Grant Gross of NewsForge writes about Linux's appeal to churches and other non-profit groups. “We've long talked about how government agencies almost owe it to taxpayers to explore low-cost Open Source alternatives to Microsoft and other high-cost vendors, but it seems that non-profit organizations such as churches are also starting to get the Open Source religion.”
” One person working to create a demand in the non-profit religious sector for Open Source software is Web developer John Orth. A longtime Emacs and vi user, the Indiana college student has started using Open Source software on church-related sites he's designed lately. A Web designer since 1995, Orth has been using Open Source tools such as Linux servers, Apache, PHP and MySQL on church-related Web projects during the past six months. He's currently working on two projects, one for his own congregation, Greenwood Christian Church, and another for a non-profit counseling organization, Rod and Staff Ministries.”
[This is no doubt a segment that will continue to grow in the future, especially with donations to such organizations dropping with the economy. In fact, OfB's sister site FaithTree.com sponsors a mailing list where the topic of moving church related organizations over to Linux has been a reoccurring topic. -Timothy R. Butler]