Many churches that seek to reach people and communicate in the most efficient ways are beginning to seriously consider mobile computing as the next step in technologically advanced communication tools. Short message service (SMS), or text messaging, is, for many, becoming a preferred method of communication. It is now the most widely used mobile data service with 35 percent of all mobile phone users worldwide being active users. In some European nations, SMS is used by more than 72 percent of the population. In the United States, roughly 40 percent of mobile phone users currently take advantage of text messaging.

As more people adopt text messaging as a normal part of their communications repertoire, churches are beginning to look to their management systems as a way to connect people in real time to others within the church. The addition of SMS to church management systems (ChMS) will add more flexibility and make it possible for people to receive important information immediately upon it’s distribution. No longer will it be necessary to check email in order to learn about an event, a need, an urgent prayer request or any other critical news within the church community.

The development of the Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed has made it more convenient for people to “subscribe” to information sources that are relevant to their daily lives. Otherwise known as a “Web feed,” RSS benefits publishers by allowing them to syndicate their content quickly and automatically. For ChMS providers that offer community-centric tools including blogs, forums and discussion boards, the addition of RSS will allow those same participants to subscribe to the boards that are more important to them, helping them be more proactive in their participation in those discussions.

Both SMS and RSS offer benefits that are most powerful for those using today’s PDA and/or Smart-Phone. No longer must someone be at a home computer or laptop in order to be informed about news that matters to them. As a church congregant, I can now be immediately and fully informed about the latest developments within my community, which in turn greatly enhances my sense of connectedness to that community.

Tribes Vs. Crowds

One of the greatest challenges that church leaders face today is developing a committed, well-connected, growing community. In his latest book, “Tribes,” Seth Godin talks about the difference between a crowd and a tribe. Tribes are committed to a common idea, a leader and to each other. They are involved, passionate and eager to share their zeal with others. Churches can either lead a crowd or a “tribe.” The difference is communication. Tribes are committed and passionate. Crowds may be as well. The difference is that tribes are connected to their leaders and to each other. Without the connectedness, there is no movement and no momentum within a church “tribe” other than what is generated at the weekend services and weekly small group meetings. Mobile computing is one of several technology “tools” that can empower this kind of connectedness and help develop a more committed and loyal following within any ministry.

Leaving political views on the sideline, one of the most illustrative examples of this today can be seen in the presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama. In his successful bid for the presidency, Obama raised more than $650 million for his campaign using a strategy based largely on the phenomenon of social networking. Leveraging Facebook, MySpace, e-mail and text messaging, Obama has re-written the rules of campaign financing by reaching legions of smaller donors in lieu of the more traditional major-donor based approach. In short, Obama has used social networking and technology to turn the crowd of people who support him into a “tribe” of committed followers who can easily share their passion with others and rally more people to the “cause.”

The Church and Social Networking

While they may be more regional in reach and scope, the local church also has the opportunity to achieve great leverage from social networking and while there are a growing number of options out there that will facilitate this, including Google and Yahoo!, the greatest benefits are realized when the social networking environment is seamlessly integrated into a comprehensive church management system. By providing private online community tools to their congregants, churches not only meet the community needs of today’s churchgoer, they can also glean important information by tracking activities, attendance, service opportunities and communication that happens within each and every group or community that uses the tools.

Simply put, mobile computing is one of the most powerful tools that can help churches increase community, connectedness, and communication. When this is done effectively, the local church is able to “tighten” the community and increase its level of passion and commitment to the vision. Additionally, the individual needs of the community can be met more quickly.

One of my visions for the future includes the ability to match the needs of a church family or individual with someone that can meet that need. Imagine a local missions pastor learning that a single mother in the church has a mechanical problem with her vehicle that she cannot afford to fix. By using ChMS that has text-messaging features, that pastor could quickly enter the need into the church management system and inform all those within the congregation that have auto mechanic skills through their smart-phone. A notified individual could then immediately respond to the need and obtain the necessary details to meet it, all through the power and convenience of mobile computing.

No community is stronger than when needs are met and passion is easily shared. Mobile computing makes this possibility a reality today.

Steve Caton is the vice president of sales and marketing for Church Community Builder (CCB) (http://www.churchcommunitybuilder.com) in Colorado Springs, Colo. Caton has an extensive background in technology and philanthropy, serving in key leadership roles with OnlineGiving.com, Christianity.com, CapTrust Asset Management and others. Caton leverages his passion and unique experience to help local churches strengthen community, empower connectedness and improve communication.