Tag Archive for: communication

089 – BWTG: e-News with MailChimp

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This episode of the WELSTech covers steps for starting an electronic newsletter for your church or school.

The discussion:

Bonus WELSTech Goodnesse-News with MailChimp – Today’s “Bonus WELSTech Goodness” focuses on delivering professional quality, timely and affordable electronic newsletters.  Martin and Sallie share ministry applications and easy steps for getting started as well as info on back-end reporting capabilities which allow users to analyze the effectiveness of their e-news messages.

Get involved:

070 – Twitter…What’s It Good For Anyway?

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This week on the WELSTech podcast we share ideas for using Twitter as a communication channel for your church or school, and we talk with Dick Diener about some interesting classroom technology projects.

The discussion:

All Things Twitter – By now WELSTech listeners have undoubtedly heard of the popular micro-blogging site, Twitter.  Martin and Sallie bring you up to speed on what Twitter is and more importantly on how this new instant communication channel can be leveraged for ministry purposes.

The interview:

Dick Diener(19:22) Integrating technology in the classroom – Martin and Sallie talk with Dick Diener, WELS member of Our Savior in Grafton, WI and Technology Integrator for the Mequon-Thiensville School District, about several interesting school technology projects.  Dick invites WELS schools to be part of the international “Honoring Veterans” wiki sharing project.

New Technology Showcase:

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:04:19) Episode 071 – The discussion will center around chapter seven of Clay Shirky’s book Here Comes Everybody, “Faster and Faster”

The featured artist:

(1:05:28) This week we close with the music of Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College (www.revelationwlc.com) – Roll the Stone Away from their CD titled “We Walk By Faith”

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062 – Your Digital Fingerprint

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie explore ministry implications of the new amateur communication channels that exist on the web and chat with professional photographer Lori Ashbrenner about simple ways to improve digital photography skills.

The discussion:

  • “Publish, Then Filter” – In today’s discussion Martin and Sallie look at the effects of the amateurization of communication as they discuss the fourth chapter of Clay Shirky’s Here Comes Everybody. The enormity and permanence of web-based (public) communication via e-mail, web sites and social networks offers unique opportunities and challenges for ministry.  Because the communication channels are so new, standards for filtering or ignoring certain communication aren’t yet established.

The interview:

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (37:12)
  • WELS.net feature (43:09)
    • Check out the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society site for devotions, prayers and mission projects plus rally and convention information – www.lwms.org
  • Community feedback (44:20)
    • The WELSTech listserve has been a busy place!  Check out the archive for these interesting threads:
      • Content filtering – Information shared has been added to the WELSTech wiki
      • Worship presentation software – Is anyone using EZ Worhip or Media Shout?  If so, please share your impressions of the software.
      • Hymnsoft
      • Mass e-mail solutions
    • Ben Polzin asked for an example church web site that is doing a good job of separating member and visitor content
    • John Schoosmith from Redeemer in Yakima, WA reported that Google Video is turning down uploads.  This is the platform that had supported closed-caption video and longer video lengths.  Stay-tuned to find out what solution emerges to fill this gap.
    • We heard from Rachel M. & David Savatiski via the #WELSTech Twitter conversation, and both reported that they got ideas for their congregational web sites from our last episode discussion of “Five Don’ts“.
    • David Savatski also shared a link to www.VoodooPad.com and left us a voicemail requesting ideas for teaching members to make use of congregation and school digital communication.
  • Coming up on WELSTech (1:00:53)
    • Episode 063 – Next week we’ll explore all things PDF – editing, optimizing, merging and more – and talk with our ShopWELS Lenovo partner, Patty Ullsperger

The featured artist:

  • We close with the music of WELS artist Wendysue Fluegee (www.wendysue.com) – Weary from her CD titled Everyday Christian (1:02:30)

Get involved:

061 – The Five Don’ts

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This week on WELSTech the topic is digital evangelism.  Martin and Sallie discuss five “don’ts” for church web sites and talk with Pastor Ken Fisher about the WELS evangelism site, WhatAboutJesus.com.

The discussion:

  • Don’t make these mistakes on your church web site! – Your church or school web site is oftentimes making first impressions on the world so it is, of course, important that its design and content reflect favorably on your congregation. Martin and Sallie discuss five “don’ts” you’ll want to avoid when creating your site.

The interview:

  • Pastor Ken FisherReaching out with WhatAboutJesus.com (23:08) – Martin and Sallie talk with Pastor Ken Fisher from Risen Savior in Milwaukee, WI about the development behind the WhatAboutJesus.com evangelism web site. Pastor Fisher also shares info on some of the key site features, feedback they have received and future plans for the site.

The tidbits:

The featured artist:

  • We close with the music of WELS praise band, Koine (www.koinemusic.com) – Crown Him With Many Crowns from their CD titled Koine (59:45)

Get involved:

057 – Are You a Media Outlet

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie discuss the effects on gospel outreach of the shift from traditional mass media to individual self-publication via the web.

The discussion:

The tidbits:

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS artist, Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com) – Press On from his CD titled Climb The Mountain (38:50)

Get involved:

051 – A Conversation with the President

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This week on WELSTech synod President Mark Schroeder joins Martin and Sallie to discuss the synod and its use of technology to further the gospel message.

The interview:

  • President Mark SchroederA conversation with the President (2:25) – In a special Christmas Eve interview, WELS President Mark Schroeder talks with Martin and Sallie about what he’s learned in the year and a half since he became president, how technology is assisting with the work of the synod, and how he sees it being used in the future.

