# Threefold Solutions — full site knowledge > Planning Center migration, coaching, and ongoing support for churches. We move > church data onto Planning Center, train the staff who run it, and stay on to > support them. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, working with churches across the US. This file is the complete text of all 139 articles, for assistants that cannot fetch each page, plus 339 verified answers from the Planning Center Question Bank. The index version, with links only, is at https://www.threefold.solutions/llms.txt. Contact: info@threefold.solutions --- ## New in Planning Center Calendar: Give Team Members Access to Only the Calendars They Need URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/new-in-planning-center-calendar-give-team-members-access-to-only-the-calendars-they-need Author: Kristin Emerson Published: 2026-08-10 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: Calendar Planning Center just rolled out a way to control who sees each calendar. Here's what's new, plus a few ideas for structuring Multiple Calendars at your church. Many churches have at least one calendar that doesn’t apply to everyone on the team. Maybe you’re a multi-campus church and don't need every location's events cluttering everyone's view. Maybe your church also runs a school, and school events need to stay separate from the church calendar. Or maybe you just want to keep each ministry's calendar separate, instead of everything blending into one long list. Until now, anyone with access to Planning Center Calendar could see every single event, even if you were using Multiple Calendars to organize and separate the events. This led to team members seeing a busy, cluttered calendar that they had to manually adjust to remove the events that didn’t apply to them. Calendar is rolling out access controls at the calendar level, so you can decide exactly who sees what. ### What's New in Calendar Open the settings page and navigate to the Calendars tab. For each calendar you have set up, you'll spot a new option under the Actions menu called “Manage access.” Open this setting to decide who can see this calendar, with the choice between “Everyone” or “Specific people.” Once you select “Specific people,” you can add the name of each person who should have access. If you haven't set up multiple calendars yet, you can create one straight from the Calendars tab by clicking “New calendar.” Once it’s created, open the manage access window and set it accordingly. ### A Few Things to Know Before You Turn This On - Like many other areas in Planning Center, product administrators always have access to all calendars, and they're the ones who manage calendar settings. - Event owners and managers can still be granted access to individual events even on a calendar they can't otherwise see. - Members of Approval Groups can see all events that have requested rooms or resources assigned to their Group, so conflicts are still visible across multiple calendars. - Every calendar you already have is currently set to "Everyone." Nobody’s access changes until you update it. - Any calendar you create from now on will default with access to “Specific people,” meaning that administrators are the only ones with access until you change it. Be sure you confirm the access each time you create a new calendar. - If someone clicks a link to an event they don't have access to, they land on an “Access required” page with a button to request access. That request goes straight to your administrators, so nobody has to hunt down who to ask. ### Why This Matters Planning Center released Multiple Calendars with separate campuses and ministries in mind, but it was missing some key functionality, like the ability to customize access. That led a lot of churches to write the feature off as not all that useful. Now that this level of control exists, Multiple Calendars may be worth taking a second look at setting up for your church. Here are some ideas for how to use multiple calendars: - A Churchwide Calendar for any large-scale events that apply to the entire church. - A calendar per campus, so individual campus teams don’t have their page clogged up with events two towns over. Add campus-specific events on this one while keeping multi-campus or larger events on the Churchwide Calendar. Give access to campus staff and any admins in the central office who need oversight. - A Staff Calendar for meetings, PTO days, and other internal-only events, visible to staff members only. If you’re a multi-campus church, a separate Staff Calendar per campus could be beneficial as well. - A separate calendar for a school or nonprofit that you share facilities with. Now ministry staff doesn’t have to see school events and vice versa. - A calendar per ministry if you want to clean up visibility across ministries. Give the kids department access to their calendar, but not the adult discipleship calendar. You could even grant a high-capacity volunteer access to their ministry’s calendar without seeing every single event in the system. - A Third-Party or Community Calendar for outside groups renting your space, visible only to the administrators and anyone who directly manages external events. - A facilities maintenance calendar for things like painting, lawn care, and deep cleaning. Ministry leaders will still see conflicts when events like these are blocking out rooms and resources, but keeping the actual events on a separate calendar doesn’t fill up their calendar with unnecessary details. This calendar could also be shared with facilities volunteers who just need to know when their help is needed without seeing the entire church calendar. ### Want Help Setting This Up for Your Church? Threefold Solutions helps churches get the most out of Planning Center, from initial setup to ongoing strategy. If you want step-by-step video training on how to use Calendar, check out the Playbook here. And if you'd like hands-on help deciding how to structure calendar access for your team, schedule a free conversation at threefold.solutions. --- ## How to Use the New Announcements Feature in Planning Center Publishing URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/how-to-use-the-new-announcements-feature-in-planning-center-publishing Author: Kristin Emerson Published: 2026-07-08 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: Publishing Learn how to use the new Church Announcements feature in Planning Center Publishing to create a centralized, always-current page for your congregation inside Church Center. If you've ever wished your congregation had one simple place to see everything that's going on at church this week, Planning Center just made that a lot easier. Publishing now includes a built-in Announcements feature that helps keep your congregation informed with a centralized page for upcoming events and important updates. This feature is available on all Publishing plans, including the free Essentials plan. ### Why Churches Struggle to Centralize Announcements in Church Center Church Center has tons of features and pages that make it a useful hub for your congregation. Links to signups, a calendar of events at your church, open groups, and more are available to share. The issue is that there hasn’t been a great way to create a single place to steer people towards the most important items. Many churches gather announcements in a paper bulletin, a rotation of slides, or a weekly newsletter. But in Church Center, each type of opportunity previously lived somewhere separate unless you created a custom page (which requires a paid subscription). What was missing was a single page with all the most important things listed together: camp signups, reminders for the ongoing food drive, upcoming events and office closures, and even general information about the current sermon series or midweek Bible studies. ### How the Planning Center Announcements Feature Works In Publishing, under the Content tab, you'll find a new Announcements section. From there, you can create individual announcement items. Each item includes a title and the option to add an image, summary, and a link to another page. You can even set dates to show and hide each announcement automatically, without needing to manually add or remove it from the page when the time comes. Campus and category filters let congregation members sort announcements by what matters most to them. If you choose to link the announcement to something else, you can choose between any other page in Church Center or simply paste a URL from anywhere. If you’re linking within Church Center, you can search for pages, sermons, forms, groups, signups, and events directly instead of needing to pull the link separately. The Announcements section is found within the Content tab in Publishing. Each announcement can have custom settings, including a short summary, availability dates, a linking option, and campus and category assignment. ### How to Launch Your Announcements Page in Church Center Once you’ve created a few announcements, you can preview the page and adjust the layout from the Content tab, in line with the rest of your Church Center Pages. Announcements are sorted from newest to oldest, with featured items displayed at the top. When you're ready to go live, add the Announcements page to your Church Center navigation from the Customize tab or link to it on your Home page. ### What to Post on Your Church Announcements Page Not sure what to post first? Here are some ideas: - Upcoming events like VBS, retreats, or seasonal kickoffs - Volunteer opportunities with a link directly to the signup form - New groups that are forming or open for enrollment - Giving campaigns, donation drives, or year-end giving reminders - Sermon series information or a link to the message archive - Registration deadlines for camps or special programs - Service time changes, holiday closures, and other administrative updates - New member or baptism class information - Announcements about staff changes or sabbaticals Because each announcement can link directly to the relevant Church Center page, form, or signup, your congregation can take action without having to hunt around the app. ### Why Now Is a Good Time to Build Out Your Church Center Communication Hub If your church hasn’t fully built out Church Center as a communication hub, this feature is a good reason to start. A dedicated announcements page gives your members a reliable place to check in each week, and it stops the constant “wait, where do I find that?” moment. It also gives you a single place to point people to when announcing things from the stage or the pulpit. Keep your list fresh by scheduling announcements to appear and disappear automatically, and use the campus filter if you’re managing communication across multiple locations. ### Want Help Getting Your Church Center Set Up? Threefold Solutions helps churches get the most out of Planning Center, from initial setup to ongoing strategy. For quick questions, peer support, and Live Q&A sessions, join our free community. For customized support and training, get in touch with our team, and we’ll help you make the most of what Planning Center has to offer. --- ## Planning Center People Updates: Household Form Submissions and Conditional Form Automations URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/planning-center-people-updates-household-form-submissions-and-conditional-form-automations Author: Kristin Emerson Published: 2026-06-22 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People Learn how to use Planning Center's new household member form submission setting and conditional form automations — two long-awaited updates now live in Planning Center People. Planning Center has been releasing a ton of helpful updates recently, and two new changes to People just dropped that we’ve been waiting a long time for. One is extremely helpful for anyone who needs to collect forms for kids, and the other is for anyone who's ever wished form follow-up could be customized based on response. Here's what changed and how to use it. ### Planning Center Forms Now Support Submissions for Household Members If your kids or youth ministries require forms such as medical releases, permission slips, waivers, or even Baptism interest forms for children, you may have noticed that utilizing a People form for these is harder than it should be. If you send a parent a link to the form and they open it and fill it out for their seven-year-old, that should work, right? Not exactly. Until recently, the information gathered in a form was written to the profile of the person filling it out. That means even if the parent meant to say their child was in first grade and was allergic to peanuts, they may have accidentally added first grade and the allergy to their own profile instead. To prevent this, these forms required very specific instructions, such as asking parents to log out of their accounts to answer as their child. Other churches chose to use basic text fields and require a team member to go back and update the correct profile afterward. Some churches just found paper easier to use. The only way to get around this was to start with a Registration and add the form as an additional attendee form. Then, after submitting the registration, the parent could follow the link and actually fill out the form for the correct child. Good news: Planning Center now handles this natively. #### How to Enable Household Member Form Submissions in Planning Center In your form settings, enable Allow submitting on behalf of a household member. That's it on your end. When a congregant opens the form, they'll be prompted to log in and then see a household member selection screen before the form itself. They can choose themselves, any existing household member, or add a new adult or child right from that screen if the person isn't in their household yet. The form shows a header confirming who they're completing it for, and the submission automatically attaches to the correct profile. #### A Few Things to Know Before You Turn It On - Login is required. Because the feature pulls from household relationships, all submitters must log in or create an account prior to completing the form when this setting is enabled. - You can't use this alongside the Household Members field. Those two settings serve different purposes: the Household Members field adds new people to a household during a submission; this setting submits on behalf of someone already in the household. Planning Center won't let you use both on the same form. - Multi-household situations are handled. If someone belongs to more than one household, they'll pick the household first, then the person. - "Submit another response" loops back to the household selection screen. That makes it easy for a parent to submit the same form for multiple kids without having to log back in. This applies to standalone People forms on Church Center. If you're using a People form attached to a Registration, that flow works exactly as it always has. ### Planning Center Form Automations Can Now Trigger Based on a Specific Response While automations have been possible in Planning Center for a while now, form automations have always been surprisingly basic. Especially on something like a connect card, you know the right follow-up depends on the answer. Sometimes an email is sent automatically with a link to complete a volunteer application. Sometimes the submitter should be added to a follow-up workflow. Sometimes the person’s profile should be marked as a guest. You just couldn't make the form do that, at least not without some workarounds involved. Until now, form automations fired the same way for every submission. The one exception was workflow fields, which could route people based on their selection in that one question. Everything else — automated emails, updates to membership type or campus, or any other custom field — treated every submission identically. Even if you used workflows to trigger customized follow-up, automated emails had to be set up via lists, which didn’t refresh until 2am the following morning. That's changed. Automations can now be set to trigger when someone answers a specific field in a specific way. These automations fire the moment someone submits, which means immediate action rather than waiting for a delay or sending an email to your congregant at 2am. #### How Conditional Form Automations Work When you add an automation to a form, you'll see a new option for who it applies to: - All submissions works exactly like before. - Submissions with certain responses lets you pick a field and the answer that triggers it. The fields you can trigger on: - Dropdown and checkbox basic fields - Yes/no, dropdown, and checkbox custom fields - Campus selection From there, every action you already use is available: send an email from a template, add someone to a workflow, update a profile field, add them to a group, or add a task. #### Real Examples of Conditional Form Automations First-time guest checkbox: Your connection card has a yes/no field: "Is this your first time visiting?" When someone checks yes, two things happen automatically: their membership type updates to Guest, and they receive a personal welcome email. No additional workflows or lists are needed. Campus selection: A visitor picks which Campus they are attending from a dropdown. That triggers a campus-specific welcome email from that location's pastor. Someone who picks the Downtown Campus gets a completely different email than the North Campus. Each campus gets its own automation, all living in the same place. Stage of life dropdown: Your form asks where someone is in life: student, young adult, young family, or empty nester. Each selection triggers an email with information about the ministry that fits their stage. The students and young adults hear about your college community. The young family gets details about kids ministry and family events. The right information gets to the right person without any manual sorting. #### What to Know Before You Build Each automation can only have one trigger, so even if multiple scenarios get the same follow-up action, you’ll need separate automations to match each. In addition, if you want different follow-up actions for each choice in a single question, you'll set up a separate automation per option. While this can seem like more work upfront, it will save you time in the long run and reduce the complexity of your day-to-day process. ### The Bottom Line If your church regularly collects forms for children, the household member submission setting is the fix you've been waiting for. Parents can easily complete forms for their kids without difficulty, and the data lands in the right place automatically. If you've been wishing your form follow-up could respond to what someone actually said instead of just the fact that they submitted, conditional automations give you that. Build the logic into the form itself and let it run. Both updates are live now in Planning Center People. #### Want Help Setting These Up for Your Church? At Threefold Solutions, we help churches get the most out of Planning Center — whether that's configuring new features, building out workflows, or just figuring out which setting does what. If you have questions about either of these updates, we'd love to help. Get in touch with our team or join our community where church admins ask questions like this every day. --- ## New in Planning Center Services: Volunteers Can Now Find Their Own Replacements When They Decline URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/new-in-planning-center-services-volunteers-can-now-find-their-own-replacements-when-they-decline Author: Kristin Emerson Published: 2026-06-15 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: Services Planning Center Services now lets volunteers find and confirm their own replacement when they decline. Here's how it works and how to turn it on for your teams. If you manage church volunteers in Planning Center Services, you know that one decline can create a domino effect that takes hours to fix. Someone says no on a Thursday night, then you’re spending Friday (which should be your day off) sending request after request to try to fill the gap. Even if your church asks volunteers to find their own subs, there hasn’t been a great way for the person declining to see who is available and get their replacement on the schedule once they find somebody. Now, volunteers can quickly find and confirm a replacement when they decline a request, streamlining the process and reducing manual work for schedulers. Here’s how it works, how you can enable it, and how it complements existing rescheduling tools in Planning Center Services. ### How Volunteer Replacements Work in Planning Center Services When a team member declines a request and volunteer replacements are turned on for their team, they go to a replacement selection screen before their decline is finalized. The volunteer sees a list of teammates who are available to fill the role. They can pick anyone from that list, but before the swap happens, they must check a box that says, "I've confirmed with [Name] that they can cover this." This step makes sure the person who can’t serve isn’t just selecting whoever pops up first. It’s intentionally built to make sure they’ve already reached out and gotten a yes before the swap is made. Once submitted, the replacement volunteer is automatically added to the plan as confirmed, and the original volunteer’s decline is complete. The replacement will then get a notification confirming they’ve been added to the plan. #### What if no one is available? If no eligible teammates are found, the volunteer sees a message saying, *"No one is available to cover this date. You can decline without selecting a replacement."