Top Tools for Church Media in 2021.
I have spent my entire adult life working in church media in some way shape or form. When it comes to church media, I’ve been there, done that, and have many t-shirts to prove it. Now as a missionary I help teach local church pastors and workers to reach their communities. I know we need all the help we can get. Especially when we are a team of one until we are able to raise up others to help us with the work.
My heart is to help you reach your community with the Gospel by utilizing resources that are cost-effective and mostly easy to use. I have personally used each tool listed, and feel that it will benefit your church’s media endeavors. Some tools are for communication and organization within your team. Others are to help in creating assets for your weekly service productions. There are even some to help give a little inspiration.
*As of January 2021, each of the tools listed is free to use.
**And for clarity, I am not benefiting from any links on this list.
1. Trello
Trello helps teams work more collaboratively and get more done. Trello’s boards, lists, and cards enable teams to organize and prioritize projects in a fun, flexible, and rewarding way.
Free and Paid Plans
2. Google Docs
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are a word processor, a spreadsheet, and a presentation program respectively, all part of a free, web-based software office suite offered by Google within its Google Drive services. The three apps are available as web applications, and as mobile apps. The apps are compatible with Microsoft Office file formats. The suite also consists of Google Forms, Google Drawings, and Google Fusion Tables.
3. Gmail
Gmail is a professional, ad-free email that’s intuitive, efficient, and useful. With 15 GB of storage, less spam, and mobile access Gmail is available across all your devices.
4. Google Photos
Google photos is a smarter photo sharing and storage service developed by Google. It’s a nice home for all your photos and videos, made for the way you take and share photos today.
Free and Paid Plans
5. Google Fonts
Google Fonts is a library of 1000+ free licensed font families, an interactive web directory for browsing the library, and APIs for conveniently using the fonts via CSS. By using their extensive catalog, you can share and integrate typography into any design project seamlessly—no matter where you are in the world.
6. Logos Bible
Do the work of ministry without the busywork. Logos is a ministry and sermon prep platform that cuts out busywork so you can be more focused and effective in your calling.
Free and Paid Plans
7. Bible by Youversion
My.bible.com
Experience God Word anywhere with over 1200 bible versions in over 900 languages on your computer, phone, or tablet. You can highlight or bookmark your favorite verses, make verse images that you can share, and attach public or private Notes to Bible passages.
8. Facebook Creator Studio
https://www.facebook.com/creator/studio
Facebook Creator Studio brings together all the tools you need to effectively post, manage, monetize, and measure content across all your Facebook pages and Instagram accounts.
9. Giphy
Giphy is your top source for the best and newest GIF’s and Animated stickers online. Find everything from funny GIFs, reaction GIFs, unique GIFs and more.
10. Spotify
Spotify is an audio streaming and media, service provider. Listen to your music, where ever you are. With Spotify, you have access to a world of music. You can listen to artists and albums or create your own playlist of your favorite songs. Browse hundreds of readymade playlists in every genre and mood, stay on top of the charts, stream radio, enjoy podcasts, and much much more.
11. Canva
Canva is a graphic design platform, used to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, documents and other visual content. The apps already includes templates for users to use.
Free and Pail Plans.
12. Quik
With the Quik app, you can create awesome videos with just a few taps. Choose your favorite photos and video clips then let Quik work its magic. In seconds, it finds great moments, adds beautiful transitions and effects, and syncs everything to the beat of the music.
13. Dribbble
Dribbble is a self-promotion and social networking platform for digital designers and creatives. It serves as a design portfolio platform, jobs and recruiting site and is one of the largest platforms for designers to share their work on line.
14. Behance
Behance is not only a social media for designers or professionals of the creative disciplines, Behance is a democratic place to share knowledge. Behance is a way to show a project, storytelling, and a way to curate like in a “virtual art gallery.”
15. Designspiration
https://www.designspiration.com
An image and color search engine for creating mood boards and finding art, designs, logos, photography, app and ui inspiration.
16. SimpleMind
Analyze your thoughts and structure them with SimpleMind. The unique free lay-out allows you to organize your ideas exactly how you want it. Perfect for brainstorming, and visually mapping your thoughts.
