In light of recent events many stories and articles are circulating about the need for disaster preparedness. Many of us are in areas prone to at least one form of natural disaster. What are the facts? How do we prepare? Possibly the hardest question to answer-- what will it cost?

Who would have thought a dozen years ago that most of our ministry communication would be electronic! Yet most of us now spend a large part of our day reading, writing, and responding to email— both within our organization and beyond. Does it sometimes feel overwhelming? It does for me! Do you sometimes wonder whether there are etiquette and style guidelines you should be aware of? There are!

Ministries change computer systems and software for a variety of reasons. Some of these are good, and some are wasteful. What are some of the “right” reasons to change?

When churches change computer systems or software, they’re often surprised at the normity of the task. The time and costs often run over budget, and the transition often leaves a trail of unmet expectations. With a little understanding of the process and some preplanning, however, these unmet expectations can be minimized and even avoided.

Often when I talk about Intranets, I can tell by the look on people’s faces they think I misspoke; that I meant Internet. But Intranets are very powerful tools that help organizations communicate better internally and equip team members more effectively. They’re worth considering!