LCBC: Apps as mediators of online and offline church experiences

The website appears to be organized and designed for potential members of the church, whereas the app is organized more with the church’s members in mind. When I first opened the app, I was asked to choose my location and the branch whose notifications I would like to receive. As you can see in the picture, the app focuses on the member and helping one keep track of what’s happening in their personal lives and within their branch.

         As you can see from the photo above, the app allows members to Check In and keep track of the goals one has set for themselves, members are able to write notes, which essentially seems like participating in a forum because you can respond to their “Series Description” and share your response in a variety of ways. The app also allows for a quick and easy way to donate money and be a part of their 90-Day Tithing Challenge. By clicking on Prayer Requests you can easily ask for a pastor to pray for you by entering a few details regarding who you are and what campus you attend.

The app also provides access to your branch’s newsletter. In Be Rich, a member can choose to Give, Serve, and Love. You can also Connect to view the different events and meetings the church holds. In the Media section you can watch past sermons, and view the church’s album, which are on Apple Music, Spotify, and Google Play. In their More section you can find information on the church, what they stand for, the location and times of their branch’s, and view their social media channels. On the app, the church’s mission is not as explicitly stated as it is on their website.

To view their mission on the app, you have to visit the More section and then click on About, although in the section they do provide ways to contact members of the church and visit the websites homepage. It makes sense to me that it is not on the home page like it is on the website because the app is geared more towards those who are already members of the church.

The ability to check in, take notes, and request prayers do not appear on the website. I suppose that is because the app is meant to serve as a members’ personal link to the church, it’s more personal and interactive. It seems to me that in the design of the app, due to the main page being so personalized, the church wants its members to use the app to grow as individuals and continue on the path to Jesus, and offline it seems that the church seeks to connect members to those that are attempting to do the same thing, learn how to follow Jesus in today’s society.

         I believe that LCBC has a blending of offline and online church practices and relationships. I think this because in their sermon, that I watched for last weeks’ assignment, there is a seamless connection of church practices and technology use; they used PowerPoints and surround sound systems. As people sang the songs, the PowerPoint provided the lyrics. The sermon I watched last week (https://lcbcchurch.com/sermons/a-better-way/a-better-way-week-1) also showed that they play videos during their sermons as they relate to the message. I also think this church has a blending relationship with technology because of the way their app is designed. The main page on the app is geared towards members, so that they have a place to keep track of their goals, check in with their progress, and easily connect to their pastors and other members. Furthermore, the app also provides a quick way to access the church websites, and features that are on the website if one is away from a computer or unable to get to one, which can be seen from the first image I presented in this blogpost.