Author and management consultant Peter F. Drucker once said, “Efficiency is doing better what is already being done.”
Here are some digital tools to help churches increase efficiency and improve ministry.
This all-in-one solution tracks attendance, processes donations, manages event registration and more. Programs such as WildApricot, Subsplash and Breeze streamline a variety of church tasks and compile and store assorted data.
Giving platforms
Churches want to make giving easy, but keeping up with donations can be daunting. Programs such as Tithe.ly, Pushpay and Givelify can simplify online giving and help you acknowledge and manage financial gifts. These platforms also can help you monitor giving trends.
Social media management
Like their members, most churches today juggle multiple social media accounts. Programs such as Hootsuite or Sprout Social assist with post creation, scheduling and publication. Webmaster tools can also increase engagement with online followers and track analytics across multiple platforms.
Email and text marketing software
Email providers such as Mailchimp, Constant Contact or Campaign Monitor can make email communication more manageable. Text in Church, Ez Texting and Twilio utilize texting for your church. These programs offer templates, customize and automate messages (such as birthday or holiday greetings), send mass messages and track message delivery and engagement.
Whether you are organizing vacation Bible school or a mission trip, programs such as Trello, Asana or Monday.com make collaboration, volunteer management and workflow organization easier. They simplify the process of designating and monitoring tasks.
AI applications
Although the goal is not to be attracted by the latest bright, shiny thing, advancements in AI technology are also something to consider.
Artificial intelligence technology is software that performs tasks that typically require human intelligence. It uses algorithms, statistical models and large amounts of data to learn, problem-solve, make decisions and understand language.
This technology is used in virtual assistant software, chatbots, self-driving cars and image-recognition software.
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AI applications such as ChatGPT are similar to Google, Bing and other search engines. The difference is that the user can ask more-detailed questions and receive more-extensive and intelligent responses. Pastors, teachers and students can use ChatGPT when studying and preparing sermons and lessons.
Churches will find new ways to employ the technology as it becomes more common. For example, an AI program can understand and translate multiple languages, allowing churches to better communicate with non-native speakers.
Digital tools can help with everything from offering collection services to building community in small groups. But it is crucial to choose the right tools for your ministry.
When considering which tools will be most beneficial, keep these things in mind:
Budget — Understand the cost associated with implementing and maintaining the program. Churches on a budget must weigh the value of the technology against the price of installation, subscriptions, upgrades and training.
Resources — Consider who will manage and maintain the tool or if you’ll need to hire outside help. What kind of training will be needed to operate the program?
Security — Will the tool jeopardize the privacy of your members? What assurances will you have that the data is secure? Will this program help increase data security or will it be a liability?
Compatibility — Unless a new program is replacing an old one, you should ensure that it is compatible with existing systems. Redundancy is costly and minimizes efficiency.
With these considerations, you can choose the best tool to meet your church’s needs.
Tricia K. Brown is a Christian author and inspirational speaker. She shares stories of life, loss and laughter to encourage women to grow in their relationships with the Lord and each other. Her recent fiction release, “Seen, Heard, Beloved,” can be purchased on Amazon. For more information about her ministry and books, visit The Girls Get Together.