The tidbits:

  • Coming up on WELSTech (25:30)
    • Episode 052 – Tune in for our 2008 countdown of best and worst picks of the year

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS pianist, Dawn Gehlhar – Silent Night from her CD titled Christmas Dreams (26:40)

Get involved:

Episode 049 – Dec 10 2008

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie take a look at chapter one of Clay Shirky’s Here Comes Everybody.  Ray Brown joins the conversation to share how he uses video e-mail for outreach and congregational communication.

The discussion:

  • Harnessing the power of groups – Martin and Sallie kick off a discussion of the book Here Comes Everybody – The Power of Organizing Without Organizations by Clay Shirky with a look at the concepts presented in the first chapter. The author uses a true story of a “one-person media outlet” to illustrate how easily groups can form on the Internet and the power these groups can yield.  Based on these concepts, the discussion shifts to how the church will be affected by these types of groups and also how it can make use of the ease of group formation to effectively carry out ministry.

The interview:

  • Ray BrownVideo e-mail (22:33) –  Ray Brown, Congregational Assistant from Summerlin Lutheran in Las Vegas, NV, joins Martin and Sallie to share information on their use of video e-mail as a communication tool to members and prospects.

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (43:27)
    • Create a flash scrapbook for your church or school web site – ScrapBlog.com
    • Windows Live SkyDrive – 25 Gb of “in the cloud” online storage
  • WELS.net feature (50:05)
  • Community feedback (51:42)
  • Coming up on WELSTech (52:47)
    • Episode 050 – We’ll discuss Chapter 2 of Here Comes Everybody and open our mail bag to share loads of community feedback

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS pianist, Dawn Gehlhar – Carol of the Bells from her CD titled Christmas Dreams (54:35)

Get involved:

Episode 043 – Oct 29 2008

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie tackle texting and twittering as they discuss mobile technology and applications for future ministry.  They also interview Pastor Hans Caauwe on his use of Apple’s new iPhone 3G.

The discussion:

The interview:

  • Pastor Johann CaauweiPhone in Ministry (17:40) –  Pastor Johann Caauwe from Trinity in El Paso, TX joins Martin and Sallie to share his experience of using the new iPhone 3G in his ministry – a great example of technology as a servant in ministry.

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (35:15)
  • Of interest (40:55)
    • Live streaming of the Spanish Reformation Service
      • October 31 @ 7 p.m. CDT from Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, WI
  • Community feedback (41:38)
    • Andy from Mt. Olive in Overland Park, KS suggested a future show topic on web site software options
    • Kevin Smith from Christ in Zumbrota, MN pointed us to ProCare Software for pre-school management
    • Ryan Rosenthal from Faith in Fond du Lac, WI shared his experiences with introducing new technology in his classroom and congregation
  • Coming up on WELSTech (46:12)
    • Episode 044 – Podcasting from the Wisconsin Teachers Conference with our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Gail Potratz

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS artist, WendySue Fluegge (www.wendysue.com) – All from her CD titled The Instrument (47:30)

Get involved:

Episode 040 – Oct 8 2008

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This week on WELSTech the focus is social networking and how online connections can be utilized for ministry.  Martin and Sallie talk with Andy Theimer, a WELS member who has started an online group aimed at connecting WELS business people.

The discussion:

  • Social networking inside the congregation – Martin and Sallie explore ways to extend your ministry efforts online via social networks.  From file sharing to gathering information via web forms to two-way interaction about Bible class topics on discussion forums, using web 2.0 tools to connect with members and connect members to other members with like interests (Mom’s groups, etc.) will become more and more acceptable and expected in this digital age.
    • Create your own social network at Ning.com

The interview:

  • Andy TheimerinWELS (21:31) – Andy Theimer, WELS member and entrepreneur, joins Martin and Sallie to share information about a group he’s started on the business-oriented social networking site LinkedIn called “inWELS”.  Listen and learn more about the benefits of being part of “inWELS”.

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (40:11)
  • WELS.net feature (48:46)
  • Of interest (51:08)
    • WELSTech contest – Extended to midnight, Sunday, October 12th
      • Phone in your comments (414-375-2334) to this question: What digital devices do you use in your classroom or Bible class?
      • All comments will be entered in a drawing for a $15 gift certificate to the WELSTech Podcast store – www.cafepress.com/welstech
    • www.k12onlineconference.org
  • Community feedback (53:46)
  • Coming up on WELSTech (57:48)
    • Episode 041 – All about newsletters – For your congregation or school as well as the synod’s Together newsletter
    • Episode 042 – Redesign – Why and how to redesign your web site plus the inside scoop on the upcoming WELS.net redesign

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of Wisconsin Lutheran College’s Revelation music ministry (www.revelationwlc.com) – God of Wonders from their We Walk By Faith CD (59:05)

Get involved:

Episode 033 – Aug 20 2008

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie discuss take-aways from a conference on church media and Martin talks with Matt Frazier about a new church communication tool.

The discussion:

  • Church Media 101 – Martin recently attended the ECHO: Church Media Conference in Dallas, TX and found a WELSTech listener’s dream suite of topics and tools for ministry in a digital age. Listen as he and Sallie discuss some of his impressions on the conference and a few of the ministry-centric applications he discovered.

The interview:

  • Matt FrazierChurch Communications Web 3.0 Style (19:30) – Joining Martin is Matt Frazier, CEO of Pursuant, to discuss web-based communications for congregations using a brand new Web 3.0 tool, Unifyer.

The tidbits:

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS pianist, Dawn Gehlhar – Nearer My God To Thee from her Inspirations CD (59:54)

Get involved: