Aaron Spiegel, Nancy Armstrong, and J. Brent Bill, 40 Days and 40 Bytes: Making Computers Work for Your Congregation. Alban Institute, 2004.
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Referenced in: Church Administration – Technology
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
Most churches do not have IT departments or other staff members with extensive understanding of technology. This introductory guide discusses each piece of a typical computer, and progresses from there to help readers assess their hardware and software needs and develop a plan for technology development. While some of the material is outdated (e.g. they still talk about computers with floppy disk drives), and although a congregation will probably use a consultant for this purpose, this brief guide may shorten the learning curve. The authors also help users understand the role of technology as a means of forwarding the church’s mission.
From the Publisher
“Today we are awash in computerized Bible games, pastoral care software, and church management systems with members’ personal information and giving records,” observe authors Spiegel, Armstrong, and Bill, but “too often we blindly accept and use technology without asking the big questions. Questions like, is it appropriate to our mission and ministry?” 40 Days and 40 Bytes will help your congregation explore technology so you can decide, from a ministry and culture standpoint, what you need to do. The goal: godly service not technological glitz. The authors are uniquely qualified to help you think about the role of technology in your congregation. All three are staff members with the Indianapolis Center for Congregations, which launched the innovative Computers and Ministry Grants Initiative in 1998 to help congregations address the challenges they face when using computer technology in their ministries. In this book, they share what they have learned in their work with 102 congregations. There’s no question your congregation is going to use computer technology. The only question is, “How?” 40 Days and 40 Bytes will help you design technology that fits your ministry and mission.
About the Author
Aaron Spiegel, Nancy Armstrong, and Brent Bill are members of the staff at the Indianapolis Center for Congregations, a gift to the greater Indianapolis area from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help strengthen congregations in the metropolitan area.
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