Computer support for churches

[Faithhb_lutheran]

I have a question for everyone. Do you do the computer support for your church? if not who does it? Do you use an outside company?

David,

I know this is off topic for this forum but i really need some help in this area.

[David Gillaspey]

Kyle,

The question is actually very relevant. In many churches (as with companies), the I.T. department maintains the church website.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

[mickmel]

I'm sort of inbetween. I handle the first-level support, but we have a contract with an outside company for new/replacement hardware. Counting the school, we have about 300 PCs, so there's no way I could handle it all myself and take care of the site.

At my previous church (about 1/3 the size of this one) I took care of all of the PCs and the website.

[mrbelfry]

I do all the computer support for the church. This wasn't so bad when we had 2 unnetworked pc's. Now I have to support 7 desktops, 3 laptops, a mac, file server, print server and I'm getting 2 new pc's soon. All machines run xp (except the mac!) but I'm trying to install a linux samba server as a domain controller to make my life easier (although currently it is making my life harder). I also have to support paid and volunteer staff who have massively different skill levels. All this with 0 previous experience but 3 years of degree education at the end of which our network lecturer told us we should have gone on a 2 week microsoft course instead (I didn't). If I'm this stressed how must mickey feel?

[Faithhb_lutheran]

The question I have for both of you is do you do that extra work of maintainig the church's computers for free or do you charge?

[flutem3]

Hi to everyone,

I am way behind. I do not know what IT support is, but it sounds like internet technology or some such thing.

Mr. Belfry, I don't envy what you are trying to do at all!! Mercy, you must need sixteen arms and eight sets of eyes.

Since I am not certain what IT is, I think I can say that whatever IT may be, IT is I. There isn't anyone else who helps...or seems to want to help, and that includes taking pictures. The web site is at the bottom of everyone's list if they think of it at all.

However, since I can get to church now, I have been trying bit by bit to raise people's awareness...but I am slogging along which is preferable not to slog at all. That was our position prior to my getting to go to church.

Incidentally, whoever designed the new section of our church did a wonderful job. I wish I had the skills to build a web site with that much elegant, simple class. It is wonderful. That is my challenge for the next redesign whenever that is. I don't have the skills yet.

Bless one and all,

Carol

PS Does anyone know where I can get a digital camera with at least 3x optical zoom which works well inside a building...low light in other words...dirt cheap? There must be some floating around out there. I just need to find one. My tiny camera just isn't doing the job too well.

[JackWolfgang]

I am way behind. I do not know what IT support is, but it sounds like internet technology or some such thing.

...

Since I am not certain what IT is, I think I can say that whatever IT may be, IT is I. There isn't anyone else who helps...or seems to want to help, and that includes taking pictures. The web site is at the bottom of everyone's list if they think of it at all.

IT = Information Technology

[mrbelfry]

The question I have for both of you is do you do that extra work of maintainig the church's computers for free or do you charge?

I work for the church full time in a variety of capacities. Maintaining the computers is one of the many things I do.

mrbelfry

[flutem3]

Thank you, Jack. Yup, I do that as well. Glad to know there are initials for it. :D Is IT a real life, honest-to-goodness job? You would be called an Information Techie, I suppose...right?

Mr. Belfry, do you have a job title befitting your vast array of skills within your church. Or are you called pastor?

Carol

[JackWolfgang]

Thank you, Jack. Yup, I do that as well. Glad to know there are initials for it. :D Is IT a real life, honest-to-goodness job? You would be called an Information Techie, I suppose...right?

IT is more like a family of jobs, much like medicine: there are doctors (many types), nurses, lab techs, respiratory techs, radiology techs, etc., etc.

[StubbyD]

Thank you, Jack. Yup, I do that as well. Glad to know there are initials for it. :D Is IT a real life, honest-to-goodness job? You would be called an Information Techie, I suppose...right?

Carol

Is IT a real life honest to goodness job? Well Ihope so as it has been my career for the last 23 years :)

As it was said further down the thread it is a family of jobs. In my time I have been jack of all trades but now I am a specialist network and firewall support engineer (not technician please).

