Using Computers as an Outreach to the Community Technology and Ministry Conference

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Using Computers as an Outreachto the
CommunityTechnology and Ministry Conference

• Andrew Sears, Executive Director
• Association of Christian Community Computer
  Centers (AC4)
  
• Providing Skills to Make a Living and the
  Spiritual Foundation to Make a Life
  
• www.ac4.org or
• E-mail info_at_ac4.org

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Outline

• Why use computers as an outreach ministry?
• Example of an outreach computer ministry
• About AC4
• How your church or ministry can get involved with
  Christian computer centers
  
• Resources for starting an outreach computer
  ministry

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The New Economy
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The New Economy
Computer Industry
Manufacturing
Jobs Down 55-65
Once provided 52 of jobs to some groups, but
now only 28
In a range of Northern cities between
1967-1987, When Work Disappears
Statistics are for inner-city black men in
Chicago Other sources include Bureau of Labor
Statistics and Department of Commerce
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The Church and Computer Literacy

• The term Sunday School originated from a major
  literacy drive by the church in the 1800s
  Christians can also lead the computer literacy
  drive
• Books Basic Literacy
• Computers Computer Literacy
• This is one of the best funded areas for serving
  the community
  
• Schools and the government can only do so much

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Digital Divide
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PREP Computer Ministry

• Joint Program of
• Bruce Wall Ministries
• Dorchester Temple Baptist Church
• Cambridge Vineyard Christian Fellowship
• www.preptraining.org
• PREP Activities
• 15 Computer Classes to about 300 students each
  semester
  
• Walk-In Computer Center with 30 visits per day
• Youth Run Web Design Business
• After School Technology Curriculum
• Computer Club
• Saturday Lunch provides relational time with
  students

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Student Development Plan
Program Areas
Goals
Student Advancement
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Office Track Classes
Basics
Intro to Computers
Intro to the Internet
Typing
1. An arrow indicates a prerequisite of either
taking the class or good subject knowledge.
2. Students are encouraged to take other classes
on this track in future semesters.
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Advanced/Media Track Classes
Basics
Digital Music Studio
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Youth Run Web Design Business
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Building a Spiritual Foundation

• Different models
• Some require Christian teaching material of all
  students
  
• Some use relational evangelism to develop
  relationships and encourage participation in
  spiritual development activities
  
• Some separate Christian part from computer part
  completely
  
• PREP uses a combination of the first two methods
  depending on which aspect of the program

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Sponsorship and Growth

• In first year, received over 300,000 in
  donations from
  
• Microsoft
• Adobe
• Filene Foundation
• PowerUP
• Gateway Computer
• Individuals churches
• Now have a staff of ten and about 60 volunteers
• Have three computer rooms with a total of 50
  computers

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Association of Christian Community Computer
Centers

• Mission
• To support and promote the use of computers and
  technology in Christian outreach ministries
  
• To assist the 200 identified existing Christian
  community computer centers and help others get
  started
  
• To partner with national organizations to support
  Christian computer centers
  
• Web www.ac4.org
• E-mail info_at_ac4.org

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Locations of Christian Community Computer Centers
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AC4 Services

• Consulting assistance with starting up a
  computer ministry or computer center
  
• Information Website, E-mail list, Curriculum
• Conference calls
• Technology Services
• Web Design
• Web Hosting
• Domain Name Registration

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Joining AC4

• Join for free now, but may have a fee in the
  future
  
• Benefits
• Keep informed of events of interest to Community
  Computer Centers, Grants, Computer Donations
  
• Share program information
• Participate in future joint programs
• Use sign-up sheet or send E-mail to info_at_ac4.org

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Outreach Computer Ministries

• Outreach Computer Ministry
• Defined Outreach Computer ministries are teams
  of volunteers or staff that support community
  computer centers
  
• Many churches can have Outreach Computer
  Ministries without having computer centers (good
  ratio is three computer ministries to one
  computer center)
• Establishing Computer Ministries within churches
  provides a great opportunity for teens and adults
  to volunteer
  
• Great partnership opportunity for suburban and
  urban churches
  
• Classes provide good opportunity for volunteers

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Starting a Computer Outreach Things You Need
Outreach Computer Ministry

• People staff support/volunteers
• Technical support is a must
• Can get work-study students from colleges for
  tech support
  
• Understanding of community needs and ability to
  work with the community
  
• Plan that includes a program focus
• Space to house computers
• Look for space in churches and Christian
  non-profits
  
• Equipment computers, network, Internet
  connection, software
  
• Advertising/marketing (unless only serving
  existing programs)
  
• Money varies depending on your goals
• Expertise and knowledge of computer centers
• Gods support

Computer Center
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Steps to Starting a Computer Ministry

• Pray and talk with your pastor about the
  possibility
  
• You can contact AC4 to provide initial
  assistance
  
• Make a low-key announcement in church, you are
  developing a planning committee for the ministry
  
• Meet with partners and planning committee to
  determine general scope of ministry
  
• Find potential partner community computer center
  where your ministry team can volunteer
  
• Determine and plan details of ministry
• Details of program (classes, after school
  tutoring, etc.), dates, marketing plan, launch
  date and initial meeting/training date
  
• Make major announcement in church (get pastor to
  help sell it if possible) for the initial
  public meeting or training

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PREP How You Can Help(Sample Church
Announcement)

• Teach, assist or be a guess speaker with a class
  or take a class
  
• Provide Tech Support
• Attend Computer Ministry Training on Sat. January
  20 from 930-230 at Dorchester Temple
  
• Help serve lunch to students on Saturdays (small
  groups!)
  
