Connecting with someone over the internet via “video chat” is way too easy, and fun. It can also be a great tool for your ministry or far-flung family…

This post shows you how EASY it is set up video chat. I use it to stay in touch with my college kids away at school. I use it to talk with an employee of mine who lives out of state. If you’re on church staff, you could be using Video Chat to enhance your meetings, stay in touch with your college students, and begin experimenting with live worship on the web, or live youth group for those who are unable to attend but want to.   See the end of this post for more ideas about how to use video chat to enhance your ministry.

One of the MOST LIKELY groups to do video chat with is your college students away at school. When your kids left for college, odds are they left with shiny new laptop that has a BUILT-IN webcam, ie, “video camera” and comes pre-installed with webcam software. And if they’re like most high school and college kids, they also have AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) or Yahoo! Messenger accounts which have the built in capability of transmitting live video from one user to another FOR FREE.  And…when you’re logged on to these services, they even ‘alert’ you that your ‘buddies’ are logged on to the net so you can hail them for a video chat.

I mean, IT’S ALL RIGHT THERE FOR THE PICKING, -for the smart youth group leader, christian educator, parent, grandparent, or pastor who wants to stay in touch.

I know it SEEMS like rocket science. But it’s not. Actually, it’s kid’s play to set up. You’ll look like a genius.

Here’s the screen pic showing me talking to my daughter away at Muskingum College.

Here’s how to do it…

First…. each user needs an inexpensive webcam. My two oldest daughters each have laptops with built-in webcams. My old laptop didn’t, so I went out and bought a Logitech webcam ($40), installed the software (1 minute) and plugged the thing in to my laptop’s USB port. A beautiful live video of myself showed up 3 seconds later (I really need better lighting). The camera’s come with a built in microphone. My daughter’s laptops have the built-in cameras and also have a built-in mikes. (I suppose we could use headsets if we wanted to be really cool.)

Now all we needed to do was sign up for a free service that allows video “chat” or video “calls” –whatever you want to call it. And here you go: ALL the major “instant messenger” services offer it (AIM, Yahoo, MSN).  If you already have one of these services, check into it. You might need to install TWO so that you can talk to your ‘kids’ on their service of choice.

MSN Live is highly rated for video, so I went to www.messenger.live.com and downloaded their free software. I had my daughters do the same, and now we can SEE & TALK to each other over the computer.  (Registration Notes: You create a screenname which looks like an email address and can be used as an email address, or not. And the first time you register, it can take up to 10 minutes after you register for the MSN server to know you’re there, and let others know you’re online to be connected to, -so be patient).

Seems like it should be scarier to set up, or hard, or expensive, –but it’s not. It’s plug and kid’s play. And the video quality is pretty good!

And here’s the best part: my computer tells me when they’re online. That’s how instant messaging programs work… when you’re signed on to their service (which usually happens when your computer boots up), and your “buddies” are also signed on, each of you gets a pop-up message saying “Hey, your buddy just signed on” …and then you’re literally one-click away from saying “hi” to them.  [Of course, you have to know your buddie’s screenname and put it in your buddy list. If this all still seems like rocket science, ask a 14 year old to help you. But I guarantee you, it’s easy.]

People who have accounts on MSNLive and Yahoo can talk to each other. You have to have an AIM account to talk to someone on AIM. And you can only talk to one person at a time on any of these free services.

Other ideas for Video Chat in the church…

-Broadcast your Church worship service to someone who’s homebound. All they need is a computer with an internet connection.  that computer can have a webcam, but it doesn’t need one. Just needs the webcam software and instant messaging software installed.

-Be part of an important meeting when you’re out of town. Have someone bring in their laptop and connect you to the meeting.

-Bring your laptop to a meeting and connect to a missionary or consultant.

-Set up a videochat with your group of kids next Sunday to talk to another group of kids in another church across the country.

-Have your Mission Team send back a video-tour of their work to a laptop in your church that’s hooked up to an LCD projector for all to see.