[StubbyD]

The question I have for both of you is do you do that extra work of maintainig the church's computers for free or do you charge?

I do all my support for free.

If I am honest the church can't afford me and the pastor knows this. However, because I'm free I get to pick how quick I respond.

There is however a validity to my freeness - I see it very much as a part of my "tithes & offerings" and specifically as an offering - as in something additional I give rather than the required.

The pastor had designs on employing me once and the deal would be that I'd work for say 2 days at the church and then the other days I'd be 'sub-contracted' out to other local churches who couldn't afford professional IT help. It would have been intersting to see how it might have worked.

[StubbyD]

I do all the computer support for the church.

SNAP.

We used to have a disconnected bunch of PCs doing varying tasks that all had modems, no protection, no AV, etc and it was a nightmare to support.

I persuaded them to stump up the cash for a server and network cabling. I even went so far as getting the quotes organised and telling them exactly what to buy down to the last letter. I offered to do the cabling as well (done this as well as part of my IT career) - but they still managed to mess this up!!!!

We have (soon to be had as they are emigrating) an associate pastor who used to teach IT in junior schools - he is very much someone with a little knowledge being dangerous. Nice guy, good pastor, but don't let him at your IT.

Even after they realised they'd made mistakes it took me 2yrs to get them all resolved (wheels turn slowly). Now, the boss pastor knows the deal and whenever we have something with IT he says "have you spoken with Stuart yet?"

Anyway - we have ....

W2K3 Server
13 PC's networked
Apple Mac's also networked
2 x AV Projectors
Several IP printers
plus other unconnceted kit

and I have plans for more and the Church has designs on running stuff like:

an internet cafe
a multimedia editing suite
and so on.

I say bring it on but the biggest issue I faced and I guess others was threefold.....

1. If the internet is down don't reboot the server - it's nothing to do with that :)
2. Training users to not phone me over every little issue - google is your friend
3. and security.

BUT I do loves it I do.

[mrbelfry]

Carol - My job description varies depending who's asking me to do something. Once as a joke the worship pastor put my job description down on a rota as 'technical director' and that has stuck with some people. However most people interpret that to mean that I have to fix anything plugged in. Part of my role at church is youth pastor so I get called pastor in that context - but very rarely and I try to avoid it.

Stu - do you have any experience with samba?

Thanks

mrb

[JackWolfgang]

Now, the boss pastor knows the deal and whenever we have something with IT he says "have you spoken with Stuart yet?"

Are you paid church staff or a volunteer?

[flutem3]

Mr. Belfry,

I just knew you had to be a pastor whether you like to be called one or not. Your description fit the role. What is a rota? Well, I just looked it up. The word is chiefly British. Fancy, that!! I am not certain exactly how the definition I read fits what you do except that it certainly seems to be "a rotation" of jobs.

FYI Our cantata is being heard by an adult Sunday school class and the ministerial students at Tala UMC in the Philippines. Soon our choir will be as well known world-wide as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is!! It might take awhile though. But I think it is neat...so do the choir members. And they are absolutely amazed.They should never underestimate a web site editor bound on accomplishing something...at least not this one. :D

Carol

[mrbelfry]

Mr. Belfry,
I just knew you had to be a pastor whether you like to be called one or not. Your description fit the role. What is a rota? Well, I just looked it up. The word is chiefly British. Fancy, that!! I am not certain exactly how the definition I read fits what you do except that it certainly seems to be "a rotation" of jobs.

I never knew rota was a particularly british word but it is indeed a rotation of jobs or a list when you are doing a job. eg. We have a cleaning rota - the rota tells you what day you are cleaning the church.

mrbelfry

[StubbyD]

Are you paid church staff or a volunteer?

Volunteer - see my post about they can't afford me and it's part of my giving.

[StubbyD]

Stu - do you have any experience with samba?
mrb

Sorry - not for a few years such that I'd be able to assist anyway.

[mrbelfry]

Sorry - not for a few years such that I'd be able to assist anyway.

Coolio. Thanks anyway