I Tried Being an iPad Only Pastor for 90 Days, and I’m Not Going Back

Can an iPad replace a pastor’s computer? For the last 90 days, I’ve used an iPad for all my work.
iPads can now do 99% of what pastors use computers to do, and it does some things even better.
So after my 90 day experiment, here are my thoughts on being an iPad only pastor.
MY IPAD ONLY PASTOR SETUP
• iPad Air 4: amzn.to/3sDXAKo
• Logitech Case: amzn.to/3D8t7J8
• Apple Pencil: amzn.to/3sMltQ8
• Sandisk External Drive: amzn.to/3zdQvmf
• AirPods: amzn.to/3D68bma
• Backpack: amzn.to/2Wb3uXM
• Logitech Keyboard: amzn.to/3y9v988
• Logitech Mouse: amzn.to/3mquqx5
• iPad Stand: amzn.to/3moYfOT
RESOURCES FOR BUSY PASTORS:
• Tools, training, and more - www.propreacher.com/store/
SHOT WITH
• Camera: amzn.to/2JFFWQ2
• Lens: amzn.to/2Mdqk7r
• Mic: amzn.to/2JCNS8j
• Light: amzn.to/2VkeWNt
• Music: artlist.io/Brandon-205309

[@kurtmichaelson]

When I pastored back in 2015-2017, I had an old iPad that I used just to preach from and had done my research study on my MacBook Air. Everything that was on my MacBook Air is now on my iPad Air (5thGen). I've moved all of my reading to an iPad Mini from my Kindle too. The iPad Air is a great product and tool to use. It's good to see how much you're able to use it for too, in your ministry.

[@gcembry2010]

Dude I love how practical you are. You are always like yeah I could have picked up the iPad Pro but I did the air. You keep it so simple and that's so awesome. I love it.

[@trentgilliam5192]

iPad has been great for me as my stand alone device. I completely cut ties the moment I capsule backup to iCloud and no longer needed iTunes. If someone is willing to develop new or somewhat new workflow habits… the iPad is awesome. I’ve even replaced almost all my physical study library to ebook, save some rare books. It’s amazing to have everything in one device. Throw in unlimited data and it’s gold! I haven’t wondered if there’s wifi in years. I’ve even been able to go live from from mission fields where there was cellular but no wifi. Amazing product. 😄

[@warryn4751]

Thank you for this vid… have been contemplating on which way to go for some time now. The Ipad just makes more sense. Great vid👍

[@YouthMinistryEtc]

Between this and the Logos review videos I think you answered every question I had! When teaching students I am always looking for ways to preach in a more interactive way. I am looking at a similar setup to do something like John Piper's Look at the Book series.

[@gcembry2010]

I love this setup. I am a full time pastor and i run a similar setup except I have an 8th Gen budget IPad with the 1st gen pen, My only complaint is battery Iife but I have money in the this Logitech case and pencil so I won't be changing anytime soon.

[@vonmitchell]

Finally IPad usage from a Pastoral perspective. I’m patiently waiting on my iPad Pro to come in so I can ditch my old laptop and iPad 7. Thank you for this video.

[@andrew7777]

I used to be a tablet (ipad too expensive for me 😃) preacher, until a month ago. Firstly, I like having a ton of commentaries and Bibles on my tablet so I can literally prepare a sermon, wherever I take my tablet. However, with regards to preaching. Whilst preaching from a tablet saves on sheets of paper and is much less cluttered from the pulpit or lecturn, I have discovered there is something more freeing in leaving the tablet behind and stripping back the notes. With my tablet I would sometimes have two or three A4 pages that I would scroll through, and because it's a tablet, you don’t worry about preaching with more notes because you can simply flick a screen and be there in the next page. But, losing the tablet and stripping my printed notes down to just over an A5 size printed sheet, placed in an open Bible as I preach has been remarkably liberating and freeing when preaching. Somehow, actually being less techie when preaching, seems more genuine. I don't know why, it just does. That said, I would keep the tablet to study and use it as a tool, but the aspect of preaching, I would recommend ditching the tablet.

[@faithfulgatherings]

I am a pastor of a small church and have found that using the Surface 3 running Windows 10 Pro works best for me. I use an Anker Bluetooth keyboard, mouse and earbuds with it as well. I find that I can take the entire set up with me easily to and from the church and when traveling to preach or to conventions. I did go with the lower end one because I use the cloud for storage and a 128gb mini-SSD card as well. I back everything up to a 1tb drive that is also easily portable. I use it in the pulpit, for study and for general reading as well! (It hooks up easily - wirelessly - to a tv that I use as an external monitor and the surround sound system. 🙂)

[@TheKurtLyon]

Great review. Looking at moving into an iPad only environment.