• Provide a referral to our Web design business
• Donate a computer or get your company to donate
  their old computers

For more information write computers on Welcome
card, signup at table in back after church or Con
tact Andrew Sears at info_at_preptraining.org or 87
6-2981
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Take or Help With A Class (Sample Church
Announcement)

• For those with Business Interests
• Entrepreneurship
• Job Placement Class
• For those with Artistic Interests
• Graphics Design
• Video Production
• Digital Music Studio
• For those with Computer Interests
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Graphic Design
• Web Page Design
• Databases

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Volunteer Training

• Happens each semester and is required for
  volunteers
  
• Three parts of training
• Program Overview and Vision Setting
• Explain what we do, and the motivation to build
  vision
  
• Details of program and expectations of
  volunteers
  
• Train the Trainer
• Provides basics needed for teaching
• Cross-Cultural Ministry Training
• Required each semester for all volunteers
• PREP/AC4 can assist you in providing volunteer
  training materials for your ministry

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Computer Ministry Organizational Ideas

• Ministry Leader (either staff or very committed
  volunteer)
  
• Leadership team/planning committee
• Need highly committed people who see the
  vision
  
• Need strategic thinkers who will lead
• Instructors (if you are teaching classes)
• Need significant expertise in subject matter
• Primary responsibility for class falls on
  instructor
  
• Tech Professional in subject area who volunteers
  (or staff instructor)
  
• Assistants who have demonstrated their commitment
  and expertise
  
• Assistants/Mentors
• Only need basic knowledge of subject matter
• Many student can return following semester to
  assist and continue learning
  
• Serve as instructor in training for new
  volunteers and provides ability to try it out to
  determine commitment level
  
• Help reduce the student-teacher ratio (need at
  least 15)

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Sources for Discounted Software

• Software to Serve Participants and Community
• Get 30 most Microsoft, Adobe, Symantec products
  
  
• At www.computmentor.org and at www.giftsinkind.org
  
  
• Software for staff
• Get copies of Microsoft Office XP Professional
  for 65
  
• Order at www.ccbministries.com (select store and
  Microsoft non-profit licensing)

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Computer Donations

• Gifts in Kind International (www.giftsinkind.com)
  
  
• Cost 125 to register and must be Non profit
  501(c)(3) and use software for service to
  community
  
• Cost 225 for 5 used computers 486 above
  laptops/desktops
  
• Network hubs for 50
• Provide great discounts (90 off) on office
  products, projectors, clothes, etc.
  
• Computer Refurbishing
• Request computer donations from church members
  and their employers
  
• Have a minimal acceptance standard (I.e Pentium
  or above)
  
• Request written agreement they are transferring
  software license with computer

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Information Resources

• AC4 E-mail list and Web site at www.ac4.org
• Community Technology Centers Network
  www.ctcnet.org
  
• Good E-mail list and go to national conference
  each June
  
• Provides Community Technology Center start up
  manual
  
• Youth Learn
• Provides manual and E-mail list for youth and
  technology
  
• Compumentor
• Provides technology information to non-profits
• Visit HUDs Neighborhood Networks at
• www.neighborhoodnetworks.org
• NTIA Report Falling through the Net
• www.digitaldivide.gov/reports.htm

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Appendix
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Software Available

• Encyclopedia Africana
• Hip Hop eJay (music mixing)
• Essence Virtual Makeover
• Jumpstart Software
• Visual Studio 6.0 (programming)
• Photoshop 6.0 (graphics editing)
• Illustrator 8.0 (computer art)
• Access 97 2000 (database)
• PowerPoint 97 2000 (Presentations)
• Publisher 97 2000 (desktop publishing)

• Outlook 97 2000 (E-mail scheduling)
• FrontPage 2000 (web page editor)
• Windows 95 98
• Internet Explorer (web)
• Microsoft Word 97 2000 (word processing)
• Microsoft Excel 97 2000 (spreadsheets)
• WS_FTP (FTP)
• English Pro (ESL)

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Web Site Filtering Software

• Filtering Service by Promise Keepers
  (pkfamily.com)
  
• 5.95 per month for existing DSL or cable modem
  connection
  
• Filtered dial-up Internet access for 15.95
• Filtering Server or Client Software
• CleanWeb (www.cleanweb.net)
• CyberPatrol (www.microsys.com)
• Cybersitter (www.solidoak.com)
• CyberSnoop (www.pearlsw.com)
• Net Nanny (www.netnanny.com)
• Net Shepherd (www.netshepherd.com)
• Safesurf (www.safesurf.com)
• Watchdog (www.sarna.com)
• We Blocker (free at www.we-blocker.com)
• X-Stop (www.xstop.com)