Best iPhone apps for youth ministry
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Last year, I did an article about the top 12 youth ministry iPhoneapps. Since its been a year, and they’ve released the new iphone 4 and the iPad (and I seem to have a steady stream lately of people searching for iPhone ministry apps), I thought I’d update the list with some new favorites.
Over the past year, I’ve added hundreds of apps, most free but some paid. If I pay for it, its got to be guaranteed to be good. I only listed apps that I’ve used in a ministry context. I didn’t include the apps I use regularly that are not ministry related like games or the like, nor did I include apps I don’t regularly use that might have a use for ministry. The following apps jump out and are almost indispensible for my work as a youth minister. If you’re interested in getting them, simply click on the logo and you can download them.
Facebook App
Want to keep touch with your Facebook friends? This is the perfect way to do that. You can’t do everything you can on the website version, but its good in the ways that count – updating statuses, messaging people, uploading pictures, and keeping in touch. The newest feature is the “Places”, which gives you the ability to “check-in” somewhere so people know where you’re at.
You Version Holy Bible
This free Bible app is something I use almost every day. You can take the Bible anywhere, look up verses by word or phrase, or even have a daily reading. Its easy to use and quick to search. You also have access to multiple versions, including many that usually cost money. You can also tweet what you’re reading.
GReaderApp
If you read blogs, this is a easy way to do it. If you have a google reader account, you can access your account through this basic app. It’s a simple app, but its free and gives you all the features of your google reader account.
DocsToGo
Need to work on a lesson or a sermon at Taco Bell? If you have to edit some documents on the go, this is a great program to do it with. The iPhone isn’t made for heavy document work, but this program does make it much easier.
Toodledo
If you have problems keeping track of what you need to do, the Toodledo app is perfect for you. You can even sync with outlook or Google or any number of To Do lists you keep.
Evernote
Taking notes has never been easier. You can use text, pictures, or sound to make notes. It is easily organizable; you can keep things in their own separate files. You can also search by keyword (even photos!). It also comes with sync-able desktop software that you can take notes with and take clips from the web. This has become my mobile brain. If I have an idea, I jot it down in evernote. If I find something online worth keeping, I clip it to evernote. This program (both on the iPhone and computer) will multiply your effectiveness.
WordPress
Do you blog, and use wordpress? This app works great for writing blogs on the go. You can edit multiple blogs, deal with comments, write new posts, and even edit pages. Due to the obvious keyboard limitations, you won’t want to write 1000 word posts, but for quick updates, working with comments, or blogging on a mission trip it works great.
* – I use wordpress for my blog, so its makes sense that this is the one I use. But I believe they have options for all the other major blogging services that are equally featured.
Pandora
Pandora – Need music to listen to on the next youth group trip, but don’t know any good Christian stations? Pandora will make it easy for you. Just type in an artist you want to listen to, and it will load up artists that have similar music.
Tough Topics
A vital app if you love to get your teens talking. This Youth Specialties app combines the “Tough Topics” books that you might have in your library and now you can get your teens talking anywhere.
Attendance
If you want a way to keep track of attendance at your activities, this app makes it easy. You can even send excel files to add to a desktop file. This one costs money, but the developer has been amazing with updates. Of all the hundreds of apps I have on my phone, this one is updated the most, usually a couple times a month.
Tweetdeck
If you’re a twitter-er, you have a lot of apps to choose from. The official twitter app is pretty good, but I prefer tweetdeck for performance and style. Tweetdeck is free, so don’t bother paying for a twitter app.
Amazon Kindle
The Kindle iphone app blows the native iBooks app out of the water. More books, links across multiple platforms, and just better software. Only problem? Very few youth ministry titles in E-book format yet. So much for us youth ministers being on the cutting edge…
Slideshow Remote
If you do powerpoint presentations, you can use Remote over a wireless internet connection to control the presentation. You can see the slide on your phone, and have total control over your presentation.
If you have an iPhone, I’d love to hear what apps you use for your ministry. Also, I’m thinking I am going to do an article over the next few days on why I choose theiPhone over the alternatives. So, if you’re interested, check back in a few days
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