Open Source Church
The current trend in software development is open source. Basically, the programmers share the source code for the software programs to allow anybody with an interest to make it better. Linux is based on open source, as well as a number of new shareware type programs. Here is my desire. I want to see churches move toward open source creative resources. Creating graphics, motion backgrounds, intro movies, and web designs takes a tremendous amount of time. It requires time and resources that almost all smaller churches cannot afford. Just the software programs needed to create the content are beyond the budget of most churches.
If churches could band together and share these resources for free or for a low cost, it would be great! We’re all on the same team here, so let’s be effective. I agree with Rick Warren who has said that “God has not called us to be original, He has called us to be effective.”
My current message series is titled He Came, He Died, He Conquered. I stole (borrowed) the title from Mark Batterson. I like taking outlines and ideas from other pastors and then making them my own. At Unleash, Perry Noble talked about the importance of making something better when you build upon it. My hope and desire is that these resources become a springboard for God to reveal a new and exciting truth that connects to our culture and our world, right here in Galax. As ministers, we must stay in God’s Word so that we can teach not based on someone else’s opinion, but based on God’s truth. I hope more churches move toward sharing their resources.
Here are some sites that are offering great creative content right now
CreativePastors
Seacoast Resources
LifeChurch.tv Open Resources
Thanks for a good post. I understand that a worker deserves his wages(1 Tim. 5), but I can’t always afford what is being produced. I appreciate your thoughts.