Tag Archive for: software

587 – Streaming

It’s WELSTech time, so get ready for your weekly dose of tech-in-ministry goodness. This week we share tips for setting up live streaming, and we celebrate the Chinese New Year with prayer. We also visit the Free Bible Images web site and share community feedback related to optimizing Facebook posts. Wait no longer for WELSTech!

The interview and discussion:

Get started streaming – Philip Wels, lay member of Peace in North Mankato, MN joins Martin and Sallie to share his expertise in live streaming worship.

News in tech:

Plans to integrate Facebook Messenger, What’s App and Instagram messages

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

Free Bible Images

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Check out the live streaming and sermon video archive from Peace Lutheran Church (ELS) in North Mankato, MN, mentioned during the interview today as a congregation using Philip’s recommended setup. Watch the sermon video from Sunday, February 3, 2019.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 588 – Our “Let’s Build an Intranet” series continues with a practical look at how to build a church intranet using Google Sites.  Release date: Wednesday, February 13.

Get involved:

536 – Training Techies: Church Management Software

February, designated as “training techies” month on WELSTech, continues as Martin and Sallie are joined by Peter Frank of Concordia Technology Solutions to discuss church management software. Their picks of the week have a Google theme including timers and calendars, and there’s some great community feedback.

The discussion:

Working with the church database – An important function of the church (and school) office is maintaining information on members and prospects. This is typically done using a database with a special name … Church Management Software (CMS). Most CSM solutions allow for multiple users to enter data, which is both a blessing and a responsibility for those who oversee the CSM. Martin and Sallie share tips for maximizing the effectiveness of the volunteer’s work in the CMS.

The interview:

Peter Frank from Concordia Technology Solutions shares insights on working with volunteers and Church Management Software. Peter heads the team behind two popular CMS tools – Shepherd’s Staff and Church360º Members & Ledger.

News in tech:

WELS now:

Upcoming Men of His Word Conferences

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Concordia Technology Solutions Resource Center

Community feedback:

Featured video:

New this week from the Concordia Technology Solutions YouTube channel is The Value of Tracking Church Attendance (and How to Do It!).

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 537 – Tune in for tips on equipping members to be church social media ambassadors. Release date: Wednesday, February 21.

Get involved:

431 – Our Digital Habitats

This week’s WELSTech features a discussion of the hardware, software, browser extensions and devices which Martin and Sallie use in their day-to-day digital work. We also take a look at the newly redesigned Martin Luther College web site, discuss open source church software and feature a video from Lakeside Lutheran High School’s uber popular YouTube channel.

The discussion:

mergedc145x79Information workers – Martin and Sallie share the tech that makes them smile {big monkey grins}!

Hardware

Desktop

Software

Browser & Extensions

Devices

News in tech:

Google for Education Presents – Content 2.0 Webinar

WELS now:

Ministry resources:

Open Source Church Software Roundup

Featured video:

This week we feature Lakeside Lutheran High School’s Soaring to New Heights video on the WELSTech Promo YouTube Playlist.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 432 – Chapter 6 of With All Your Heart, the WELSTech book project, is on the docket. The focus will be volunteers, and we’ll talk with folks from the Member Ministry team at St. Paul’s Lutheran in New Ulm, MN. Release date: Wednesday, February 17

Get involved:

417 – Flipping

You’ll flip over this week’s WELSTech topic – creating video for flipped instruction in the traditional classroom as well as any setting learning takes place. Sallie shares what she learned from her new friend, The Copyright Coach, and Martin demos an impressive follow-me tool for recording classroom instruction. Plus we take a tour of the Bible.com site.

The discussion:

FlippedThe technology behind flipping learning – Martin shares his recent Wisconsin Lutheran State Teachers’ Conference presentation about flipping instruction with tips on software for creating videos on your computer, tablet or Chromebook plus hardware recommendations on microphones and other devices.

