Articles

Bill Gates once said, “Why would anyone want more than 640k of RAM memory?”  That was a couple of decades ago, and a lot has changed since then.  Today’s PCs process more information faster than anything imagined in the early days of computing.  The software is demanding, however, and needs a lot of resources to work well. The question is, “When is it good stewardship to upgrade computers?”  At what point does it cost more to work with older computer technology than it costs to upgrade?

Many disagree about the best way to design church computer networks.  Someone once said that if you ask three network engineers how to build a network you’ll get four answers!  But is there a way to tell if a design strategy makes sense?  I think so.

Churches are about program, not administration.  During church site development projects we focus on program-related needs— auditorium, classrooms, etc— that’s only natural.  We look ahead with vision to meet our growing needs in these areas.  What often gets left behind is a balanced look at our growing administrative needs.  One of those is setting our campuses up for data communications— our network. Networks run best when their infrastructure is solid.  Let’s look at a few network cable issues worth keeping in mind as we plan our new site.

Are you tired of getting those emails too?  Most people don’t realize that modern viruses are able to spoof the From email address.  That means you may not have been the source of the virus you’ve just been told you sent.

Many ministries ask our firm to evaluate their use of computer technology and make recommendations.  Part of our process includes interviewing team members and asking a wide range of questions.  One of the needs they consistently express is the need to learn more about how to use the tools they already have.  They want to be efficient and effective, and they’re sure that training would help. We call training the most neglected component of ministry computer systems.  There is a simple strategy we saw in place at one client that costs little, is easy to accomplish, and produces great results.  And doing it will help your ministry accomplish more, in less time, and for less!

We’re learning to change our game face as IT professionals, finding new ways to serve our teams and reduce our intimidation factor. With that in mind, here are some ideas that can help.