M2LIVE » Development

CEU now available for M2LIVE Chicago!

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:37:39 +0000

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary has graciously agreed to support the upcoming M2LIVE Chicago training event by offering participants the opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units (CEU). Those participating in both days of training (15 hours), will have the opportunity to earn 1.5 units of credit. A great offer for those pastors and leaders needing to earn required credits!

To participate, please print and fill-out the CEU application form. A participant will need to bring both the completed form and a $25 check paid to the order of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Application forms will also be made available at the event as well.

CEU Application Form (pdf)

M2LIVE Webinar to Feature Cynthia Ware

admin — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:10:38 +0000

The next M2LIVE webinar will feature Cynthia Ware — A technology and church development consultant, Cynthia also serves as the executive director of the Center for Church Communications. Join us online August 17th at 11:30 a.m. (EDT).

A FREE webinar, the M2LIVE webinar features insight from many of today’s brightest church web evangelists. While presenters have opportunity to share their message, the format allows you ample time to ask questions and engage the presenter. To access the webinar, visit http://www.M2LIVE.org/live on August 17th at 11:30 a.m. (EDT). Each webinar will last about 45 minutes.

M2LIVE is a grassroots effort allowing believers of all backgrounds to come together to celebrate Christ, while sharing and learning from one another. A series of web-based and live hands-on workshops, M2LIVE is designed for church leaders and volunteers interested in enhancing their ministry using the latest in web and social media technology. View an archive of past M2LIVE webinars at http://www.m2live.org/web/webinar-archive/.

M2LIVE Webinar to feature Justin Wise

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:18:17 +0000

The next M2LIVE webinar will feature Justin Wise; we will be discussing how the Web is flattening the Church. Or how Web and social media technology is changing how the church does business. Join us online July 29th at 11:30 a.m. (EDT).

Justin Wise is a pastor, blogger, and speaker from West Des Moines, IA. He enjoys blending culture, faith and technology in a relevant way. Justin is on staff at Lutheran Church of Hope, and is senior editor of BeDeviant.com.

A FREE webinar, the M2LIVE webinar features insight from many of today’s brightest church web evangelists. While presenters have opportunity to share their message, the format allows you ample time to ask questions and engage the presenter. To access the webinar, visit http://www.M2LIVE.org/live on July 29th at 11:30 a.m. (EDT). Each webinar will last about 45 minutes.

M2LIVE webinar to feature DJ Chuang

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:18:30 +0000

The next M2LIVE webinar will feature DJ Chuang; we will be discussing ways that leaders and volunteers can champion web ministry in their church. Join us online June 29th at 11:30 a.m. (EDT).

DJ Chuang is a web strategist, currently working with Worship Leader Magazine (as Network Developer) and with Leadership Network (as Leadership Community Director for Multi-Site Churches). He has various professional experiences in web strategy, pastoral ministry, and software engineering, mostly in non-profit contexts.

A FREE webinar, the M2LIVE webinar features insight from many of today’s brightest church web evangelists. While presenters have opportunity to share their message, the format allows you ample time to ask questions and engage the presenter. To access the webinar, visit http://www.M2LIVE.org/live on June 29th at 11:30 a.m. (EDT). Each webinar will last about 45 minutes.

Using the POST Method to Craft a Social Media Strategy for Ministry

mcarlisle — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:16:57 +0000

Thanks to John Saddington of 8Bit Network and North Point Community Church for participating in our April 14 webinar. John was good enough to share his POST method of social media strategy development during the webinar and now online.

(ChurchCrunch/John Saddington) — The POST Method is an adaptation from a methodology from Forrester Research and is a method I’ve used in both the marketplace and consulting with many organizations. I’ve created a new version that makes more sense for ministry and churches and have provided it below.

This is simply an outline and a framework for conversation, discussion, and critical thinking and some of these could provide hours of conversation (which might be a critical part of the creation of your strategy!).

I’ve outlined 1 tension that typically is felt at each point, a myth (or 2) associate with each point, and then 4 key questions or considerations for you.

Ready? Continue reading »

Free M2LIVE Webinar to Feature 8BIT Founder, John Saddington

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:40:21 +0000

The name may be a bit different, but the intent is still the same – to grow the Kingdom by embracing new media. M2LIVE.org (formerly Ministry 2.0) will host its inaugural webinar on April 14, 2010 at 11 a.m. (EDT), featuring 8BIT founder and North Point Ministries’ creative web director, John Saddington. Saddington will be discussing church social media strategy development.

The first in a series of FREE webinar, the M2LIVE webcast will feature insight from many of today’s brightest church web evangelists. While presenters will have opportunity to share their message, the format will allow you ample time to ask questions and engage the presenter. To access the webcast, visit http://www.M2LIVE.org/live on April 14th at 11:00 a.m. (EDT). Each webinar will last about one hour.

If you feel inclined to share news of this event with your friends, please feel free to share the following Tweet:

M2LIVE Webinar to feature John Saddington of 8BIT & North Point Ministries. Join the FREE webinar April 14. http://bit.ly/aGQVvo #M2LIVE

Join the M2LIVE Facebook fan page at http://bit.ly/cOQ7VE; or follow M2LIVE on Twitter at http://twitter.com/M2_LIVE.

Stone Soup: A tale of how not to let your web ministry program get run over by the oncoming bus

admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:46:49 +0000

The story of Stone Soup is a simple reminder that we are put on this earth to glorify God with all that He has provided. How better to use those resources than by sharing of our gifts, time and resources with one another. The power of the Internet offers each of us a means to help literally millions of people with a few simple tools and some basic knowledge.

I recall as a child being told the fable of Stone Soup, made famous by the Grimm Brothers and later retold in numerous forms and many languages. This is my interpretation as I remember it being told to me.

