Highlights from around the web – 2/12/2010

Here are the most interesting, instructive, and innovative articles from around the web that I’ve read in the past few days. I am sharing these, along with my comments on them, via Google Reader – you can read them all there or subscribe to the feed if you like.

• Ed Stetzer on Pastors and Change
  Posted: February 10, 2010
  From: Out of Ur
  Wow. This post gives great insight into where "the Church" is headed. While not all of it is relevant to online ministry, the basic premise is: be ready to change!
• BREAKING: Iranian Government Bans Gmail
  Posted: February 10, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  If you are considering a move to "cloud computing" for your ministry, take note of this article. I realize that here in the US, the chances of something like this happening are slim (after all, the government can't shut down Google, can they?), but if your ministry has a presence in a restrictive country, this could paralyze your communications. And think of all the saved email you would lose access to as well! If you use other "cloud" services to store documents, client information, presentations, etc., this is a call to be sure you have them backed up!
• 7 Ways to Promote Your Offline Event Using Social Media
  Posted: February 10, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  Here's a nice primer on using social media for "real world" events. I am all about online/offline integration, so here is one way to do it!
• 3 Ministry Podcasting Options with Wordpress
  Posted: February 10, 2010
  From: ChurchCrunch
  This is a great addition to my series on "web 2.0" for churches: using free web 2.0 tools, you can put your ministry fully online. You can read the series at http://genesys11.com/lessonsfrombabel/2007/05/14/web-20-suite-wrap-up/.
• Visualizing 6 Years of Facebook [INFOGRAPHIC]
  Posted: February 10, 2010
  From: Mashable!
  Some good data on how Facebook is becoming THE social media tool. Need some stats to convince your ministry leaders or board that you should be on Facebook?
• Wed. Website Weview & Extreme Makeover Winner: Faith Bible Church
  Posted: February 10, 2010
  From: Christian Web Trends Blog by OurChurch.Com
  Another review of a church website with good recommendations.
• Plugin by C. Murray Consulting