A post on MediaSalt.com, “Dont Wait!  Introduce new technology to your congregation” by Cleve Persinger got me thinking about how effective our church is at utilizing technology in our communications and corporate worship time.  We have not been very effective and we have lagged behind.  There are always good intentions on what needs to be done, but many times only the intentions are there – no action.  Is your church ready for the next new thing?

Where does your church stand?

Is the culture of your church such that whatever tool is new, whatever technology is hot that it is okay – encouraged even – to use on Sunday mornings for worship?  If that is you, congratulations!  But what if you are like me and find yourself at a medium sized church where the congregation is older and quite frankly, technology scares them? You press on with your call and your introduction of technology without waiting.  While you may be forced to move slowly, at least you are moving.

What can be done to get your church on board?

In The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell, he states that plans fail because followers either have a fear of change, ignorance,  they are uncertain about the future, or because there is a lack of imagination.  When it comes changes in a church, and specifically those related to technology,  I believe that most of the opposition is due to ignorance and lack of imagination.  As our church has been on somewhat of a “capital campaign” to raise money for a new projection system in the sanctuary it has been met with resistance.  While the motion to begin the campaign passed with no problem there are still questions.  Some people understand PowerPoint and have an idea of what can be done with the system, but as you and I know so much more is possible through the effective use of video in a worship service than just have the pastor’s outline or some song lyrics on the big screen.  Some of the people have not gone to a worship service in another church in fifty years so they have no idea that things can be done in a different way than they are accustomed to.  They have know idea about what technology is available and what it can do to enhance the Kingdom and improve our worship and fellowship with one another.

So, when faced with the question of whether/when to move forward with introducing new technology to your church, you should.  If you are not an advocate for it, then no one will be.  Look for ways to distribute information about your project so people will understand what is going to happen.  Then, give them as many practical “tastes” of the project to increase their imagination to show them what could be done with the new technology.