*The system then follows the usual process: a needed position is created, the leader is notified, and they must fill the spot manually. ### How to Enable Volunteer Replacements This feature is enabled at the team level, so you can turn it on for some teams and leave it off for others. - Go to the People page in the top navigation. - Select the Teams tab and find the team you want to configure. - Click the team name, then select the Settings tab. - Scroll to the Rescheduling Declines section. - Enable Volunteer Replacements. Once you turn it on, this feature works anywhere volunteers can decline—on the web, in the Services mobile app, and in both the Church Center App and website. ### What Leaders See When a Volunteer Declines If a replacement is found and confirmed, leaders get notified according to their current notification settings. If no replacement is found, a needed position is created and the leader is notified to fill it, just like before. ### All Five Ways to Handle Volunteer Declines in Planning Center Services Volunteer replacements are a new option alongside the other rescheduling choices in Planning Center Services. You’ll find all of them in the Rescheduling Declines section of your team settings. Here’s an overview. #### Option 1: Do Not Reschedule When someone declines, no needed position is created. The slot just stays empty. **Best for:**positions that aren’t needed every week, like floaters or new volunteer shadowing. This option is the least common, but it still has its place. #### Option 2: Manually Reschedule When someone declines, a needed position is automatically created, and the "Replies to" person is notified to choose a replacement. **Best for:**teams where skill level matters, like aworship or production team, and where the leader should choose who is requested. You don’t want the system randomly picking a replacement for the lead electric guitar. #### Option 3: Volunteer Replacements (New) As explained above, the volunteer who declines is asked to find and confirm their own replacement before the decline is final. The confirmation checkbox makes sure they’ve already talked to their replacement before the swap. Best for: Teams with volunteer accountability and ownership of finding replacements. Also ideal for small, close-knit teams aware of each other's availability. #### Option 4: Auto-Schedule When someone declines, Planning Center automatically sends a request to the next best person based on preferences, availability, and how recently they’ve been scheduled. The "Replies to" person is kept in the loop with notifications along the way. Best for: Large teams, like greeters or parking, where you mainly need people who are available, not necessarily those with special skills. #### Option 5: Signup Sheets When enabled, if someone declines, a signup sheet email goes to all other team members who share the same position. Volunteers can claim the position on a first-come, first-served basis via email or from their My Schedule page in Services or Church Center. One thing to know: When signup sheets are triggered by a decline, all open positions on the team become available for signup. Only people with the same position as the person who declined get the signup sheet email, but others might see it if they check their schedule. **Best for:**Teams where you want to empower volunteers to step up on their own instead of being assigned, and where availability matters more than specific skills. ### Choosing the Right Decline Settings for Your Church Volunteer Teams Not every team needs the same setting. Here's a quick guide: Worship band or production → Manually Reschedule Large hospitality or parking team → Auto-schedule or Signup sheets Kids Team → Volunteer Replacements or Signup Sheets Safety Team → Manually Reschedule Ushers → Volunteer Replacements or Signup Sheets Pick a decline setting that fits each team’s needs and culture. If a team requires special skills or places a high level of responsibility on the volunteer, stick with Manually Rescheduling. For other teams, try one of the other options to save time and effort. ### Before You Turn On Volunteer Replacements A few things worth doing first: **Let your team know what to expect.**Communicate the new process for declining a position and ask your team members to find and confirm a replacement before submitting. Setting this expectation early helps avoid confusion and conveys the goal of this change: ownership and accountability, rather than just a new feature. **Clean up your rosters.**The list of possible replacements shows current team members in that position. Archive anyone who isn’t active before turning this on, so volunteers don’t attempt to swap with people who left months ago. **Encourage volunteers to set blockout dates.**Knowing ahead of time who is unavailable makes finding a replacement a lot easier. The replacement page only shows those who are available, so anyone with blockouts will already be taken out of consideration. ### Take a Few Minutes to Review Your Decline Settings If your leaders are still spending time each week chasing down replacements, a settings change might be all it takes. Pull up your Planning Center Services team settings and walk through each team, thinking through which teams fit Volunteer Replacements and which work better with Auto-Schedule or Signup Sheets. A few minutes now could save your team a lot of unnecessary back-and-forth down the road. ### Need Help Getting More Out of Planning Center Services? If you want to go deeper on how to configure Planning Center Services for your church, the Planning Center Playbookis a step-by-step training course built for church administrators.The course has over 85 videos covering Services from both the admin and volunteer perspectives, so your staff and volunteers can all be confident in their roles and responsibilities. Check out the Playbook here. If your church needs help setting up a scheduling workflow that fits your team, that’s what we do at Threefold Solutions. We help churches with Planning Center configuration every day and offer options for different budgets and needs. Contact us to schedule a free conversation with our team. --- ## Planning Center Background Check Services Compared URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/planning-center-background-check-services-compared Author: Michael Visser Published: 2026-06-12 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: People, Services A complete comparison of all five background check options for Planning Center — Checkr, MinistrySafe, Protect My Ministry, Verified First, and manual tracking — with verified 2026 pricing, integration details, and guidance on which provider fits your church's size and needs. By Michael Visser · Threefold Solutions · Updated June 12, 2026 This week, someone in the Planning Center Community Facebook group asked a question that deserves a better answer than what’s currently online. The question was simple. Which background check service should we use with Planning Center, and how do they compare? Five options exist: four provider integrations and one manual-tracking approach that works with any external provider. Only one option lists pricing right in the Planning Center help docs. Others share at least partial pricing online, while some won’t tell you the price until you talk to a salesperson. We did the research most pastors don’t have time for. We gathered the publicly available rates from each provider, walked through each integration, and pulled it all together here. Here’s what we found. ### The Quick Answer If you want to stop reading right now and just get a recommendation, here it is. **Start with Checkr.**It’s built by Planning Center, has no annual fee, lists prices publicly ($12.99, $24.99, or $34.99 per check), and gets results back into Planning Center cleanly. For most churches, this is the right answer. **Move to MinistrySafe if you’re looking for training and policies all in one place.**The $400 annual membership gives you a complete safety system with attorney-developed resources, not just background checks. It’s a great option, especially if your insurer or denomination already partners with them. **Pick Protect My Ministry if you want a full volunteer pipeline: online applications, consent forms, and built-in screening processes.**There’s no annual fee to run background checks, and their bundles ($175–$1,025 per year) add things like training, custom questions, online consent forms, and tools for managing multiple departments. **Go with Verified First if you want volunteers to pay for their own checks.**They offer the broadest enterprise feature set (batch rescreening, continuous monitoring, highly customized packages), but all pricing is by custom quote. Their native Planning Center add-on launched April 28, 2026. Use manual trackingif you already have a preferred provider, if your denomination runs checks centrally, if you use Live Scan or another government agency to pull data, or if you need to screen volunteers under 18. Most churches actually use manual tracking in combination with one of the integrated providers to fill in any gaps. That’s the quick version. Below, you’ll find the full breakdown, including actual pricing and the integration details that make a difference. ### How Background Checks Work in Planning Center Before you look at different providers, it’s useful to know what Planning Center offers no matter which service you pick: - Background check status tracked on each person’s profile via the shield/badge icon - Secure Teams in Services that block scheduling anyone without a cleared check - Check-Ins settings that require cleared background checks for volunteers at specific locations or events - List capability to pull profiles with a specific status, result, or expiration date range; this also unlocks automations to trigger emails, workflows, and more - A background check dashboard for at-a-glance status across your entire database The Background Check Badge is found in the header of each profile. The Background Check Dashboard is available from the Overview tab. While these features are available no matter which provider you choose, the options differ in how tightly they integrate with Planning Center, what they screen, what extras they offer (such as safety training), and how much they cost. ### Why This Comparison Is Hard to Find Online Most provider comparisons you’ll find for Planning Center background checks are out of date, written before Verified First or Protect My Ministry had native add-ons, or based on partner pricing sheets that the providers themselves no longer honor. Two of the four providers actively make pricing comparison difficult. While Checkr and Protect My Ministry share pricing online, MinistrySafe only publishes its $400/year membership and training prices, but not background check rates. Verified First publishes nothing. We’re not mad about it. There’s a reasonable business case for custom pricing in this space, especially when partnerships with denominations and insurers create real discount tiers. But it does mean a church evaluating these providers either makes four sales calls or guesses. This post tries to take the guesswork out of the first 80% of the decision. ### At-a-Glance Comparison Here's the full side-by-side. The provider deep dives that follow explain the nuance behind each row. ← Scroll to see all providers ### Provider Deep Dives #### 1. Checkr: The Default Choice Website:checkr.com Planning Center page:www.planningcenter.com/integrations/checkr Checkr is the only background check provider with a native, first-party integration built directly by Planning Center. This means that the Planning Center support articles are tailored to Checkr, and you don’t need to leave Planning Center for support documentation. To set up a new account or connect an existing one, visit the Planning Center Account Settings. Once connected, order checks from a person’s profile or in bulk from People in just a few clicks, and results post back to the Planning Center security badge automatically as Clear, Needs Review, or Suspended. For any results that need review, your admins can view details and decide to engage or take adverse action. What you pay(verified on the Planning Center help docs): - Basic ($12.99): National criminal database, sex offender registry, SSN trace, global watchlist - Standard ($24.99): Basic plus one county criminal search - Pro ($34.99): Standard plus unlimited county criminal searches - MVR add-on ($5): Motor vehicle record on any package There’s no annual fee or minimums. You only pay when a check is completed. Planning Center’s own docs confirm they don’t add extra fees to Checkr’s pricing or take a share of the cost. Heads up: If a Basic check finds something in the National Criminal database, federal law requires an extra county-level search. That means the check could be bumped up to Standard or Pro, which affects the price. Some counties add small access fees, too. Basic works well for low-risk, adult-only roles. Go with Standard for anyone working with kids, money, or vulnerable adults. Don’t forget the $5 MVR add-on for anyone driving. The limitations: Checkr doesn’t include training, policy templates, or extra features—it’s just a clean, well-priced screening tool. Also, since it serves multiple industries, don’t expect much church-specific guidance. Turnaround time: Planning Center lists a two-business-day average, but Basic checks usually clear within a few hours. Pick Checkr If: You wantpay-as-you-go pricing, no long-term commitment, and the smoothest process within Planning Center. This is the best starting point for most small to mid-size churches that have standard background check needs. #### 2. MinistrySafe: The Ministry-Tailored Option Website:ministrysafe.com Planning Center page:www.planningcenter.com/integrations/ministry-safe MinistrySafe is the only integration that bundles screening with a real safety program. The company was founded by attorneys whose firm specializes in sexual abuse cases. The 5-Part Safety System wraps background checks together with abuse-awareness training, screening training, model policies and procedures, and an oversight dashboard. The training and policies are not throw-ins. They’re the actual product. The integration has been upgraded to a full two-way sync with Planning Center. Churches can assign and track sexual abuse awareness training, order and review background checks, and add Planning Center users directly into MinistrySafe, all from within Planning Center People. A 24-hour sync also pulls Planning Center groups and lists into the MinistrySafe Control Panel. What you pay(verified on ministrysafe.com/pricing): - MinistrySafe Membership ($400/year): This gives you access to the Control Panel, policies, screening tools, and member pricing - Sexual Abuse Awareness Training ($8/person): Takes about an hour and includes a short quiz and a certificate at the end - Skillful Screening Training ($50/person): A more in-depth course (about 2.5 hours) with editable screening forms included - Background Checks (priced per search): Seven different levels are available, with access to over 650 million records Per-check pricing isn’t listed publicly, but discounted rates may be available through denominational partnerships. MinistrySafe offers free consultations to help churches pick the right level of screening for each role. Anyone working alone with children in an unsupervised setting needs a deeper screen than a Sunday greeter. The $400 annual membership is only the starting point. For churches that train a lot of staff and volunteers, extra charges can add up quickly. However, the overall cost may still be reasonable compared to setting up a separate training program and screening process. For small churches, though, the annual fee alone can be hard to justify. Denominational discounts are significant. Global Methodist congregations, several Baptist conventions, LCMS districts, and parts of the UMC all have group memberships where the $400 fee is paid at the conference level. If your denomination is on this list, MinistrySafe may make the most sense for your church. Keep in mind: Only training and background checks ordered after you enable the integration show up in Planning Center. Older MinistrySafe records won’t sync back, which can cause confusion. Volunteers (especially older ones) may also need some help with the online application. And for small churches running just a few checks a year, the $400 membership might be a lot to swallow. Turnaround time: 1 to 3 business days for Levels 1 through 5. Higher levels with clerk-assisted county searches can take longer. **Pick MinistrySafe if:**you want training and screening from the same provider, your insurance carrier requires abuse awareness training, you have a denomination that already partners with them, or you need attorney-built policy templates included. Best fit for churches that need an in-depth safety system. #### 3. Verified First: The Widest Screening Menu Website:verifiedfirst.com Planning Center page:verifiedfirst.com/partner/planning-center Verified First has the widest screening menu of the four integrations. They’re a PBSA-accredited screening firm, and on April 28, 2026, they launched a native Planning Center add-on. You can now order checks directly from Planning Center People — no browser extension required. Choose preset packages or build à la carte, and track status from each person’s profile without leaving the platform. Existing customers can keep using the browser extension or migrate over; if you’re new to Verified First, the native add-on is the way to go. Verified First doesn’t publish standard pricing, since every price is a custom quote based on your screening needs and volume. Their blog mentions that most reliable packages fall somewhere in the $30 to $75 range, but you’ll need to request a quote to get exact numbers. They also pass along any county or state access fees at cost. What sets them apart is the menu. Through the Verified First platform, they offer: - Criminal database (national), county, state, federal - Sex offender registry - Motor vehicle records - Drug testing - I-9 and E-Verify - Education and employment verification - Professional license verification - International criminal and verification searches - Credit checks - Civil suits - Vulnerable-population abuse registry - Continuous screening (ongoing monitoring after the initial check) A note on those extras: most background check providers (including Checkr and PMM) offer things like drug testing, international checks, and credit reports as general platform features. What varies is whether those services are available through the Planning Center integration specifically, or whether you’d need to go to the provider’s own dashboard to order them. Worth asking your rep which services flow through Planning Center and which must be done separately. What Verified First has that none of the others offer through Planning Center is Applicant Pay—the ability to pass the cost of the check directly to the volunteer via an emailed link. That’s a meaningful option for ministries screening hundreds of short-term volunteers on a tight budget. The catch: Pricing opacity is real. You won’t know your actual cost until you talk to a rep and get a quote. The native add-on is brand new, so expect a few integration hiccups early on. Like Checkr, Verified First serves all industries. There’s no church-specific advice built in. Turnaround time: Most criminal checks are finished in under two business days. Verification checks, like employment or education, typically take about 36–48 hours based on their published data. **Pick Verified First if:**you want applicant self-pay, need more advanced features like batch rescreening or continuous monitoring, or want a highly customized screening setup. It also tends to work best for larger churches or multi-site teams that need to manage everything across multiple locations. #### 4. Protect My Ministry: The Volunteer Pipeline Website:protectmyministry.com Planning Center page:www.planningcenter.com/integrations/protect-my-ministry Protect My Ministry has been in the church background check space since 2001, serves over 35,000 ministries in all 50 states, and now operates as part of Ministry Brands. Their software product, Ministry Mobilizer, is more than a screening tool. It’s a volunteer pipeline, with online application forms, consent forms, eSignature, customizable legal agreements, custom branding, a ministry job board, position descriptions, multi-campus support, and child safety training all built in. If you want one tool that handles “volunteer applies on our website, fills out forms, signs consent, gets screened, gets trained, gets approved, starts serving” — Protect My Ministry is the only one that gives you all of that. Their state-by-state consultation tool is also really helpful. It looks at how reliable national database records are in your state and suggests a baseline package to use. Their “true 50-state” sex offender search also stands out, and they report a 99.997% accuracy rate with FCRA-trained, US-based researchers. What you pay(verified on https://www.protectmyministry.com/pco/and https://support.protectmyministry.