Church Software

As computers continue to redefine our world, they are also changing how things are done within the church. Instead of having to pack around a Bible, church members are reading the good word through cell phones or palm pilots. Sunday School teachers are able to teach children using computer games instead of pictures and a chalk board. The many different types of church software are revolutionizing church.

Educational Church Software Games

Within the last decade a whole new world of computer gaming has been opened up. While 95% of the games that have been released are what I like to call "mind wasters," the remaining 5% have educational value. Imagine young children journeying with Jesus as he performed miracles and taught the people. Software exists that can help children have this journey.

Obviously games, will never replace fasting and prayer when trying to gain a knowledge about God, but software can help the experience to be more real for many children and even adults. Users of the software will be able to learn and enjoy important facts about Bible locations, people, and society. There is a big difference between reading about the city of Jerusalem and seeing what both modern and ancient Jerusalem look like.

Perhaps the main advantage of this type of church software is that children will enjoy learning. Teaching Sunday School can be extremely difficult; children have a short attention span. The software games allow the children to have a good time while they are learning.

Another way that software/computers have changed churches is through their management. Historically, churches kept track of membership and finances on paper. This proved to be rather time consuming and space consuming (think old boxes full of paper). In addition, under the paper method it was very difficult to "mine" the information to make smart decisions.

Nowadays software exists that takes up no space and allows church leaders to track useful information. For example, management software can be used that allows leaders to track the attendance each week. At the end of the year leaders can easily access the information and present it in weekly, monthly, or quarterly format. This type of information is invaluable as leaders can use it to determine where their efforts should be focused.

Church Accounting Software

This type of church software is closely related to church management software; in fact a lot of church management software can perform church accounting functions. This type of general ledger software can track donations and expenses. It can then be used to display the information in graphs and charts.

Many people wonder whether this type of software is necessary. The truth is that churches finances are a little different than normal companies finances; and are treated differently by the law. Churches use a type of accounting called "fund accounting." With the right type of accounting software for churches, fund accounting is much easier.

At this point, I feel obligated to mention that software will not solve all of your churches problems. The old fashion techniques of teaching still play an important role in the development of children. Pen and paper can be used to remember important information, and for some odd reason reading out of my old Bible is more powerful than reading the Bible online. Church software can supplement and enhance what your church already has, but the truth is you are probably already doing a lot of things write.