Discover how to leverage technology in your church

One of the biggest challenges church leadership faces when adopting new software is getting people on board with the decision—and doing it in a healthy way. Adopting new technology can be exciting, but it can also lead to a lot of questions and concerns among members, staff, and volunteers.

Choosing a church management system is no easy feat; there’s lots to consider, from which features you need to what your budget is, to who will use the software on your team. But the decision-making process begins long before you start sourcing software options. You need to work through a framework that will help guide this process from start to finish.

When making the decision to implement a new church software, the first question likely raised is “What’s the return on investment (ROI)?” That question is sometimes easier to answer than others—there are certainly tangible financial ROIs to implementing a church management software, but there are also less tangible ministry ROIs that are equally valuable.

We hear a lot about data in the news—whether that’s major data breaches or ways to protect your personal information stored on your phone or computer. But when it comes to your church data, it’s equally important to abide by some church data management practices to ensure that your members’ information is secure, accurate, and usable. 

Church administration is a job that requires a variety of skills, from attention to detail to interpersonal relationships, from organization to flexibility. Church administrators and office managers are valuable servants of the church that keep our churches running behind the scenes.

When you’re choosing a church management software, you need to ask yourself (and your team) a series of questions to figure out which option is the best for you. It can be overwhelming to figure out what’s most important, especially when making a big investment like this.

Most church staff and volunteers use their church management software every day without thinking about the technology under the hood. But a little knowledge can go a long way in making these tools easier to use and adapt. Understanding the fundamentals of relational databases—the way data is structured in these systems—can empower church workers to better navigate their software and even customize it to fit their ministry’s needs.

Engaging visitors is a key part of any church communication strategy. While in-person interactions and communications are of the utmost importance, you can support your efforts with technology! 

One of the biggest challenges churches often face is organizing their members’ information, communications, and giving. While there are many free solutions out there, utilizing a church management software is the best way to keep information organized and secure.

When our twin boys were first beginning to eat solid food, we introduced three simple signs to help them communicate with us: more please, all done, and thank you. While I could probably extrapolate on each of these as it relates to those who serve in our congregations, today we’ll focus on saying “thank you.” Communicating appreciation not only acknowledges the work put into a particular project or effort and the sacrifices made to do so but also is an opportunity to share how an individual or group’s input contributes to the work of the Body of Christ in your particular context.