MOUNT VERNON — As life becomes more high-tech and Internet-based, churches and faith organizations are discovering they, too, have the ability to send their message far and wide by electronic means.
Locally, many churches have developed Web sites, including some that feature streaming video of services. They also use e-mail to share news, have created blogs and use sound, video and lighting systems.
“Today people have become very Internet oriented,” said the Rev. Don Matolyak of Trinity Assembly of God Worship Center. “Often those looking for a church will determine if they want to check out a church by going to their Web site.
Soon, the church will offer podcasts and video streaming of services. Matolyak is a regular contributor to blogs and plans to begin his own soon. He enhances his sermons with PowerPoint notes and video clips, and uses a laptop computer instead of paper notes.
“I place the computer on the pulpit and get to business,” he said. “I did it because I can see the screen better than notes on paper. I learned that one person left our church because they didn’t like the fact that ‘the pastor preaches from his computer.’ But all in all, I believe our people appreciate the technology we are using.”
At the Apostolic Christian Church, Brother L.J. Harry said members felt they needed a Web site to advertise ministries and events.
“It would be the easiest way to advertise who we are and what we offer to everyone, far and near,” he said. “We simply wanted to advertise the ministries of the church, the events and the staff. We’ve had very good response. ... It makes it very easy when everything is in one place.”
The ACC services are streamed on the Web site.
“If someone misses a service or even several, they can see all of them online,” Harry said. “We give the links to people we’re reaching out to and they can see what an Apostolic Pentecostal service is like before they come to ‘check it out’ in person.”
The Utica Church of Christ’s Web site, said webmaster Jarrod Scarberry, has also been successful.
“We felt that with the Internet growing as it has and with so many people who use it, that one of the best ways to tell others about our church would be with a Web site. We’ve had a wonderful response from people around Ohio who have visited the site through search engines or from hearing of it through family members or friends.”
Scarberry would like to add a sermon download feature in the future, especially for visitors and for members who are unable to attend services.
At rural Perry Chapel Baptist Church, staff member Angie Brillhart said the church chose a Christian Internet service as its service provider.
“It was important to leadership that the Web site demonstrate the church’s core values and beliefs,” she said, “as well as be attractive and encouraging to members and guests visiting the site. ... The leadership felt they needed a way to unify the church and reach out to not only their members but also the community. ... The Web site allows members to check the calendar of events and prayer requests ... members of the community can access sermon notes, event calendars and information about the church.”
Perry Chapel utilizes other technologies as well, said Brillhart.
“We have a complete sound room in our sanctuary, including video and DVD, music, PowerPoint and recording capabilities. We have a large screen and video projector to display sermon notes and song lyrics on Sunday mornings,” she said.
Matolyak’s church also discovered the importance of sound systems.
“You can have great musicians and singers,” he said, “but if the sound is bad, it minimizes their ministry. A pastor can have a great message, but if people can’t hear him or are distracted by the ‘snap-crackle-pop’ of bad sound, it limits the impact. In developing our sound system, our goal was to have ‘studio quality’ sound for worship services.”
“The church needs a Web site to communicate with the public, and some kind of e-mail communication system for communication among the majority of members,” said webmaster Bill Millikin of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Bellville.
“My criteria was to build a community-based site that any member could help maintain. I insist that the site have small, fast graphic images, and be as close to screen-reader friendly as I can make it. After that, content and information in a friendly, readable format is top priority, along with relevant information and keeping the site current ... most of our visitors have found us by looking for a UU church online ... then they read our site, find out what’s happening this Sunday and visit, or call to talk about it and us. So from that viewpoint, our site is very successful,” said Millikin.
At First Congregational United Church of Christ, the “Church Mouses Refrigerator News,” a forum delivered via e-mail, keeps members informed of events, prayer requests, illnesses and meetings. The e-mails are designed to be printed and hung on the refrigerator as reminders, if desired.
“Church Mouse is a technological tool to help us foster love and care to those active in our church, and those who ... have been unable to participate with their presence,” said the Rev. R. Keith Stuart. “It serves as a faith extension to our daily ministries and mission opportunities. And one of the ancillary uses, one that most of us did not anticipate, is how it has cut down on the number of night meetings. We can send information to each other, get replies and avoid another night away from our families.
“It’s amazing to me how everyone depends on Church Mouse,” said Stuart. “We can now communicate in less time-consuming ways. It’s just one example of using technology in a way that builds the communal relationship in the church.”
“The message remains the same, but the methods are not sacred,” added Matolyak.
Mount Vernon News "Worship Directory"