17. Hoopla
Hoopla is a groundbreaking digital media service offered by your local public library that allows you to borrow movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics and tv shows to enjoy on your computer, tablet, or phone.
18. Anchor.fm
Anchor is an all-in-one platform where you can create, distribute, and monetize your podcast from any device, for free.
19. Life.Church Open Network
https://open.life.church/resources
At Life.Church, we're all about the "capital C" Church. No single church can reach everyone, but when the body of Christ works together we can reach the world. We love to partner with local pastors and church leaders who share our passion for leading people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. That’s why the Life.Church Open Network exists. We’ve made the entire library of Life.Church resources, training, and apps available for free to every church and created a vibrant online community where you can grow alongside others.
20.Discovery Education Puzzlemaker
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/
Puzzlemaker is a puzzle generation tool for teachers, students, and parents. Create and print customized word search, criss-cross, math puzzles, and more using your own word lists.
21. Burst
Free stock photos for websites and commercial use.
22. Pexels
Empowering Creators by providing free stock photos Pexels helps millions of creators all over the world to easily create beautiful products and designs.
23. Gratisography
https://gratisography.com/
FREE USE-AS-YOU-PLEASE PHOTOS & VECTORS THAT STAND OUT! Truly unique. Usually whimsy ;) Always free. PEACE OF MIND LICENSE WITHOUT COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS!
24. Negative Space
Beautiful, High-resolution Free Stock Photos for personal or commercial use, all of our CC0 licensed images are completely free to use!
25. Pixabay
Stunning free images and royalty-free stock. Over 1.9 million+ high-quality stock images, videos and music shared by our talented community.
26. Morguefile
Free images for creatives, by creatives. A post-production file, over 400,000 free stock photos for commercial use.
27. Church Marketing University
https://churchmarketinguniversity.com/free/
We are passionate about helping your church reach your community. Check out our most popular free tools, guides, events, articles, and resources.
28. IFTTT
Do more with the things you love. Connect your apps and devices in now and remarkable ways. Make the things you love more powerful.
29. CreationSwap
Free Church Graphics, Photos and Videos. Download beautiful church media assets from artists around the world.
30. Church Photographers
https://churchphotographers.com/product-category/freebies/
Get our entire library of free church photography resources — and more — when you join Church Photographer Nation.
Bonus:
What’s a list without a few bonus items!? But this list is for Podcasts. One of the best ways to grow as a creative is to listen to podcasts from other church creatives to help you grow mentally, spiritually, and creatively.
31. Re.Create: Building the whole Creative
The call of Re-create is audacious: TO BUILD THE WHOLE CREATIVE. We are not here merely to resource and train, but also to empower and build spiritually. As creators who serve the Creator, we all need support and encouragement, and Re-create is here for you.
32. The Church Photographers Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/show/4bnFVDhaVN1jDJbd79Wrm8?si=u5ipeCBPSZiWYMNOMUJN_g
Weekly church photography chats to inspire and equip. Delivered for free, straight to the camera you carry around in your pocket.
33. The Seminary of Hard Knocks Podcast by Seth Muse
https://open.spotify.com/show/6gbVY98GbEURycxh8xrVUA?si=BZH6BYUWR1WAkO5FjDVFUQ
Church communications, Social Media, and Content Marketing.
34. Church Marketing University
https://open.spotify.com/show/5dwn11zCY0pBi1XR9e96fd?si=3CM3UMVzR7y5uaf2DGXqtg
Church Marketing University is online training to help your church see more visitors each week. We’re passionate about helping you reach your community in a way that saves you time, builds your team, and grows your budget.
35. The Grafted Podcast
https://anchor.fm/s/30ea8c44/podcast/rss
The Grafted Podcast, with Host Adam Weatherly, offers practical biblical teaching, stories, and in-depth conversations that help listeners grow in their faith. Each episode is designed to encourage listeners with easy-to-understand takeaways you can use to grow in your faith in Christ to become the person God intends for you to be.
Anchor.fm: https://anchor.fm/thegraftedpodcast
Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/the-grafted-podcast
Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8zMGVhOGM0NC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==
Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/yvv3lxr9
RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/the-grafted-podcast-6vvdwM
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2sc0ib96l2ZRWF0Rk5pSG8
