Not surprisingly, my article on Macs has had a very high reader response rate! The email I received fell into two categories: those with helpful tips and tricks, and those that were defensive. The defensive responses were critical of some of my statements because I didn’t wholeheartedly embrace and endorse the Mac. In this article I will first address some of the criticisms, and then share some of the tips and tricks. I hope you find it helpful!

There’s a lot of buzz these days about Macs, and many in ministry are asking for them. Historically this decision has been driven by the software / applications in use. PC-centric churches usually say, “No.” to Mac requests pretty quickly. But Macs can run PC software now, so the question is going to keep coming. We need an updated response, and this two-part article may help.

Some church assets are difficult to assess. Personnel, congregational goodwill, and data are just a few examples of assets whose value is usually understood only once it’s gone. None of us would say our data has no value to the organization, but trying to figure out what it's worth so we can adequately protect it is challenging.   Data is one of the most valuable assets a church has. Protecting it isn’t difficult, but must be approached as deliberately as the fire and security protection we apply to our church buildings.

This sounds futuristic: virtual computers! But they’re a reality, and have been growing in popularity since the 1990s! In fact, many churches and ministries are already saving money and enjoying the benefits of this technology. But what exactly is it? And is it safe? And what does it cost? Let’s take a closer look.

Computers and data networks are vulnerable, and wise IT Directors establish policies to protect them. They are guided by their research and experience in protecting these systems that contain valuable and sensitive data. But many go further than necessary, and without ever intending to, frustrate their staff. So let's talk about some 'best practices' ministry security strategies.