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043976614-Bundle-Subscriptions): - Bundle 0 (free): No annual fee to run background checks. Access to ordering checks with no minimum or maximum, and reports are stored for four years. Per-check pricing: Basic $12, Essential $19, Preferred $29, Premier $39. PMM recommends Essential as a minimum since Basic has no county search. - Bundle 1 ($175/year): Adds child safety training and rescreen notifications - Bundle 2 ($325/year): Adds online consent forms and volunteer pipeline management - Bundle 3 ($625/year): Adds custom screening questions and applicant stages - Bundle 4 ($1,025/year): Adds departments/positions and multiple forms - Add-ons available: Motor vehicle report, credit report, federal felony/misdemeanor, education verification, employment verification Important to know: Existing Protect My Ministry clients still need to complete the sign-up process within Planning Center. Skipping this step can cause errors when placing orders, since existing Ministry Mobilizer accounts don’t automatically connect. After signing up, all checks and trainings are ordered through Planning Center, not the PMM Portal. The Portal remains available for account management tasks like creating custom packages, setting up billing references, editing email templates, and adding users. The catch: Some reviewers on Capterra mention frustration with auto-renewals and the lack of a prorated rate if you cancel. Read the contract carefully before you sign. Turnaround time: Same-day to 48 hours for most criminal checks. **Pick Protect My Ministry if:**you want more than background checks: they offer a complete volunteer pipeline. This is a solid choice if your denomination or insurer already partners with them. The step-by-step setup and clear, state-specific guidance are worth noting. #### 5. Manual Tracking: Any Provider, Tracked in Planning Center Planning Center allows you to manually record background check results on any person’s profile, or add them in bulk via bulk actions and automations. You set the status (cleared, not cleared, etc.), completion date, expiration date, and notes. This works with any background check provider, or even checks run by a denominational office. Manual tracking is also your path forward if your church is in a state that requires Live Scan fingerprinting for certain roles. Live Scan results come directly from the Department of Justice and/or FBI, not a commercial screening provider, so none of the existing integrations can pull them in. You still get full use of Secure Teams and Check-Ins enforcement, as well as list functionality. The screening just happens outside the platform. What you pay: No additional cost from Planning Center. You pay whatever your external provider charges. Keep in mind: There’s no automation — statuses need to be updated by hand as results arrive. No digital consent form is built into Planning Center, so there’s a bit more risk for errors or outdated info. Still, this is the most flexible option and costs nothing extra. To get started: Open a person’s profile, click the shield icon, and choose “Add Background Check.” From there, you can set the status, add dates and notes, and you’re good to go. You can also use bulk actions to add checks for multiple people at once. Best for: Churches with an established provider not listed above, where a denominational body runs checks centrally, or where state-specific regulations prevent you from using an integrated provider. Also the only option for tracking checks on volunteers under 18, since none of the integrated providers support minor volunteers. ### Which One Should Your Church Pick? These providers aren’t really competing for the same job. They’re competing for adjacent jobs. Here’s how to think about which one fits where. If you’re a small to mid-size church with no additional features needed, start with Checkr. Run Standard ($24.99) as your default, Pro ($34.99) for staff and high-trust roles, and the MVR add-on for drivers. You can always switch later if your needs grow. The transparent pricing and zero commitment make this the lowest-regret starting point. If your insurer or denomination already partners with MinistrySafe, skip the comparison. Use MinistrySafe. The partnerships with GMC, LCMS, several UMC conferences, Kentucky Baptist Convention, and others make it an obvious choice. You also get the 5-Part Safety System and policy templates included. If you’re building a full volunteer onboarding process and want your training, policies, and screening all in one place, both MinistrySafe and Protect My Ministry are strong choices. MinistrySafe is often the better fit for churches whose insurance requires abuse awareness training or who need robust compliance resources, thanks to MinistrySafe’s legal background. On the other hand, Protect My Ministry offers more flexibility with background checks, plus state-specific guidance and tools to manage applicants from start to finish, all within a single system. If covering background check costs isn’t in the budget and you want volunteers to pay their own way, or if you need advanced features like batch rescreening and continuous monitoring, Verified First is worth a close look. Just keep in mind that pricing is only available after a sales call. If you’re already running checks outside Planning Center, use manual tracking to bring the records in. Adding the status and additional details to each profile will enable you to use the built-in features even without using an integration. ### Key Questions to Ask Before You Choose - **How many active volunteers do you have?**Each of the providers charges per check, with some requiring an additional membership fee in exchange for additional features. Consider the number of background checks you expect to run annually when estimating the cost differences. - **Does your insurance provider require abuse prevention training?**If so, MinistrySafe or Protect My Ministry are both great options since they bundle training right in with their screening. - **Need to screen across state lines?**Protect My Ministry simplifies that with state-specific guidance, and MinistrySafe’s 7-level system lets you tailor checks based on location. - **Do you want volunteers to pay for their own checks?**Verified First is the only Planning Center integration with a built-in applicant self-pay option. - **How important is a single-platform experience?**Checkr is the easiest to use, while MinistrySafe stands out if you want more built-in features right inside Planning Center. - **Do you have volunteers under 18?**None of the integrated providers support minor volunteers. You’ll need manual tracking for those. - **Are you already using a provider you like or have processes set by your denomination or state regulations?**Manual tracking keeps you flexible while still leveraging Planning Center’s safety enforcement features. ### Things to Know Before You Sign Anything A few caveats that won’t fit in a comparison table. Every provider passes along county access fees, ranging from $1 to $40 per check, depending on the county. Add a 10–20% buffer to your screening budget for these. FCRA compliance is your responsibility, not the provider’s. All four providers handle pre-adverse-action notice workflows, but the dispute process and the recordkeeping are on the church. None of this is fully automated inside Planning Center. State laws sometimes add extra hoops on top of federal rules, especially in California (ICRAA), New York (Article 23-A), and Massachusetts (CORI). Always ask providers how they handle compliance with your state’s requirements. Checking this early helps avoid surprises later. Switching providers is expensive. Background check records don’t transfer between vendors, which means you risk paying for each check again and asking everyone to go through consent all over. It’s usually best to choose a provider you’re comfortable sticking with for at least three years. Always get your quote in writing. The provider may give you pricing over the phone, but be sure to get any rates in an email or contract before you commit. Verbal pricing can change. ### Getting Started: Setup Steps in Planning Center **Checkr:**Go to Account Settings in People, enable the Checkr integration, and create your Checkr account. You can begin ordering checks immediately from any person’s profile. **MinistrySafe:**Create a MinistrySafe account ($400/year), then connect it through the Planning Center integration settings. The two-way sync will let you order checks, assign training, and track completion from within Planning Center People. **Protect My Ministry:**Create a Protect My Ministry account, then enable the PMM 2.0 add-on under the Add-Ons tab in your Planning Center Account Settings. Follow the setup video to connect your accounts. **Verified First:**Contact Verified First to establish an account and configure your packages. Enable the add-on from the Integrations tab in Account Settings and share your organization ID with your Verified First rep. Once connected, you can order in bulk from the background check dashboard or individually from a person’s profile. **Manual Tracking:**No additional setup is required. Just open someone’s profile, click the shield icon, and choose Add Manual Background Check. From there, you can fill in the status, completion and expiration dates, and any notes. Or, use bulk actions to add checks for multiple people at once. ### The Bottom Line There are five background check options that work with Planning Center, but only a few of them are upfront about pricing. That’s helpful to know going in. For most churches, Checkr is the easiest place to start. It’s simple, affordable, and pretty transparent. MinistrySafe is a better fit if you’re building a more comprehensive safety approach and want training and policies included. Protect My Ministry works well if you’re trying to build out a full volunteer pipeline. Verified First is a good choice when you have more specialized screening needs that the others don’t quite cover. And if none of the integrations fit, manual tracking is still a solid option. If you’re torn between two options, get quotes from both. The sales conversation itself often tells you more about the provider than any comparison page ever could. We update this post as pricing and integration features change. If you’ve gotten a recent quote from one of these providers and want to share it (anonymously is fine), reply to this post or email us. Every quote we get makes this guide more useful for the next church. Threefold Solutions helps churches get the most out of Planning Center through migrations, custom reporting, and ongoing operations support. If you're stuck on something Planning Center-related, start by joining our Threefold community on Circle. It's where church admins ask questions like this and get answers from people who've been there. --- ## Keep Benevolence Requests and Pastoral Counseling Intake Private With Planning Center's New Form Permissions URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/keep-benevolence-requests-and-pastoral-counseling-intake-private-with-planning-centers-new-form-permissions Author: Kristin Emerson Published: 2026-05-29 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People Learn how to use Planning Center's new form permissions to restrict access to sensitive forms like benevolence requests, pastoral counseling intake, and recovery program enrollment — so only the right people on your team can see submissions. Every church collects information that wasn't meant for every set of eyes on your admin team. For forms to submit Benevolence requests, Pastoral Counseling needs, or to express interest in joining a Divorce Care or Celebrate Recovery program, submissions should only be accessible to a small, intentional group of people. The problem? Until now, every Manager in Planning Center People automatically had access to every form. That left churches with a few uncomfortable workarounds: use a third-party form for sensitive areas and lose the connection to People profiles and workflows, avoid asking sensitive questions on forms altogether and call or meet in person to gather that information, or just trust that Managers wouldn't dig into forms that weren't relevant to their role. None of those were great options, and Planning Center knew it. This has been one of the most-requested improvements for People, and we are excited to see that the update was finally released in May 2026. ### What's New: Two Ways to Customize Form Access #### Exclude Managers From a Specific Form From a form's collaborator settings, you can now remove the default Manager permission group from any form, as long as at least one other individual or group still has manage permission on that form. When Managers are excluded from a form: - They won't see it in their form list - They won't see submissions on People profiles - They won't see related entries in the activity log - If the form feeds into a workflow through automation, they'll see it labeled as [Hidden form], consistent with how hidden workflows and notes already work No notification is sent when someone's access is removed. The form simply disappears from their view, quietly and cleanly. #### Grant Access by Permission Group or Individual Previously, additional collaborators on forms had to be added one person at a time. Now you can grant access to an entire permission level in a couple of clicks. For each collaborator, whether an individual or group, you choose either Manage or View Only access. View-only access lets people view submissions, while manage allows users to update questions, change settings, and add/remove other collaborators. Adding individuals instead of an entire group is the right call for sensitive forms that only a couple of pastors or your finance team should see. On the other hand, granting all Viewers access makes sense for lower-stakes forms like a Connect Card or Next Steps form. One thing to note: When a low permission level is granted access, each higher level also gets that access (e.g., if you grant access to Viewers, Editors and Managers automatically get that access too). ### Forms Worth Locking Down If you've been using other tools to collect sensitive information because you couldn't control who saw the responses, now you can bring those forms back to Planning Center. Submissions will go straight into profiles and workflows, and only the right people will have access. Here are the forms that benefit most from restricted access: Benevolence and Financial Assistance Requests When a family is in a difficult season and submits a request for financial help, they're extending real trust to your church. Restricting access to your benevolence committee or financial care team keeps that information where it belongs. Counseling and Mental Health Intake Pastoral counseling intake forms often include mental health history, personal trauma, and family dynamics. Access should be limited to the pastors or staff members overseeing that care ministry. Confidential Prayer Requests Depending on your prayer ministry, you may or may not share all prayer requests with staff, elders, or deacons. Instead, many churches include a question on prayer request forms asking, "May we share this with staff and our volunteer prayer team?" That makes the default private but opens the door when someone is comfortable sharing. Restricting form access reinforces that promise of confidentiality. Support Program Enrollment (Divorce Care, Celebrate Recovery, etc.) Enrollment forms for recovery and support programs often include details about addiction, relationship history, and family situations. These should be visible only to the ministry lead and any licensed staff involved. It’s worth noting that, while Registrations is typically the better fit for signups and event enrollment, it lacks the granularity to control submission privacy. This update gives you a privacy option in People that Registrations currently can't match. ### How to Set It Up #### To grant access to a permission group or individual: - Open the form in Planning Center People - Go to the Settings tab - Under the Collaborators section, select "Add collaborator" - Choose a permission group or select "A person..." and search by name - Use the dropdown to select either Manage or View Only access - Changes save automatically #### To exclude Managers from a form: - First, add yourself and any other individuals who need access as collaborators with Manage access (follow the steps above) - In the "All Managers" row, click the X to remove the group - Changes save automatically Note: You must have Manage access on the form to remove the All Managers group. If you don't need ongoing access to the form yourself, have another collaborator remove you after the setup is complete. While you're in there, it's worth doing a quick audit of all your active forms. For each one, ask two questions: Who actually needs to see these submissions? And are there people who should view submissions but not edit the form itself? You may find some forms have been less protected than you realized. ### What Stays the Same New forms still default to sharing access with all Managers, so nothing changes about your existing setup unless you choose to adjust permissions on a specific form. This update only affects forms where you decide to make a change. ### A Quick Note for Your Admin Team When you restrict access to certain forms, it's a good idea to give your Managers a heads-up. Some may notice that certain forms have disappeared from their view and wonder why. A brief explanation helps: "We're tightening up form access so that sensitive submissions stay with the right people. This is us being more intentional about how we handle private member information." That framing positions it as a care decision, not a trust issue, and it reinforces confidence in your systems and leadership. ### Want Help Putting This Into Practice? Form permissions are one of those settings that's easy to overlook until something goes wrong. If you want help auditing your current setup or building out a permissions structure that actually fits your team, here are a few ways to get support. The easiest place to start is the Threefold Community, where 300+ church leaders ask questions, swap strategies, and get input from people running churches just like yours. You'll also get access to live Q&A sessions and free resources. Join free today. The Planning Center Playbook goes deeper —85+ step-by-step lessons covering People, forms, permissions, and every other Planning Center product. It's built for church administrators who want a clear, practical reference they can return to again and again. Check out the Playbook here. For hands-on help, Threefold Solutions offers support contracts with various tiers to match your specific needs. Whether it's a one-time setup review or someone to call when something breaks, we're here for it. Schedule a free conversation at threefold.solutions. --- ## Planning Center Services Just Solved One of the Biggest Headaches in Church Scheduling URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/planning-center-services-just-solved-one-of-the-biggest-headaches-in-church-scheduling Author: Kristin Emerson Published: 2026-05-22 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Planning Center apps: Services Planning Center Services now lets teams belong to multiple Service Types — no more duplicate teams, messy workarounds, or confused volunteers. Learn how to merge, assign, and manage your church volunteer teams the right way. If you schedule volunteers who serve in multiple ministries (think tech teams covering Sunday services, Wednesday youth, and special events), you’ve probably felt the pain of creating duplicate teams in Planning Center Services. In the past, you had to build the same team multiple times, keep members updated across all versions, and hope nothing slipped through the cracks. Sooner or later, something did. Maybe you missed removing someone who left months ago from your Special Event Team; cue the awkward “Hey, I don’t even go to this church anymore” reply after you send out a sign‑up. Or maybe you’ve had volunteers ask why their profile lists them in the band three different times. Good news: Planning Center Services just released an update that fixes all of this. Teams can now belong to multiple Service Types (or none at all), so you can finally manage your volunteer teams the same way you actually think about them: a single team that serves in multiple contexts. ### What Changed? Teams are now their own independent entity in Services. They’re no longer locked into a single Service Type. One team can serve across several Service Types without duplication or messy workarounds. This update gives you: - A cleaner structure - Less volunteer confusion - A lot less administrative work #### You can now: - Assign one team to multiple Service Types - Create a team without assigning a Service Type - Create teams directly from the Teams Index page - See Service Type badges in team settings - View Team Scheduling Data directly on the Teams Index Page ### Permissions Breakdown: To work with Multi-Service-Type teams, here’s what you need: - Editor (or higher) permissions in a Service Type to add it to a team - Editor (or higher) permissions in each Service Type affected to merge teams - Editor (or higher) permissions for People and Plans to create a team from the Teams Index page Additionally, team leads will automatically gain scheduler permissions in each Service Type their team is assigned to. ### How to Use the New Multi–Service Type Teams #### Assign Additional Service Types to an existing Team To update any team: - Open the Team Settings - Locate the Service Types section - Use the dropdown to add any Service Types you have editor permissions for #### Creating a New Team When you create or copy a team, you’ll now see a Service Types section where you can assign one or several Service Types right away. ##### Creating a team from within a Service Type: - Navigate to the Service Type, selecting Plans in the top navigation. - Use the sprocket (⚙️) next to the Service Type name, then choose Teams. - Click Add Team and choose to create a new team or copy an existing one. - Assign Team Leaders and Service Types using the Add button. - Your name is automatically added as a team leader, but can be removed by hitting the X. - The Service Type you started with is automatically selected. Choose additional Service Types as needed - Enable optional features such as Rehearsal Teams, Split Teams, or Secure Teams. ##### Creating a team from the Teams Index Page: 1. Click People in the top navigation, then go to the Teams tab. 2. Select the blue Add Team button. 3. Name your team and choose to create a new one or copy an existing one. 4. Assign Team Leaders and Service Types. The Service Types field starts empty, so you can assign now or later. Note: Teams must be assigned to the corresponding Service Type before you can schedule them in a plan. If you choose to create a team without assigning Service Types, come back later to manage your team's assigned service types in the team settings. #### Merging Duplicate Teams If you’ve been managing teams like “Worship – Weekend Services” and “Worship – Special Events,” the updated Merge function will be your new best friend. ##### To merge teams: - Open the team you want to designate as the Primary team. The settings from this team will be applied to the merged team, including split team status, scheduling defaults, and team leaders. - Click Actions in the top right. - Choose Merge from the dropdown. - In the pop-up window, search for and select the team(s) you want to merge into the primary one. - If your primary team is a split team, use the Select Times dropdown next to each merging team to assign those team members to the new service type's time preferences after the merge. - Click Submit. ##### The resulting team will: - Automatically be assigned to all Service Types the originals belonged to - Include any additional positions from the merged team(s) - Retain the team's scheduling history across all associated service types No more duplicate teams with mismatched members, positions, or preferences! ### When to Use Separate Teams vs. One Team Across Multiple Service Types Some ministries overlap, but others have unique requirements. Here’s how to decide whether to combine or separate teams: #### Are the team leaders/schedulers the same? - If not, utilize two separate teams. This keeps permissions clean and prevents confusion with scheduling responsibilities or knowing who volunteers should contact. - If yes, one team may be easier to manage. #### Are there different qualifications for each Service Type? - If serving on weekends requires a higher level of skill or youth involvement requires a background check, use separate teams. Utilizing a combined team enables all team members to be scheduled to any plan this team is assigned to. This means risking somebody being scheduled for a service they do not meet the requirements for. - If the only difference is preference or availability, one combined team works well. This will also help create a wider pool of people for any time you need extra help beyond your regular rotation. 