Plugged In

Plugged In

First Baptist Church Ardmore is connected with fiber technology

BY LISA SAVAGE

Most Sunday mornings, 95-year-old Dorothy Drummond settles into her favorite chair in her family’s living room to enjoy the music and morning message at First Baptist Church Ardmore.

Drummond hasn’t been able to attend services in several years because of her health, but thanks to the church’s technology, she can watch the service from home. Her son, Phillip Drummond, connects to the church Facebook page on his MacBook and uses AirPlay to display the livestream on their big-screen television. “It’s not the same as being there, but it makes her feel like she’s been to church and that she’s part of the service,” he says.

The family is part of a growing number who watch Sunday morning services online, says the Rev. Alan Hughes. The Drummonds are longtime members at the church, and at times, Dorothy Drummond feels up to staying at home alone while her son attends the service. “When we do that, we’ll play the Facebook video back and watch later during the week,” he says.

The livestream is ideal for members on vacation or those who are unable to attend for reasons such as sickness. It also works well for people who have never been to a service and want to see what it’s like.

CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY

First Baptist Church Ardmore, established in 1915 and located just down the street from the downtown area, remains a cornerstone of the community. “It’s a place for everyone,” Hughes says.

A local radio station broadcast the church service live for years. But with the latest technology, the church now records a video of the service and uses a Facebook livestream to broadcast.

“We had a lot of people who listened to the service, but it’s a great addition being able to watch instead of just listen,” Hughes says.

A service might have a few hundred views by the end of the week, says C.J. Barnett, who leads worship and coordinates much of the church’s technology use. All it takes is a camera and high-speed broadband to livestream on Facebook. It’s also set up to view later. “One week, we had 70 views,” Barnett says. “We had 194 views the week before that and 212 the week after. There’s really no way to know what drives the number of views each week, but if attendance is high, streaming numbers are low and vice versa.”

The use of the church’s website and social media required access to high-speed internet through Ardmore Telephone Company, and those platforms help get more information to more members. “Before we upgraded our internet, sometimes service was spotty, and that made it hard to post information on our website or social media,” Barnett says.

The Facebook page and other social media platforms, such as Twitter and Instagram, are a great place for updates about church services and other information. “Between livestreaming and social media, we have reached people in a way we would never have been able to before,” Hughes says. “And it’s all because of the capabilities we have with fiber internet and the speeds it provides.”

The church’s interactive website provides a means for giving online and opportunities to preregister for events like Vacation Bible School or sign up for email and text updates.

C.J. Barnett coordinates much of the technology used during worship services.

First Baptist Church Ardmore is on 5th Street.

PREPARATION IS KEY

Hughes — a pastor for the last 23 years, nine of those at First Baptist Church Ardmore — loves using books to study. Now, internet technology gives him additional options with information he might not have on hand. “I basically have access to anything I need without having to buy a new book,” he says.

Technology is expanding the church’s outreach and streamlining church operations. Classrooms use presentation software for slideshows and other technology-based activities. Having broadband internet helps tremendously in preparation for the week’s services, Barnett says.

Song lyrics, Scripture and other information are displayed on a large projection screen and monitors during the service, which helps keep the congregation involved from beginning to end, Barnett says. It takes him less than five minutes to develop slides for the selection of songs to display the music.

With a blended style of music, there’s something for everyone. “Before we had these capabilities, we had to type all the song lyrics in to have them ready for a slide, and it might take between 10 and 20 minutes just for one song,” Barnett says.

“Now, we can use apps and other programs that make it much easier.”

Nothing can take the place of a live service, Hughes says. “This is just an extra tool that allows us to reach more people. It’s a great opportunity, and we’re excited to be able to do it.”

Learn more about First Baptist Church Ardmore at ardmorefbc.org, on Facebook or by calling 256-423-2000.