Cast Your Burdens

Church IT seeks to remove administrative burden so that ministry can happen.

As anyone in ministry understands, working with people at their moment of crisis can be stressful. People come seeking advice, direction, comfort and help. When they are at their lowest, those in ministry must be at their best.

But the same can be said for the church IT department. Even ministers and caregivers who spend their days helping others on their spiritual journey can become frustrated and stressed - especially when their technology tools are broken.

People who depend on digital communication methods to reach out and connect with others become frustrated when the phones or email are down. Delays in updating constituents can lead to anxiety when the computer needs to update. And sometimes the very tools designed to help can become more of a hindrance.

I am increasingly realizing that my role in technology management is not about solving individual problems. Instead, I am providing the tools and resources for great things to happen. The illustration that keeps coming to mind is the feeding of the 5000. I am the boy with a lunch he is willing to share. The technology tools are the lunch provided to the disciples.

So it's OK to cast your technology burdens on IT. That is why we're here. We have a small lunch and are willing to share. Because those simple tools can ultimately create opportunities for ministry to happen.