By Jonathan Howe
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the App Store. To celebrate, here are 10 apps every pastor and church leader should have.
1. Bible App. This is a generic title that basically stands for “whatever Bible app you want to use.” There are several in the app store, so just find the one that has your translation of choice and go for it.
2. Life on Mission. This app walks you through a gospel presentation using the “Three Circles” method of evangelism. You never know when a gospel conversation may start, so having an app to share the saving power of the gospel with someone who needs it is essential.
3. Audible. Pastors and church leaders spend a great deal of time in the car. With Audible, you’re able to redeem your time and listen to audio books while on the go.
4. Dashlane. Passwords are a pain. Dashlane takes the guessing game out of your passwords by storing them in a central database that you can sync across devices and even log into through a web browser if you’re on another computer. With Dashlane, you never have to remember a password again.
5. WORDsearch. Great for sermon study on the go. This app allows you to take your Wordsearch library with you on your Apple device. Search through your library by author, title, keyword, collection, or category. Use the parallel tool to compare texts or translations in real time. You can even create and save notes on the text for future studying.
6. Podcast App. Again, pick your favorite—Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Podbean, etc. Podcasts keep you informed, engaged, and entertained with relevant audio content. I know several pastors and church leaders who keep up with politics, sports, or denominational news through podcasts because their lives are far too busy to consume information in traditional ways.
7. Waze. I included this for one main reason—hospital visits. Waze can help save you time traveling from one hospital to the next or from meeting to meeting by providing real-time traffic updates and alternate routes.
8. Dropbox. Access your files anywhere you go. Dropbox also allows staff members to share graphics and information via the cloud. It allows you to not be tied to a single computer and gives you the ability to access information while on the go.
9. Evernote. Need a task list? Use Evernote. Need a notepad? Evernote. Need to file receipts? Evernote. Need to keep a mileage log? Evernote. Get the point?
10. Joshua Project Unreached People Group of the Day. Finally, this app keeps your prayer life and your mind focused on those who don’t yet know the Lord as their Savior. Every day, you are given an unreached people group to pray for. What better way to stay focused on the mission we have as pastors and church leaders.
Related:
- YouVersion’s Bible App Celebrates a Decade of Impact
- iFaith: How Religion and Technology Coexist in a Digital Age
- What Technology Drives Generation Z?
- What’s Next in Church Technology?
JONATHAN HOWE (@Jonathan_Howe) is director of strategic initiatives at Lifeway Christian Resources.