💡 Tip: If using combined teams, consider using a split team, which allows volunteers to specify preferences for when to serve: Sundays or midweek, morning or evening. ### Viewing the Updated Teams Index Page Visit the new and improved Teams Index Page (under the People tab) to see: - A Service Types column showing exactly where each Team is used - An updated Last Scheduled date that is calculated across all Service Types These small changes make it much easier to track real activity and keep your volunteer structure clean as your church grows. ### Why This Update Matters This feature isn’t simply a technical improvement. It reflects how churches actually operate. #### Less Admin Work Build your Team once. Assign it anywhere. Update it in one place. You’ll spend less time managing the system and more time supporting your volunteers. #### Less Volunteer Confusion Volunteers won’t see duplicate teams in their profile, chat threads, or preferences. Everything is streamlined and intuitive. #### More Flexibility Whether you have multiple service styles, midweek ministries, or events across multiple campuses, your structure can finally reflect your real-world workflow. ### Get Started Head to the Teams page in Planning Center Services to create a new Team or update an existing one. You’ll immediately see the new Service Types options and badges throughout the interface. If you’ve been maintaining duplicate teams, now is the perfect time to merge them and simplify your setup. Your volunteers (and your future self) will be grateful. --- ## Planning Center People Workflows: New Features and Interface Updates URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/planning-center-people-workflows-new-features-and-interface-updates Author: Kristin Emerson Published: 2026-05-07 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People A long-awaited update to Planning Center People gives church admins control over who can see form submissions. Here's what changed, which forms to lock down first, and how to set it up. If you manage follow-up processes in Planning Center People, you may have noticed things look a little different in Workflows lately. Planning Center recently pushed a redesign of the Workflows interface, along with new features that make managing steps, assignees, and reporting a lot more practical. Here's what changed and how to use it. ### What Changed in Planning Center People Workflows The biggest update is the layout. The Workflows section has been reorganized with clearer controls and a cleaner structure, so the settings you use most often are easier to find. The core functionality is the same. It just takes less digging to get to it. The biggest adjustments include: - The “Add card” (previously called “Add someone to workflow”) button is now in the top-right corner. - You now add or reorder steps using a single menu in the left pane. To edit or delete a step, use the button on the right side of the step. - View options, like ready/snooze status, assignee, and display order, are consolidated at the top for faster filtering. - Snoozed cards are easier to identify at a glance. Shown above: A closer look at the updated Workflows interface with callouts highlighting the key layout changes. Shown above: When a workflow step has no ready cards, the updated interface now clearly indicates any snoozed cards waiting in the background — so nothing gets accidentally overlooked. #### New Feature: Filter Workflow Cards by All Assignees A new filter lets you see workflow cards for all team members at the same time, instead of checking each person’s assignments one by one. If you manage a workflow and want to see everything at a glance, this feature will make things easier. To use this, open a workflow and look for the assignee filter in the top-right corner. Choose "All Assignees" to view every card in the workflow, no matter who it’s assigned to. #### New Feature: Bulk Update Default Assignees for Workflow Steps This one solves a real pain point for anyone who has had to restructure a workflow after a staff change. Here's the scenario: a team member changes roles, transitions out, or a new person takes over a ministry area. Before this update, you had to open each workflow step one at a time and manually update the default assignee. For a workflow with many steps, that was a significant time investment. Now you can update multiple steps at once. Navigate to the workflow and open the step editor as normal. When you change the default assignee, you now have three options: - Apply to this step only— updates only the step you're editing. - Apply to this step and any without a default assignee — When you inactivate a person or remove their collaborator permission, any steps assigned to them will lose their default assignee. This option fills in those gaps across the workflow without overwriting steps that already have someone assigned. - Apply to all steps in this workflow— Changes the entire workflow, even steps that still have an active assignee. It's a minor change with a real payoff when your team shifts and you need to keep things accurate without spending an afternoon clicking through settings. Shown above: When editing a step's default assignee, the "Apply to" dropdown lets you choose how broadly to apply the change. #### New Feature: Export a CSV Report for Workflow Cards This is the one workflow managers have been waiting for. People Workflows now has its first built-in reporting tool: a CSV export. This is especially helpful for leaders who oversee the workflow and need to hold the team accountable for follow-up. The report includes a detailed snapshot of every card: - Person details: full name and profile URL - Card details: date added to the workflow and total days in the workflow - Current progress: current step, days in that step, and card status (active, overdue, or snoozed) - Assignee info: who the card is currently assigned to - Follow-up context: days overdue and snoozed-until date where applicable You can even include completed cards in your report to see when and how long it took people to complete the workflow. Reports pull up to 10,000 of the most recent cards. Keep in mind: the export respects the "Can export CSVs and reports" permission, so only users with that setting will see the button. ### Why These Updates Matter Workflows in Planning Center People are only as useful as they are maintainable. When the interface is cluttered, updating assignees is tedious, or you have no way to see what's actually happening across your team, people start working around the system instead of through it — and people fall through the cracks. These three updates address that directly. You can see what your team is working on, keep workflows accurate as staff changes happen, and pull data on how your follow-up process is performing. If you haven't explored the updated Workflows interface yet, it's worth a few minutes to walk through the new layout and try out these features. ### Need Help Setting Up Workflows in Planning Center? Threefold Solutions specializes in helping churches get the most out of Planning Center — including building and maintaining workflows that actually keep people from falling through the cracks. If you want to think through your follow-up processes or get a second set of eyes on how your workflows are structured, we'd love to help. Schedule a free consultation → Have questions about Planning Center beyond workflows? Check out the Planning Center Playbook — 85+ lessons covering every Planning Center product, plus a community of church leaders who use Planning Center every day. --- ## Planning Center Church Center Check-In: Security Codes Now Visible for Every Family URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/planning-center-check-ins-just-got-better-in-church-center-security-codes-real-time-status-and-more Author: Kristin Emerson Published: 2026-05-04 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: People, Check-ins, Publishing Learn how Planning Center's Church Center app now shows security codes for every check-in — no matter how families checked in. Less chaos at pickup, more peace of mind. If you've been doing children's check-in for any length of time, you know the moment: a parent arrives to pick up their child, and the security tag is gone. Now someone has to make a judgment call while a line of families waits behind them. Or maybe mom and dad are dividing and conquering to pick up multiple kids, so they rip the tag in half or snap a photo on their phone. Security tags are a valuable safety tool, but they bring their own set of headaches. When Church Center Pre-Check launched, it helped by showing the security code in the app. But only for families who originally checked in from the app. That gap is now closed. ### What Changed in Church Center Check-Ins Security codes are now visible directly in Church Center, no matter how someone checked in. Whether a family used a self-check-in station, was assisted by a volunteer at a manned station, or started the process in the app, the security code is accessible for every active check-in in Church Center. Any household member (think both mom and dad at once) can pull it up on their phone at pickup, and your volunteers have something reliable to verify—label or no label. This update also brings a few related improvements worth knowing about: Real-time check-in status for everyone. Church Center now accurately shows whether each person is checked in or out, and that status stays in sync with your Check-Ins stations. Parents and volunteers no longer see conflicting information. Check in again for a second service. If a child is already checked in and needs to be checked in for an additional service, parents can handle it themselves right in the app by tapping "Check-in again." ### All Your Check-In Info, Right Where You Need It Previously, a household's check-in information could be scattered or incomplete depending on which method they used. Now everything lives in one place. Families can see at a glance who is checked in (along with their security code) and who still needs to be checked in, all without leaving the app. ### How to Set This Up Two things need to be in place for this to work: - Turn on "Enable in Church Center" for each Check-in event. Only events with this setting activated will appear in Church Center. - Update the Church Center app to version 2026.4.8 or higher. Once the app is updated, the improvements happen automatically. If parents haven’t tried using Church Center for Check-ins, this is a great time to invite them to try it out. A quick note in your bulletin or a quick mention during Sunday morning announcements can push families to take the leap. ### Want to Get More Out of Planning Center? Updates like this one are easy to miss, especially in the middle of a busy ministry season. If you're finding it hard to keep up with what's changing in Planning Center, need help setting up Check-Ins for the first time, or just want to make sure Planning Center is actually working for your church, here are a couple of ways we can help. Join 300+ church leaders in the Threefold Community, a space where you can ask questions, troubleshoot challenges, and swap strategies with churches your size. You'll also gain access to Live Q&A sessions and free resources, including the Top 5 Workflows every church should be running. Join our free community today. The Planning Center Playbook is a step-by-step training resource designed for church administrators looking to build confidence and efficiency with Planning Center. It covers features that are essential for day-to-day ministry, including Check-Ins, so teams have clear direction for the best approach. Check out the Playbook here. If your needs go beyond training, Threefold Solutions also offers support contracts for churches looking for ongoing, hands-on help. Whether it’s troubleshooting a setup issue, refining your workflows, or having someone to reach out to when something breaks on a Sunday morning, our team is here for you. Learn about what we offer by scheduling a free conversation with us at threefold.solutions. --- ## Planning Center Just Launched a New App That Makes Admin Work Way Easier URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/planning-center-just-launched-a-new-app-that-makes-admin-work-way-easier Author: Kristin Emerson Published: 2026-04-29 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: People, Publishing The new Planning Center app gives church admins one place for notifications, tasks, their Home dashboard, and every Planning Center product — all from their phone, for free. Learn what's new and which existing apps you can finally delete. Ministry doesn't stop when you step away from your desk. And honestly, it never did. For years, working in Planning Center on the go meant choosing from a few messy options or just avoiding it altogether. A handful of separate apps covered some features, but not everything. When something popped up away from your desk, you'd run the same mental calculation: Is this urgent enough to find my laptop? Can I remember this until I'm back at my desk? Good news: you don't have to do that anymore. With the new update, everything needed for admin work meets you where you are. Planning Center just launched the Planning Center app, a free mobile app for church admins that brings the full admin experience across all Planning Center products into one place. Let’s take a closer look at its features, and if you’re already using one of the existing apps, see how this affects your workflow. ### Planning Center App Highlights Your Home dashboard goes with you. The first thing you see when you open the app is your Home dashboard: a quick overview of what needs your attention, with widgets that jump directly into any product. Browse any Planning Center product, anytime. Registrations, Calendar, Check-Ins, Giving, all of it is accessible directly inside the app. Check on an event registration, submit a facilities request, and edit check-in settings. Whatever you need to do, wherever you are. All your notifications in one place. Notifications from every Planning Center product now show up together, front and center. Schedule requests, workflow updates, form submissions, and more. You can even turn on push notifications, so you don't have to check the app to stay in the loop. Check off tasks on the go. Complete tasks and keep collaborating with your team, whether you're in a coffee shop, in a hallway conversation on Sunday morning, or on an emergency Cheerios run for the Nursery. ### Church Center vs. Planning Center: What's the difference? We hear this question all the time. Church Center is for your congregation. It's the public-facing portal where attendees interact with your church, available from a browser and in the Church Center app. Planning Center is the internal church management system where you manage your church's data across all the products (People, Groups, Services, Giving, etc.) and decide what gets published through Church Center. The new Planning Center app is built for church admins who manage multiple Planning Center products. It gives you unified notifications, your Home dashboard, tasks, and access to every product in one place. ### What about the existing Planning Center apps? Planning Center has released a lot of apps over the years. Church Center is the most widely used, but there are also separate apps for Services, People, Check-Ins, Headcounts, Calendar, and Tasks. You're not the only one who's asked, "Why do I need six different apps?" With this release, some apps still have a specific purpose. Others are likely on their way out. Here's the rundown. Church Center: Keep. This app remains unchanged and continues to be the place where your congregation interacts with your church. The new Planning Center app is mainly for admins, so most congregants will not need it. Check-Ins and Headcounts: Keep. These apps serve specific purposes. The Check-Ins app is built for running a check-in station, and Headcounts is your clicker for tracking attendance. Those aren't going anywhere. Services: Depends on your role. Church staff managing multiple products should download the Planning Center app. But volunteers and your worship and production teams should stick with the Services app. It's dialed in for viewing service orders, playing rehearsal files, and scheduling volunteers in a way the new app doesn’t quite match. People and Calendar: Retire. Most of what these apps did is now covered in the Planning Center app. Planning Center has said they're evaluating both over the coming months, so don't be surprised when they sunset. Tasks: Already upgraded. Planning Center took the existing Tasks app and turned it into the new Planning Center app. Your tasks are still there, just with a lot more around them. If you're not seeing changes, check for an update. ### Ready to Manage Your Church from Anywhere? If your church is already on Planning Center, the new app is worth grabbing. It's free, and it pulls your Home dashboard, tasks, notifications, and every Planning Center product into one place on your phone. #### How do I download the Planning Center app? It's free. It's just a new way to access the tools you're already paying for. Download it today in the Apple App Store or on Google Play. If you want to make the most of it — or if your Planning Center setup could use some work before you start managing things on the go — we'd love to talk. Threefold Solutions helps churches get more out of Planning Center, from initial setup to the workflows that keep your team moving between Sundays. Schedule a free consultation → Have questions about Planning Center? Check out the Planning Center Playbook— 85+ lessons on getting the most out of every Planning Center product, plus a community of church leaders who use Planning Center every day. --- ## Clearstream vs Text In Church vs Gloo: Planning Center Texting Compared URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-best-texting-integrations-for-planning-center-clearstream-vs-text-in-church-vs-gloo Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2026-04-10 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: People, Groups Which texting platform works best with Planning Center? We break down Clearstream, Gloo, and Text In Church — pricing, setup, features, and our recommendation. Planning Center has built-in texting — but if you need keywords, automated follow-up, or two-way conversations, you'll want one of these three platforms. Your church members are more likely to read a text message than almost any other form of communication you send. Open rates for texting hover around 98%, compared to roughly 20% for email. That's not a marginal difference. That's the difference between your announcement actually reaching people and it sitting unread in a spam folder. Planning Center does include a native texting option in People. You can send one-way text messages to any list for $5 per month plus $0.02 per credit. It works well for quick announcements to a specific group — a snow cancellation, a reminder about an upcoming event, a note to your small group leaders. But here's where most churches hit a wall: Planning Center's built-in texting doesn't support text-to-join keywords, automated follow-up workflows, two-way conversations, subaccounts for different ministries, or the ability to push new contacts into a Planning Center Workflow based on a text interaction. If you want any of those things, you need a third-party texting platform. The three most popular options that integrate with Planning Center are Clearstream, Text In Church, and Gloo. Each connects to your Planning Center People data differently, each has distinct strengths, and each fits a different church profile. Let's break them down. Clearstream has a deep integration with Planning Center. ### Clearstream: The Deepest Planning Center Integration Clearstream has been a Planning Center integration partner since 2017 and has the closest relationship with Planning Center of any texting provider. In fact, Clearstream and Planning Center built their Add-On together — you can send and schedule texts directly from within Planning Center People without ever leaving the app. #### What makes it stand out Clearstream is the only texting platform that can create new People profiles and add them to a Planning Center Workflow when someone texts a keyword. That's a big deal for guest follow-up. A visitor texts "CONNECT" to your church number on Sunday morning, fills out a short digital connect card via text, and within seconds they have a profile in Planning Center People and are moving through your First-Time Guest workflow. No Monday morning data entry. The integration also pulls existing member data from Planning Center in real time. If a known member texts your number, Clearstream looks up their phone number in Planning Center and syncs their name and email automatically. You never ask a regular attender to fill out a connect card they don't need. For multi-campus churches, Clearstream can route responses based on a person's Campus ID in Planning Center. Everyone texts the same keyword, but each person gets a campus-specific response. #### How to set it up The person connecting the integration needs Editor, Admin, or Manager permissions in Planning Center. Log in to Clearstream, click Integrations, and click Connect under Planning Center. Authorize the connection, select the People Lists you want to sync, and configure your preferences (exclude child profiles, exclude inactive profiles, real-time syncing). Lists sync immediately and stay updated whenever they change in Planning Center. For the Add-On, go to Planning Center Account Settings > Integrations and connect the Clearstream add-on. Once enabled, you'll see a "Send text with Clearstream Texting" option whenever you view a People List. #### Pricing Plans start at $29/month for 1,250 credits and one phone number, scaling up to $299/month for 20,000 credits and 11 phone numbers. All plans include unlimited email, all features, and NFC tap tag management. Church plants less than a year old can use Clearstream free for a full year. A 30-day free trial is available for everyone else. Credits are consumed only by outgoing texts. Incoming texts and emails are free. Longer messages, emojis, and picture messages use more than one credit. #### Best for Churches that want the tightest possible integration with Planning Center. If you need to push guest data into Planning Center Workflows, route by campus, or send texts directly from within Planning Center, Clearstream is the clear choice. A solid texting option with great templates and more. ### Text In Church: Built for Guest Follow-Up Text In Church was born out of a church plant, and it shows. The platform is laser-focused on helping churches connect with first-time guests and keep them coming back. It's used by over 17,000 church leaders and has a strong reputation for pre-built workflow templates that let you launch a guest follow-up system in minutes, not days. #### What makes it stand out Text In Church ships with ready-made automated workflow templates for