Architects Talk: Design Trends

Get With the System
The Potential To Use Interactive Touch-Screen Kiosks for Ministry Is Limited Only By Your Vision

In the leap from the old to the wired, one type of technology has become increasingly commonplace in banks, grocery stores, automobile supply shops, hospitals and shopping malls: touch screen information kiosks. But why haven’t churches embraced them?

Regardless of size, demographic makeup, denomination or weekly budget, touch screen kiosk systems can be a viable tool for any church that wants to bridge the gap between paper communications, welcome centers and Web pages. Best of all, these systems require only novice data entry skills, allowing most of the information to be maintained by virtually any staff member.

Given kiosk systems’ ease of use, it seems the greatest hindrance to churches considering touch-screen systems is lack of vision. In many ways, kiosk systems support and enhance ministry.

Recently, the director of communications for a 7,000-member church in Indianapolis expressed difficulty effectively communicating everything he needed to tell his members. Everyone agreed that information about upcoming events should be easily accessible to all, but finding a way to inform the entire church about every event or ministry opportunity was a challenge. Bulletins and newsletters provided all this information, but readers had to scan and sift through all the irrelevant information to get to sections of interest. And the usefulness of the church website became irrelevant once people stepped foot on the campus. What the communications director wanted was better control of the information offered to church members and guests. His happy medium was the production and distribution of individual materials designed to be relevant to each seeker.

Perhaps he should have considered a touch-screen kiosk instead. In four key ways, it would have enhanced, supported and defined his church’s ministry.

1. Touch-screen technology is extremely user-friendly. People simply approach the unit and touch the screen to get quick access to the information they need and want. There is no need to wade through a myriad of unnecessary details.

2. Most questions are addressed easily and quickly. The most common questions are answered with just a touch of the screen. For example, existing members want to know what is happening with church staff and leaders, when and where they can volunteer their time, who to go to in a crisis, information about other member families, how to schedule a funeral or memorial service at the church, how construction projects and capital campaigns are coming along, and important birthdays and anniversaries.

At the same time, guests are wondering how they can become members, what types of counseling is available, who is on staff, the answers to their most frequently asked questions, and how they can start getting involved in smallgroup ministries.

Children want to know how to get to their classrooms and which kids-only events are coming up.

And everyone wants to know the history of the church and its purpose, vision and goals, upcoming events and special worship services, class schedules, how to navigate the campus, employment opportunities, items for sale and prayer requests.

3. Touch-screen technology reduces your staff ’s administrative workload. Because touch-screen kiosk systems are interactive, members can update their personal information, sign up for church activities, and do much more on their own. When was the last time you printed a map to a kids’ class, had a name badge created, or took a picture to post on the new members’ board without enlisting a busy staff member’s help? Touch-screen technology makes it possible.

4. Kiosks offer budget-friendly customization. Touch-screen systems can be purchased for as little as $7,000 or leased for about $150 a month on the low end. Trading advertising space on the system to business-owning congregants is one option to offset the investment. In fact, it can even generate funds, as one forward-thinking church in Fort Worth, Texas, found out.

“While not trying to take away from the great commission of our work as Christians, we realized that Acts 6 illustrates how Christians rely on each other,” explains the church’s entrepreneurial-minded pastor. “Giving the body of Christ accessibility to the products, goods and services available to them through other Christian businesses and professionals is what it’s all about.

“After all, if I need to have my house painted, it’s better to know about people in the Church who do it professionally than take a risk with someone I don’t know,” he adds. “I see it as a win-win-win scenario.”