By Jonathan Howe
The technological revolution we’ve seen in churches over the past 30 years is staggering. What’s even more remarkable is the speed at which technology in the church continues to improve.
Simply having a screen was once considered a novelty in many churches, and overhead slides were used to project lyrics. Now, multiple screens with video or animated backgrounds are commonplace in our worship centers. Online giving was groundbreaking five years ago. Now, it’s a core function included in every major church management software on the market.
Church websites, apps, live streaming, video-based curriculum, and podcasts are but a few of the new ways churches are using technology. And they are almost all assumed at many churches. Of course, many churches do not use some (or any) of these technological advances available to them. And, honestly, neither your church nor mine really need any of them to function as a church. There are countless churches all over the globe with little to no technology that are making disciples in ways that would put to shame some of the most technologically-driven churches in the U.S.
However, many of our churches do utilize these technologies—and we are always looking for what’s next. So here are seven technological advances churches should watch for in the future:
- Computerized Child Check-In. With the emphasis being placed on child safety in the church, computerized check-in will likely become mandatory for churches over the next decade. When a mom drops her child off in a preschool classroom, she wants to know her child will be taught well and kept safe. Computerized check-in helps with half of that equation. The next point covers the other half.
- Online Leadership Training. As our lives become more and more busy, we are less likely to spend hours upon hours in training sessions at the church building. Online leadership training allows church leaders to train in the margins of life on their own schedule. Better-equipped discipleship leaders become more effective disciple-makers.
- Spotify Playlists. When we spoke with Mike Harland on the podcast recently, he mentioned churches having a core list of songs for them to know and sing. Spotify playlists allow your members to become more familiar with the songs they will sing on Sundays and to enter into times of personal worship throughout the week.
- Text-to-Tithe. Online giving is now the norm for many church members. But text-to-tithe (my term) allows those who might be unprepared to give the opportunity to worship through the giving of tithes and offerings. People prefer to give in different ways. Churches that offer multiple paths for giving nearly always see an increase in total giving.
- Video Announcements. The biggest positive of video announcements is the ability to control the length and professionalism of your announcements. The biggest drawback is that sometimes people will tune them out. Video announcements are not for every church, but many churches use them very effectively.
- Online/App Delivery of Curriculum. We are seeing an increase in digital curriculum at LifeWay. While there will always be a place for printed curriculum, the ability to have your weekly lesson at your fingertips all the time is convenient for many leaders and learners.
- Environmental Projection. This might be the newest thing in church technology. In fact, I have yet to see this in practice in a church service I’ve attended. I have seen videos, pictures, and demonstrations, but not an actual worship service. But the ability to transform blank rooms into various environments by projecting scenes or graphics onto the walls of the room brings a new flexibility to existing spaces. And the results of a well-planned environmental projection display are staggering.
Those are some of the trends I’m seeing in churches in the U.S. What would you add? Is your church using any of these? How is it working out?
Thanks for this helpful post! I read this article a while back about churches using hologram preachers:
http://www.christianpost.com/news/hologram-preachers-slated-to-appear-in-churches-44118/
As the article says, this is the next evolution of using video-screen preaching. Have you heard of many churches using hologram figures to deliver the Sunday morning sermon? I have never attended or heard of a church that does this. But maybe it will be the norm in the near future, just like video screen preaching has expanded in use.
I have not, but Dr. Rainer has mentioned this to me several times. He wants his own hologram.
Eric,
I’ve toyed with doing the hologram thing for video preaching. The major drawbacks are the cost of the technology (projection and screen/filter device) and that it is not super friendly to set-up and tear down environments. Plus, it is NOT a technology people are used to seeing regularly anywhere, so could be a distraction to the message, not an enhancement at this point.
I hope you all are joking. While it’s true the new generation are tech driven we should be careful when we get to the point where technology is replacing human contact and face to face ministries.
This young generation is already suffering from ‘digital dementia ‘ we do not need to encourage this in the church.
At 73 I do try to keep up, but as a whole I believe we do a very poor job in communication with the elderly and home bound. We don’t seem to have the training programs in place that would offer young Christian technoheads the blessing of ministering to seniors by teaching them how to use a computer, I Phone, our stay informed with Face Book or email. Its my opinion that our older folks are being left in the dust of the technology age.
I love the text to give. That way as soon as paycheck is in account the tithe text goes to church. One of the best giving techniques. I think the hologram preaching thing is scary.
I tend to agree with you on both points.
Environmental projection is neat, but as someone who’s programmed for it extensively, it’s tough to maintain great content for it every week without doing the same thing over and over. It’s a great tool to use for special occasions, but doing it weekly kind of makes it bland.
I’m excited to see what lifechurch is doing with their virtual reality streaming coming up. May not be practical, and definitely won’t have the same effect as being in the room, but a neat technological advancement nonetheless.
Great points. I have wondered that about the projection. Seems like there’s a lot of effort and resources needed to keep it fresh.
I have concerns that, in some churches, technology is becoming an end instead of a means. I attended a church last week that used an animated background behind the words of the songs. The problem was that the animation only distracted the eye from the words. We need to remember why we are using the technology and make sure that the technology is serving its intended purpose.
That’s a great reminder and a great caution.
Why not holograms for the worship leader, the band, congregation too? That way everyone can sleep in on Sunday–pastor, worship leader, band, and congregation.
Exactly. Notice that I didn’t include that in the original list. 😉
On line leadership training has recently been my biggest push.
With today’s technology it makes little sense for a group to pile in cars and drive two or three states away, spend money for hotel rooms and meals for a few days of training or a conference, when the same result can take place at a fraction of the cost by means of video technology.
Exactly. And in the case of ChurchAnswers.com, we’ve seen a desired for ongoing training as well. Not just a one-time event.
Be careful what you’re quick to discredit. The church has been through a lot in 2 millenia, I see no reason to think advanced technologies are the bane of salvation and grace as we know them.
I agree that the church at large has communicated a “put up or shut up” attitude toward the older folks when it comes to technology. If it is something the church will embrace, it must not market technology as a method for reaching young generations. Invest time in educating and shepherding the more established members with regards to whatever technology the church leadership decides to embrace. Do all you can to give it the chance to be an assistance to all who seek Jesus with that church, rather than blindly accepting that it will be a hindrance to some.
Our church does not yet offer online giving. I am investigating options. How do you figure out which service provider offers the best solution? The only reviews seem to be from the service providers themselves, and they obviously are biased. I know online giving is an option that our congregational is looking for – just need to pick a provider.
Try tithe.ly
We recently introduced online giving and the service has been helpful.
After years of leading music ministry in the local church and now serving as a bi-vocational pastor, I have seen first-hand the benefits and pitfalls of using technology in worship. With the benefits outweighing the pitfalls, I launched a full-time AV business to assist churches in their quest to utilize this great tool.
Thank you for the informative article and for encouraging the church to utilize technology to assist in sharing the Gospel.
Interesting post – thanks for sharing! It’s great to see Computerized Child Check-In included. It’s a very important piece to the overall child protection plan for ministries. If you’re interested in more more info on safety for children’s ministry visit the kidcheck.com/blog
re: the hologram preacher…
We once visited a church near us and they apparently used their hologram system to deliver the message that was recorded at an earlier service.
The problem was I did not realize it was a hologram until AFTER the service when my wife said something to me! I do remember thinking the pastor looked a little funny at the time.