Gutenberg to Google: Effective Use of Technology for Congregations

60 years later. Martin Luther leveraged the power of the moveable type printing press to change the world!

The Statistics Over 2,500 of Luther s works were printed between 1518 and 1544 20% of all pamphlets were Luther s during the first three decades of the 16 th century 3.1 million copies of Luther s works were in circulation between 1516 and 1546

Your website is your welcome mat to the world!

But, too many look something like this

Before you begin updating your website, ask: Who is this site for? How did they find out about it? What do you want them to do when they get here? Who will manage it and keep it updated How will it integrate with your social media?

And, how well does it work on mobile devices?

Map & Directions should be easy to find Grace Lutheran Church, Howell, MI https://www.gracelutheranhowell.org/

Make it simple to find when, where, & who contact information on the home page Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mount Pleasant, MI http://immanuelmp.com/

Welcome everyone! Hope Lutheran Church, Farmington Hills, MI http://hope-lutheran-church.com/welcome

Does your ELCA.org listing look like this?

Or, like this with a photo? Christ the King Lutheran Church, Gladwin, MI

And, make sure the information is accurate, too! Ex: No website listed for Salem Lutheran Church, Flint, MI

Yet, they have a very nice website! http://www.salemflint.org/

Help newcomers and other neighbors find their way around your community Feast of Victory Lutheran Church, Acme, MI http://www.feastofvictory.org/area-information/

Invite prayer requests Trinity Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, MI https://tlcgr.org/prayer-requests/

Invite members & friends to read your newsletter Celebration Lutheran Church, Westland, MI http://www.celebrationlc.com/

You can make it easy for guests to sign up for your enews! Trinity Lutheran Church, Ann Arbor, MI http://trinityaa.org/

Tell what s happening via a regular calendar Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Bloomfield Hills, MI http://www.bslcmi.org/

Or, share what s happening with pictures St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Grosse Ile, MI http://www.stthomasgi.com/#

Put frequently used forms and information on your website for members & guests (wedding guidelines, photograph release form, Sunday School registration, etc.) Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, Petoskey, MI http://www.crossofchristpetoskey.com/

For convenience, add a password-protected, members only directory Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mount Pleasant, MI http://immanuelmp.com/connect/online-church-directory/

Feature your community outreach Ascension Lutheran Church, Saginaw, MI http://www.ascensionlc.org/

And, invite everyone to participate! Shalom Lutheran Church, Pinckney, MI http://www.shalomlife.org/shape/

Time & Talent Survey Online- 1 of 2 Journey Lutheran Church, Onalaska, WI https://www.journeyluth.org/sample-page/921-2/

Time & Talent Survey Online- 2 of 2 Journey Lutheran Church, Onalaska, WI https://www.journeyluth.org/sample-page/921-2/

Sign up & Serve online registration Faith Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, MI https://www.faithlutheranchurchgr.org/about-worship

What language do your neighbors speak? St. Andrew Lutheran Church, West Chicago, IL http://standrewlutheran.net/

Connections to the larger church & other partners King of Kings Lutheran Church, Ann Arbor, MI http://www.kingofkingslutheran.org/?page=charities

Make financial stewardship easy! (1 of 2) First Lutheran Church, Onalaska, WI uses text message giving http://www.firstlutheranonalaska.org/giving/

Web-based giving form (2 of 2) Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lansing, MI https://www.bethlutheran.org/

And, educate members on where their financial gifts are used Lutheran Church of the Master, Troy, MI http://lutheranchurch.org/giving/

Podcasts (or video) of sermons on your website Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Ypsilanti, MI http://www.emmanuelypsi.org/audio/podcast.html

There s an app for that! Grace Lutheran Church, Tomahawk, WI http://gracelutherantomahawk.org/

Facility expansion, call committees & other important updates Calvary Lutheran Church, Clarkston, MI http://www.calvary-lutheran.org/?view=mobile

Social Media

Social Media at Antioch Lutheran Church, Farmington Hills, MI http://antiochelca.org/

Antioch Lutheran Church Twitter Feed https://twitter.com/revseanalc

Antioch Lutheran Church Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/antiochelca/

Antioch Lutheran Church pastor s blog https://boarddevotions.wordpress.com/

Zion Lutheran Church, Ferndale, MI on Yelp https://www.yelp.com/biz/zion-lutheran-church-elca-ferndale

Test advertising on Facebook: Advertise Christmas Eve or Easter services Select geographic area for your ad Select demographic profile(s) for your ad Determine your budget Measure, tweak, repeat (or not)

The communications tool of choice for youth, young adults & some not-quite-so-young adults! Possible free solution for group text messaging (I haven t tried it but it was recommended by someone I trust!) http://www.remind.com

How do you encourage the use of mobile devices in church?

Luther s Small Catechism Anniversary Editions

Baptismal sponsor education & participation via Skype/Facetime/Zoom

My favorite idea for using video in worship.

Frolic at First Lutheran Church, Onalaska, WI Print & web-based birth-to-3 resource from Sparkhouse being used for early childhood faith formation http://www.firstlutheranonalaska.org/events/frolic

http://wearesparkhouse.org/kids/shoss/ https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=wearesparkhouse

FREE: Kids one-year Bible Story reading plan from Sparkhouse Family http://info.sparkhouse.org/biblereadingplan

By Heart: Conversations with Martin Luther s Small Catechism Facilitator guide, learner resource & animated videos http://www.augsburgfortress.org/byheart

What will you try? New website? Social media? Text messaging? Skype/Facetime/Zoom? Web-based or video-based curricula for faith formation?

How may we assist you & your colleagues? ceo@1517.media @bethalewis facebook.com/beth.lewis