How should the CHURCH use the INTERNET

[Stan]

Any suggestions for the mother ship in Maryland?

[Stan]

I find it frustrating the The Mormons and other Churches purchase google ads to learn more about their organization, YET the Adventist Church seems somewhat silent.

Perhaps I over looked them.

I believe that the latent reason internet was developed was the the purpose of the Adventist Church to vindicate the Character of God through out the world.

Yet without inviting people, we expect them to find us on their own.

[Guest gem]

In our local newspaper there's a section for ads/info of the churches in town...what's missing there?....our church ad...I heard it's cost issue.

[carolaa]

I find it frustrating the The Mormons and other Churches purchase google ads to learn more about their organization, YET the Adventist Church seems somewhat silent.

Perhaps I over looked them.

I believe that the latent reason internet was developed was the the purpose of the Adventist Church to vindicate the Character of God through out the world.

Yet without inviting people, we expect them to find us on their own.

That's not a bad idea. I mean, if we provide the links, at least we know they are getting accurate information instead of visiting some of the kooky sites out there. What boggles my mind is why more of our churches don't have websites, or if they do, they are laughably out of date.

[Woody]

Quote:

I believe that the latent reason internet was developed was the the purpose of the Adventist Church to vindicate the Character of God through out the world.

I wasn't aware that Al Gore cared that much about Adventists. LOL !!!

[Woody]

In our local newspaper there's a section for ads/info of the churches in town...what's missing there?....our church ad...I heard it's cost issue.

Over the 50 years of my lifetime ... I've noticed that SDAs have not been interested in advertising. While I was on the church board ... I tried and tried to get them to put ads in the paper to announce and welcome people to our church. I could Never get it passed to allocate the funds. SO, I had to go ahead and pay for it myself. They did authorize me to officially spend my own money after I gave up getting their support of my ideas.

[Steve Murphy]

My treasurer came up to me excitedly this week after prayer meeting and said "how about getting our folks to return tithe and offering online" Of course I felt it was a good idea....by any means necessary is my philosophy.

Our conference has stated administering membership transfers online.

A number of churches in the MD area are now streaming their services, we hope to do that by the end of 08.

I think a part of the challenge is that those who still hold the purse strings in many churches/conferences/unions/divisions are from the "pre-internet generation". "Who ever heard of someone being baptized from an ad on a website they would probably say".

Stan I think the "mothership" is probably going to be very slow to move in the direction your exited about. My mother didn't readily embrace new ideas. She was a great mother, she was fantastic at what she did, being a mother. Nearly all the ships I've sailed took a while to change direction.

I think the action is in the local church!

[Beryl]

Quote:

I think a part of the challenge is that those who still hold the purse strings in many churches/conferences/unions/divisions are from the "pre-internet generation". "Who ever heard of someone being baptized from an ad on a website they would probably say".

Why not talk with someone in your Division to see if they can't copy what we are doing in the South Pacific Division.

The portal of the Adventist Website is www.adventistconnect.org. From there visitors will be directed to relevant sites.

For the general community there is access to the local website -- eg, for Australia www.adventist.org.au, and for instance, Solomon Islands www.adventist.org.sb.

Linked to this are websites for specific outreach efforts. Then, linked to the national website is the Division website, and the Union and Conference sites, where each local Conference Department has their own website linked in. Then comes the most important of them all -- the local church website. So far there are 950 websites, all accessible from the one portal. Some of these are just being fully set up at this stage.

This is the makings of a wonderful way to reach people from everywhere. When fully functional it will mean that, once a person has entered from the main website they have access to information about events, news, sermons, etc. etc. from the entire Pacific region.

Our Correspondence courses are now on-line, which has meant that the growth in the number of persons who are taking these Bible courses has grown dramatically, and included people from all parts of the world.

I believe that the Internet has the power (by God) to reach people who would never be reached in any other way. It is exciting to be part of the process.

We also have the ability to return the tithe and offerings through our local conference by the internet. Since this has come in I understand that there is an increase in the amount of tithes and offerings coming in. Payment is made by Credit Card, or automatic payments can be arranged through a debit card. Since this has been in place there has been an increase in giving. Although the payment is sent through the internet to the local Conference, the amount is credited to the nominated local church. In this way the normal handling of the tithes and offerings continues as before.

God bless,

Beryl

[Guest gem]

I think the "mothership" is probably going to be very slow to move in the direction your exited about.

I think the action is in the local church! .

Need more advocates for internet advertising. Many of the older generation don't really have full idea how internet works.

I know a young pastor who likes using powerpoint presentation when he's doing the Sabbath sermon, but the older generation in church complained that they don't quite get it and requested that powerpoint shouldn't be used often. It's the same thing with internet/website use; I guess because there's still a lot of folks who don't know how to navigate internet well.

[Guest gem]

We also have the ability to return the tithe and offerings through our local conference by the internet. Since this has come in I understand that there is an increase in the amount of tithes and offerings coming in. Payment is made by Credit Card, or automatic payments can be arranged through a debit card. Since this has been in place there has been an increase in giving. Although the payment is sent through the internet to the local Conference, the amount is credited to the nominated local church. In this way the normal handling of the tithes and offerings continues as before.

I think it's a good idea because a lot of people now are doing their bankings online and many are opting into something that is more efficient and convenient.

[Neil D]

Quote:

I think it's a good idea because a lot of people now are doing their bankings online and many are opting into something that is more efficient and convenient.

If I am going to have to prepare a check to bring to church, which means I have to remember where I put that thing to carry it with me, and then remember to put it into an envelope and print my name and address and where my church is and where my offering is going to .....Shoot, might as well do all that on line....

Of course the big scare is that if we go "on line" with our moneys, why..we might not pay at all..... and who would know?

[Fran]

I had to insert a comment about Al Gore's statement that he invented the Internet.

To the world, he did not. I was surfing the net before that statement. So was Al Gore!

Al Gore was put in charge of streamlining the many different government agencies so they could communicate faster and be more productive. As a Government worker, I was frustrated that I had to use my personal email to communicate with those who held government contracts.

Before Al Gore, computers were shared! There were 3 computers for about 12 workers! After Al Gore, there were PCs on every desk. Before, I had to get in to work at 4:00 AM to get to the computers before the 6:00 AM crowd came in. Then I spent the rest of the day preparing the next mornings batch. After Al Gore we had email! We could key data anytime during the day.

Well, to me at least, Al Gore did invent the Internet government wide, while before Al Gore, there was NO Internet for government workers!

What did AL Gore do? He invented the structure of the Internet for all government workers, regardless of the agency. It was government wide. Oh what a day! Production increased and communications vastly improved the services provided!

I believe this is the Internet Al Gore was referring to. He did it government wide! Al Gore did more than just that. He improved so many things! I was really proud of him. He was not a lame duck while he was Vice President. He worked and worked hard! I was there.

[Dr. Shane]

Well, Dan Quayle didn't mis-spell "potato" either but some stories take on a life of their own.

The church did produce some TV ads years ago which are now played on the Hope Channel. I think advertising has always been left up to the local church and conferences. Perhaps that needs to change especially as we see our media resources being responsible for so many converts.