A paperless ministry

I've got this friend here in Cebu who is around 26 years old. He and his wife run a birthing ministry here and they work with a lot of very poor mothers. They are great people and David has helped us with our computer networks and other IT stuff for the past year. It is really interesting to talk with him about ministry promotion. He runs a largely paperless operation. Their newlsetters are all electronic and are distributed through e-mail or via their web site. They don't send out mail to their supporters, but communicate entirely through e-mail. They do webcasting and podcasting and vodcasting to get out the images and needs of their ministry and to do the updates for their sponsorship program . Their donors give on-line, and receive their receipts that way. Most of their donors are their age, and are used to getting all of their information, whether it be news, opinions or even ministry information from internet sources. Growing up in the information explosion age, this is the only way they really know to communicate find out the things that they want to know.

I have a brother who is an editor of a community newspaper. He estimates that in the next decade or so newspapers will disappear. Already they are experience dwindling readership and distribution, as more and more people get their news from other sources. Perhaps other institutions that we, the older generation, have grown up with will disappear. Like missionary prayer letters or ministry brochures of the paper variety.

We are looking at these issues as an organization. We have donors of all ages, many of whom have not totally embraced the computer age. So we must continue to produce the materials that they require to keep up on CSC and to know of our needs and opportunities. But we must also be sensitive those who want to learn and give on-line. We are trying to develop our web site. We are going to offer electronic options for our Foster Friends updates and our news and prayer letters.

So goes the leadership of a ministry in the 21st Century. Things change. It is exciting to be a part of an organization that has maintained its values and focus over the years, while trying to keep current and being willing to change.