Technology
is always evolving, and it’s vital for church leaders to understand how to
respond to these updates with church tech. If you look back 20 years or more,
you’ll notice how drastically the landscape has altered. Shifting tech trends
are increasingly playing a more prominent role in influencing how the church
reaches people with the gospel. Today, many churches across the world are
starting to leverage
technology to great effect. But as everything
continues to change around us, what trends should churches focus on in 2019?
Mobile First:
Mobile use has been on an upward trajectory ever since the launch of the first smartphone. It’s the channel of choice for many churchgoers, especially millennials. We’ve seen churches begin to actively use mobile technology to target individuals and grow their relationship with members. To better engage this younger generation, you have to reach them where they are. And, that’s on mobile.
Almost 92 percent of all millennials own a smartphone, and the
vast majority are active on social media. Being present on social media sites
like Twitter and Facebook opens an opportunity for faith leaders to serve an
even bigger audience.
In
keeping with a mobile-first strategy, churches are also optimizing their
websites for mobile devices. And with Google now changing its search engine
algorithms to favor mobile-friendly sites, expect this trend to continue into
2019.
For more
details on how to create a mobile-friendly website, contact your Shelby Sales
Consultant today!
Church Apps:
Another prevailing church tech trend is the use of apps, both on mobile and TV. Churches are utilizing apps for a myriad of reasons such as a source of up-to-date information on church events and compile an archive of all past sermons. Many religious leaders are also using church apps to offer mid-week sermons and interact with members in real-time. These apps feature tools such as a prayer request wall and social media integration where members can submit prayer requests and comment on social media posts respectively. This trend is only going to grow as churchgoers become more tech-savvy and digitally-native.
MinistryOne is the most affordable
church app solution (FREE) for ShelbyNext Membership and ShelbyNext
Giving customers.
Video Streaming:
Live streaming is no longer the sole domain of megachurches with big budgets. 2019 will be remembered as the year small and medium-size faith organizations joined the digital frontier with live streaming services and video-on-demand. Thanks to the rise of OTT services like Roku, churches can now stream their events and sermons at a fraction of the cost.
Roku’s
streaming potential has given churches
enormous potential to increase viewership and reach more people across the
world. With the service, church members can view live church services or see
past sermons on their TV.
With
a Roku channel, churches can broadcast their Sunday services live and enable
those who cannot be physically present due to sickness, old age or personal
commitments to participate. It helps keep members connected to the church and
allows them to share the joy with their friends and family.
If
you are yet to join the trend, you might want to consider it. Roku lists all
channels publicly making it easier to attract new viewers. Content solutions
such as churchstreaming.tv
can help get your church on television apps such as Roku easily and with
features that will fit your church’s needs.
In Conclusion:
The church has embraced technology, and given that the year is still young, expect to see several church tech trends becoming more standard. Video streaming, church apps and the shift to a mobile-first approach are just three of the major trends. There are many more ways in which faith-based organizations can leverage technology and attain new heights.
Looking for Church Management software that incorporates all
these trends? Check out Shelby Systems total ministry
package. Contact us to find out how we can
partner with you to provide the software solutions your ministry needs to be
successful.