There will always be print media.

This may be a harsh reality to accept for those who dream of a paperless world, but it is true. The unique, tangible qualities of words on paper will always have their place.

But digital communication is becoming more popular, and as it does, you can expect that the best ways for your church to communicate with your congregation and community will change.

According to the New York Times, newspaper circulation is falling sharply. As the chart below shows, circulation is down for many large American newspapers. And it is not just a small dip. The nation’s daily newspaper subscriptions have dropped from 63.3 million in 1984 to 43.7 million this year. Their readers are migrating to the Internet for news, and the industry must adjust to keep reaching them.

So what does this mean for the church? The Internet is more important than ever for a church to be able to communicate with its members and reach its community. And it is not just about having a church website. Email is a great way to save direct mail and bulletin costs while communicating via a medium that is increasingly becoming preferred. I have heard of some churches comepletely replacing bulletins with emails, and others have simplified their bulletins to one-sided cards primarily with information for first-time visitors.

It is probably not the right move for every church, but for many, online is a great way to reach more people, save money, and communicate more effectively.

Special thanks to Three Minds for highlighting the article.