Happy summer! While it is not officially summer, in the church world, it is definitely time to be gearing up and planning for it. Generally speaking, summer brings nicer weather, special outreaches and out-of-town visitors. Let’s take a look at some ways your ministry can prepare.
Mobile Giving
This is something that you really shouldn’t avoid anymore. Mobile giving has gone from a luxury item to a necessity in the church world. Mobile giving allows your church members to give from anywhere, which means they can still pay their tithes even when they are out of town. This is great for both parties. It also means that those visiting you have a creative way to give if they do not carry cash.
ChMS Cleaning
It is wise to go through your ChMS from time to time and make sure your information is updated. Summer is a good time to do this as kids are moving from one grade to the next. Take some time to make sure that information is updated accordingly and also that addresses and phone numbers are up-to-date.
Utilize Your ChMS
The beauty of having a good church management software is your ability to communicate to your church members and also to follow up with your visitors. Many churches host special events and outreaches in the summer months. Use your ChMS to not only communicate these events ahead of time, but to be a rockstar at following up with visitors. This point cannot be understated. One of the biggest reasons people will return to your church is the way you follow up with them. Make sure they know that you really enjoyed having them visit. This is true for your events as well. Kids may visit multiple VBSs in the summer, but using your ChMS, you can be the church that does a great job following up with them.
Be Social
Social media has it’s challenges, but it is really an amazing tool for churches. Utilize social media to build community among your members and to make newcomers feel a part of that community. If you are doing a big outreach, consider advertising on Facebook. This is a reasonably priced way to reach a lot of people. Also, it’s a great idea to make sure your services are archived online either with audio or video (or both).
Having a plan this summer can ensure that you have a great one. You would not go on vacation without some sort of plan and you should not enter summer in the church world without one either. Hopefully, these suggestions will help your church in a big way.
