How you can still use an old iPad for Ministry
iPads are awesome. I know I am definitely a little biased but I love carrying my iPad around using it as much as possible for ministry use. To be honest, any tablet you have can be very useful for your ministry, it doesn’t have to be an iPad.
While iPads are really useful for ministry, what happens when the iPad is a few years old? Now, iPads can be used for many years without upgrading but there does come a point where they become so old they they stop making software updates for it. What do you do then? Can it still have a ministry use or do you just need to trash it or sell it on eBay?
While you may be able to get some money off of eBay or some other place for it, could you still use it for ministry? The good news is YES you can! Here are a few ways you can use an old iPad for ministry.
Attendance check-in. You can do this with a new or old iPad, so the good thing is if you do attendance check-ins on iPads you should still be able to do this on an older iPad as well. What would make this more helpful is if you don’t need an App to do check-ins but you used a website. Apps are fine but eventually they will update and that will only take you so far.
Apple TV Remote. If you have an Apple TV in your room that you are doing an event at, you can download an Apple TV Remote app and use your old iPad as a remote for that.
Second Monitor. If you are someone who likes two monitors, old iPads still have good technology for you to use it as a second monitor to your desktop or laptop. Here are some examples of how you can do that.
Music Streamer. Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music or any other streaming will still be able to be used. Use it as a music device to play during games or transitions. Even if the music streaming apps don’t work, go even older school and upload music right to your iPad from iTunes.
Game Pad. There are plenty of games you still play on older iPads. They may be older versions but students won’t mind too much. Break them out as students are just hanging out or if you have a “Game Night” and use it as a Game Pad.
Presenting Messages. With apps like Dropbox and Google Docs, you can constantly be working on your messages on a computer or newer iPad and then store them on those apps. If you have those apps on your older iPad you will be able to access them and use it to give your messages to those you are ministering to.
iPads are great to have for ministry. The great news is that people are keeping them longer. Because people are keeping them longer, that means you will still be able to get great use out of them for a longer period of time. You do not need to keep upgrading to use them in ministry settings. Here are just a few examples of how you can use an older iPad for ministry.
What do you think? How have you used old iPads for ministry? Share your experiences below or on social media using #ymsidekick when you share.
Want to learn digital tools to expand your reach in ministry? Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group!
