PowerPoint is one of the most useful tools we have for creating church communications. Recently I was asked about some ways I use it at a church potluck and I told the woman asking me I'd send her an email of some of my favorite resources and some of the ways I use PowerPoint to do things like create videos. After putting it together for her, I realized this would be very helpful for Effective Church Communications.
At the end of this article, please out the Indezine site. In addition to many excellent resources, the site is now offering a FREE e-book if you sign up for their newsletter that is an excellent overview of some of the resources
Animoto
This is one of my favorite tools--you can use it to take pictures, images, words, or a PowerPoint presentation, and turn it into a video complete with special effects and a sound track, all with a few clicks of the mouse. They have a FREE version (regularly $200 a year) for non-profits and churches. If you haven't tried it, check it out! You can create incredibly impressive videos with little work and no cost! It is really one of the most fun programs I use.
The videos in the collection here were all created with animoto:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvrABjnZwYw&list=PLF12CC86F2FA2FC15
Presenter Media
http://www.presentermedia.com/
I use the images from this company in many of my training videos that start out as PowerPoint presentations. The faceless people in many of my videos come from them. The materials aren't free, (price varies from $49 to $99 a year, depending on the specials they run) but if you need to do training PowerPoints or videos may be worth the cost:
Free PowerPoint Resources
The following videos illustrate free resource sites for Power Point. Be sure to check out the last one Indezine****It is currently offering a great free e-book on graphic use in PowerPoint slides.
Free PowerPoint Templates for Churches Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gxrW7PhSa0&index=2&list=PLA46F2C26E078F1EB
Free Templates and Clipart for Churches from Secular Sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEPd_V7Z8aI&list=PLA46F2C26E078F1EB&index=3
Free PowerPoint Templates and Training, a video review of Indezine, a great resource
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhJWG-g1Hv0&list=PLA46F2C26E078F1EB
***The link above is offering a free e-book that has some very helpful information on resources for using pictures in PowerPoint
If you have additional resources, templates or tips you have found useful for PowerPoint, please tell us about them in the comments below.
