audio recording is key to successfully capturing your sermons.  This can be accomplished by using a digital recording device.  Here are a few devices that I would recommend for recording audio:

• Tascam DR-05 Portable Digital Recorder
• Tascam DR2D Portable Digital Recorder
• Sony ICD-AX412 Digital Flash Memory Voice Recorder

These devices range in price from $65.00 to $185.00 on amazon.com and are sufficient to do everything a church would need in the area of audio recording.  These work best when they are linked into a channel on your sound board.

The other thing that will really help enhance your production of the audio recording is good editing software.  Churches definitely are not required to edit the sermons before going on the web, and I definitely don’t think that churches should spend hours on end to edit them. Some churches will want to add a tag to the beginning or end.  This is particularly useful if the church is podcasting.  Here are a few software solutions I would recommend:

• Garage Band (mac)
• Adobe Audition CS6
• Adobe Soundbooth CS5
• Magix Music Maker MX
• WavePad Master’s Edition

I hope these recommendations help your church take your audio recording to the next level.  What is your church currently using to record your sermons and edit them?

Photo By: visual.dichotomy

If you Google: “Internet Evangelism” you’ll see quite a large number of results. There are coalitions, groups, blogs, studies, news, pictures, websites…etc. all talking about this term “internet evangelism.”

In fact, there’s even a day dedicated to internet evangelism. You can read all about it at: http://www.internetevangelismday.com/   or you can “like” them on Facebook.

Internet Evangelism Day was created to have one day focused on communicating the potential the Internet can have on the Church. It was created to share tools, ideas and information on all things that can be used for digital evangelism.

This year, Internet Evangelism Day falls on April 29^th…it’s coming up! It’s a great time to think about how you’re using the internet to reach out to people.

What ways has your church used the internet to reach out or build relationships with people? Have you seen results you would like to share?

Maybe it’s more convenient and easier to download an e-book.

Some other interesting stats:

-    41% of tablet owners say they spend more time reading, now

-    35% of e-reading device owners say they spend more time reading, now

-    35% of those who owned either device for less than six months say they are reading more

-    Men under age 50 who own e-reading devices say they are more likely to read more with an e-book reader

-    Printed books still dominate the world of e-book readers

-    72% of American adults have read a printed book in the past year

-    There are four times more people reading e-books on a typical day now than 2 years ago

What do these stats mean?

Are we getting smarter because people are reading more? Or is it that we’ve always had a desire to learn, but now it’s easier to download a book than it is to go to the library or bookstore?

I imagine within the very near future textbooks will all be available on e-book readers and more and more libraries will start investing in e-books  than in printed books.

* photo by PiAir (Old Skool)

My wife and I loaded up the kids and went to a church we had not been to on Sunday in a long time (it was a family member’s home church).  When we arrived, we went to check-in our kids. We found the church had two check-in stations but no one at the front desk to help guests.

We were not sure how to use the self check-in system and were pretty sure our kids were not in the system anyway.  We waited along with another family for almost 10 minutes for someone to come along that could help us register our kids.  It was frustrating for sure and if it had not been a family member’s church, I would have bolted for another church.

We finally got scanned in and seated for the service.  I thought about this exact scenario for most of the service.  How many families is this church missing out on because they are not adequately staffed with volunteers on Sunday morning?  This church is a good sized church.  It is not a small country church.  It is a church that runs between 500-600 on Sundays in a good sized city.

What is the take away for you as a church leader?  Always make sure you have volunteers who are there to welcome and help first time guests find their way.  I felt hopeless as a guest at this church, don’t make your guests feel that way.

What do you do at your church to make sure first time guests feel welcomed?

Photo By: Beneath_B1ue_Skies