guest follow-up, prayer requests, volunteer recruitment, and more. You don't need to build your text sequences from scratch — just customize the included messages to match your church's voice and you're running. Every plan includes unlimited keywords and a local 10-digit phone number (not a toll-free number), which can feel more personal to recipients. Text In Church also offers "Talk In Church," a calling add-on that lets staff make calls from the church phone number using their personal cell phone. That's a nice touch for pastors who want to make a personal call without giving out their mobile number. The Planning Center integration syncs your Planning Center People Lists and Groups into Text In Church groups. You can configure the sync to run nightly, weekly, on a specific schedule, or instantly when changes are detected in Planning Center. There's also a Planning Center Add-On that lets you send texts from within Planning Center People, similar to Clearstream's. #### How to set it up In Text In Church, go to Settings > Integrations and click Connect on Planning Center. Authorize access, then select the Lists or Groups you want to sync. Each synced list becomes a group in Text In Church. Set your sync schedule and optionally add keywords and workflows to each group. For the Add-On, go to Planning Center Account Settings > Integrations, find Text In Church Messaging, and click Connect Add-On. Once connected, you can send texts from any People List using the "Send Text with Text In Church Messaging" option. One important thing to know: Planning Center is the master database in this integration. If you edit a contact in Text In Church, the next sync will revert it to match what's in Planning Center. Always make the change there. #### Pricing The Basic plan is $31/month (annual) or $37/month for 500 texts and one local number. Pro is $56/month (annual) or $67/month for 1,500 texts and two numbers. Premium is $81/month (annual) or $97/month for 2,500 texts and three numbers. A 14-day free trial is available. Only outgoing messages count toward your limit, and you can buy extra messages in the app if you need them. #### Best for Churches where guest follow-up and retention are the primary goals. If you want to launch a solid texting system fast with minimal setup work, Text In Church's pre-built templates give you a real head start. Offers a free tier that fits nicely with small to medium-sized churches. ### Gloo: The Budget-Friendly Option Gloo is a broader technology platform for churches that includes texting as part of its Gloo Workspace. The big headline: Gloo offers a free plan. If your church sends fewer than 500 texts per month and you're on a tight budget, that's hard to ignore. #### What makes it stand out Gloo's free tier gives you 500 monthly messaging credits, unlimited groups and workflows, 500 email credits, and one phone number — all at no cost. (This is down from 10,000 free credits, which Gloo reduced in February 2026.) For a small church that just needs basic announcements and a simple follow-up workflow, this might be all you need. The paid tier, Gloo+, is $49/month ($499/year) and bumps you to 15,000 text credits and 30,000 email credits. It also unlocks workflow menus, recurring broadcasts, polls, up to three subaccounts, and the Outreach New Mover postcard program (44 mailings per month). Gloo+ also includes 55+ digital sermon kits, congregation assessments developed with Barna, and marketplace discounts. It's a lot of extras bundled in. Gloo integrates with Planning Center by syncing your People Lists into Gloo Groups. It works with Lists specifically, not the newer Groups feature in Planning Center. You can enable nightly auto-syncing or run manual syncs. #### How to set it up In Gloo Workspace, go to People > Integrations and click Connect under Planning Center. Confirm you have permission to text the imported contacts, authorize with your Planning Center credentials, select the Lists you want to sync, and toggle nightly sync on. Make sure every person's mobile number is set as their primary number in Planning Center before syncing — Gloo pulls whichever number is starred as primary. There are a couple of things Gloo does not do with Planning Center: it cannot push new contacts back into Planning Center People, it cannot add people to Planning Center Workflows from a text interaction, and it does not have a Planning Center Add-On for sending texts from within Planning Center. Changes to Gloo groups need to be made in Planning Center, not in Gloo. #### Pricing Free plan: 500 text credits, 500 email credits, unlimited groups and workflows, one phone number. Gloo+: $49/month or $499/year for 15,000 text credits, 30,000 emails, subaccounts, polls, recurring broadcasts, new mover postcards, and marketplace discounts. #### Best for Small churches on a tight budget, or churches that want texting bundled with broader engagement tools like assessments, sermon kits, and mover outreach. Also a good option for testing texting before committing to a paid platform. ### Quick Comparison ### Which One Should You Pick? Go with Clearstream if Planning Center is the center of your operations and you want everything tightly connected. The ability to push guests into Planning Center Workflows from a text, route by campus, and send texts from within Planning Center itself is unmatched. Go with Text In Church if your biggest need is guest follow-up and you want to be running within a day. The pre-built workflow templates and unlimited keywords on every plan give you a fast path to results. Go with Gloo if budget is the deciding factor. The free tier gets you started, and Gloo+ at $49/month gives you texting plus a bundle of engagement tools that the other two don't include. No matter which platform you choose, the most important thing is that your Planning Center People data is clean before you connect anything. Accurate phone numbers, well-organized Lists, and clear household structures make every texting integration work better. ### We Can Help If you're not sure which texting platform is right for your church, or if you need help setting up the integration and building your first workflows, we'd love to talk. Threefold Solutions specializes in helping churches get the most out of Planning Center — including the tools that connect to it. Schedule a free consultation → Have questions about Planning Center? Check out the Planning Center Playbook — 85+ lessons on getting the most out of every Planning Center product, plus a community of church leaders who use Planning Center every day. --- ## The Long Game: Navigating Ministry with Infinite Thinking URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-long-game-navigating-ministry-with-infinite-thinking Author: Michael Visser Published: 2026-03-03 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) We’ve all been there: You launch a new discipleship plan, breathe life into a young adult ministry, and reimagine your church’s outreach. You’ve got the calendar blocked out — three months, maybe less — and high hopes for a strong launch. Nine months later ... you’re still revising. Still waiting We’ve all been there: You launch a new discipleship plan, breathe life into a young adult ministry, and reimagine your church’s outreach. You’ve got the calendar blocked out — three months, maybe less — and high hopes for a strong launch. Nine months later ... you’re still revising. Still waiting to “go live.” And you start asking: What happened to the plan? ### The Time Paradox in Ministry There’s this tension every church leader knows but few talk about: We overestimate what we can do in a few months — and vastly underestimate what God can do through us over the years. We want fast wins. We imagine quick growth. But profound, lasting change rarely follows our timeline. It follows God’s. This is where Simon Sinek’s concept of the infinite game hits home. In his words, an infinite game isn’t about winning; it’s about staying in the game. There’s no final score — just purpose, perseverance, and adaptation. Ministry is an infinite game. You don’t “complete” a discipleship path or “win” at community outreach. You just keep showing up, serving, learning, and adjusting. When we treat ministry like a sprint to the finish line, we often become frustrated. But when we embrace its ongoing, unfolding nature, we give ourselves room to grow and grace to keep going. ### When Timelines Fall Apart (and Why That’s Okay) Let me be honest: I’ve had more ministry timelines fall apart than stick. Take one example: We set out to restructure our small groups ministry. It was supposed to take three months, but two years later, we still hadn’t launched. Over time, it morphed into something deeper — a complete rethink of how we build authentic community. At first, I was discouraged, even frustrated. But then I realized that the delay was a blessing. Every roadblock added wisdom. Every pivot made the plan better. Every extra month brought more clarity. The only absolute failure in ministry is quitting. Delay isn’t defeat — it’s development. ### What Longer Timelines Actually Give Us Looking back, those “delays” gave our ministry more than our original plan ever could have. - Better Community Input: We had time to listen. Real feedback reshaped our approach, and we saw things we would have missed in a quick rollout. - Staying Relevant: What felt urgent six months before wasn’t the best fit anymore. Culture changes fast, and our community evolves. The extra time helped us adapt. - Spiritual Discernment: Fast timelines often skip the prayer part. Slower ones force us to listen. And some of our best decisions came in those prayer-filled pauses. - Stronger Teams: Tough seasons forge tight teams. The long haul built trust, character, and unity way more than any “quick win” ever could. ### What It Looks Like to Lead the Infinite Game So, how do we shift from deadline-driven ministry to long-term kingdom building? - Change how you measure progress. Not just launches. Not just participation. Look for transformation. That’s the fruit that lasts. - Are people actually growing in their faith? - Are they connecting deeply? - Are testimonies emerging months after the event? - Talk about the journey, not just the destination. Be transparent. Your congregation doesn’t need polish; they need purpose. Instead of saying, “We’re behind schedule,” say: “Here’s what we’ve discovered in the extra time and why it matters.” People don’t just want updates. They want to be part of the story. ### Keeping Your Team Resilient Over the Long Haul Long timelines can wear your team down, but they can also build something beautiful if you’re intentional. Here’s what’s worked for us: - Monthly “Wins & Wisdom” Meetings: Share what’s working, what you’re learning, and where God is moving. - Documenting the Journey: Not just the outcomes but also the process. That becomes legacy — something future leaders can build on. ### When Delay Becomes a Gift Suppose something is taking longer than expected … good. That’s your chance to learn deeper, build better, and adjust in real time. Don’t just plan — pilot. Run a small version with one group. Learn from it. Let honest feedback shape the final version. Every month of “delay” is a chance to strengthen the mission. ### The Bottom Line Ministry isn’t quarterly. It’s generational. That new outreach plan? That discipleship pathway? That vision for your church? It’s not about finishing fast. It’s about building something that lasts. So, when frustration creeps in — and it will — return to this: God plays the long game. So can we. ### Conclusion: Your Next Moves So, how can you start changing your mindset to the long game now? - Reassess your current projects through an infinite game lens. - Look for where “delays” might be opportunities. - Communicate what you’re learning — not just what’s done. - Celebrate progress, not just results. Because here’s the paradox we live in: We’ll accomplish less this month than we hoped … but far more over the years than we ever imagined. Stay faithful. Stay in the game. And keep building. Michael Visser Co-Founder, Threefold Solutions --- ## How to Set Up and Track Workflows in Planning Center People URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/pco-tips-how-to-set-up-and-track-workflows-in-planning-center-people Author: Tim Cruz Published: 2026-02-24 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People Every church has processes — how they follow up with new guests, onboard volunteers, or prepare people for baptism. The problem is, without a clear system, those processes often live in someone’s head, a random spreadsheet, or a stack of sticky notes on a desk. Workflows in Planning Center Peo Every church has processes — how they follow up with new guests, onboard volunteers, or prepare people for baptism. The problem is, without a clear system, those processes often live in someone’s head, a random spreadsheet, or a stack of sticky notes on a desk. Workflows in Planning Center People can transform the way your church cares for people. Workflows help you assign tasks, track progress, and make sure nobody slips through the cracks. They bring structure and accountability to your follow-up processes, so your team can focus less on chasing details and more on ministering to people. In this article, we’ll walk through how to set up and track workflows step by step, plus share best practices that will help you turn systems into ministry wins. ### Why Workflows Matter Think of a workflow as your **digital checklist with people attached.**Each step represents part of the process someone goes through: a guest getting a follow-up call, receiving an email, or being invited to an event. Without workflows: - Guests get forgotten. - Volunteers fall through the cracks. - Staff waste time guessing who’s responsible for what. With workflows: - Clarity. Everyone knows the next step. - Accountability. Tasks have owners and deadlines. - Consistency. Every person gets the same level of care. #### Step 1: Creating a Workflow To create a workflow in Planning Center People: - Go to the Workflows tab. - Click New Workflow. - Name your workflow based on the process (e.g., “New Guest Follow-Up,” “Volunteer Onboarding,” “Baptism Preparation”). - Add the steps your team needs to take. Pro Tip: Start simple. You can always add more steps later. A three-step workflow that’s used consistently is better than a ten-step workflow that overwhelms your team. #### Step 2: Adding Steps to the Workflow Each workflow is made up of steps. A step could be: - Send a welcome email. - Call the new guest within 48 hours. - Invite them to coffee with a pastor. - Enroll them in a Next Steps class. When you create a step, you can assign it to a person or a team. That way, responsibilities are clear from the start. Pro Tip: Include both digital and relational steps. For example, don’t just send emails, make sure someone makes a personal phone call or face-to-face connection. #### Step 3: Assigning and Tracking People When someone fills out a form or is manually added to a workflow, they appear at Step 1. From there, your team moves them forward as each step is completed. - Assign follow-up steps to specific staff or volunteers. - Set due dates to keep things on track. - Add notes to capture context (e.g., “Had a great phone call, family has three kids”). Pro Tip: Use the auto-advance feature for steps that happen instantly (like sending an automated email). This keeps people moving without bottlenecks. #### Step 4: Automating with Triggers One of the most powerful features in workflows is the ability to connect them to forms and other parts of Planning Center. For example: - A guest fills out a connect card form → they’re automatically added to the “New Guest Follow-Up” workflow. - A volunteer applies to serve → they’re dropped into the “Volunteer Onboarding” workflow. - Someone registers for baptism → they start in the “Baptism Prep” workflow. Pro Tip: Automation doesn’t replace people; it supports them. Use automation for the predictable tasks so leaders have more time for relational ministry. #### Step 5: Reviewing and Measuring Progress Workflows aren’t just about assigning tasks; they also give you data. - Track how many people are in each step. - Identify bottlenecks (e.g., lots of people stuck in step three of the process). - Celebrate wins (e.g., 20 guests completed the workflow this month). Pro Tip: Review workflows monthly. If a step consistently slows people down, ask if it’s really needed or if it could be simplified. ### Creative Examples of Workflows Workflows can serve almost any process in your church. Here are a few practical examples: - New Guest Follow-Up: Capture info → Send a thank-you email → Make a phone call → Invite to coffee → Enroll in Next Steps. - Volunteer Onboarding: Application → Interview → Training → First time serving → Add to schedule. - Prayer Requests: Assign to prayer team → Follow up with person → Record answered prayer. - Care Requests: Intake form → Assigned pastor → Counseling session → Ongoing support. - Membership Process: Sign-up → Orientation class → Pastoral interview → Membership confirmation. Pro Tip: Don’t overload your team with dozens of workflows. Start with the top three to five processes your church uses most often and build from there. ### Best Practices for Effective Workflows - Keep steps actionable. Each step should be something someone can actually complete (“Send an email” vs. “Make them feel welcome”). - Use deadlines. Follow-up loses impact the longer you wait. - Assign ownership. Every step should have a name attached to it. - Integrate with forms. Let your connect cards and sign-ups feed directly into workflows. - Train your team. Make sure staff and key volunteers know how to use workflows consistently. ### Common Pitfalls to Avoid - Overcomplicating steps. If your workflow looks like a 40-step maze, nobody will use it. - Forgetting to check it. Workflows only work if leaders actually log in and update progress. - Not customizing. Copying another church’s workflow without adapting it to your context can backfire. - Ignoring feedback. If your team says the system is too heavy, adjust it. Workflows should serve people, not burden them. ### Final Thoughts Workflows in Planning Center People are a discipleship tool as well as an administrative feature. They help you ensure that every guest is followed up with, every volunteer is trained, and every care request gets a response. When systems work, people don’t fall through the cracks. And when people don’t fall through the cracks, they feel seen, valued, and connected. At the end of the day, workflows aren’t about tasks; they’re about people. And with Planning Center, you can build systems that free your leaders to do what they do best: love and shepherd people well. Tim Cruz Guest writer, Threefold Solutions --- ## Stopping the Last-Minute Texts: Stopping the Culture of Urgency URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/stopping-the-last-minute-texts-stopping-the-culture-of-urgency Author: Tim Cruz Published: 2026-02-17 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Most churches that rely on last-minute texts to keep things running aren’t unhealthy. They’re passionate. They’re relational. They care deeply about people and the mission. That’s what makes this issue so deceptive. The problem isn’t laziness or lack of commitment. In many cases, it’s the opposite Most churches that rely on last-minute texts to keep things running aren’t unhealthy. They’re passionate. They’re relational. They care deeply about people and the mission. That’s what makes this issue so deceptive. The problem isn’t laziness or lack of commitment. In many cases, it’s the opposite. The churches most prone to last-minute scrambling are often growing, moving fast, and led by people who value relationships over rigid systems. But here’s the uncomfortable truth:When last-minute texts become normal, the bottleneck is leadership — not logistics. ### The “Can You Cover?” Culture If you’ve been on a church staff for any length of time, you know the pattern: A volunteer cancels late. A role didn’t get filled. Someone forgot to block out a weekend. A service element shifted midweek. And suddenly, phones light up. “Hey, are you free this Sunday?” “Any chance you could help last-minute?” “Sorry for the short notice … ” Occasionally, this is unavoidable. Life happens. Emergencies exist. Ministry is dynamic. But when last-minute texts become the primary way gaps are filled, something deeper is happening. Church leaders often frame this as a systems issue: “We just need better scheduling.” “We need people to actually check the system.” “We just need more volunteers.” But last-minute texts usually reveal unclear expectations, short planning horizons, or misplaced urgency. In most cases, the church is running on relational capital instead of operational clarity. And relational capital, when overdrawn, creates fatigue. ### Why Churches Default to Texting Texting feels faster, more personal, more human. In church culture, that matters. We don’t want to feel corporate. We don’t want volunteers to feel like numbers. We value relationship, flexibility, and responsiveness. But what starts as care can quietly become pressure disguised as relationship. When a volunteer receives a last-minute text from a leader they respect, declining doesn’t feel neutral. It feels relationally costly even if they’re exhausted or unavailable. Over time, this erodes trust. ### The Cost Volunteers Rarely Say Out Loud Most volunteers won’t complain. They’ll show up. They’ll stretch. They’ll cover gaps … until they don’t. Here’s what many feel but rarely articulate: - “I don’t know when I’m actually needed.” - “I can’t plan my life confidently.” - “I feel guilty saying no.” - “Everything feels urgent.” Eventually, faithful people burn out quietly and disappear slowly. Leadership is often surprised because nothing was ever said. ### Systems Are Not the Enemy of Shepherding One of the biggest myths in church leadership is that structure diminishes care. In reality, structure protects people from unnecessary urgency. Planning Center Services are not just administrative platforms. When used well, they become filters of honor before urgency. They communicate: - “We plan ahead because we respect your time.” - “You don’t have to rescue us.” - “Declining is safe.” That’s pastoral. ### When a Text Is the Right Move There are moments when a last-minute text is appropriate: Someone gets sick, a car breaks down, an unexpected gap appears hours before a service. Healthy leadership isn’t rigid; it’s responsive. But the distinction most churches miss is this:Urgency should bypass the system only after the system has been consulted. Before firing off a text, a disciplined leader asks a better question: Have I honored the system I asked