ChangePoint recently released an app for the iPhone, iPad, iTouch, and Android. As they are the first Alaska church to release an app, I was very excited to share this news with Church Visit blog readers on my April 20, 2011 post (click here to view).

I contacted Adam Legg, ChangePoint’s Communications Director, to see how it’s going after three weeks. He was duly excited, sharing their free app had downloaded over 900 times, and had been launched over 2,900 times (people using it). Adam further noted each launch was over 30 minutes long, indicating significant sermon listening time, and/or Bible listening or reading time! This equates to usage of close to 90,000 minutes or 1,481 hours in the initial three weeks.

Adam is clearly joyful! “That is 1,481 hours that people have spent listening to, or reading truth, and that is exciting! These numbers are far beyond what I expected. I’m excited that people are finding this to be a useful tool to stay connected with ChangePoint!”

In a city where comparatively few churches have determined how to construct and maintain “effective church websites”, ChangePoint has already taken church effectiveness to the next level by successfully launching their app for this incredibly popular new generation of Smart devices.

Personally I’m looking for future updates to ChangePoint’s app. I’m sure they will continue to add features to assist with their mission.

Children on Mother’s Day by Walter Brueggemann

We are children today of many mothers,
some of us grateful and glad,
some of us cynical and defeated,
all of us living lives that are pure gift
from you and for you.

As we give thanks for our mothers,
so we think of children whom you treasure
and invite close in.
For newborn babies arriving in these restless days,
for children loved and lost awhile–
Joshua, Charles, Michael, Sophie, and a world of others,
for children born feeble and troubled
and loved in their need,
for children infused with napalm and
shrapnel and hate and fire,
for children who know the sharp edge of Pharaoh and Herod,
and a thousand other uneasy men of force.

In the midst of this parade of innocence,
we submit all the treasured children of the world to you,
that they may prosper, and that we may become more fully
your daughters and sons,
children of your commandments,
recipients of your gifts,
bearers of your hope.

You have said, “Let the little children come.”
Here we are–yours…
that we may receive your nurture
and your discipline.

Excerpted from Prayers for a Privileged People
by Walter Brueggemann

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Recently I attended a church service featuring a praise band. The music levels were extremely high, at least in the area I was sitting. I noticed a number of very young children down front dancing on the floor in front of the stage. My attention was drawn to several of the children who were holding fingers in their ears, obviously blocking the loudness of the music.

Sometimes I carry a decibel meter with me when I visit churches because the trend in many contemporary, praise band style music churches, is to have the music as loud as can be tolerated. I did not bring my meter that day which I now regret. In my estimation, the music at times exceeded 95 decibels, a level which can cause hearing damage and ultimately loss, especially in younger children.

In a recent article “How Loud Is Your Church” , sound engineer Leon Sievers provides operating parameters for church sound systems.

“I recommend operating your church sound system at no more than 80dB peak during worship and averaging 65-70dB during the service. Sound Pressure Levels, which exceed these parameters, will cause ear fatigue, loss of concentration and potential hearing damage.”

Hearing loss rates among the young are accelerating. This is well documented in technical literature. Audio people at churches are often volunteers who may be adjusting the sound to meet their tastes, not understanding is effect on those most vulnerable. The peak decibel number I hear church audio folks most frequently cite is 90-95 decibels. This is clearly too loud for children, and many others, such as the elderly. Possibly a few legal challenges might focus pastors and church boards on the seriousness of this issue.

Pastors concerned about a lack of concentration among parishioners, during their sermons, may need to look no further than their praise bands for the reason. A rising chorus of worshipers is documenting their lack of ability to concentrate after periods of loud music. The church I attended recently performed approximately 45 minutes of extremely loud music that day.