News in tech:

Google gets back into podcast distribution with Google Play Music Podcasts

WELS now:

Luther Preparatory School celebrates their 150th Anniversary with a special service featuring choirs for all four synod schools – Sunday, November 15 @ 3:00 pm Central

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Bible.comMobile apps

Featured video:

This week’s we’ve added a new video to the WELSTech Presentation/Teaching YouTube Playlist featuring Pastor Kevin Hundley’s (Bethany, Kenosha, WI) WELSTech Conference IGNITE presentation about On Demand Virtual Confirmation Instruction (slide deck).

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 418 – Tune in for a discussion of project planning as Martin and Sallie share chapter 3 of WELSTech’s DIY book discussion project, With All Your Heart: Project Management for Churches, Christian Schools & Other Faith-Based Organizations. Join us Tuesday, November 10 at 4 pm Central. welstechlive.wels.net

Get involved:

355 – eGiving

This week’s WELSTech topic, electronic giving, is a popular one as more congregations and schools consider this giving option for members. Besides the main event, there’s news and links of all flavors including Gmail tips, photo sharing platforms, free educator accounts, Android apps and the “Teacher Chart of Doom.”

The discussion:

churchCC1 145x125Office Resources II – Martin and Sallie wrap up review of the WELSTech Wiki Office resources with a look at the topics of productivity, hardware and software. Lastly they spend some time discussing a variety of methods and examples of electronic giving, from online giving to text-to-give to mobile giving to card reading equipment. Please request a wiki account and add your experience!

Tech tips:

  • Filters and “Folders” in Gmail
  • Control + Shift + L to select the browser URL

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

Did you know … Presenters at WELSTech Conference 2015 (wels.net/welstechconf), July 9-11, 2015 at Country Springs Hotel and Conference Center in Pewaukee, WI attend for FREE?!! We’re currently looking for presenters and tech topics of interest for our breakout sessions. Give it some thought and submit your ideas!

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 355 – On next week’s WELSTech we do a bit of housekeeping as we focus on the always important planning and policies resources for churches and school. (Broadcast date – 08/26/14)

Featured video:

This week we have an addition to the WELSTech Presentation/Teaching YouTube playlist from this summer’s WELS International Youth Rally, Rev. Jon Enter’s Keynote Presentation.

 

Get involved:

354 – A Smarter Office

Join WELSTech this week for a conversation about data management software for the church and school office. Martin shares his experience with remote control software, and listeners share comments and questions.

The discussion:

box 145x125Managing Church and School Data – In the dog days of Summer 2014, the WELSTech Wiki Migration series continues as Martin and Sallie discuss church, school and childcare management software.

Tech tips:

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

Did you know … Presenters at WELSTech Conference 2015 (wels.net/welstechconf), July 9-11, 2015 at Country Springs Hotel and Conference Center in Pewaukee, WI attend for FREE?!! We’re currently looking for presenters and tech topics of interest for our breakout sessions. Give it some thought and submit your ideas!

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 355 – We continue our tour of the church and school office with a look at hardware and software, productivity techniques and electronic giving on our next summer wiki migration special episode. (Broadcast date – 08/19/14)

Featured video:

This week we introduce the new WELSTech Product Demos YouTube playlist, and we’re seeding it with not one, but two, useful demo videos:

 

 

Get involved:

341 – DIY Cable Management

This week on WELSTech we’re celebrating a birthday Google-style and repeating our DIY (do-it-yourself) focus. There’s an overview of new church financial online solutions plus lots of great community feedback. We also kick off a new featured video segment of the show.

The discussion:

Dealing with cables – Martin and Sallie share do-it-yourself solutions for dealing with electronic cables to keep workspaces neat and possibly stylish.

The interview:

Peter FrankManaging your church finances – Peter Frank, Manager of Concordia Technology Solutions, shares updates on their latest web-based software solutions for church financial accounting and online giving.

Ministry resources:

  • Light Stock
  • Share a helpful resource that makes a difference in your ministry, and you will be entered to win an Apple TV. Deadline for entry is May 31, 2014.

