Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
My husband and I just returned from a trip exploring the south where we saw many sites and visited lots of beautiful places.
Our travel also included visiting several churches along the way.
Many of the churches I visited were current, full of members and used technology to enhance the church experience.
These churches did a great job of delivering a timely message and using the latest sound equipment to enhance the music.
However, there was one church I visited that provided me with an experience that I will never forget.
I found this little church off of a back road in southern Georgia.
A part of the country that is sprinkled with tiny churches on every corner.
I got there a few minutes late and was welcomed by an overtly friendly woman who hugged me as I entered the building.
When I walked into this church it felt like I had stepped back in time and was experiencing church from yesteryear.
There were a total of 18 people in this building, 10 of which were up on the stage worshiping God in acapella.
There was no band or sound system.
Their angelic voices echoed off of the walls of this small church building.
The music that they sang was anointed and full of the presence of God.
There was no question as to the commitment to their praise and worship.
These people were on fire for God and expressed it in their music. It was an amazing thing to experience.
As the worship part of the service ended, the pastor encouraged members to share prayer requests.
Many spoke of challenges either in their own lives or in the lives of friends and family.
It was refreshing to hear the love and concern these people had for each other.
This is something most larger churches cannot accommodate during a church service – merely because of the numbers.
They then prayed for church family issues and offered encouragement to each other.
Then the pastor got up to preach.
I’m embarrassed to say that I had low expectations for the message because of the number of people in the church.
However, I was blown away by the anointed, targeted and timely message this pastor preached.
This man was clearly on a mission from God and was being used to help this small group of people.
As I took in the message and listened to his words, I sat there and wondered why this church was not overflowing with people.
I was saddened to think that so few people were taking advantage of this holy moment.
This church had very little resources.
In fact when it was time to take the offering, there were no offering envelopes, there was no text to give or any other technology option for giving an offering.
They simply passed a basket and people threw in cash. Mostly one dollar bills.
I was embarrassed that I had no cash or checkbook in my purse as I’m accustomed to using technology for my giving.
I felt compelled to give so I tried to find the address of this church so I could send them an offering.
But soon learned that they had no online presence, no website – only an image from google maps with no physical address.
I had to go the local post office to find a PO box for them so I could send them something.
Then I thought – but what if? What if they had a website that showed what I experienced? What if they had an internet presence that directed people to them?
And what if they were able to use mobile technology to engage with members, share what they do and accept tithes and offerings?
How would that change things for this church? Would it bring more people to their door resulting in church growth?
I have no doubt that it would because people are drawn to the presence of God and are yearning for teaching that can help them navigate the challenges of this life.
The world has changed a lot since this church first opened its doors decades ago, although the anointing and message of the gospel has not.
I left a piece of my heart with that little church along the back roads of Georgia.
The size of a church really doesn’t matter when it comes to worshiping God and delivering an anointed word.
However, exposing people to a great worship experience and a life changing message does.
This is why so many churches are now using technology as a tool to engage with their community and spread the gospel.
What kinds of technologies does your church use to spread the word.