them to honor? ### Honor the System Before You Ask for Flexibility There’s a simple leadership check that changes everything. Before texting someone with an urgent need, ask yourself: - Did they block this date out? - Are they already scheduled elsewhere? - Have they communicated unavailability in advance? Taking thirty seconds to check block-out dates does more than save time; it communicates respect. It tells the volunteer: “I see you. I remember what you told us. I’m not asking you to bend the rules I set.” Nothing undermines leadership credibility faster than asking people to follow a system you bypass when it’s inconvenient. ### Systems Create Safety for Saying No One of the quiet benefits of using Planning Center well is that it creates permission without explanation. When a volunteer blocks out a date, they shouldn’t need to defend it later. When they decline a request, they shouldn’t feel spiritually or relationally guilty. By checking availability first, leaders reinforce that block-outs are boundaries not suggestions. That single action turns a text from pressure into invitation. ### Planning Further Out Is an Act of Care Another reason churches rely on last-minute texts is simple: they schedule too close to the service date. Short planning windows create avoidable urgency: Volunteers don’t know what’s coming. Leaders don’t know who’s actually available. Everyone operates in reaction mode. Scheduling multiple weeks or even months ahead restores predictability. When people can see their serving rhythm in advance, they can plan their lives with confidence. Leaders can identify gaps early. Emergencies become rare instead of routine. This isn’t about inflexibility. It’s about honoring people’s time before asking for their flexibility. ### A Simple Leadership Filter Here’s a rule of thumb every church leader can adopt: If it wasn’t checked in Planning Center, it probably isn’t urgent enough for a text. That one filter protects trust, consistency, and credibility And when a text is necessary, it lands differently because it’s clearly the exception, not the norm. ### Urgency Is a Culture, Not a Moment Churches often confuse flexibility with faithfulness. Flexibility is responding when something unexpected happens. Urgency culture is when everything feels unexpected every week. When leaders normalize scrambling, they unintentionally disciple teams into reactivity. People stop preparing because they assume plans will change anyway. Healthy churches plan deeply and adapt wisely. Unhealthy ones adapt constantly because they never fully plan. ### A Final Question for Leaders Here’s a question worth wrestling with: If we stopped sending last-minute texts tomorrow, what would break and why? The answer will reveal where clarity is missing, where systems are thin, and where people are overextended. That’s not failure. That’s insight. ### Conclusion Great churches don’t rely on last-minute texts because they don’t care about people. They do it because they care and they’ve confused responsiveness with responsibility. Leadership that truly honors people doesn’t just show up in moments of need. It shows up in how far ahead you plan, how clearly you communicate, and how consistently you protect people from urgency you could have prevented. When systems are healthy, texts become what they were meant to be again:connection not correction. Tim Cruz Guest Writer, Threefold Solutions --- ## Leading Through the Fire: Navigating Ministry Transitions When People Walk Away URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/leading-through-the-fire-navigating-ministry-transitions-when-people-walk-away Author: Michael Visser Published: 2026-02-10 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Every ministry leader will eventually face a heartbreaking season. Sometimes, key people walk away angry, hurt, or disillusioned. Maybe they’re mad at you, the situation, or even God. Over the years, I have experienced this. Conference rooms that once buzzed with vision and excitement for the fut Every ministry leader will eventually face a heartbreaking season. Sometimes, key people walk away angry, hurt, or disillusioned. Maybe they’re mad at you, the situation, or even God. Over the years, I have experienced this. Conference rooms that once buzzed with vision and excitement for the future suddenly feel empty. Normal preservice meetings now have an air of awkwardness. Slack or text message threads used for service planning go silent. Side conversations go quiet as you walk past. These departures hit differently than natural transitions. They carry a unique sting, especially when the exit feels personal or attacks the very vision you’ve poured your life into. Yet here’s what I’ve known after multiple seasons of difficult transitions: how we lead through these departures shapes both our ministry’s future and our own spiritual formation. We, as leaders, all know this statement, but sometimes we need to hear the truth again: *What we do matters.*How we lead during hard times matters even more to our people than how we lead during seasons of success. This isn’t about damage control or spinning a narrative. It’s about leading with wisdom, protecting those who remain, and stewarding our own hearts through the current season of hardship. ### The Nehemiah Framework: Building While Others Tear Down Nehemiah was a leader who faced external opposition and the heartbreak of watching some of his own people join the enemy. Chapters 4–6 of Nehemiah read like an HR manual for crisis management. When Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall, he faced strong opposition. Sanballat and Tobiah didn’t just hurl insults from a distance. They exploited relationships with influential Jews inside the city to undermine the work from within. Nehemiah faced threats, mockery, and the constant drain of people questioning whether the wall was worth building. Does any of that sound familiar? Have you ever felt your team questioning the work in seasons of painful transition? Questioning if they should endure? Nehemiah’s response in 4:9 is a key leadership insight that provides our framework: We prayed to our God and posted a guard (NIV). We see the need for spiritual dependence paired with practical action. Three principles emerge from Nehemiah’s approach: - He acknowledged the difficulty without minimizing it. "They were greatly discouraged" (4:10). There was no toxic positivity, no pretending everything was fine. - He strategically reorganized the remaining team. Half the team worked while the other half stood guard (4:16). He didn’t just push harder; he adapted the structure to the new reality. - He maintained the mission while caring for his people. The wall-building continued but with new protective measures in place. ### Managing Team Morale: The Ministry After the Exit When key people leave in conflict, the ripple effects can devastate those who remain. Here are a few ideas for stabilizing your team after an unexpected departure. Immediate Response Phase (First 48–72 hours) - Gather the remaining team quickly but thoughtfully. The last thing we need to do is scare our team, but we need to gather the troops and be transparent about what has happened and what we will do about it. As with all conversations, face-to-face always matters more, but at a minimum, look to set a meeting on the books. - Address the elephant directly. You will likely not be able to share everything, nor should you. Romans 12:18 (NIV) says**,** If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Even in the light of hardship, honoring people on the way out speaks more to your character than theirs. - Resist overexplaining or defending. Avoid the temptation to overexplain or defend your actions. The urge to justify or vindicate yourself can be strong, but resist it. Instead, acknowledge the loss and focus on moving forward. This is often the most challenging part. We naturally want to maintain a positive image in the eyes of those we lead. However, in my experience, people are seeking reassurance rather than excuses. The best leaders I have ever worked with consistently emphasize the path ahead even if it comes at the expense of their own reputation. Stabilization Strategies (Weeks 1–4) The real work begins after the initial shock wears off. Here are three things you can do to help your team in the transition period: - Strategically redistribute responsibilities. Map out dropped responsibilities with surgical precision. Avoid the hero complex of taking it all yourself or overwhelming loyal team members. Consider this redistribution temporary — you’re buying time to rebuild thoughtfully. - Adopt a “small wins” strategy. Momentum rebuilds confidence.Identify two or three achievable goals for the next 30 days. It could be successfully executing an upcoming event or launching that small group curriculum. Celebrate these wins visibly. - Increase touch points. Double your normal check-in rhythm without micromanaging. A simple “How are you really doing?” text can prevent festering doubts from becoming departures. ### Communication Framework for Navigating Staff or Leadership Transitions - What to Share with the Congregation: At times, organizational changes require churchwide communication. When we reach this juncture, we must honor and cherish those who have chosen to move on. Transparency is important for those in key leadership positions. If it is not addressed from the platform, people will start to come up with their own interpretations of events. Rumors can be more destructive than just sharing about the change of leadership. Instead, share something like: “We are truly grateful for those who have transitioned out of their roles. We pray that God’s abundant blessings accompany them in their new journey ahead.” - When People Want More Information: People will eventually want to know more. Depending on the circumstance, it may be beyond what is appropriate to share, and in those instances, we need to hold our cards a bit closer to the chest. “I truly appreciate your curiosity and concern. I want to acknowledge that we’re limited in what we can share right now out of respect for everyone involved.” This also means equipping your core leaders with language that helps them redirect conversations in a pastoral and unifying way. Permit your leaders to set boundaries without being evasive and to reframe conversations toward spiritual care and encouragement. ### The Hidden Cost: Caring for the Leader's Heart Here’s what leadership books rarely address — the crushing weight on the point leader’s soul. You’re holding confidences, absorbing criticism, and trying to lead while bleeding. The isolation is real. You know details you can’t share. You’re processing betrayal while preaching hope. You’re wondering if you missed warning signs while planning next Sunday’s service. It’s so important to take a beat to deal with your heart using practical soul care: - Schedule processing time. Physically put it on your calendar: *Tuesday, 2–3 pm: Process emotions with God.*Without a scheduled space, the emotional pressure cooker explodes. - Identify your 2 am friend. Who can you call when the weight is unbearable? Think of someone who isn’t directly involved in the situation at hand, if possible. - Maintain disciplines when they feel empty. David wrote psalms in caves. Sometimes obedience precedes feeling. Your team is watching how you handle this. They’re learning whether Christianity works when life falls apart. Your authentic (not perfect) journey through pain teaches more than a thousand sermons. ### Conclusion: Move Forward from Surviving to Thriving Resist rushing the healing process. Scar tissue forms too quickly when we pretend wounds don’t exist. But we shouldn’t camp in the valley indefinitely. - Build a new culture intentionally. What allowed the previous dysfunction? Honestly assess what cultural shifts might prevent future implosions without blaming those who left. - Document lessons learned. In six months, you’ll forget the sharp edges of today’s pain. Journal the insights. What would you tell yourself three months ago? Nehemiah’s story ends positively. The wall was completed despite the opposition. But notice: the celebration came after the work, after the threats, after some walked away. God will continue to build His Church; as a result, your wall will be built too. The question isn’t whether you’ll make it through but who you’ll become. Remember: The team that emerges from this fire won’t look exactly like what you lost. That’s okay. It might actually be stronger, refined, tested, and more unified. If you are in a season like this, we pray for you to lead well. Your future team is counting on it. Michael Visser Co-Founder, Threefold Solutions --- ## Planning Center Tips: How to Use Check-Ins for Kids Ministry (and Beyond) URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/pco-tips-how-to-use-check-ins-for-kids-ministry-and-beyond Author: Tim Cruz Published: 2026-01-20 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: Check-ins, People For parents, the very first experience they have on at a church service isn’t the worship set or the sermon, it’s the kids check-in station. A smooth and secure check-in builds confidence. A chaotic one can create stress before families even set foot in the sanctuary. That’s why Planning Center c For parents, the very first experience they have on at a church service isn’t the worship set or the sermon, it’s the kids check-in station. A smooth and secure check-in builds confidence. A chaotic one can create stress before families even set foot in the sanctuary. That’s why Planning Center check-ins is such an essential tool. It streamlines the process, strengthens safety, and provides data that helps ministry leaders care for people better. While most leaders think of it for children’s ministry, check-ins can be used for youth events, volunteer teams, and even special gatherings. In this article, we’ll break down how to set up and maximize check-ins so your church creates a safe, welcoming, and efficient environment every time. ### Step 1: Setting Up Events and Locations The first step in check-ins is creating events. Think of an event as the umbrella: “Sunday Kids,” “Youth Midweek,” or “VBS 2025.” Within that event, you’ll set up locations where people can check in. - For kids ministry, locations are usually divided by age group orgrade level (Nursery, Pre-K, K–2, 3–5, etc.). - For youth, you might have locations like “Main Gathering” and “Small Groups.” - For volunteers, locations can represent teams (greeters, production, prayer team). Pro Tip: Keep location names simple and obvious. A parent with three kids of different ages doesn’t have time to decode fancy labels. Clear names equals faster check-ins. ### Step 2: Printing Name Tags and Security Labels One of the most powerful features of check-ins is the ability to print name tags and security labels. These stickers are your front line of safety. - Child labels usually include the child’s name, age/grade, allergies, and a matching security code. - Parent labels include that same security code, so only the right adult can pick up the child. - Volunteer labels can display role and location for quick identification. You’ll need to connect check-ins to printers like DYMO, Brother, or Zebra. For larger churches, strategically place multiple stations and printers to avoid bottlenecks. Pro Tip: For big events or services (Easter, Christmas, VBS), you can print labels in advance for preregistered families. It speeds up check-in and communicates that you’re prepared for them. ### Step 3: Volunteer and Staff Check-Ins As we said, check-ins isn’t just for kids; it’s a great way to track volunteers. - Create a Volunteer Team location in your event. - Direct team members to check in when they arrive. This gives you a clear record of who served, where, and when. Why does this matter? It helps with accountability, especially for roles that require background checks. It also builds a volunteer history you can reference for encouragement or reporting. Pro Tip: Some churches use check-ins data to track volunteer hours for recognition events. Imagine celebrating that your greeter team collectively served 3,000 hours last year — powerful! ### Step 4: Troubleshooting Even the best system will hit a snag occasionally. Common hiccups include: - Printers not working. Check cables, Wi-Fi connections, or restart the station. - Duplicate profiles. Merge duplicates in Planning Center People to keep your database clean. - Parents forgetting logins. Use quick guest check-in or look up by phone number. Pro Tip: Assign a “Check-In Champion” every Sunday. This person roams the area, helps parents in line, resets printers if needed, and keeps the process moving. A calm, helpful presence can turn a stressful moment into a positive experience. ### Step 5: Reports and Follow-Up One of the hidden gems of check-ins is the reporting feature. You can pull: - Attendance Reports: Track how many kids or volunteers checked in by age group or event. - Growth Trends: Spot patterns, like rising attendance in Pre-K (and the need for more volunteers!). - Follow-Up Lists: Generate a list of new families who checked in for the first time and pass it to your connections team. Data isn’t just numbers — it’s ministry insight. For instance, when you see that a family with three kids has attended four weeks in a row, that’s a great trigger for a personal follow-up. ### Best Practices for Smooth Check-Ins Over time, churches discover rhythms that make check-ins more effective. Here are a few worth adopting: - Open stations early. Parents arrive at different times, so open your check-in stations early to avoid lines or last-minute rushes. - Train volunteers. Don’t assume everyone knows how to work the system; provide cheat sheets. - Keep equipment updated. Old tablets and worn-out printers create frustration. - Plan for growth. Even if you’re small now, set up your system as if you’re bigger. You’ll be glad later. - Communicate clearly. Use signage to direct families where to go. Clarity reduces stress. ### Common Pitfalls to Avoid While check-ins is powerful, it can create headaches if mismanaged. Watch out for these traps: - Not keeping profiles updated. A wrong phone number or missing allergy note can cause confusion. - Relying on one printer. Always have a backup ready. Murphy’s Law says the printer will jam at the worst time. - Overcomplicating room structures. Too many detailed categories slow parents down. Start simple; you can always add detail later. - Neglecting follow-up. If you only use check-ins for labels and not for ministry connections, you’re missing half the benefit. ### Final Thoughts Check-ins may seem like it’s about stickers or software, but it’s about people. Parents trust you with their most precious gift, their children. A smooth, secure check-in communicates, “We’re ready for you. We care about your family. We’ve thought about the details, so you don’t have to.” And while kids ministry may be the most obvious place for check-ins, don’t miss its wider potential. From youth events to volunteer tracking, it’s a versatile tool that can bring clarity and accountability across your church. When check-in is smooth, parents relax. Kids feel safe. Volunteers know where they belong. And your church creates the kind of first impression that keeps families coming back. Tim Cruz Guest writer, Threefold Solutions --- ## How to Launch Church Center in Your Church: A Complete Planning Center Setup Guide URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/how-to-launch-church-center-in-your-church-a-complete-planning-center-setup-guide Author: Kristin Emerson Published: 2026-01-16 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: People, Groups, Publishing, Giving Are you new to Planning Center and wondering how to roll out Church Center to your congregation? Or maybe you’ve used a few features but haven’t fully embraced it across your church community? This guide will walk you through how to set up Church Center, launch it effectively, and encourage your Are you new to Planning Center and wondering how to roll out Church Center to your congregation? Or maybe you’ve used a few features but haven’t fully embraced it across your church community? This guide will walk you through how to set up Church Center, launch it effectively, and encourage your members to use it regularly. Plus, we’ll share best practices and a rollout timeline to make your launch smooth and successful. For real-life examples, visit https://churchkit.io — a resource packed with inspiration from churches already using Church Center. ### What Is Church Center and Why Should Your Church Use It? Church Center is the mobile and web app from Planning Center that helps churches stay connected with their members. It’s a one-stop hub for giving, event registration, group communication, volunteer scheduling, and more. Here’s what your congregation can do with Church Center: - Give and manage donations. Members can give online using debit or credit cards, Apple Pay, or ACH transfers. They can also view giving statements and manage recurring donations. - Join groups and stay connected. Church Center makes it easy to find and join groups based on life stage, location, or other needs. Group leaders can take attendance, share resources like study guides, and start chats with members. - Register for events. People can view upcoming events, register, and even pay within the app. - Manage volunteer schedules. Volunteers can accept requests, view their schedules, and chat with their teams. - Check in kids securely. Parents can start the check-in process on their way to church, and then scan a code at the door to finalize and print labels. - Update profiles and directory listings. Members can edit their contact info, manage household details, and choose what to share in the church directory. - Watch sermons and take notes. Church Center supports livestreams, on-demand messages, and interactive sermon notes — perfect for remote or on-the-go engagement. ### How to Set Up Church Center in Planning Center Publishing Church Center essentials, including app setup, home page management, and engagement analytics, are available for free through Planning Center Publishing. Upgrade your plan to unlock advanced features, including custom pages and themes, interactive message notes, and channels to watch your service. Overview of Publishing Navigation When you first log in to Publishing, you will see the main options available across the top: - Pages: Manage your home page and custom pages. - Sermons: Add livestreams, on-demand messages, and sermon notes. - Analytics: Track engagement and page visits. - Customize: Tailor navigation, icons, page names, and branding, which you can do by uploading your church logo and choosing app colors. ### Promoting Church Center to your Congregation Planning Center has made a variety of promotional materials available to you for use, including QR codes to download the app, custom videos, slide templates, and logo files. Here’s how to find them: - Open Planning Center Publishing. - Select Customize from the top navigation. - Select the Mobile App tab at the top of the page. - Scroll down to view and download assets. ### Church Center Rollout Timeline: Four Phases to Success Before You Launch If your church is new to Planning Center, ensure your data migration is completed before you launch Church Center to your congregation. Otherwise, duplicate profiles will be created when users create a new account in Church Center. ### Phase 1: Internal Prep (Weeks 1–2) Objective: Make sure the staff and key volunteers are fluent in Church Center before launch**.