ChurchMediaDesign.tv is a great site to learn more on how to use and create media for church.

Their newest episode #89 featured a documentary that Hillsong Television made about “Church News”. Church News is a 3-minute segment in their weekend services where announcements are made or ads as they call them.  There area a lot of good tips on filming and producing video elements in this show along with the resources, technology, and programs they used to produce this seqment of their weekend services.

It's worth checking out! www.churchmediadesign.tv

TruthCasting is a website that will allow you to host your sermon video's for free.  Now they are offering you a customized iPhone app that will show up on iTunes for a small fee.  Check it out.

Following my post a couple days ago on Going Where the People Are, I wanted to say that going where the people are isn't enough, nor is content alone enough.

You need to be attractive and compelling.  That's why CSS and layout is important. Don't worry you don't have to really understand CSS, but think of it as code that organizes content in attractive and compelling ways. In lamen terms it is code that personalizes the layout and background to websites or social networking platforms.

IT SETS YOU APART
One of the best facebook examples that I have seen is Soul City Church's fan site. 

Yes, the photo to the left is a photo of their facebook fan site, not there website or blog. 

Very attractive and compelling. It sets them apart from all the other churches on facebook. You can see more unique facebook fan pages at facebookdesigns.org.

THE ADVERSE EFFECT
The adverse effect of going from attractive and compelling look to a less than compelling layout is JesusCreed.org that has moved to belief.net.  Even though Scott McKnight is brilliant, his content off the charts, the layout that belief.net has moved him to is distracting to say the least.  It's actually difficult from me to read his content now because of the poor and distracting layout. 

Check them out below and let me know which one is more attractive and compelling?

The old JesusCreed.org look...


The new...

It's obvious, that in the social networking scene, facebook has emerged as the front runner. Not only is Facebook powerful because of it's ability to collaborate, communicate, invite, and present to one another.  But it's powerful because it's where the people are. 

I can't even tell you how many people (from nearly every demographic) want be my friend on facebook.  And I can't tell you how many people who have never set foot into our church gatherings/services, but have become a fan on our churches facebook fan page.  So now our church has direct access into their lives and a platform to connect with them, and the best part is that they found us! 

If your church or organization is not on facebook, you should be.  I always say, 'Go where the people are.'