Ministry Tools » Software http://www.baptistwebsites.org/blog Tech tools for ministry Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:09:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 en Backup and Sync Contacts - Plaxo http://www.baptistwebsites.org/blog/2008/04/backup-and-sync-contacts-plaxo/ http://www.baptistwebsites.org/blog/2008/04/backup-and-sync-contacts-plaxo/#comments Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:40:19 +0000 pbassham http://www.baptistwebsites.org/blog/?p=25 Plaxo is actually a full-fledged social networking site now, but one of the greatest features of it is the ability to backup your address book from your Mac or PC for free.

Any address that you have on your volatile computer is safe on Plaxo because it automatically syncs without you even noticing it.

Also, if anyone in your address book is also a member with Plaxo, if they ever update their information, it is automatically updated on Plaxo, and in your local address book.

It will send you Birthday reminders to give you a great excuse to contact people you want to stay up with and will link with other websites, blogs, and calendars to keep everything in one place.

Some nice features, for free.  Check it out here.

]]> http://www.baptistwebsites.org/blog/2008/04/backup-and-sync-contacts-plaxo/feed/ Skype - Video conferencing with Missionaries http://www.baptistwebsites.org/blog/2008/03/skype-video-conferencing-with-missionaries/ http://www.baptistwebsites.org/blog/2008/03/skype-video-conferencing-with-missionaries/#comments Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:02:59 +0000 pbassham http://www.baptistwebsites.org/blog/?p=15 There are much more applications that you could use Skype for, but this seems to be the most popular for churches.  

Skype is great because it is free, can be on any platform (Mac or Windows), and can do audio, video, or instant messaging.

Here is an idea to use it to stay in contact with your missionaries and keep them before your people:

  1. Download Skype, and talk your missionary into doing the same.  (Good chance he already has it, it’s great for communication with home.)
  2. Put Skype on the computer that you use for media in the services.
  3. Contact the missionary during a service and throw a video of him up on the screen.  Have him tell you what is going on on the field.  Ask him questions.  Have him show you around.  Whatever - it is all live! (of course he will need a camera hooked up to his computer.  If he is smart he will already have a mac that has it built in:)

If you are a pastor, or anyone really, use this free tool to be a friend to your missionaries, even outside of services!  You will have a much better idea of what their life is like over their presentation in your church every 4 years.

]]> http://www.baptistwebsites.org/blog/2008/03/skype-video-conferencing-with-missionaries/feed/ Easy Worship - Multimedia Presentation Software http://www.baptistwebsites.org/blog/2008/03/easy-worship-multimedia-presentation-software/ http://www.baptistwebsites.org/blog/2008/03/easy-worship-multimedia-presentation-software/#comments Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:32:24 +0000 pbassham http://www.baptistwebsites.org/blog/?p=14 If you are inclined to using screens in your church Easy Worship makes this very intuitive.  The difficulty of making screens helpful rather than distracting is to make everything work during a live service.  Easy Worship makes transitions very smooth and puts all features into one simple interface.

Then there is the challenge of accommodating the file formats, Bible verses, different songs, pictures and videos smoothly but Easy Worship makes this very simple.

Here are some features and benefits:

  • Display Bible verses from the built-in Bible.  
  • Supports Power-Point files
  • Display DVD clips, MPG1, MPG2, AVI, DV, WMF, WMV video formats
  • Editable song library
  • Easy to learn
  • lots more…

This isnt free by the way.  It is $399.  But well worth it to not ruin multiplied moments and/or services.

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