Resources

YouVersion

[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]Y[/bra_dropcaps]ouVersion keeps me in the Word with notes, tags, and ideas all updates across any device. The audio options are great for driving & listening to messages (I’ve got a bunch of guys in my small group who never read the Bible, who are now engaging the Bible this way. Very cool!)

Spotify

[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]S[/bra_dropcaps]potify has Free & Paid accounts. This music service is what we use for Sunday morning pre service music with our adults & youth. I also use it on the go for listening music & keeping on the latest worship music & popular artists people at our church recommend.

WordPress / Dreamhost

[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]W[/bra_dropcaps]ordpress is what this blog is done through (also Forefront’s website). They have a free hosted version here. Or, you can go with a website host and many have a one click install available (I use Dreamhost). It’s an easy way to get a blog or website up and running. To find themes and designs, check out ThemeForest.

Pro Presenter

[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]P[/bra_dropcaps]ro Presenter has really changed the way we do Sunday presentations. On Sundays, you can find three different areas using this program to handle songs, videos, teaching slides, and more. This software is for Mac & Windows.

Evernote

[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]E[/bra_dropcaps]vernote has a paid accounts (which I recommend), but free accounts are available. On my phone, it’s where I house anything I find or read on the go. Every single sermon illustration, series idea, and ministry thought is stored here. I organize them via folders & easily searchable.

Planning Center

[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]P[/bra_dropcaps]lanning Center is for planning services, volunteers, scheduling, etc. this is a great tool. Our Creative Arts Pastor got it for us and I’m so glad we have such a streamlined way to schedule people for Sundays and load practice content (mp3s & chord sheets)

WeTransfer

[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]W[/bra_dropcaps]eTransfer is a free easy way to send larger files to people that are too big for email. If you’re working on a large project and need to condense everything to send to someone, this is the way to go. It has a 2GB limit per transfer, but I’ve never exceeded it.

Parent Cue App

[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]P[/bra_dropcaps]arent Cue is by the group at Orange. At Forefront we use the 252 Basic & XP3 curriculum, and this app compliments it. Get lessons, videos, questions for the kids, dinner talk, car convo ideas and more. We use this app to reinforce what our girls learn in church all week long. It’s GREAT! (also available for Android)

Google Apps

[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]G[/bra_dropcaps]oogle keeps me straight, from Gmail to Reader (now I use Feedly and it’s great!), Calendar to Maps, these tools are used by our entire staff. We share calendars, collaborate on projects, do virtual meetings in Google+ Hangouts, it’s fantastic. My wife and I also use it to keep up to date on all things happening and not double booking over each other’s schedules (saved me a bit of heartache).

WriteRoom

[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]W[/bra_dropcaps]riteRoom is the place I go to focus my writing. It’s tagline of “distraction free writing” is spot on. It also syncs with Dropbox and has mobile apps for iOS and Mac.

MinistryGive

[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]M[/bra_dropcaps]inistryGive is a great online portal for doing donations for your church or ministry. It has a very nice mobile interface as well that they will customize to look like your website (included in cost of service). It’s been great to be able to work with them and we’ve never had an issue. Our church can set-up reoccurring payments, set any number of designations, etc.

Cyberduck

[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]C[/bra_dropcaps]yberduck is an FTP program to load content to a web domain. All of our website transfers on the backend are done with this program.

Macbook Pro / iPhone / iPad Air

[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]A[/bra_dropcaps]pple is my gear of choice for most electronics. Currently running on Macbook 12″, iPhone 8 Plus, & iPad Air 2. Android is great, but whatever ecosystem you adopt, make sure they all play nice together. Apple just works for me and I need it all to have as little of a learning curve as possible so I can do ministry, not tech support. Each serves a purpose to make work easier and faster, so I can be with people. Use what works for you. *Note: There are a number of accessories I use with all of these, from cases to stylus, so if you’re looking for that kind of stuff, message me.

Moleskine (Evernote Version)

[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]M[/bra_dropcaps]oleskine notebooks are a beautiful thing. In a world of fast paced touch screens and keyboards- it’s nice to go back to pen & paper. I prefer this in meetings, seminars, & conferences. The thing I love about this particular notebook from them is that when you use your Evernote app to snap a picture of the pages, it syncs to your Evernote account and you can search your handwritten notes. A bonus is you get three months of free premium service for Evernote with every notebook. Oh, I only use these pens to write in my notebooks. I’ll search past hundreds of regular pens for these. 

Ministry Services

Church Community Builder 
[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]C[/bra_dropcaps]hurch Community Builder is a tool designed to manage people, volunteers, giving, classes, forms, and more. It’s robust in it’s options and is a paid service based on congregation size.

Ministry Give
[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]I[/bra_dropcaps]t’s online giving made easy. The interface is easy to use and our giving percentage went up as we began using this. 75%+ of our donations come through online giving.

Clover Websites
[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]C[/bra_dropcaps]lover Sites are an afforable alternative for the church that doesn’t have the capability to create their own site. We used them for a few years before being in a position to create a site in house. They are easy to work with and have various tools built into their sites (including podcasting, calendars, video players, and online donations).

Group Imaging
[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]Q[/bra_dropcaps]uality signs at a decent price are hard to come by. Group Imaging has made every one of our classroom, lobby, and directional/road signs. They have been easy to work with and the few times things were not printed correctly, they made it right, free of charge. Great company.

MailChimp
[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]E[/bra_dropcaps]mail out to your entire church, in most cases absolutely free. You can pay for more options, but the free version will work for the majority of congregations. Class up your communications with a nice layout & branding.

Livestream Video
[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]L[/bra_dropcaps]ivestream has helped us on the occasions we were caught in a bind as a postable church and didn’t have a place to meet. Instead, we used their free interface and transmitted our worship services online from our warehouse space (and when we were snowed in, form my house, ha). It’s not something you jump into the day of broadcast, but as a back up, it’s great. Also an alternative to remote training for leaders & volunteers.

Free Resources

LifeChurch(Open)
[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]L[/bra_dropcaps]ifeChurch.tv has been so very gracious to not only create a Bible App for free, but all of their series content they give away as well. Studies, outlines, DVD files of the teaching, and more.

Elevation Resources
[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]O[/bra_dropcaps]ne of the fastest growing churches in the country, and their team makes some great stuff. Series graphics, bumper videos, and layered graphic files for you to work with.

NewSpring Resources
[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]A[/bra_dropcaps] young church with a growing population of people aimed at reaching people far from God. Their content is well done and they provide graphics & videos to download.

Open Resources
[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]A[/bra_dropcaps] few different churches put their content into this pool. And, it’s all there for you to work with. Videos, graphics, and series files to help with planning.

Creation Swap
[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]W[/bra_dropcaps]here creatives & designers drop their best and greatest stuff. Most of the content is free, some is paid, all of it is solid. I like that it’s a community of people working together and collaborating. It’s got a nice feel.

Church Media Drop
[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]I[/bra_dropcaps] believe the creator now works with the Echo Conference, but he’s got some great freebies on his site. Check ’em out.

Inside North Point
[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]I[/bra_dropcaps]f you were able to get an inside look into Andy Stanley’s mind and ministry, you would jus… oh wait, you can. This blog gives great leadership tips, how they do what they do, and things you can take home & adapt to fit your community.

Church On The Move
[bra_dropcaps style=’dropcap3′]V[/bra_dropcaps]ideo, drama, resources, graphics & more. Sign up for an account and get some amazing content for your next series, staff meeting, leadership training, etc.