Remember the old saying, “So much to do, so little time?”
As a leader in ministry, it is easy to feel that way. That’s why I love to utilize technology tools that keep me grounded and set me on track – and give me a place to drop ideas from my brain.
So, in a desire to be active in my calling and to lead well, I have traded in my pencil and paper for apps that allow me to gather, plan and execute with the time I have been given. Here are a few of my favorites:
Calendar
With a variety of shared calendars available, such as Google and iCalendar, our teams can stay in sync with events, meetings and church-wide dates. A personal calendar inside the app provides a place for me to add meetings, member’s surgery times, birthdays and anniversaries of challenging days, allowing me to be intentional. By putting happenings on “repeat,” I am aware of important dates each year.
GroupMe
Since text messaging is a simple way to communicate, the app GroupMe works well for team text messages allowing both iPhone and Android users to stay in sync. It is a midline between text message and email, meaning that notifications can be turned off on the weekends or vacation to allow users to unplug. In our specific team group message, I use this app to communicate prayer requests, ministry needs and asks.
TIP: Be sure to always finish your sentences in communication, especially to the opposite gender. For example, “Can you meet?” versus “Can you meet me at church to discuss the plan for the Adult Ministry Small Groups Event? Sarah Jones and John Smith will join us as well.” This protects and respects all parties involved both directly and indirectly.
Wunderlist
I am the list maker who adds things to my list even after completion just to mark it off. I know you do it, too! Wunderlist is a free app, for both computer and phone, that allows the user to create unlimited lists, collaborate with contributors, create subtasks and deadlines, assign the tasks, and upload files all topped off with a DING when the task is complete. With folders of lists in this app, one can best manage their week with specific lists for days of the week, teams and ideas.
Google offers a free Drive for users and teams to collaborate with stored files. You can invite teammates to join you or simply to have the information on hand by using their Docs, Sheets, and Forms apps. If you are just getting started with Google Drive, here is a great place to learn the basics.
Now that I have a place to get ideas out of my head and in one of the apps, I am ready to gather the team, plan the dream, and execute the plan while saying, “there is much to do with more time.”
What are some of your favorite technology tools for leading in ministry? Share in the comments below!
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