Once upon a time, two travelers come to a village. They are carrying nothing more than an empty pot. Times are tough so when the travelers arrive, the villagers are skeptical and unwilling to share what little food they have with the hungry travelers.

The travelers take it upon themselves to fill their pot with water, and drop a large stone in it. They place the pot over a fire in the village square. Curious, one of the villagers asks what they are doing. The two travelers explain that they are making “stone soup”. Stirring the pot for a bit, one traveler tastes the soup and shares that the soup could use some garnish for flavor. The villager scurries back to his home and returns with the needed garnish. It is quickly added to the pot.

In time another villager happens by, inquiring about the pot. The travelers again mention that their stone soup hasn’t quite reached its full potential. The villager runs back to her home and returns with a handful of seasoning.

Over the course of the day, more and more villagers walk by, each adding another ingredient. By nightfall, the once empty pot is now overflowing with delicious soup. Our tale ends with the villagers enjoying the company of their two new friends over a hot bowl of soup shared by all.

I’m sure you’ve heard a form of this fable before, but I share it again for a few reasons — some obvious, some not so apparent.

No matter if you are managing a website for the first time or you are a journeyman, you will quickly find that it can’t be done in a vacuum, by yourself. Our use of the Internet is now highly social. Years ago, we were hampered by an archaic sender/receiver model where we consumed what was given. We are no longer in the business of pushing information at the people visiting our websites. Our site visitors have something to contribute. Managing a website requires a team of people that can support one another and assist when one member is unable to contribute. Excuse the raw analogy, but if you are the sole keeper of the password to the church website and get run over by a bus, the rest of us are left not only morning your loss, but possibly that of the website.

Related Resources

Whatever you Do, Do More with Others and Less Alone / John Saddington
The Nine Pillars of Successful Web Teams / Jesse James Garrett

Author: Matt Carlisle | Reprinted with permission, www.BigHeartDesign.com.

Free web hosting for 501(c)(3) non profits and churches!

mcarlisle — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:39:10 +0000

Churches can no longer use the excuse that they can’t afford to have a highly effective website. I recently learned that my web host, Dreamhost.com, now offers FREE web hosting services to 501(c)(3) organizations who are registered in the United States. When you marry Dreamhost’s free hosting with one of the many free open-source content management systems like WordPress or Drupal, you possess all the necessary tools to implement a highly effective web ministry.

While you have many hosting choices, I’ve not founder another willing to offer their services for free. I can attest that Dreamhost offers premier service. Their customer service department has always responding quickly and accurately. Not only do they care about those organizations helping to make the world a better place, they are employee owned and are a certified carbon neutral company (i.e. they’re a green company). And for those of you who are beginners, their one-click installs are very user friendly. Here’s what Dreamhost is offering:

DreamHost proudly offers free web hosting to non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organizations registered in the United States.

Non-profit organizations have dedicated themselves to making the world a better place – all without expecting anything (like a profit) in return! DreamHost recognizes their noble sacrifice and is happy to provide cost-free hosting to these groups which do so much with so little for so many!

This discount applies to a single hosting plan per non-profit, hosted within only one account, for US-based 501(c)(3) organizations. Domain registrations (other than any included with the plan) are not eligible for any discounts. Groups must be able to furnish DreamHost with an IRS-issued 501(c)(3) determination letter to qualify.

Visit Dreamhost’s site to learn more about this FREE offer.

UPDATE

After publishing this post, I received lots of questions from readers wanting to know what was included in the free plan. I was able to connect with the good folks at Dreamhost about their offerings, they offer their “Shared Hosting Plan” for free to non-profits within the United States. You can see what’s included at http://www.dreamhost.com/hosting.html.

Author: Matt Carlisle | Reprinted with permission, www.BigHeartDesign.com.

Stop creating SILOS and build what your site visitors need

mcarlisle — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:57:06 +0000

A few weeks back, I received a call from a church communicator inquiring about my consulting services. She was hoping that I could review her web strategy and offer feedback … something that I’m more than happy to do.

Following a few exploratory questions, it quickly became apparent to me that the strategy had holes – she had fallen victim to one of the cardinal sins of website design and strategy develop … something I refer to as silo web design, or the act of only considering the needs of the organization and not those of your audience.

Fess up. We’ve all done it before — developed a project from beginning to end without seeking anyone’s feedback or only speaking to those who will tell us what we want to hear. To be transparent, the first church website I ever developed in 1995 was done so in the comforts of my office, alone without a word of feedback from anyone. Granted, back then many of us were simply exploring this new World Wide Web thing. Needless to say, I learned a lot during the process. And ultimately the biggest lesson is to build what your web audience needs, not solely what you or your leadership wants.

The ultimate goal of ministry-based web architecture and design should be to make new disciples and help your community of faith deepen their relationship with Christ and one another.

In this case, the church communicator I was advising had only spoken with executive leadership during the discovery process. Seeking feedback from stakeholders like executive leadership, church staff and committee chairs is very important to the process. In fact, they are a great resource in identifying the various user groups of your website. I reminded the communicator that church staff seldom visits the website, and that the ultimate goal of ministry-based web architecture and design should be to make new disciples and help your community of faith deepen their relationship with Christ and one another. With that in mind, the job of defining your audience and creating clear, concise messaging is simplified.

Finally, don’t let a fear of speaking to people you may have never met or the pressures of a rapid turnaround get in the way of listening to the needs of your users. Their feedback will guide the development of your web strategy.

Don’t fret, in the coming weeks, I’ll discuss how you balance the fine line between staying true to both the human-centered design process and meeting the needs of the organization and executive leadership.

Here are two resources that I’ve developed that you might find helpful during this process:

Author: Matt Carlisle | Reprinted with permission, www.BigHeartDesign.com.

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