Religious applications gain ground

App developers say more than 150 churches across the U.S. have had customized smartphone and tablet apps created to connect with their members. The church apps are a relatively new twist on the broader influx of technology into religious life that includes popular apps for prayer and even making confessions.

Pastors and parishioners say the technology can enable people to uphold the call to stay religiously involved at all times, not just on Sunday. App developers expect thousands of churches to develop the apps in coming years to meet demand from worshipers.

Celebration Church in Georgetown, Texas, was the first church to launch a customized app via ROAR in March 2010. About 60 churches followed in 2010, and more than 90 have created custom apps this year, Mr. McKee says.

Churches pay a setup fee between $500 and $750, plus $35 each month for hosting. Building custom apps in general can cost tens of thousands of dollars, but ROAR charges the churches less, says Mr. McKee.

ROAR instead hopes to make money through partnerships and licensing fees with publishing companies that supply content to churches, such as LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, Mr. McKee says.

Source - Wall Street Journal