What is the best place to build a church today? The World Wide Web, of course.
"LifeChurch.tv", an Oklahoma mega-church, founded the first Internet church in 2006. This leading-edge organization had already expanded to include bricks and mortar locations in several cities of the United States, when its pastors launched what they now call their "Church Online".
Now broadcasting more than 25 online services weekly, LifeChurch.tv says its services collectively draw "up to 60,000 unique views weekly" and their broadcasts draw viewers from more than 140 countries. Seeking to attract the not-so-religious, the congregation buys Google ad words "sex" or "naked ladies", so people searching for these words will see an ad inviting them to a worship service instead.
Then there is the Flamingo Road Church. With five physical campuses in Florida, their Internet Campus provides online services for adults on Saturday and Sunday, for youth on Wednesdays, and for kids on Saturday afternoon. The Internet Campus is fully interactive and features a dedicated Internet pastor, live chat in an online "lobby", Bible study, one-on-one prayer through Instant Messenger (IM), and communion. (Viewers use their own bread and wine or water.)
There is no exact count of these interactive online campuses. Studying and supporting innovative churches, The Leadership Network has found at least 40. The churches cited here report they receive calls regularly from other pastors starting their own.
There is even a book, titled "Finding Faith on the Internet". Edited by Lorne L. Dawson and Douglas E. Cowan, this book provides and in-depth introduction to this flourishing new religious reality. From cyber-pilgrimages to neo-pagan chat room communities, the editors address a wide variety of core issues including youth, religion and the Internet, new religious movements, propaganda, and innovation.
Expect more religious institutions of all denominations worldwide to capitalize on the growth and popularity of this technology and appeal to a wider audience on the Internet. This expansion to religious opportunity will result in the exposure of more young people to a wider variety of worship alternatives. Eventually all large (and some smaller) religious organizations will offer online worship options.
********
EMPLOYEE RETENTION = EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT? NOT ALWAYS!
Just because employees are not leaving does not necessarily mean that they are engaged. In fact, studies tell us over 45% of today's workers are disengaged, costing their employers millions. Help your supervisors, managers, and executives to know what works and what doesn't to keep your good people. For a wealth of information and product offerings, visit our retention website at http://www.retentionconnection.com. Or better yet, engage Joyce or one of the other Herman Group consultants to help you keep people engaged and productive. Consulting and training to meet your needs. For a no-obligation, phone conference, all Joyce at 336-210-3548.
********
FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYEES REALLY THINK AND FEEL
Discover what’s really going on in the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-416-7066, or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html
********
GOOD SELECTION = BETTER RETENTION
If you are not using pre-employment assessments, you are flying without radar---not very smart in today's highly competitive environment. Let us help you better understand your candidates and your employees. In less than 30 minutes, you will know if they can do the job (abilities); their work behaviors, even their personality and attitudes (like integrity & ethics), and those can't be trained. It's very cost effective, too! For more information, contact Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail assessments@hermangroup.com. Validated for many countries and cultures. We offer in-depth help with job descriptions, too! http://www.hermangroup.com/assessments.html
********
Looking Forward. . .
Joyce Gioia-Herman
Digg This 
Del.icio.us