ROAR, LifeWay's recommended church app development partner, will customize mobile apps on the platform of the church's choice. Church leaders can choose either iPhone/iPad, Android, or both.
The mobile apps will feature customizable logos, colors and content.
"We can collect all of the content on a church's website and from other pages -- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs, iTunes -- and package it together in an app so people can find it all in one place on their phone," said Matt McKee, president of ROAR.
"Churches can upload audio sermons as podcasts, post calendar events and event details, upload photos from church events or mission trips, create separate pages for separate ministries and allow people to donate to the church from their mobile devices," said Matt Morris, project manager for LifeWay's Digital Church.
Developing an app usually costs approximately $750 per platform per church, McKee said. As part of the giveaway, churches will only have to pay a discounted hosting fee of $30 per month for one app or $50 for two platforms.
"We want to resource 1,000 churches with this technology," Morris said. "Churches will be able to communicate their messages to people through a device that's almost always in their pocket or purse."
Pew Research data from July 2011 stated that nine in 10 smartphone owners use their phones to access the Internet or email.
"As the number of smartphone users continues to increase, churches can't deny that communicating through a church app connects with people on-the-go," said Morris.
Learn more about the offer at ROAR.pro/DigitalChurch.
Compiled by staff of LifeWay Christian Resources.
Copyright (c) 2011 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press www.BPNews.net