I remember the first time I saw someone have their mobile phone out at a church service. A teen was playing a game in the middle of the sermon. Since then, mobile phones have invaded every aspect of life. How do you handle cell phones in church?
That question inspired my cartoon for this month. This pastor has had enough of divided attention in his pews. Practically, the pastor’s idea isn’t going to work. Alas, it’s illegal to jam cell phone signals in the United States.
Once upon a time, electronic communication meant phoning a friend. Now we don’t use phones to make phone calls—we text! Considering this, should your church use text messaging?
While the pastor in my cartoon may have the right idea, he probably needs a different phone number! It may sway some parishioners to text some less-than-positive feedback. Still, isn’t it amazing we can use technology to such a degree today?
There is a lot of pressure when you have the responsibility for running the presentation during a church service. And it doesn’t help when the worship leader goes with the Spirit. Such an experience inspired me to write and draw this worship slides pressure cartoon.
I have been on both sides of the screen. There have been times when I am in the congregation and I have been distracted by the erratic timing of the slides. I have wondered, “What in the world is the operator thinking? Is this even the same song?”
There was a time when giving at church was as easy as passing the offering plate down the aisle. But these days are different. Welcome to texting to give at church!
Of course, when a new technology appears, there is always someone trying to exploit it. When I thought about that, it led to this cartoon.
Granted, texting to give doesn’t allow for IOU’s. Because if that did exist, we know someone would exploit it. Rather, a donor’s cell phone carrier typically bills them.
Here is a good article on how text-to-give works for nonprofits and churches. The concept goes back to 2010 when the Red Cross raised funds for the earthquake in Haiti. At that time, the campaign raised $487.6 million for the cause.
Some of us would assume that church culture is not ready for text-to-give. But we would be wrong. According to the article I cited above, 96% of Americans own a cell phone today.
In churches, seven out of ten parishioners text. Those stats have changed dramatically since text-to-give was first introduced eleven years ago!
So do not fear! When it comes to texting to give at church, we have entered a new era. And you need not worry about the wise guy that formerly added an IOU to the offering plate!
I drew this cartoon for the November 2022 CHOGNews.
This cartoon is a good example of how technology has changed. When I first drew this, smartphones were just beginning to replace standalone GPS units. Who would have thought that today, there is such a thing as GPS sheep tracking?
Today, we can track anything, including livestock. Radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology is small enough, we can keep track of and identify an entire flock without leaving the house.