Go tech or go home!

This coming Sunday I will have the opportunity to share the next chapter for BridgePointe. We call it “Vision Sunday.” It’s a chance for me to share the periscope view for our church’s next steps. One of our vision points will be to be more “tech connected” at BP. Look at the facts:

•       74% of church members read the Bible electronically.
•       Facebook users spent 15-30 hours a month on the site.
•       Twitter is adding 500,000 people a day.
•       Religious people use technology at a higher rate than non-religious people: 79% use the internet; 86% use cell phones; 75% use e-mail.
•       Of people age 18-29, 75% have created an online profile on a social network and 1 out of 5 have posted a video of themselves online.
•       Seventy eight percent of people who visit a products’ web page with video will watch it and 90% of them will make a purchase decision based on the video.

The lesson for our church? “Go tech or go home!”  This wake up call compelled me to enlist the professional expertise of two members of our church family, Jesse Horne and Tony Berwald, to create a new web site for our church family. Take a look at it: www.bridgepointechurch.org

The numbers suggest that it is not an issue of “technology.” It’s about connecting with people. Technology is not a replacement for close relationships. It is a tool and support for connecting with others. I want to encourage you to take some action steps regarding our new web site:

•   Don’t rely on the church services to adequately inform you of what’s happening. Go to the church site frequently for the latest information.
•   Use the site as your primary way to register for opportunities.
•   Get a twitter account and post comments after BP events @bpclife. Comments post directly to the site’s front page for everyone to see!
•   Expose your friends and family to BP by inviting to visit the site before they visit the church through email links.
•   Sign up for the weekly e-blast and encourage others to do so as well.
•   Post on our BridgePointe Facebook page.
•   Become a part of the CCB network. You can do this from the web site under “BP Together.”
•   Listen to Sunday messages you miss. They latest messages will be posted each week.

The site will continue to grow and improve. We hope to add video, online growth courses, pictures from events, online membership and more. All the web site needs is … YOU. Go tech or go home!