Process and System Failure

One of the most common things I see in the church today are churches that are getting it, part-way right. They do not understand how to develop a complete ministry process. Add to this another church growth killer. Even if they had a good process in place, they lack the effective church ministry systems to reliably execute the process. Their church website design reveals a lack of understanding the big picture when it comes to attracting, connecting and integrating newcomers. This is where we at ConnectionPower feel that God has raised us up to support the local church. We embed proven church ministry processes into our church software systems that affect the bottom-line of church growth. This saves you time and effort so you do not have to re-invent the wheel. Our church ministry software works in tandem to powerfully attract, engage, connect and integrate people into your church. This begins with good church website design and continues with our award winning PowerVisitor - Church Growth Software and PowerMember - Church Ministry Software care modules. It incorporates robust church calendar software with online event registration to get people involved and world class children’s check-in systems to make visitors feel secure.

Half-Baked Processes

Some churches do a good job of attracting people (one aspect of good church website design) but have neglected the connection process. Or they often do a part of what is needed to connect visitors but ignore the last few critical steps that make the process effective. Then there is the church that does a great job at connecting people, who stick around for a few weeks, but they have a poor or non-existent process of integration. People are going out the back door as fast as they are coming in the front. Few churches are adept at good process development, and those that are, experience the benefits of higher congregational morale and consistent church growth. Why? The answer is disarmingly simple. People, whether visitors or members, need to be reliably cared for with a level of care that wins them over to the church.

Part Way Right

Often the half-baked church has gone to extreme lengths and invested significant resources to excel at the part they do. And what they do, they do well. The problem has to do with the parts they are not doing well, or completely ignoring. Let me give some examples of what I call a half-baked church.

Half-Baked Church #1

Take the church that spares no effort to make visitors feel like welcomed guests at their church. They have designated visitor parking and lot attendants holding signs to help them to find their way there. They have parking lot greeters to meet them as they step out of their cars with warm smiles on sunny days and large umbrellas on rainy days. They are trained to provide assistance to young families as they unpack strollers, etc. from their minivans. The guest is greeted both inside and outside of the church doors where they are next handed off to campus hosts who help them find their way and share information about the church’s ministries. Does this sound half-baked? They are warmly greeted from the pulpit and directed to a guest center to get a free gift. And then NOTHING! The visitor falls off the radar screen as new visitors enter the campus and go through the same regimen. People are too cynical and cautious today, when it comes to church organizations, to reach them with a one time show of enthusiasm. Their skepticism is rewarded when ALL visitor care ceases. It is the latter stages of the connection process that make the difference between success and failure when it comes to connecting newcomers. ConnectionPower helps you to get the job done.

Half-Baked Church #2

Let’s look at the church that attracts and connects LOTS of visitors. They have a connection process in place that continues to “reach the reachable” and “touch the touchable” until they are won into the church. Any church can excel at this with the right church ministry system in place. These large numbers of what we call “newcomers” have been connected but they have yet to be successfully integrated into the life and ministries of the church. 80% of people who leave a church leave in year one. With all their ability to make great connections, once they are considered attendees, they drop off the radar screen. The same level of proactive care they received in their early experience with the church disappears. No one is reliably carrying the torch to track, manage and work to see them become a part of small groups and ministries of the church. The integration choreographer is missing. Large numbers of people come, are initially enthusiastic, stick around for a while, and then drift off somewhere during the first year. Once again we see a job that is only half done.

Final Thoughts

Often the difference between mission success and failure consists of a very small gap. The half-baked church has success within its grasp. It already has a good part of what it takes to connect and integrate people. What remains to close the gap is well worth the effort. We at ConnectionPower are here to assist you in your mission of reaching those that God has commissioned you to reach. Click here for a free online demo of our church software solutions.