Thanks for the HT Jim.
It seems like another great app has made it’s way into the iTunes store.
You can download it directly here.
It’s nothing to necessarily write home about; it’s got their RSS feed, Twitter, Flickr, and even a YouTube feed.
But, if anything, let it encourage you that it’s pretty easy to do and affordable.
It makes me wonder, though, where we can begin to really innovate? By the end of the year I imagine most ministries and churches and even blogs like these will have something like this.
But why? What for? What’s the “point”? Are we asking the right types of questions? Are we asking them at all?
This isn’t an indictment on anyone (especially since the 8BIT Network is looking into rolling one out) but rather just an introspective moment before I hit the “Publish” button on the right side of my screen.
Who knows.
I downloaded it, did you?
All of these apps provide little more than the ability to consume the content (sermons, blogs, media, etc.) that the church is producing.
What I’d like to see are church apps that enhance or mobilize the church experience. Such an app might feature:
- prayer engine
- integration with ChMS to facilitate event registration, small group interaction, etc.
- maybe even a mote passing feature so you don’t have to whisper to your buddy 2 rows down! Maybe not…but maybe yes. It’d be like the chat features found in most iCampuses.
Currently the best iPhone app that improves the church experience for me is made by another church. YouVerion’s Live feature is the closest I’ve seen anybody come to a church app that innovates.
That said, I’m looking forward to seeing how the Church innovates further in the mobile space.
P.S. Logos on iPad will be teh rad!
i think so too bro! you’re not a designer, are you? Have you seen these iPad resrouces?
http://churchcreate.com/first-ministry-church-ipad-app-ipad-gui-photoshop-file/
I happen to work as a full time designer for Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma.
I had not seen those iPad resources. Thanks for sharing!
SWEET! that’s awesome.
Wow a prayer engine, or a place for people of the same church (and others) to post & rec. specific prayers. Now that is something to think about.
Only thing I wish this app had was the ability to have backgrounds available to put on your phone. Other then that it is awesome
wish it had a button on it where i could control the world…
thanks for the shout…POTSC is a non-profit, so we have to figure out creative ways to get access to stuff like this.
I too struggle with these apps, they seem like the same content in a different place. If they’re very low cost or free, sure why not. But I don’t see a need being filled.
I’d rather use my feed reader to read all my feeds, itunes to listen to all my podcasts.
I’m with Eric, the best example in the church world is LifeChurch with YouVersion, that fills a need which means it’s not just downloaded (who cares?) but is used.
good points michael. god points.
Via Blogger C.C. Chapman: Why Have an iPhone App: http://www.cc-chapman.com/2010/02/05/why-have-an-iphone-app/.
“I think the iPad is going to usher in a whole new wave of people consuming online content. Devices like the iPad and applications on it are the next generation of this. Instead of going through bookmarks you are going to be clicking through applications and I wanted to make sure my content was there as well.”
very cool. i agree this is of value.
nice one.
So John, when is NP Ministries going do something similar – of did I miss that?
we’re building it right now.