Churches are increasingly fighting with online media for attention of their members and seekers, and many have decided to use new technology to broaden their reach. Reliance on tech comes with its risks, however, as Christianity Today warns churches are in danger of replacing technology for the one-on-one relationships so vital for growing Christ-followers. Instead, they advise, tech innovations should supplement personal connections by making communication easier, anywhere at anytime.

Here's a look at the latest church-related online innovations, the challenges of using each, and whether your church should incorporate them into your communication strategy.

Probably the most well-known innovators in online-exclusive content is LifeChurch.tv. This Oklahoma-based, multi-campus church streams 9-12 live services on its Church Online website each day, including live chatting with dedicated pastors and links to resources for seekers and new believers. Many other churches are beginning to live stream their services as the technology becomes easier and less expensive.

Not many churches have the resources or staff to have an "online campus," but you can always start small and see where it leads. Podcasting sermons is a good place to start (it's free and functionality is built into each iMinistries website). Live streaming of services is becoming more doable, even for smaller churches (free ways to broadcast services online).

We recently shared a story of a church in England which addresses questions via Twitter during services. This type of in-the-moment engagement is becoming more popular -- especially in larger churches -- to make congregants feel more a part of the service. Some churches ask congregants to text sentences of praise during service to a designated number and then display the text messages as a form of worship.

While instant engagement can be beneficial, pastor and author Josh Harris argues that it tends to cause listeners to think about what they're going to tweet instead of what God is saying to them through the sermon. Whether you should depart from the typical three-point sermon to such a drastically modern approach probably depends on your congregants and your pastor.

We all know Yelp as a format for restaurant reviews, but they also allow users to review churches. Users can search for churches in their area and give them a 1-5 star rating, including a detailed written description. ChurchRater.com is a website dedicated solely to church evaluation and was created to help people moving into a community find a church that's right for them.

Unfortunately, you don't have much of a choice. Users can add and rate churches without the your consent, and, as with any ratings website, criticisms often outweigh praises. While checking what past visitors have to say about your church may be helpful in some cases, it's important to remember a few bad reviews are not universally representative. Keeping that in mind, you probably shouldn't build your communication strategy around addressing these reviews.

As the use of mobile devices like smartphones and tablets explode, many churches are racing to create custom church apps to connect with their congregants. Tech savvy churches like Mars Hill in Seattle have apps that stream sermon video and audio, display blog entries, show campus locations and directions, and allow for giving donations.

Apps are necessary if you have tons of online content and desire an easier way to display it on a mobile device. A mobile-optimized website (like an iMinistries CMS website) will often fulfill that need. Since custom app creation can be a costly enterprise, you should be sure your communications strategy warrants such an expense. (Note: if you have an iMinistries website, we are an alliance partner with The Church App that integrates with your website).

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