[@churchyB0i]

An update video would be amazing ! You inspired me to make the switch.

[@robertdeuel4332]

I use a Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 for most of my work so I get the tablet idea. The nice things about the Samsung Tabs is when connected to an external monitor it enters into DEX mode on the monitor which gives you a desktop like experience. I still use a windows laptop HP Gaming Pavilion for a lot of things because it just works better for bigger things.

[@blakerudler5266]

The thing that has me not 100% all in with the iPad, is logos. It’s just so much better on desktop. If it had the same functionality on the iPad, I would be in all the way

[@artiecisneros4691]

That's how I feel about my laptop and Samsung tab. and my galaxy phone. It's always great to have choices knowing Logos works great in all.

[@ChrisGarcia.]

I use the IPad Pro and I’m not going back either! I love using it for reading writing and studying

[@ProPreacher]

It’s good to know I’m not the only rebel moving away from a traditional computer 😆

[@ChrisGarcia.]

@@ProPreacher 😂🙌🏼YES

[@StunningImageVideo]

My Pastor use Microsoft Surface for more than 5 years. Surface also have direct usb for printers etc

[@CoffeeFreelancer]

New youtuber here. Found your info useful and interesting. Subbed. God bless

[@kevinwellscoaching]

Wondering with how this works with editing in Proclaim. When creating a show in Proclaim Will the iPad work?

[@ClaimingChristianity]

One year later??? Where you at know? Great Video BTW!

[@joesbibles5636]

Question: what iPad do you use now?

[@timstevenson9585]

Being a visual impaired preacher, my MacBook Pro using Keynote is, I’m guessing, equivalent to what you are speaking of. I use blue letter bible on the web along with Biblegatteway. I also must enlarge each slide of my notes to see them while preaching. What are your thoughts on this?

[@CodyANeal]

I’m a pastor and am seriously considering making the switch to iPad only. How does Logos work on the iPad for you with researching and preparing sermons? Is it pretty close to the desktop version?

[@robbyharris6827]

Been iPad only for a long time, brother. Using a pro 12.9 2018 gen 3. I have used a mini but am considering a 11” m1 pro as a secondary smaller hand held for just what said. The 12.9 a little too big for one hand but perfect for desk work.

[@ProPreacher]

Wow, glad to know I’m not the only one thinking that an iPad can replace traditional computers. Thanks for confirming what I thought about the 12.9”. Would love it on the desk, but didn’t want to sacrifice portability.

[@robbyharris6827]

@@ProPreacher The mini was the bomb for hand held but my eyes are starting to like the larger, and the resale value of the mini is dropping so I bailed on it. I am waiting for the next gen of the mini before I jump on an 11 just in case the new gen 6 mini is usable. And the next mini I hope will be pencil2 compatible. Glad to add my expensive experience to the information pool, gotta be worth something . Haha

[@OlusCorner]

I'm going to give this a try. 😉

[@14forklift]

Use Remote Desktop to connect to your church software also you can use fire stick to external monitor it tv with Airpin app to get full screen

[@ProPreacher]

Wow. Great idea. Thanks!

[@Texascarnivore]

I changed to notability over goodreader. It lets me take notes on the fly as well as import my sermons in pdf.

[@MarkMattingly]

What a practical video

[@ProPreacher]

Thank you!

[@alexanderthomas2970]

Did you ever consider the surface pro line up. They do everything the iPad does but it runs full Windows(except for the Surface Pro X so i would recommend the 7). All of the gripes you listed have an answer if you were using the Surface Pro.

[@ProPreacher]

I’ve looked at the surface pro, but I just love using an iPad. However, I would not doubt at all that they would get the job done too

[@ChrisGarcia.]

Do you have an upload on how to use the iPad with presenting slides?

[@ProPreacher]

That may need to be a future video. Thanks for the idea. What slide presentation software do you use?

[@ChrisGarcia.]

@@ProPreacher I was thinking of just using power point slides, there’s a program that we use all the time at the church for lyrics and verses but I completely forgot the name 😂 any recommendations would be great 👍🏼

[@growintruth2685]

@@ProPreacher I have the same question and you mentioned Proclaim. That is the software we use.