** Steps: Confirm basic configuration. - Determine your Church Center URL, logo, and brand colors. - Decide what is featured on your home page (locations, service times, etc.). - Verify permissions for admins, group leaders, and staff roles. Choose products for initial launch. - We recommend a phased rollout rather than launching everything at once. Start with three or four core features such as Giving, Groups, and Event Signups on launch weekend. Then add additional features, such as kids pre-check or a church directory, in the coming weeks to keep the excitement going. - Once you’ve decided which products will be utilized at launch, confirm they are set to be visible on Church Center (e.g., groups are listed, registrations are set to be included on the signups page, check-ins locations have pre-check enabled, etc.). Train internal users. - Hold a one-hour Church Center demo with staff. - Walk through Giving, Groups, Signups, and Check-Ins from the app side. - Ensure the team can explain why Church Center matters and its benefits. Soft test with leaders. - Invite staff and 10–20 trusted volunteers to log in, give, or register. - Collect feedback (ease of login, clarity of options, errors). - Fix branding, typos, or confusing labels before public rollout. ### Phase 2: Pre-Launch Communication (Week 3) Goal: Build anticipation and help people know what’s coming. To drive adoption, promote Church Center across multiple channels: - Pre-Launch Email: Share that the church will be launching Church Center and give a brief highlight of features. Be sure to communicate that launch details and instructions will be shared soon via email and during in-service announcements. - Sunday Slide or Video Teaser (15–30 seconds) - Social Media Posts (Snippets of content from pre-launch email) - Talking Points for Staff/Volunteers: Include important highlights such as: Church Center is your new [church name] portal — one app where you can check in your kids, give, sign up for groups, and register for events. ### Phase 3: Public Launch (Week 4) Goal: Kick off with clear, consistent messaging across all channels. Weekend Service Launch Elements: - From the Stage: Do a90-second live walkthrough or play the Planning Center Publishing video promo (download from the Publishing Customize/Mobile App tab page). - Physical Handouts: Place“Download the Church Center app” cards in every seat or hand out at entrances. Include a step-by-step instruction manual with screenshots of the signup process. - Digital Signage or Slides: Include slides with a QR code to download the app in your pre-service announcement loop or add to screens in the lobby. - Personal Interaction in the Lobby: Schedule staff or key volunteers to be available in the lobby to demonstrate how to use the app, answer questions, and assist with issues. - Website Banner: Advertise on your home page (Get the Church Center app today: your new home for everything [Church Name].). - Email Blast: Send out an overview of features and a step-by-step guide to getting started. ### Phase 4: Post-Launch Engagement (Weeks 5–8) Goal: Drive adoption through repetition and visibility. Strategies: - Keep QR codes visible in the lobby and slides for four–six weeks. - Reference Church Center in announcements (“Sign up on Church Center!”). - Use email and push notifications (leading to the app) for the next big event. - Train greeters, next steps volunteers, and group leaders to help people install the app. - Run a “Church Center Challenge.” Encourage members to sign up for an event through the app to win a gift card or similar challenge. - Continue to slowly roll out additional features, such as kids pre-check, interactive message notes, or a church directory. Advertising “new features” after launch will encourage those who have not engaged yet to take the leap. Metrics to Watch (Analytics in Publishing and Widgets in Home App): - Percentage of attendees who log in or give through Church Center. - Number of app downloads (approximately equal to number of log ins). - Giving transactions migrated from legacy systems. ### Ongoing Communication After Your Launch Even after your launch is complete, you should continually reference Church Center to keep it top of mind for your congregation. Everyone who attends should know that Church Center is your hub for everything related to your church, and this includes new visitors who arrive after your launch. Here are the top strategies for success: - Make it the only option. Use Church Center as the single call to action for all announcements. Avoid providing alternative ways to access information. - Add it to your announcement script. Ensure every announcement ends with: “Sign up/find more info in Church Center.” - Promote consistently. Mention Church Center multiple times every weekend — from giving and next steps to signing up for events. · Train annually. Hold yearly training sessions to remind leaders how to use Church Center, teach about new updates, and onboard anyone who joined the church in the past year. - Set clear expectations. Frame Church Center as the hub for everything at your church. Make it clear that this is where things happen, not just an optional tool. When implemented consistently, you can achieve engagement rates above 70%. Church Center can become the new normal, not just among tech-savvy young adults, but also among older members. ### Church Center FAQ & Troubleshooting - Can we use Church Center as our church’s website? The technical answer is yes, but we don’t recommend this approach. Think of your website as visitor-focused and Church Center as regular attendee/member-focused. Read more about this topic in our post on why Church Center shouldn't be your website. - What if someone can’t log in? Have them try “Sign in with phone number” and check for typos in Planning Center People. - Can someone give without the app? Yes, via your Church Center web link. - What if someone can’t find our church? Ask them to allow location or search by zip code and church name. - How do households work? One login can manage multiple family members. - How do I fix missing family members? Confirm their household is correctly set up in People. ### Conclusion: You Can Do This Launching Church Center is one of the best ways to streamline communication, increase engagement, and simplify giving and event registration in your church. With a thoughtful rollout and consistent promotion, your congregation will quickly see the value and start using it every week. Need help getting started? Visit https://churchkit.io for examples, templates, and inspiration from churches just like yours or reach out to info@threefold.solutions for customized support, strategy, coaching, and training. Kristin Emerson Client Success Specialist, Threefold Solutions --- ## New Year, Same Goal! URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/new-year-same-goal Author: Tim Cruz Published: 2026-01-06 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Every January, leaders feel that familiar pull: fresh calendars, new initiatives, and a renewed drive to make the next year better than the last. But here’s the truth: while the year changes, the goal of ministry will always stay the same. For churches and ministries, the mission doesn’t expire Every January, leaders feel that familiar pull: fresh calendars, new initiatives, and a renewed drive to make the next year better than the last. But here’s the truth: while the year changes, the goal of ministry will always stay the same. For churches and ministries, the mission doesn’t expire when the calendar flips. We’re still called to reach people, disciple believers, and serve with excellence. What may change from year to year is our focus. Each new year brings a chance to clarify the “how” behind the “why.” That’s why many teams pick a word or theme that captures their direction for the year ahead, something that reminds everyone what this next season is about. But the key to success and buy-in isn’t waiting until January to start thinking about it. The strongest leaders begin building toward the new year before it even arrives. Here are three simple ways to set your ministry and team up to win before the year even begins. ### 1. Plan the Year Before It Starts: Be Proactive, Not Reactive One of the greatest differences between average and exceptional leadership is timing. Average leaders react to what’s happening; exceptional leaders anticipate what’s coming. When you plan your direction for the next year before it starts, you lead from a position of peace, instead of pressure. It’s the difference between sprinting to catch up and walking confidently in a direction you’ve already chosen. The best way to begin is by carving out intentional planning time. Don’t let the new year sneak up on you! Block off a day (or even a half-day) before the holidays hit to evaluate what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next. Ask yourself and your core team a few questions: - What key events or ministry moments do we already know are happening? - What can we simplify or stop doing to make space for what matters most? - How can we better align our systems and communication for next year? This isn’t about the calendar; it’s about designing the year around your priorities. When you plan early, you give your team clarity. You create margin for creativity. And most importantly, you free yourself from the stress of constant reaction. Proactive leadership builds confidence. Choose to lead from preparation, not panic or chaos. Pro Tip: Plan with your whole church schedule in mind! A lot of times, we are just so focused on our own ministry and not the other events that will be taking place. ### 2. Prepare Your Leaders for What’s Coming The best teams don’t just stumble into success; they prepare. Before the new year begins, take time to gather your key leaders. Share what’s ahead, explain the “why” behind it, and make sure they feel equipped to lead well in their areas. The more prepared your leaders are, the stronger your ministry foundation will be. Here’s a simple framework for prepping your leaders before January hits: - Preview the Calendar: Walk through major events, seasons, and campaigns. Give them visibility before they need it. - Clarify Roles: Make sure every leader knows their lane, their expectations, and where they have freedom to lead. - Invest in Development: Remind your team that leadership is a calling, not a title. Build time into the calendar in the new year to pour into them personally through prayer, training, or encouragement. Preparation builds ownership. When leaders are informed and empowered, they can lead with confidence and enthusiasm. Don’t underestimate the impact of gathering your team before the year begins. Whether it’s a leadership night, a planning retreat, or even a team dinner, those moments remind people that what they do matters and that you’re in it together. When your leaders are equipped in this way, your ministry can move forward with alignment and unity. It’s like tuning an instrument before a big performance — the preparation ensures harmony when it’s time to play. ### 3. Cast the Vision Early and Continually Once your plans are in place and your leaders are ready, it’s time to rally everyone around the vision. Take time to clearly define the word or theme for the upcoming year. Maybe it’s something like “Rooted,” “Forward,” “Together,” or “Revive.” Whatever it is, make sure it ties directly to your church’s mission and helps people see where God is leading your ministry next. Then, create moments for you and your leaders to communicate that vision with energy and clarity. Here are a few ways to do that: - Team Nights or Kickoff Sundays: Gather your volunteers and staff to share stories from the past year, celebrate wins, and introduce the new focus for the coming season. - Visual Reminders: Use graphics, printouts, or even team merch that reinforces your theme. People remember what they can see. - Consistent Communication: Bring the vision into every meeting, huddle, and email. Repetition creates retention. Vision casting is an ongoing rhythm that starts before the new year even begins. Vision is something you build into your culture. The earlier you start sharing it, the more time your team has to catch it and carry it forward. When people know where you’re going and why it matters, they show up differently. They serve with purpose. They give with faith. They lead with confidence. Don’t wait for the ball to drop to start building momentum. Cast the vision now so your team crosses into the new year already running. ### Final Thoughts A new year always brings new energy, but lasting impact comes from preparation, not hype. The mission God has given your ministry hasn’t changed, but every new season gives you the opportunity to pursue it with fresh focus. Plan early, prepare your leaders, and cast vision before the year arrives because when January hits, you don’t want to be still trying to figure things out. You want to be walking confidently in what you’ve already built. The best leaders don’t wait for the new year to start leading differently. They start now. Tim Cruz Guest writer, Threefold Solutions --- ## Finishing Strong: Leading with Consistency When Everyone’s Coasting URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/finishing-strong-leading-with-consistency-when-everyones-coasting Author: Tim Cruz Published: 2025-12-30 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) I’ve always loved the feeling of running the last lap of a race. The crowd is cheering, the finish line is in sight, and you can feel every muscle fighting to push through. But there’s also this subtle thought that creeps in because you’re almost there , and your mind starts to whisper, “You can e I’ve always loved the feeling of running the last lap of a race. The crowd is cheering, the finish line is in sight, and you can feel every muscle fighting to push through. But there’s also this subtle thought that creeps in because you’re almost there, and your mind starts to whisper, “You can ease up now.” That’s the moment that separates good runners from great ones. The best don’t slow down when the end is near. They dig deep, lean forward, and give their all to finish strong. Leadership works the same way. As we approach the final stretch of the year, the temptation to coast is real. The holidays are around the corner, the calendar is full, and energy can start to fade. But if we want to lead with excellence, we can’t just start strong — we have to finish strong. The truth is, how we finish this season will set the tone for the next one. When leaders fade out, so do their teams. But when we stay focused and intentional through the finish line, we model a kind of consistency that inspires trust and momentum. Here are three practical ways to end the year strong and lead your team across the finish line with focus, unity, and energy. ### 1. Keep Your Eye on the Prize As we’re closing out the year, it’s easy to let distractions creep in. Holiday events, travel plans, and a dozen loose ends all compete for attention. But as leaders, one of the most powerful things we can do is help our teams “land the plane.” Finishing well is about aligning on your purpose. Ask yourself and your team: - What are the three most important things we must complete before year-end? - What projects need to be wrapped so we can start the new year clean? - Who needs clarity, communication, or encouragement right now? Keeping your eyes on the prize means staying clear about what actually matters. When we lead with that clarity, it helps our teams fight the natural drift that happens during this season. You don’t have to be pushy, but you do have to be present. Keep vision visible. Keep priorities simple. And remind your team that this season matters just as much as the first one did. Great leaders don’t let the calendar dictate their focus, they let the mission do it. When we define success clearly, it helps everyone know what finishing strong actually looks like. ### 2. Encourage Your Team to Finish Strong The truth is, nobody finishes strong alone. Leadership is about personal endurance but also collective momentum. When a runner gets tired, it’s the cheers from the crowd or the sight of a teammate up ahead that gives them the spark to keep going. Teams work the same way. When one person is running low, the encouragement and accountability of others can make all the difference. That’s why creating space for reflection and celebration is essential. End-of-year gatherings, volunteer parties, or team huddles are not only “fun extras” but leadership moments. They remind everyone that what we do matters, and that we’ve done it together. Here’s a practical rhythm for this season: - Reflect: Take time as a team to celebrate wins, big and small. - Refuel: Express genuine gratitude for people’s effort and sacrifice. - Refocus: Remind the team what still matters before the year ends. Encouragement is fuel. When your team feels seen and valued, they’ll find the strength to keep running hard through the last stretch. This is also a great time to cast vision forward. As you look back on what was accomplished, use those stories to build anticipation for what’s next. Maybe you host a short end-of-year rally where you not only celebrate the closing of one year but share glimpses of what’s coming in the new year. People finish stronger when they have something to look forward to. A leader’s words set the tone. When you communicate hope, gratitude, and expectation, you infuse new energy into your team. Momentum is contagious, but so is fatigue. Choose to be the one who keeps the fire burning bright. ### 3. How You Finish One Race Determines How You Start the Next In every race, the way you cross the finish line shapes how you approach the next one. If you limp across, exhausted and unprepared, you start the next season the same way. But if you finish strong, with energy, focus, and gratitude, you carry that momentum forward. The same is true in leadership. How we end this year will set the tone for how we begin the next. When we close projects with excellence, people remember the standard. When we celebrate wins, we build a positive culture. When we pause to evaluate what worked and what didn’t, we give our teams the gift of learning. So, before the year ends, schedule time to look back and look ahead: - What lessons did this year teach us? - What systems need improvement? - Where did we grow, and what needs to change? Finishing strong is about endurance and preparation. The best leaders don’t wait for January 1st to prepare and find clarity; they start sowing seeds early for what’s next. If you want to start next year with clarity, start preparing now. Take the time to rest, review, and reset. Your team doesn’t need a leader who’s running on fumes, they need one who’s refueled, refocused, and ready to lead the next lap. ### Final Thoughts Every leader faces that moment when the finish line is in sight and they think, “You’ve done enough.” But strong leaders don’t ease up, they lean in. This final stretch of the year isn’t only about completing tasks; it’s about completing your commitment. It’s about showing your team what steady leadership looks like when things are exciting, and when they’re ordinary. So take a breath, find your stride, and lead with purpose through the tape. Tim Cruz Guest writer, Threefold Solutions --- ## How to Organize Your Song Library in Planning Center Music URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/pco-tips-how-to-organize-your-song-library-in-planning-center-music Author: Tim Cruz Published: 2025-12-16 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: Services If you’ve been leading worship or planning services for any amount of time, you know the pain of a messy song library. Duplicate titles, missing arrangements, or unclear keys can create headaches for worship leaders and confusion for teams. The good news? Planning Center Music (within Services) giv If you’ve been leading worship or planning services for any amount of time, you know the pain of a messy song library. Duplicate titles, missing arrangements, or unclear keys can create headaches for worship leaders and confusion for teams. The good news? Planning Center Music (within Services) gives you powerful tools to organize and streamline your song catalog, so your team always knows what’s what. In this article, we’ll walk through how to build and maintain a clean, well-organized song library in Planning Center Music that saves you time, reduces stress, and equips your team to serve with excellence ### Why Song Organization Matters Your song library isn’t just a database; it’s the backbone of your worship planning. When songs are well organized: - Rehearsals run smoother because the right arrangements are ready. - Teams are confident knowing what version of a song to play. - Leaders save time instead of digging through duplicates. - Services feel consistent when songs are labeled and structured the same way. In other words, a clean library helps you spend less time troubleshooting and more time leading worship. ### Why Libraries Get Messy Most worship leaders don’t set out to create chaos, but it happens slowly over time. Maybe you imported songs from multiple systems, or volunteers uploaded their own charts in different formats. Perhaps you renamed songs slightly different each time (“How Great Is Our God” vs. “How Great is Our God (Tomlin)”). Left unchecked, these little inconsistencies add up. Suddenly, you have five versions of the same song, half the team is using the wrong chart, and Sunday rehearsal turns into a scavenger hunt. That’s why ongoing organization is just as important as the initial setup. ### Step 1: Adding Songs to Your Library To start building your library: - Go to the Songs tab in Planning Center Services. - Click Add a Song. - Enter the title, artist, and copyright info. - Upload chord charts, audio files, or lyric slides. Pro Tip: Always include the CCLI number when available. This keeps your reporting