Church software companies rush to accommodate surge in usage
In this April 5, 2020, photo, multimedia technician Joseph Stoute prepares for a livestream online broadcast for congregants of St Paul's United Methodist Church in the Brooklyn borough of New York who are homebound due to citywide restrictions aimed at controlling the new coronavirus outbreak. As in-person worship services and religious gatherings have been shut down around much of the country, faith leaders have been left scrambling to shift all their worship services, fundraising, administrative work and community announcements to digital platforms. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

In this April 5, 2020, photo, multimedia technician Joseph Stoute prepares for a livestream online broadcast for congregants of St Paul's United Methodist Church in the Brooklyn borough of New York who are homebound due to citywide restrictions aimed at controlling the new coronavirus outbreak. As in-person worship services and religious gatherings have been shut down around much of the country, faith leaders have been left scrambling to shift all their worship services, fundraising, administrative work and community announcements to digital platforms. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Apr. 10, 2020 05:42 PM EDT
In this April 5, 2020, photo, Paul Wheatley, president of men's fellowship at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in the Brooklyn borough of New York, operates a cellphone video feed to a livestream broadcast of the service to congregants who are homebound due to citywide restrictions aimed at controlling the new coronavirus outbreak. As in-person worship services and religious gatherings have been shut down around much of the country, faith leaders have been left scrambling to shift all their worship services, fundraising, administrative work and community announcements to digital platforms. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

In this April 5, 2020, photo, Paul Wheatley, president of men's fellowship at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in the Brooklyn borough of New York, operates a cellphone video feed to a livestream broadcast of the service to congregants who are homebound due to citywide restrictions aimed at controlling the new coronavirus outbreak. As in-person worship services and religious gatherings have been shut down around much of the country, faith leaders have been left scrambling to shift all their worship services, fundraising, administrative work and community announcements to digital platforms. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Apr. 10, 2020 05:59 PM EDT
In this April 5, 2020, photo, St. Paul's Methodist Church senior pastor Rev. Roger Jackson delivers Palm Sunday service in front of empty pews in the Brooklyn borough of New York, while delivering a livestream broadcast to congregants who are homebound due to citywide restrictions aimed at controlling the new coronavirus outbreak. "Our livestream has been in place for years," said Jackson. "It was good that we have this technology so people can view from home." (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

In this April 5, 2020, photo, St. Paul's Methodist Church senior pastor Rev. Roger Jackson delivers Palm Sunday service in front of empty pews in the Brooklyn borough of New York, while delivering a livestream broadcast to congregants who are homebound due to citywide restrictions aimed at controlling the new coronavirus outbreak. "Our livestream has been in place for years," said Jackson. "It was good that we have this technology so people can view from home." (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Apr. 10, 2020 05:45 PM EDT
In this April 5, 2020, photo, St. Paul's Methodist Church senior pastor Rev. Roger Jackson delivers Palm Sunday service in front of empty pews in the Brooklyn borough of New York, while delivering a livestream broadcast to congregants who are homebound due to citywide restrictions aimed at controlling the new coronavirus outbreak. "Our livestream has been in place for years," said Jackson. "It was good that we have this technology so people can view from home." (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

In this April 5, 2020, photo, St. Paul's Methodist Church senior pastor Rev. Roger Jackson delivers Palm Sunday service in front of empty pews in the Brooklyn borough of New York, while delivering a livestream broadcast to congregants who are homebound due to citywide restrictions aimed at controlling the new coronavirus outbreak. "Our livestream has been in place for years," said Jackson. "It was good that we have this technology so people can view from home." (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Apr. 10, 2020 05:50 PM EDT
In this April 5, 2020, photo, multimedia technician Joseph Stoute operates a livestream online broadcast for congregants of St Paul's United Methodist in the Brooklyn borough of New York who are homebound due to citywide restrictions aimed at controlling the new coronavirus outbreak. As in-person worship services and religious gatherings have been shut down around much of the country, faith leaders have been left scrambling to shift all their worship services, fundraising, administrative work and community announcements to digital platforms. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

In this April 5, 2020, photo, multimedia technician Joseph Stoute operates a livestream online broadcast for congregants of St Paul's United Methodist in the Brooklyn borough of New York who are homebound due to citywide restrictions aimed at controlling the new coronavirus outbreak. As in-person worship services and religious gatherings have been shut down around much of the country, faith leaders have been left scrambling to shift all their worship services, fundraising, administrative work and community announcements to digital platforms. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Apr. 10, 2020 05:47 PM EDT