Howard Roberts, Baptist Pastor, wrote:

I use the computer every day in my work as Pastor of Ravensworth Baptist Church. I use the Internet in researching sermons. There are web pages designed specifically with ministers and sermon preparation in mind. There also is information available on any subject that I want to address in a sermon.

I also use the computer to keep a record of the sermons I have prepared and delivered. I have files for my sermons based on the text of

Scripture on which a sermon was based as well as the topic or subject which the sermon addressed. I also use the computer to record notes, prepare outlines, and develop my thoughts for teaching sessions that I may lead in the congregation.

I have a great deal of correspondence to prepare and I compose my correspondence at my computer. I have found the computer to be a valuable, daily tool in my work.

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As a Sunday School teacher, I use a computer version of the Bible to prepare for my Sunday School lesson. It has a word search capability that makes it easy to find Bible verses on certain themes or topics more easily.

Tue Sep 29 17:19:09 1998 from nc-digital160.pathway.net
john w. sloat <sloat437@shanengo.org> 

I am a retired clergyman who is still active in the church in a variety of ways. I have set up a study/office in my home and the centerpiece is my computer and printer. I write all my sermons on the computer, design retreats and create Sunday School lessons. In addition I have written three book manuscripts on my processor and find that, compared to a typewriter, the word processor encourages much more rewriting. I browse the net for religious websites on my interest, spirituality, and have had some articles published in other people's sites. That has resulted in quite a bit of return email which puts me in touch with people I would not otherwise meet. We share ideas and it gives me an opportunity to do some counseling from time to time. Also, I write my twin graddaughters at school and keep in touch that way. Much more effective and frequent than snail mail. I use Quicken for finances other similar software programs. The computer is much more useful than any of the equipment available when I started my ministry 41 years ago.

Fri Oct 2 11:00:23 1998 from 207-172-36-196.s196.tnt6.ann.erols.com
Fr P.D.

Interview submitted based on grandmother's story. She does not have computer access. When she started as an administrative assistant in a n area church office about 15 years ago, they didn't use computers except in the financial aspects of the job. When she retired, they used them heavily for word processing tasks and automated mailing labels for correspondence. Computers were also used for keeping track of schedules and files. The religious office used computers for office management.

Sun Oct 4 03:21:33 1998 from max9-14.hk.super.net
Judith L. Sutterlin <osek@hk.super.net> 

I am an American Baptist missionary living in Hong Kong. I use my computer in many different ways. I use it to write letters and newsletters and keep track of all of my correspondence with my denomination, with churches back home and with family and friends. Before computers and before I was living overseas, I wrote very few letters. I had all kinds of letters written in my head, but not enough time to get them out on paper. Even a typewriter didn't help because I would make so many "typos." So I know that if I had to write the letters by hand or to use an old typewriter, my letters and newsletters would never get done. My computer also helps with rapid, almost instant communication. It used to take nearly three weeks to receive an answer to a letter just because of the length of time it would take the letters to travel across the ocean and back. Now I can use e-mail. I can write a message on Tuesday night Hong Kong time (Tuesday morning U.S. time). The recipient can easily respond int time for me to receive the answer when I wake up Wednesday morning Hong Kong time (Tuesday night U.S. time). I can send messages to my denomination office and ask questions. I can also stay in close touch with family and friends who have e-mail capability. Part of my work involves providing pastoral care for 75 Amity teachers in China. These teachers are Christians from many different countries and are teaching language in teaching training schools in China. Many of the teams of two Amity teachers are the only foreigners in the towns where they teach. I can stay in touch with them by writing letters on my computer, and for about a third of them who are able to "get-on-line," I am able to communicate via e-mail. I also plan the worship services for Amity teachers when we have our conferences together. I can put a tentative order of worship on a computer disk and take it with me to the conference. While at the conference, I can make additions and changes based on the suggestions and the needs of the group. The day before the worship service, I can then print out the order of worship and have it copied for the next day. It gives the services a relevance and the teachers a sense of participation they might not otherwise have. During the school year, I and several colleagues go around to visit the Amity teachers at their schools. We see how things are going there and we help resolve any problems. At the end of the trip, I need to turn in reports. I used to have to wait until I got back to the office in Hong Kong to write my reports. Recently I bought a tiny hand held computer. I can take it with me and type in the reports as I go. Then when I get back to the office, all I have to do is download the reports onto my desk top computer and I can print them out right away. Sometimes on my visits to Amity teachers, I also get a chance to visit a local Chinese church on a Sunday. If I am also able to interview the pastor there, I will write an article for the Amity News Service (ANS) which contains many articles about the church in China. I can now use my hand held computer to write the article before I get back to the office, then I can give it to my colleague who edits ANS the first day back. Sometimes the editor of the ANS also asks me to help with the updating of the web site. It is interesting to read all of the articles about the church in China while I take them from the computer file he has given me and enter them in the proper template, add the codes for the format and reset all of the links. If you are interested, you can visit the Amity News Service web site at .

Sun Oct 4 23:03:18 1998 from 207-172-100-31.s285.tnt10.ann.erols.com
William Sutterlin <Colorado> 

I use my computer all the time for word processing church boards and committee reports. It is so convenient to edit, use spell check, and save on a disc for future reference. I plan to use this method for a long time in the future. I also use word processing for letters, committee agendas, and other communications. Rev. William W. Sutterlin, Moderator of First Baptist Church, Denver, CO. submitted by email to esutterl@erols.com and forwarded. ____