HomeDigital MinistryManagement (ChMS)9 Vital Church Management Software Features 

9 Vital Church Management Software Features 

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Does your church management software (ChMS) make church work easier, or is it a complicated beast that you dread facing daily? It’s too exhausting and distracting to feel tied to a computer and struggling to do the work of ministry. A church management software solution should be reliable, easy to use, integrate seamlessly with other software, and support your calling. We've rounded up a list of ways that you could be using a ChMS to optimize your ministry.  

#1 – Mobile Management 

What it is: It’s no secret that we are tied to our smartphones. Mobile management is simply the ability to access, use, and manage your ChMS from your mobile device. 

How to use it for Ministry: Using mobile management on your Church Management Software mobile app, you can update group member information or interactions from any device. It’s also possible to send a mass text to any group directly from the app to keep your ministry organized and moving on-the-go. Finally, you can download members directly into your contacts, which means you can make that important phone call right away. 

#2 – Interactions 

What it is: Using interactions, you can assign and track contacts with members via email, texts, phone calls, and more.  

How to use it for Ministry: Use interactions to assign tasks to ministry staff or volunteers where they can easily organize and manage tasks to stay accountable. The best part? You can receive notifications when they have been assigned or completed via email.  

#3 – Group Management 

What it is: It’s the ability to create, manage, and monitor groups within the ChMS. With a group management tool, you can even assign tasks and roles to specific groups and people within those groups. 

How to use it for Ministry: Within the ChMS, create groups that you have at your church such as classes or small groups. Then, monitor these groups’ attendance, assign them tasks (such as first-time visitor follow-ups to your group of small group leaders), and communicate with specific people easily and efficiently. 

#4 – Workflows 

What it is: Workflows are the keys to automating your processes. Follow-up, assigning tasks, and sending to-dos are features that makes them a favorite for ChMS users. Workflow tools can help you establish standard protocols for repetitive activities. This ensures that they are completed each and every time they need to occur.  

How to use it for Ministry: As you work to organize your ChMS, set up criteria that then execute immediate responses. Sending a text message or email, assigning a ministry task to an individual are all things that can be automated. For example, when a guest is first entered into the system, you could create a workflow that assigns that guest to your age-group minister and also sends an email to the guest’s small group leader, reminding them to call and invite the guest back next week. Workflows are essential for keeping members engaged.

#5 – Mass Communications 

What it is: Mass communication tools allow you to manage all your engagement and information messaging right from your ChMS. This means no more separate solutions for email messaging, text messages, or multiple voicemails. It also means that you don’t have to spend valuable time tracking down contact information and making sure that the right people get the right message. 

How to use it for Ministry: Effective communication can help to keep your congregation informed and minimize your need to repeat information. Use this tool to send messages to specific groups (i.e. just parents with teenagers) or to get critical information out quickly (i.e. church cancellation because of an ice storm). 

#6 – Reporting 

What it is: Data can be a nightmare if it’s not easy to input, pull, and monitor. ChMS allows users to find the reports you are looking for with ease.  

How to use it for Ministry: Take the complication out of data entry and reporting by encouraging ministry leaders to take attendance for their groups right from their phones. Then, easily pull reports that monitor attendance and giving trends in a way that’s easy to read and understand. Voila! You can now make data-based ministry decisions. 

#7 – Check-In 

What it is: Check-in is an easy and secure tool that allows your church to check adults and children into any event at the church where check-in is enabled. The proximity mobile app even gives members the power to check-in from the parking lot. 

How to use it for Ministry: Keep children safe by knowing where they are and even what allergies they may have, track attendance, and ensure that your church is secure.  

#8 – Calendar 

What it is: Ministry becomes so much easier when your team is all on the same page, and the central calendar is the tool that can make that possible. 

How to use it for Ministry: Organize your ministry teams with an integrated calendar to manage events more effectively. Use the calendar to easily manage facilities and equipment reservations, approval for events, separate group scheduling, and more.  

#9 – Database 

What it is: In the most basic sense, a database is your online member directory. With ChMS, you can view and manage members from any device. 

How to use it for Ministry: Your member database includes groups, interaction history, individual member profiles, and more. To make ministry even easier, you can update group member information from your smartphone. The best part is that your church can view the database, too, and members can update their own profiles. Your ministry team no longer has to handle every single address or name change. 

Next Steps

Inspired to get ministering with a robust ChMS? Not only does Elexio church management software offer these features available in their solution, but their expert team is also comprised of current and former church staff members. They’ve been where you are, and they understand your goals and challenges. Each tool is developed to strengthen the way your ministry works. Try their free trial to discover how their simple system can help you achieve your church’s vision.  

Tom Kline
Tom Klinehttps://ministrybrands.com
Since 2008, Tom has helped churches thrive with technology and best-practice. He's passionate about how software can equip churches to dramatically impact their community. He's also passionate about his wife and three children, Frisbee Golf, and Grilled Cheese sandwiches. Tom currently serves as the Client Experience Director for Elexio, a Ministry Brands company.

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