I have recently come into an ipad 2! This has been a wonderful inclusion into doing ministry more efficiently and effectively with this wonderful tool. I have had it for a number of months now and am still exploring ways that it works and is useful. I thought I might share some apps and ways that I use my ipad to enhance my ministry with the hopes that it might help someone and they in turn share their ideas.
- Dropbox - Fantastic tool for sharing data between computers and devices. My sermons and notes are uploaded into dropbox and edited or read on my ipad or even my iphone. No longer do I have to leave your work at the office! I talk it everywhere. Far more efficient than using a thumb drive.
- Bible apps - This is probably nothing new to anyone, but the ability to search, call up passages, make notes, different translations, bookmarks, highlight, etc. has made this an incredible tool not only for study and Bible Classes, but to when I visit with people. Olive Tree is great due to their tools for Hebrew and Greek. I also use Tecarta Bible.You can't imagine how easier it is not to have to carry my BHS (Hebrew OT) or my NA27 (Greek NT) around. (Not to mention the dictionary for those obscure greek words.)
- GoodReader - This is program that will let you work with many different formats, but especially useful for reading or annotating .pdf. I recently led a parenting class and instead of writing my notes on my papers, I used GoodReader and digitally highlighted, made notes, wrote comments from parents, and even cut and pasted my scripture passages right into the document so I could more efficiently go right to the passage within one program. Also docs. etc. can be used.
- Remember the Milk - This is one of the best Todo list apps out there. I have so many different aspects to the ministry that I do. I need one place to help keep me organized with what I have to do. RTM works with iphone/ipad/blackberry/android/web and even outlook! All synced together so wherever I am or what I am doing I can organize my todos with family ministry, sermons, meetings, shutins, day school, elders, etc, etc. It will even push you reminders on your iphone or ipad. Extremely helpful in keeping all your ministry areas together.
- Pray Now - Daily pray app from Concordia Publishing House. I hav
e the paper version which is HUGE and cost me over $30. But the app is only $9 and works on my iphone or ipad! This is a marvelous app for daily devotions, Orders for Daily Prayer, or just reading the Bible. You can even add your own notes. Highly recommend this app, especially for Lutherans.
- Note Taker HD - I have recently come upon the latest update to this note taking gem. I have tried at least 6 other note taking apps, but none fit the bill like this one. No longer do I go to church meetings, board meetings, or staff meetings with a legal pad etc. I write, yes, write with a special pen, on my ipad to keep notes. I can type notes also, make charts or graphs, add pictures etc. This is a very versatile app and with the push of a button I can go to the web if I need to. $5 app is very reasonable. (oh, yeah, turn your notes into .pdf and send them to dropbox. One of the keys to this
- Splashtop HD - This is probably one of the more fun apps. With this free app you can completely control another computer in the building through wifi. (Yes, Goto my pc has more function and can go anywhere, but it is not FREE!) I have sat in another office, in a meeting etc, and hit the app and within seconds I have full access to programs and files on my laptop in my office. If I am at home, I use it there. Very useful when using my incredibly powerful computer Bible program Bibleworks. There is a little lag depending on speed of your computer and your wifi connection, but it has been very useful.
Let me share how I put some of these tools together. I recently led a parenting class that was meeting in our sanctuary for space. We have screens in our church connected to our computer in the back. Unfortunately I am teaching from the from and I needed access to powerpoint and video on the computer in the back. All my notes were on my ipad in my annotated .pdf. With one click of a button and within seconds I was controlling the computer in the back and ran the ppt from my ipad, then proceeded to run the dvd video from the ipad. Not loud enough...no problem, just adjusted the volume from the ipad. Stop the video at a spot to talk...hit the pause button on my ipad.
I have to admit, it was cool. But more importantly is was extremely useful and I was able to concentrate on the lesson and the people, not the tech. The tech is useful, but it cannot be distrcting that people feel like you are more concerned with the tech then them. I also feel that tech helps with the Gospel proclimation, but the Gospel is still first and foremost!! There are other things I use and as I come across them I will share, but this gives one a start.
Do you have ways that you use you ipad for ministry of any kind. Please share. These new tablets can be fantastic in assisting in the proclamation of the Gospel.
PS - And of course I have Angry Birds to use during those long meetings...but you didn't get that from me!
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