[@darwincruz20]

I also became an iPad only pastor too!

[@ChaplainReece]

Yeah Brother….. I’m looking for the exact iPad you got! It’s actually hard to find

[@ProPreacher]

Nice. Sorry to hear they’re in short supply right now.

[@ChrisGarcia.]

Dude it’s definitely worth it

[@jordankreese83]

Are you exclusively using Logos on the iPad and not the Mac version? It would be great to see your sermon study/prep process with iPad only!

[@ProPreacher]

Yeah, since switching, I’ve been using Logos only on the iPad. I may need to make a video about this. Thanks for the idea!

[@jordankreese83]

@@ProPreacher I have tried this before. I have the same iPad. My struggle comes with the trackpad. I just cannot function well on the iPad without a trackpad. I have the magic keyboard case but it’s sort of weird using that with an external monitor because the iPad screen is right there.

[@michaelmorse1945]

@@ProPreacher I too would be interested in seeing this video as I use a laptop mainly because of the parity issues from the dekstop to the mobile version. I rely on taking notes within Logos, also creating the sermon, and preaching from there as well - so if i can do all with the ipad I am ready to see it done!

[@TheJavaFrog]

Yes, specifically did you download all of your resources to your iPad? I’ve preached from the iPad (Logos preaching mode), but all the sermon prep was done on Logos for Mac OS. Note integration with sermon prep seemed to work better on Mac OS. Not even an option on iOS.

[@imabeliever85]

I exclusively use Logos on my iPad, but my wife will sometimes use it on the Mac

[@Logos10]

Where can we see you preach

[@joshualieder7524]

How do you respond to those who say Logos 11 works best on windows not iPad. 7 months later...just crickets.

[@darwincruz20]

I switched to a Chromebook pastor. Most Chromebooks work just like an iPad but Chrome OS is better on my use case since i can use it as a laptop, dock on a monitor for a larger workstation, or use it in tablet or tent mode. But I agree. Most work of a pastor can get done on an iPad. It's just that Chromebooks are cheaper

[@ProPreacher]

I agree with you. Chrome books would work great for most pastoral work as well, especially if you’re wanting to save money

[@sphchurch]

What are you using to edit video on your iPad?

[@ProPreacher]

LumaFusion - It’s the best video editing app on the iPad by far

[@nate9400]

I’m thinking of getting an iPad mini for my pastoral work. Is the mini a bad choice though? I love how small it is, but I’m worried it will be too small.

[@ProPreacher]

The mini could do most of what any other iPad can do. My concern would be that the screen would be too small for me. I like the extra size I get with the iPad Air, which can even sometimes feel a little small compared to the 13” laptop screen that I was used to. But if you value the portability over the screen size, then it may work well for you.

[@nate9400]

@@ProPreacher Thanks for the advice and getting back to me. I appreciate it!

[@justicewoods126]

I guess I have to start saving up for an IPad lol. As a youth pastor my chromebook just hasn't been cutting it

[@ProPreacher]

If you’re on a tight budget, the base model iPad can do almost everything that the more expensive ones will do

[@justicewoods126]

@@ProPreacher cool! I have been trying decide what to get so I budget for it

[@Hamyhamster24]

i mean, if you're job is a pastor...ipad is more than enough. if you're job is a programmer or computer focused tasks...ipad is just a luxury to have.

[@jordandoyle5358]

I would much rather study with Logos software on my desktop than use their mobile options

[@ProPreacher]

Logos on a desktop is more powerful and feature-packed. So keep doing what works best for you. For me, I see that the mobile app keeps getting better, it does nearly everything that I have needed, and I love the option to read while holding my iPad

[@powerseostrategy]

You do realize that the apple logo is a bite out of the forbidden fruit - rationalize.

[@billanderson7059]

Benefits of the iPad only Pator LOL oops Seriously tho this is a great idea to try

[@ProPreacher]

Whoops. Those typos 🤦‍♂️

[@JohnVianneyPatron]

The Mac and IPad are great products but unfortunately Apple has really only dominated the US market. Internationally the iOS has only a 13% market share, meaning outside of the US you are probably going to have to use an Android tablet/phone and a Windows PC.

[@fernandobarreto9494]

Logos need a laptop

[@ProPreacher]

For some of the features, yes. But for most of what I use it for, the iPad app works just fine and keeps getting better.