Tech tips:

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 342 – Get in shape to live for Jesus with techie fitness tracking tools. Martin and Sallie talk with MLC Professor for Physical Education Dan Gawrisch about fitness tips and tricks. (Broadcast date – 05/20/14)

Featured video:

Enjoy Koine’s Lord Jesus, You Have Come in Love video and check out WELSTech ‘s new WELS Musicians playlist

 

Get involved:

254 – Ministry In A YouTube Generation

Video in ministry can serve many purposes and reach a variety of audiences.  On this week’s WELSTech, we explore ideas for congregational video use, creation and hosting as well as talk with Jeff Hendrix about his use of video to explain the pitfalls of virtual church.  We share a bit of news, our weekly picks and lots of community feedback as well.

The discussion:

Video creation – Martin and Sallie answer the Why, Who, What, How and Where questions of video in ministry. Video is rapidly becoming the preferred tool for communication in this “YouTube Generation,” so it serves us well to consider the possibilities of using video to spread the Gospel message.

The interview:

(22:50) Big topics in video format – Bethany seminary student, Jeff Hendrix, talks with Martin and Sallie about his recent master’s thesis, Material Beliefs in a Virtual World [PDF], and the process of crafting the content for video delivery.  Jeff also shares information on another project he is involved in, developing a catechism app.

News in tech:

(40:42) Coming soon … iPhone5 and the new iPod Touch

Picks of the week:

7 Best:

(46:56) Coming up in October … 7 Best Member, Prospect & Student Management ToolsShareyour favorite software, tools, and tips for managing data in the church and school office.

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:02:07) Episode 255 – Teacher and tech coordinator Gail Potratz is back to share her edtech wisdom including her recent Chromebook deployment, plus Martin and Sallie interview another edtech leader, Chad Kafka. (Release date – 09/25/12)

The featured artist:

(1:03:53) This week we close with the music of Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries – You Are My World

Get involved:

240 – Summer Software Showcase: Jing

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we take an in-depth look at Jing screencasting software.

The discussion:

Let me count the ways – Martin and Sallie kick off the 2012 Summer Software Showcase series with a look at free screencasting software Jing from TechSmith.

Ministry Uses

  1. Web site tour
  2. Internal software demonstrations
  3. Flip your classroom
  4. Have students produce video projects
  5. Tech support

More ideas for using Jing

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

  • (25:36) Our next 7 Best list will be revealed on the 4th of July (how patriotic of us!), and listeners can be part of the list creation.  Simply let us know your favorite Webmaster Resources.
  • FinalWeb training – This summer we’re offering online training on web site creation and maintenance using the FinalWeb system.   And, for the first time, we’ll be using Google Hangouts.  Hurry, registration closes July 24th!!

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 241 – Oops!  We may not have announced it on the show, but next week the WELSTech Summer Software Showcase topic is Google Calendars. (Release date – 06/20/12)

The featured artist:

(50:30)  This week we close with the instrumental music of flutist Jeannine Dennis – Sheep May Safely Graze 

Get involved:

234 – Smile

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we countdown the 7 best photo organizing and editing tools.

The discussion:

Take my picture! – The 7 Best series is back and this month Martin and Sallie share their top picks for working with photos.

Photo Organizing and Editing Tools

  1. Aviary –Phoenix image editor and Raven vector editor
  2. Picasa
  3. Instagram
  4. Irfanview
  5. Flickr
  6. GIMP – Tutorials
  7. PicMonkey

Kudos to the WELSTech community for lots more great recommendations:

Coming up in June … 7 Best Bookmarking Tools and Tips

News in tech:

(24:44) Google Drive is live

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(44:25) Episode 235 – Martin and Sallie conclude their discussion of the online e-book How to Transform Your Small Business With Social Media, looking at Chapter 5 to the end. (Release date – 05/09/12)

The featured artist:

(45:38) We close the podcast with the music of Cross to Glory – One Name from their CD titled “Life’s Song

Get involved: