Technology in church is nothing new. It was there when the overhead projector gave everyone the hymn words, and is now there in smart tech and sound equipment. It makes sense that mobile apps, the technology of today, are brought on board by churches too. Given that weekend worship attendance is dropping year on year, something definitely has to change if churches are to survive the seismic change of culture since the dawn of the mobile age.

1. How Mobile
Apps Are Helping
Churches Grow
by Andrew Gazdecki

2. Technology in church is nothing new. It was there when the overhead projec-
tor gave everyone the hymn words, and is now there in smart tech and sound
equipment. It makes sense that mobile apps, the technology of today, are
brought on board by churches too. Given that weekend worship attendance
is dropping year on year, something definitely has to change if churches are
to survive the seismic change of culture since the dawn of the mobile age.
• Fear of Change: Churches tend to be reac-
tors, rather than proactive leaders. Much of
this fear stems from a concern that tech will
come at the expense of real relationships, a
key purpose of the church.
• Engaging Millennials and Younger Au-
diences: The millennial generation have
shorter attention spans and a more cynical
approach to life due to the proliferation of
information at their fingertips than the gen-
erations before. Churches need to be capa-
ble of addressing this if they want to thrive.
• Communication: Congregations need com-
municating with and in the current land-
scape they are used to having instant com-
munications to their palm, not just a Sunday
morning pew sheet.
• Lack of Time: The leaders of churches typi-
cally lack time with great demands for their
Churches and Mobile Apps
The Problems
limited schedule. They need to be able to
disseminate information about events and
news all in one place.
• Church Resources: Need to be accessi-
ble in ways that truly reach where they are
needed.
• Building Community: Building the commu-
nity beyond the four walls of the church is
as much a part of its mission now as it al-
ways has been. Reaching the community
can be even harder now fewer Americans
go to regular services.
• Budget Constraints: Churches are often
facing budget constraints, and need to
demonstrate accountability for their spend-
ing.
• Exclusivity is Up: No longer can you stand
out from the church-crowd for having the
best sermons or the most insightful worship
music. Everyone now has access to ser-
mons online 24/7 from around the globe.
• Mobile App Functionality for Churches:
The beauty of church apps today is that they
can be designed to serve the exact func-
tions churches require. Therefore, church
apps can contain features such as Prayer
Request forms, Bible Study content, down-
loadable worship music, small group mate-
rial, or more. Church apps can be used to
build community, serve, extend a church’s
mission, train leaders, care for the needy
and more.
• Mobile Promote Real Relationships: Com-
bating probably one of many people’s pri-
mary concerns is the reality that far from
distancing people, technology can have a
powerful effect on bringing people togeth-
er that wouldn’t otherwise come together.
Church apps enable community and real-life
relationships without ‘demanding proximi-
ty’. You can get to know and meet people
within a church app in a way that facilitates
true relationship offline.
• Church Apps Remove Compartmental-
ization: It’s easy to be a ‘Sunday Christian’
when all that’s required of you is a few
hours of your time once a week. For Chris-
tianity to be relevant to people’s lives out-
side of a weekly service, the church needs
to meet people where they spend most of
their week: with a smartphone in their hand.
Overcoming the Problems
Mobile App Solutions

3. • Boost Biblical Literacy: Given 82 percent
of Americans think “God helps those who
help themselves,” is a Bible verse. 12 per-
cent think Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife. 50
percent of graduating high school students
think Sodom and Gomorrah were husband
and wife” there is a huge amount of im-
provement to be made (Source). Church
apps bring the Bible, and study of it, to a
convenient and accessible location. 74% of
church members read the Bible electroni-
cally, so it makes sense to be a vessel for
that.
• Church Apps Empower Change: Change
isn’t always a bad thing! Henry Ford said: “If
I had asked people what they wanted, they
would have said faster horses!” Change
within the church must keep pace with the
change happening outside their walls, and
church apps are the current reality.
• Make Yourselves Accountable: Credibility
comes from accountability: if you can show
truth in your service then you gain credibili-
ty. The millennial generation don’t just ‘take
your word for it’, instead you’re likely going
to find them Googling the facts spoken in
a sermon (Source). If those sermons were
available via chuch app, complete with ref-
erences, credibility is gained.
• Take the Church to the Community: Tak-
ing the church to the community and the
non-churchgoers of today means getting
in to people’s palms. Mobile apps, along
with church websites, are likely to be the
very first point of contact for potential new
churchgoers. It’s a powerful way to connect
with the unchurched.
• Communication and Fundraising Made
Easy: Church apps make communication
with your congregation so much easier than
traditional methods including event booking
and notifications, as well as enabling fund-
raising. Donations can be made via church
app and don’t need to wait until the collec-
tion bowl does its rounds.
Education and Mobile Apps:
The Success Stories
Sherwood Oaks Christian Church
Sherwood Oaks Christian Church in Indianapolis
has developed a mobile app which can be used
for sermon podcasts, event administration,
disseminating church news and also has a vast
and in depth contact directory. It is a first port of
call for both congregation members and the non-
churchgoers in the community.
Mars Hill Church
Whilst the Sherwood Oaks app is aimed
predominantly at the existing congregation, the
purpose of the Mars Hill Church mobile app is
to enable the church to connect in a real and
meaningful way with people in the local community
who may not otherwise hear the gospel. Via the
chuch app, sermons are available in both video and
audio format and there is a major focus on worship
with streaming live in real-time.
The Mobile Industry Benefiting Churches
The modern church needs to keep pace with
change, and that means being part of the ‘smart’
generation and getting into people’s palms instantly
and when they are needed, not in a few hours on
a Sunday. Mobile apps make it possible to draw
together the community and congregation and
provide a service and deliver a mission that extends
far beyond the four church walls. Mobile app
functionality can be tailored to the specific needs
of each individual church allowing for differences
along the way. With the right development, church
mobile apps can become a powerful tool for the
modern church.

4. Church
Apps
Made by
St. Stephen Catholic
Community - Old
Hickory, TN
New Jerusalem
Church
I.U.I.C. Christ Journey
Harborside
Church
The St. Stephen Catholic
Community in Old Hickory and
Mt. Juliet, TN mobile app is
packed with features to help
you pray, learn, and interact
with the Catholic community.
This app was created to be a
resource to aid in our mission
to minister to the needs of the
whole man in order to secure
abundant living for families in
the world. We are a family in
Christ, and we must seek to
build God’s...
When you consider the plight
of our people, it is one of
turmoil. You may ask church
leaders today why God
allowed us to suffer so much,
and ask for scriptural proof.
This app provides simple ways
to connect and share the
exciting things taking place at
Christ Journey Church.
Church application for
Harborside Christian Church
in Safety Harbor, FL. This
gives our family the ability to
stay up to date with current
happenings at Harborside
Christian Church, follow the
Journal...