Our world was shaken recently when the New York World Trade Center was hit by terrorists. We're learning lessons on many levels as a result of that tragedy. For the first time in more than a decade, we Americans were reminded that we are vulnerable. We are also re-learning the benefit of having a computer system disaster plan. Many companies in those buildings were literally put out of business because of the bombing. Some, however, found that their business never skipped a beat— because they had planned ahead.

Many Christians question the computer's place in ministry. After all, the beast is a computer, you know! Yeah, it's a gigantic computer in Belgium built by IBM, and it's even called the 3666! Maybe that's true, and maybe it's not. I enjoy studying the book of Revelation. It's the only book in the Bible that promises a blessing to anyone who reads the words of [the] prophecy, and... hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. (Rev 1:3) Let's try to discern what our responsibility is as we look together at some recent news.

A fellow recently asked his pastor about the difference between what heaven and hell would be like. That wise pastor responded in a way that still has the parishioner thinking. He said that for those going to heaven, this life is the closest they'll ever get to hell; and that for those going to hell, this life is the closest they'll ever get to heaven. Somehow that got me to thinking about software. The LORD has given me the marvelous privilege of consulting with hundreds of churches over the past eight years. In those consultations I have been amazed at the number of churches that have had less than satisfactory experiences with church management software (CMS). The concerns I've heard range anywhere from the software's inability to do what was promised, to missing or inadequate documentation, to poor technical support, to companies that have gone out of business. Fortunately, their story doesn't have to become your story. By approaching the CMS decision with some care and strategy, you can be one of the majority that have had good CMS experiences.

Having had the privilege of serving hundreds of ministries, we have worked with many computer committees. While some have had great success helping and empowering their ministry team, others have so impaired their professional staff's ability to get work done that they virtually shut down the operational side of the ministry. In both situations the committee members' intent was to serve— their church, their church staff, and their God. The defining difference of a successful computer committee is it's charter, it's members, and it's method. Let's look at these closely and identify how to make your's a successful computer committee.

Your most important software provider just released a major update. You're excited! Many of the features you've been wanting have been added. There's only one problem: None of the computers in your ministry office have the power or memory the upgrade requires! This story is repeated all too often by ministry after ministry all across the country and around the world. We find ourselves pushed into corners that we can't afford to buy our way out of. Then we begin to scramble, looking for a budget pocket we can tap into, or a generous donor who might help. But there is a way to avoid this trap... let's talk about it.