ABC Great Rivers Region: Ministry Technologies

Consider Sending an Online Newsletter

Online newsletters are no longer new. Many churches in our Region have transitioned to this method of distributing their newsletter.

Whydo so?

Currency of news, less currency to the post office, and less expense of time and paper are some of the benefits these churches have found.

How?

Compose your Newsletter in a word or desktop publishing software program

Use Caution in what you would include in this online edition. Privacy and Safety issues must be a consideration for every church in all publications, even if these documents never are sent out as e-mail or posted on the web.Internet does not create this need, it amplifies this need for discernment.

Convert the Newsletter into a PDF file. (See advantages of PDF.) Do print out a copy, scan it, then save as PDF or the document will be too large for most of your subscribers. Do not print, scan, and save as a JPG or the quality of your document - especially the text - will be less than you would want representing your church.

Check the size of the new file. If the file that results is not less than 300 kb (better: less than 200 kb) then take steps to make your file smaller. (See "Downsizing Your Document")

Compile a list of those who would receive the newsletter as an e-mail attachment (Send and e-mail to all on your list asking them whether they want to receive your newsletter. If so, at the e-mail address you have on your list or at another.)

Open up your e-mail software and use the "attach" and/or "insert" command to "attach" your electronic newsletter to the e-mail.

Compose a note such as "Thank you for receiving this newsletter online."

Use your e-mail software to "attach" the newsletter

Click on "Send"

Another benefit to this method is that you can post your current newsletter and past issues on your church's web site. If a subscriber's e-mail service can't or won't handle your newsletter as attachment, she/he can then view and/or print it from within your web site. You are also able to send those who missed a past issue, or want to have another, to this archive of your past editions.

Check out the site http://www.useit.com. Explore the offerings. Find and read any articles that cover the theme of "writing for the web." This will not only help in your web postings, but it will help you re-hab your writing technique for today's readers for all of what you write for your congregation and community.

Newsletters
Technologies
Contacts

Consider Sending it by E-Mail

Converting Document to PDF

Downsizing Your Document

Producing the Church Newsletter: Reflections of a Church Communications Director

Blogging

Browsers (e.g. Internet Explorer)

Listed below are some areas of experience with which we may be able to help you as your question pertains to use of these technologies in ministry.

Dwight Stinnett
   Executive Minister
    Projection & PowerPoint
    PowerPoint Composition

Roland Sundberg
Executive Administrator
Database Questions

Cheryl Henson
   Area I
   Ministerial Recruitment
   Ministerial Cont. Ed.
      PowerPoint Compositions
      E-mail Newsletters
      Web Page

John Grisham
   Area II
   Stewardship
      E-mail as Communication
      PowerPoint Composition

Richard Ricks
   (Tech Team Leader)
   Area III
   Multimedia & Projection
   Web Technologies

Randy McNeely
   Area IV
   Bivocational Ministry
   Costa Rica Partnership
     Using PowerPoint for Display
        during events

Muriel Johnson
   Area V
   Church Planting
    Using Video Chat
      VOIP (Telephone over       Internet)
      E-mail as Communication       Tool