A Look a Leading-Edge Technology for Church Websites

Earlier this week my husband and I attended the 2008 NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) Convention and Expo in Nashville, TN. While it's impossible to cram so much useful information into one article, I did want to share some basic things that I think would be helpful to people who were unable to attend.

A lot of churches are interested in keeping up with technology and ways of reaching younger generations. The great news is websites have not only become more important but also more affordable from a budget standpoint. Here are some other ideas to consider in connection with a main website, with younger generations specifically in mind:

1) Podcasting

Produced video and audio material can be used not only on Ipods but any computer that can download the free Apple ITunes player.

2) Affiliationwith YouTube.com & GodTube.com

Both provide the ability to upload videos that reach a wide audience. Many people are already aware of YouTube, but I was also very impressed with GodTube.com after I got home and was able to look at it. Not only are there music videos but also interviews, portions of televised sermons, and videos produced for in-house use.

3) Downloads via Mobile Phones

There are so many file formats out there that you may need outside help with this, but there is a demand out there for Christian ring tones and short videos. You wouldn't want to go as long with these as you even would with a podcast, since people usually expect something 1-2 minutes long.

4) Live Webstreaming

For people interested in what a worship service is like at your church, this could be a step toward someone coming in person for the next service. Obviously not meant to be a replacement for church attendance but a tool to help increase it.

5) Radio

Traditional AM/FM radio is not declining as much as original projections and my generation (I'm 24) does still listen to it. Internet radio available in cars however is going to have a significant amount of growth, eventually allowing for more stations and more options.

Though this year's convention is already over, you can still get a lot of detailed information at www.nrb.org and www.nrbconvention.org. If you have the opportunity to go next year, I highly recommend it. It's something that we wish we had known about earlier and plan on attending every year that we can.