Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast

7 Free iPhone Apps For Your Worship Ministry

I love how efficient the iPhone is. With a few amazing apps, you essentially have your personal computer with you wherever you go. In a previous post, I outlined some of my favorite apps.

In this post I wanted to highlight 7 apps that I use on a continual basis as a worship pastor. There is some overlap between posts, but here I’d like to highlight why and how I use it in a worship ministry context.

Did I say they were stinkin’ free?
1. Planning Center
This is a total game changer. I’m planning a dedicated post to this amazing resource. We use Planning Center to do ALL of our scheduling, service planning, and service programming. It is our “home base”. No worship leader LOVES to schedule services, but Planning Center makes this much easier. The app is free but you need an account first. Head over here.
Like I mentioned before, this is my “idea capture” tool. It can do a lot of other things but this is what I use it for. I’ll use it to type setlist ideas on the go, take snapshots of books or quotes in books that I like, record songwriting ideas, etc. Fantastic.
3. You Version
I’m using one of the Bible reading plans from YouVersion this year. I prefer to read my physical Bible when I’m at home, but if I’m out and about it’s great to be able to pick up where I left off. This can also be great for sharing Scripture verses with your team, devotional moments, (gasp) reading from the stage, etc.
4. Gibson L&L Guitar
This is a sweet little app that I use mainly for the ‘on the go’ guitar tuner. But it also has a nifty metronome for figuring out clicks to songs, a bank of guitar chords, and guitar lesson options. So great.
5. Simple Songwriter
This is probably the app that I’ve used the least but am planning to use it more. Evernote has been my go to, so I’ve forgotten I’ve even had this. But it is a really great app for drafting a song on the go. Let’s face it, as songwriters, inspiration strikes us at the weirdest times. With an app like this we can be ready when we’re driving (God forbid!), in the bathroom, or on a roller coaster 🙂  Essentially it gives you piano chords to frame your melodies around. You can choose any key, use a metronome, and record your voice (updgraded version for $4.99).
6. Mobile RSS
My “most used” app! I’m a blog reading, RSS addict. In another post I’ll list the blogs I follow, but this app is brilliant primarily because it syncs with my Google Reader account. For tips on why and how to read blogs, see this post.
7. DropBox
DropBox is my online storage. Anytime I create a Word document (or any file, for that matter) I save it to dropbox. That way I can access it on my iPhone. This has been primarily beneficial for worship team meetings where I need to access the meeting agenda. I never print things like this anymore and hope to never again.
What about you? What apps am I missing out on?

Comments

  2. Ryan Gordon says

    Blogs and Docs on the go? For Free??? (This somehow feels a lot like eating Chipotle for the first time, amiright?) Thanks for these! 🙂

    • David Santistevan says

      I’ll never forget eating Chipotle for the first time. You are correct, my friend.

  3. marsha t says

    On my Droid, I have an app called Worship Pro. It is a database of lyric and chords from myworshipmusic.org

      • marsha t says

        the web site says:
        The iPhone, iPad and Android Mobile apps are available for download from the App Store/Android Market. Search for “Worship Music” to find them

  4. Russ Wagner says

    Hi David:
    Thanks for sharing the great info on I-phone apps. Hey, do you know of any I-phone apps that is down-loadable worship songs, for like a sing-a-long or karaoke worship for small groups? I am familiar with Integrity I-worship Lite, just wondering if you cam across anything else?
    Thanks,
    Russ

    • David Santistevan says

      I’ve just been introduced to a great new app called OnSong. It can store a whole database of music. I believe you have to upload it all yourself but it would be great for what you’re describing. I’m not sure if you can upload mp3’s or not. Sorry I couldn’t be more of a help!

      • Hank Hanks says

        OnSong advantages are creating a set-list and flipping through the chord sheets in order — especially with my AirTurner bluetooth peripheral and Boss pedals. Look ma, no hands. Also, you CAN link an mp3 to a sheet, and can even set a metronome (sound or flashing or both) – both of which I can play out of my iPad through our monitors for practice.
        The disadvantage is that you provide your own chord sheets, lead sheets, etc. — and while OnSong can display .DOC, .TXT & .PDF, you can only transpose songs with the app if you have taken the time to transcribe the songs into their format (basically a text file with the chords in parenthesis nested in the line of lyrics. The search functions by Author, theme, etc are also only operational within the OnSong format.
        Still, you can send the documents to other musicians on their iPads, etc and can stream to the monitors as text & background display for congregational singing. On importing songs form your cloud, DropBox or iTunes is easy.
        Hope this rambling was helpful.

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