Megan D. Augustine is a seminary student, blogger, and group fitness instructor. A graduate of Allegheny College, she is currently completing her Master of Divinity degree at Duke University. Want to know more? Follow her on Twitter or check out her blog!
The beginning of a new school year is an incredibly busy time for families. Gathering books, organizing schedules, and knowing when to be where are things that we all seem to be balancing these days. This isn’t just limited to the world of academia, though. The start of a new school year is a busy time for churches and seminaries across America, where pastors are starting new programs and future pastors are starting new classes at seminaries in preparation for their vocation in ministry.
As a pastoral intern and a seminary student, I’ve found that having access to apps is a great way to stay organized, especially in this busy and sometimes hectic time of year. Without further ado, here are the top 5 apps that I’ve found to be helpful in ministry and seminary:
Bible (YouVersion) – free. It’s always a good thing to have a Bible on hand. It’s particularly helpful when it fits in your phone! The YouVersion of the Bible, developed by LifeChurch.tv, is the simply the best Bible app around. Although it doesn’t have the NRSV (the translation I prefer to use), it has a plethora of Bible translations in multiple languages. Some of the best features of this free app include reading plans, bookmarks, and notes, which you just won’t find in any other Bible app. It’s a handy tool for anyone who reads the Bible, not just ministers and seminarians.
Lectionary – 99 cents. The Lectionary app is essential for preaching. Having quick and easy access to the weekly texts on your phone at any time is an awesome resource for ministers. It’s also great for seminary students so that they can become more familiar with the Lectionary; it’s especially helpful for students who translate the texts in their Biblical language coursework.
Animoto – free. Animoto is a great app for transforming photos from your phone into videos that you can easily share. It’s a useful app for youth ministers to share quick videos with members of their youth programs. Seminary students will love it as well, as they can easily create memorable videos that will last long after graduation.
Dropbox – free. Dropbox is more or less your online flash drive. It allows you to access documents from multiple locations—whether it be your computer, iPhone, iPad, or online from a public or shared computer. This app is imperative for ministers and seminary students who need to organize files and access them from various locations.
Words with Friends – free. Need some fellowship? Tired of thinking about all things theology? Download Words with Friends, start a game with one of your friends, and test your vocabulary skills in this Scrabble-like game. The version with ads is free, or you can download the ad-free version for $1.99. Either way, it’s a fun game and one that I know you’ll enjoy.
Check out Meg’s Appolicious App Library.
