M2LIVE » web

September Webinar – Dr. David Foster

admin — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:14:12 +0000

Guest: Dr. David Foster // The Gathering Nashville
Date: September 14, 2010

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/.

July Webinar – Justin Wise

admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:43:39 +0000

Guest: Justin Wise // Lutheran Church of Hope
Date: July 29, 2010

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.

May Webinar – Tony Steward

admin — Thu, 13 May 2010 21:11:59 +0000

Guest: Tony Steward // Lifechurch.tv
Date: May 13, 2010

April Webinar – John Saddington

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:21:00 +0000

Guest: John Saddington // ChurchCrunch
Date: April 14, 2010

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.