HipChat for Ministry
In any organization, keeping everyone on the same page is a challenge. Some people like email, some like twitter, some like text messaging, and then some just like to talk on the phone. I’ve been checking out the HipChat service and thinking how it can be used for ministry. This seems like it would be a perfect fit for ministry teams that aren’t afraid of technology.
It’s free for up to 5 users, but after you add the 6th user, the service starts charging $2 per user per month. I especially like the possibility of using this for volunteer ministry teams. It’s tough getting everyone together at the same time, so private group chats are a great way to share information and still keep everyone informed. Each user can jump in at their convenience, and add comments and see a history of the group conversation.
HipChat is also available on multiple platforms. They have Mac, Windows, Linus, Android, iOS, and website apps. Here are just a few of the key features.
- Your Own Chat Rooms with complete Chat History
- Drag and Drop File and Image Sharing
- Video and Screen Sharing (now in Beta)
- Guest Access (invite others to share in specific chats)
- Private and Secure Communication, with access limited to just your organization
Here’s a video showing how it works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mKivE8WqI4
Do you use HipChat for Ministry? How does it work? Please share your suggestions in the comments below.
I was thinking about the same thing … a lot of church IT is going to the Office365 cloud (for more than obvious reasons). I am thinking that the Yammer integration will be pretty powerful and it won’t be YAC for the user. The integration is strong. Using lync with that would allow presence/chat etc. Also filesharing, screen sharing, and video conferencing internally (and externally). Anyways. thanks for the article.