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Technology grants go to 126 churches
September 2001
Over the past year, 126 Massachusetts Conference churches received CONNECT! grants for computer hardware and software that totaled over $103,000.
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The year-long program, funded by The Gift and The Promise Campaign, was aimed at helping churches to get online. All churches that received grants made a commitment to get email and Internet access.
“We’re very excited about the possibilities raised by having so many more of our churches online,” said Tiffany Vail, Conference Associate for Communication & Communication Technology. “This is opening up some great avenues of communication within the Conference and beyond.”
When the program began, less then 200 churches had email; that number has now grown to 260. Also, the number of churches with Web sites has grown from just over 100 to 166.
Of the 126 churches that participated in the program, 92 received $1,000 grants for new computers. Of those, 27 churches were getting their first computer, while the others were upgrading outdated machines.
“Many churches were relying on old computers – often used ones that had been donated,” Vail said. “And while these computers worked well enough for simple tasks like word processing, they just didn’t have the speed needed to effectively use the Internet or to install up-to-date software.”
Forty-one churches received grants for training on how to use their computers, which they used to send staff to computer classes, to hire tutors or to buy books.
Several other churches received grants for modems or the software needed to build Web sites.
“How wonderful to become a church community equipped with up-to-date hardware and software amidst this technology-driven world,” said Diana Tisbert, office administrator for the West Parish Church in Andover. “We are thankful for such a generous program for church organizations, that often trail behind-the-pack with keeping current in the business world.”
Some churches, such as First Congregational Church in Oxford, didn’t wait long after getting their new equipment to develop a presence on the Web.
“Our Web site has brought two requests for more information on the church,” said Pastor Samuel W. Young. “We also heard from one lady who grew up in Oxford and burst into tears when she saw the picture of the church because it brought back so many positive memories.”
The Commission on Communication is now developing plans to use additional funds from The Gift and Promise communications allocation to provide hands-on computer training programs.