accurate and makes integration with SongSelect seamless. ### Step 2: Organizing with Arrangements and Keys One of the most powerful features in Planning Center Music is the ability to create multiple arrangements of the same song. For example: - Graves into Gardens (Full Band) - Graves into Gardens (Acoustic) - Graves into Gardens (Youth Service) Each arrangement can have its own key, chart, and notes. This eliminates confusion and ensures the right version is used in the right context. Pro Tip: Label arrangements clearly with context (Full Band, Acoustic, Youth) and key. This makes it easier for teams to find the right chart. ### Step 3: Tagging for Faster Searches Tags make your music library searchable and filterable. You can tag songs by: - Theme (faith, grace, hope) - Tempo (slow, medium, fast) - Liturgical moment (communion, baptism, response) - Season or holiday (Christmas, Easter, Advent) When planning services, you can filter by tags to find the perfect song for the moment. Real Examples: - A pastor calls you on Thursday night asking for a song for Sunday about God’s faithfulness. With tags, you simply filter “Faithfulness” and instantly have options ready. - Planning your Easter services? Filter “Resurrection” or “Easter” to pull songs from your seasonal tag list. - Need a slow reflective closer? Search “Slow + Communion” and cut your search time in half. Pro Tip: Create a “Top 25” tag for your most commonly used songs. This helps newer leaders pull from your core set without overwhelming choices. ### Step 4: Keeping Charts and Media Updated Nothing derails rehearsal faster than an outdated chart. Keep your files fresh by: - Uploading the latest chord charts for each arrangement. - Adding Nashville number charts for flexibility across keys. - Including audio demos so new team members can learn quickly. - Linking slides or ProPresenter files when available. Pro Tip: Standardize your chart format. Whether you use PDFs, numbers, or full lyric charts, consistency helps everyone know what to expect. ### Step 5: Integrating with SongSelect and Multitracks Planning Center integrates with SongSelect (for charts and lyrics) and Multitracks.com (for stems and rehearsal tracks). Linking these services: - Automates the import of lyrics and chord charts. - Provides access to multiple keys and arrangements instantly. - Makes it easier for your band to rehearse with high-quality resources. Pro Tip: Even if you don’t use stems every week, having them loaded into your library gives you flexibility for special events or smaller teams. ### Step 6: Regularly Cleaning and Auditing Your Library Like a closet, your song library gets messy if you never clean it. Make it a habit to audit your library every few months. - Merge duplicates so your team doesn’t get confused. - Archive old songs that aren’t in rotation anymore. - Update metadata like CCLI numbers, tags, and arrangement notes. - Remove outdated charts to keep only the most current versions. Pro Tip: Assign one person (like a worship admin or music director) to oversee the library. When everyone uploads files differently, chaos follows. A single point of accountability keeps it consistent. ### Creative Uses for Planning Center Music Beyond organizing service sets, your song library can serve broader ministry goals: - Training New Musicians: Share audio demos and charts for practice outside rehearsal. - Songwriting Archive: Store original songs your team is writing so they don’t get lost - Set History: Use past plans to reflect on themes and track what’s been sung over the year. - Special Services: Tag songs for weddings, funerals, or conferences to have curated sets ready. Your song library is a long-term resource for your church’s worship journey. ### Best Practices for an Organized Library Here are a few habits that make a big difference: - Use consistent naming. Always list songs by official title, not nicknames. - Add notes for transitions. Include cues like “flow into prayer” or “segue into next song.” - Keep song keys practical. Avoid storing arrangements in keys your band never uses. - Train your team. Show your worship leaders and musicians how to access and update songs correctly. ### Common Pitfalls to Avoid Even experienced worship leaders run into these roadblocks: - Multiple versions floating around. Keep everything in Planning Center. Don’t rely on random Dropbox folders. - Over-tagging. Too many tags clutter your library. Stick to categories that matter. - Never retiring songs. If a song hasn’t been played in three years, archive it. - Ignoring licensing. Always log copyright info to stay compliant with CCLI. ### Final Thoughts Your song library is a resource for discipleship and worship. A well-organized library makes it easier for your team to rehearse, your leaders to plan, and your church to worship without distraction. When charts are clean, arrangements are clear, and songs are easy to find, your team spends less time hunting for files and more time preparing their hearts. Planning Center Music isn’t just about logistics — it’s about removing barriers so worship can flow. --- ## The Post-Christmas Follow-Up Playbook For Pastors URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-post-christmas-follow-up-playbook-for-pastors Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-12-16 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Let me hit you with a stat that should change everything about your post-Christmas strategy: Church-growth consultants like Herb Miller have long observed that if you connect with first-time guests within about 24–36 hours, around 85% of them return. If you wait up to 72 hours, that drops to about Let me hit you with a stat that should change everything about your post-Christmas strategy: Church-growth consultants like Herb Miller have long observed that if you connect with first-time guests within about 24–36 hours, around 85% of them return. If you wait up to 72 hours, that drops to about 60%. Wait a week, and only about 15% come back. You can find this breakdown in widely cited guest follow-up statistics. In other words: the difference between a full church in January and empty pews often isn't your preaching or your worship style—it's speed and intentionality. Here's the bigger problem: in research conducted by Faith Perceptions and published in Outreach Magazine, 1,341 first-time church visitors were surveyed. Of those who provided contact information (504 people), only 119—just 24%—reported receiving any follow-up within 30 days. You can see the full summary in this Faith Perceptions study recap. Think about that. These people literally asked to be contacted, and 76% never heard from the church. That's not a systems problem. That's a stewardship problem. ### The Russell Brunson Framework for Churches If you're not familiar with Russell Brunson (author of DotCom Secrets), his marketing frameworks are incredibly powerful for business growth, but some churches fail to realize that we can apply the same strategies to church growth. Here's why they translate so well. #### 1. The Value Ladder Most churches try to move Christmas visitors from “first-time guest” to “join a small group, serve, tithe, and become a member” in one conversation. It overwhelms people. Instead, think in steps: - Level 1: Christmas visitor - Level 2: Second-time visitor - Level 3: Regular attender (3+ visits) - Level 4: Connected in community - Level 5: Serving/giving Your only goal with a Christmas visitor is getting them to Level 2. That's it. Guest-retention benchmarks from The Unstuck Group (summarizing church-growth research from Gary McIntosh and Charles Arn) suggest that in a typical growing church: - About 20% of first-time guests become part of the church - Nearly 40% of second-time guests do - Close to 60% of people who attend a third time end up becoming part of the church You can see that breakdown here: Visitor retention benchmarks. You can't skip steps. The most strategic move you can make with a Christmas guest is simply helping them come back once more. ### 2. The Soap Opera Sequence In Brunson's language, each follow-up message is like an episode of a TV series—it keeps people engaged, delivers value, and creates curiosity for what's next. It's not "come back, come back, come back" on repeat. It's a conversation. Your follow-up should: - Acknowledge their visit - Offer value (prayer, encouragement, a helpful resource) - Create a gentle bridge to the following Sunday or the next step ### 3. The Attractive Character People don't connect deeply with institutions—they connect with people. That means your texts and emails should come from "Pastor John", not "First Baptist Church Office." This is Brunson's "Attractive Character" idea applied to ministry: an authentic, accessible human voice that people can relate to**.** #### Your Copy-Paste Text Sequence Here's a simple, proven text sequence you can plug into your system. Choose the tone that best fits your church, but keep the timing non-negotiable. TEXT #1: The 24-Hour Thank You Send within 24 hours of your Christmas service Hey {FIRST_NAME}! This is Pastor [NAME] from [CHURCH NAME]. Thank you for celebrating Christmas with us yesterday. It genuinely meant a lot having you there. Quick question: Is there anything we can pray for you or your family as you head into the new year? Also—this Sunday ([DATE]), we're kicking off a new series called "[SERIES NAME]" and I think you'll really connect with it. Would love to see you there, but no pressure. Just wanted you to know you're welcome anytime. – Pastor [NAME] P.S. You can reply to this text anytime if you have questions! TEXT #2: The Value Drop (Day 3–4) No ask—give value Hey {FIRST_NAME}, Pastor [NAME] here! I was doing my Bible reading this morning and came across something that hit me: [BRIEF INSIGHT OR VERSE]. It made me think about fresh starts and new beginnings, which feels perfect for this time of year. Just wanted to share that with you. Hope your week is going well! – Pastor [NAME] TEXT #3: The Bridge Send the Saturday before your first "normal" Sunday back Hi {FIRST_NAME}! Just wanted to give you a quick heads up about tomorrow: We're starting "[SERIES NAME]" – [ONE-SENTENCE DESCRIPTION]. Services at [TIMES]. Kids programs for [AGES]. Coffee will be hot. ☕ If you're able to make it, we'd love to see you! If not, no worries—there's always next week. Let me know if you have any questions. Pastor [NAME] TEXT #4: The Re-Engagement (If They Didn't Attend) Send Tuesday/Wednesday if they missed Sunday Hey {FIRST_NAME}, Hope you had a great weekend! We missed seeing you Sunday, but totally understand—life gets busy, especially this time of year. Is there anything we can pray for you this week? Also, if you'd like me to send you the link to Sunday's message, just let me know. No pressure though! – Pastor [NAME] TEXT #5: The Big Day List (Quarterly) Hey {FIRST_NAME}! It's been a while since we've connected, but I wanted to reach out because Easter is coming up ([DATE]) and I immediately thought of you. We're doing something really special this year – [BRIEF DESCRIPTION]. Would love to see you there! Services at [TIMES]. Hope you and your family are doing well! – Pastor [NAME] Only apply this strategy if you are available to respond to the messages. There is nothing worse than getting faked out into thinking there's a real person on the other end, only to realize it was a bot. If you are unable to have your pastor do it, that's fine; it can be an admin or other staff member. It just needs to be a real person who can provide real follow-up. Otherwise, stick with standard generic messaging; something is better than nothing. Pro Tip: If you can send a personalized video, just a quick selfie video, to the congregant, it makes a huge difference. That extra few seconds saying "hey, Smith family," and "it was so great to meet you this weekend," that personal touch goes a long way. Just think about how good it feels when a friend sends you a personal message out of the blue. We want people to feel the same way about the church. ### The "CEO Strategy" Your "Christmas and Easter only" visitors aren't lost causes—they're event-driven attenders. Don't give up after one failed follow-up. Instead, create a "Big Day List" and invite them back 3–4 times a year: - Easter - Summer kickoff event - Fall series launch - Next Christmas Over time, some of these once-a-year people start coming more frequently. It's a long-term discipleship game—and it works. ### Implementation Checklist This Week - Simplify your connect card (First Name, Phone, Email only) - Set up a "Christmas [YEAR] Visitors" list in your ChMS - Customize these text templates for your church - Set up automation in Clearstream or your texting platform Christmas Week - Mention connect cards multiple times during the service - Make filling them out easy (QR codes + physical cards) - Offer a small incentive (gift card drawing, free resource, etc.) Dec 26 - Text #1 goes out automatically (or you send it manually) - Respond personally to every reply - Texts #2–3 follow automatically over the next few days January - Track who attended on the second Sunday - Send Text #4 only to no-shows - Add everyone to your "Big Day List" for Easter #### Why This Matters Every person who walked through your doors on Christmas is there for a reason. Maybe they're seeking. Maybe they're hurting. Maybe they're responding to the Holy Spirit's whisper. Your follow-up isn't about hitting attendance goals. It's about caring for people. Some people need multiple visits before they're ready to commit—five, ten, or more over several years. Some will orbit your church for a long time before the timing is right. Your job isn't to force it—it's to stay faithful, stay consistent, and keep the door open. The research is clear. The framework is proven. The templates are ready. Now it's your turn to implement. Remember: in classic guest-follow-up research, acting quickly can keep around 85% of guests coming back—waiting too long can drop that closer to 15%. Speed wins. Don't wait. Michael Visser P.S. If you implement this and see results, I'd love to hear about it. And if you have questions as you're setting it up, don't hesitate to reach out. --- ## Simplify Your Planning Center Check-Ins Setup with Templates and Themes URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/simplify-your-planning-center-check-ins-setup-with-templates-and-themes Author: Kristin Emerson Published: 2025-12-16 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: Check-ins Managing multiple check-in stations across different rooms and events — especially during busy weekend services — can be a logistical headache. That’s where station templates come in. Planning Center created templates to help automate and streamline your station setup, ensuring everything is ready Managing multiple check-in stations across different rooms and events — especially during busy weekend services — can be a logistical headache. That’s where station templates come in. Planning Center created templates to help automate and streamline your station setup, ensuring everything is ready when you need it. Applying custom themes to each template keeps your stations consistent and branded, matching each unique ministry. ### What Are Templates and Why Should I Use Them? Templates are pre-configured station settings that can be scheduled to activate at specific times. Popular examples include weekend services, midweek class check-ins, and even switching from check-in to check-out. For instance, you can create a “Kids Weekend” template that automatically configures all your children’s ministry stations every Sunday at 8 a.m. Templates are a game-changer for churches with multiple campuses or numerous stations. You can create different templates for each of your events, such as the Wednesday night youth group and the Saturday membership class. When the time comes, update your settings across all stations in seconds! ### How to Set Up a Template - Prepare your stations. Make sure all check-in stations are turned on and configured exactly how you want them — station type, printer settings, event/locations, and themes. - Open the template page. Go to the Stations tab and use the settings drop-down to select Templates. - Create a new template and set configuration. Click New Template in the top right corner, then name as desired (e.g., “Kids Weekend Sunday Stations”). Choose whether to enable automatic activation at a specific date/time or leave it to be activated manually. - Select stations. Select which stations the template should include and double-check that each station’s settings are correct. - Save your template: Select Create in the bottom right corner to access and activate your template at any time in the future. ### How to Edit an Existing Template Just like creating a new template, make sure your stations are set to the correct settings before attempting to edit an existing one. Use the station settings drop-down to view templates and select the one you wish to update. Click Save to override the previous settings. #### Using Your Template One of the most efficient ways to use templates is by setting them to activate automatically for your weekly events. You can create templates for: - Weekend services. - Sunday evenings. - Wednesday evenings. - Any other recurring service times. Then let Planning Center handle the setup for you! For one-off events, leave the recurring activation box unchecked and manually apply the template when needed. To apply a template manually: - Go to the Stations tab. - Open the settings drop-down and select Templates. - Locate the desired template and click Use. Quick Tip: If check-in stations don’t appear to be updated after you apply your template, refresh the station to load the new settings. #### Customize the Experience with Themes In addition to templates, you can personalize the look and feel of your check-in stations using themes. Found in the same drop-down as templates, themes allow you to set background colors or upload custom images to match your ministry’s branding. - Upload images. For best results, upload a high-quality image with the dimensions of your station screen (iPad, desktop monitor, etc.). Other-sized photos will be centered by default. Planning Center accepts the following file types: JPG, JPEG, PNG, and GIF. - Choose colors. Instead of an image, you can also select a solid background color that reflects your church’s identity. - Select light or dark mode. Customize visibility and aesthetics by choosing between light and dark backgrounds. Put it all together by creating multiple themes for different ministries (kids, adult classes, etc.) and applying them to your templates. Not only will each station have automatically updated events and locations, but it will also have custom images and colors to match. ### Conclusion: Save Time and Stress with Templates and Themes In Planning Center Check-ins, templates and themes are powerful tools that make switching between configurations fast and easy. For churches with multiple services and events throughout the week, these features can save time, reduce stress, and ensure consistency. Say goodbye to last-minute scrambling — and hello to smooth, automated setup! Kristin Emerson Client Success Specialist, Threefold Solutions --- ## Planning Center Tips: How to Build a Powerful Leadership Overview Dashboard with Widgets in Planning Center URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/planning-center-tips-how-to-build-a-powerful-leadership-overview-dashboard-with-widgets-in-planning-center Author: Kristin Emerson Published: 2025-12-16 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Planning Center apps: Giving Looking to empower your church leadership team with data-driven insights? Planning Center makes it easy to create a customized dashboard that tracks attendance, giving, demographics, and more — all in one place. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics of dashboards, how to add widgets, an Looking to empower your church leadership team with data-driven insights? Planning Center makes it easy to create a customized dashboard that tracks attendance, giving, demographics, and more — all in one place. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics of dashboards, how to add widgets, and how to build a leadership overview dashboard that keeps your team aligned and informed. ### What Is a Dashboard in Planning Center? Every Planning Center user has access to the Home app, a central hub that pulls together data from across your church’s Planning Center products. Within Home, you’ll find two key features: - Tasks: Manage your to-dos and follow-ups. - Dashboards: Visualize data with customizable widgets. Your default dashboard is called My Dashboard, and it’s fully customizable to show the data that matters most to you. ### How to Add Your First Widget To start building your dashboard: - Click Add Widget in the top right corner. - Choose a Planning Center product (like People, Giving, or Check-Ins). - Select a widget type. These vary depending on the product selected. - Customize widget configuration. Once added, widgets appear at the bottom of your dashboard. You can drag and drop them to organize your layout. ### Customizing Widgets for Better Insights Each widget includes a settings icon (⚙️) that lets you: - Filter data by group, campus, or timeframe. - Switch between visual styles (bar chart, donut graph, etc.). - Remove or update widgets as needed. Explore widgets across all Planning Center apps to unlock even more customization options. ### Organizing Dashboards with Tabs and Collaborators In addition to the standard My Dashboard tab, you can create more tabs to organize your data and share with others. Add collaborators to the dashboard to keep everyone informed and engaged with the data that matters most. To manage collaborators: - Click the three dots in the tab settings. - Add users as Viewers (can view only) or Managers (can add widgets). - Search by name and assign roles. 🔒 Permissions Tip: The visibility of products on a dashboard is based on the permissions of the person who created it. This means collaborators can view widgets even if they don’t have access to the underlying product. Just make sure the dashboard creator maintains access — otherwise, widgets may stop displaying data. ### Building a Leadership Overview Dashboard A leadership overview dashboard is your go-to tool for sharing high-level insights with your church’s leadership team. Create a new tab and add your leaders as collaborators. Here are the top widget categories to include: 1. Attendance Metrics Track who’s showing up and when: - View trends over 12 months, 13 weeks, or 30 days. - Filter by regular attendees, guests, or volunteers. - Compare year-over-year attendance. - Focus on specific events (e.g., Kids Weekend Service). 2. Demographics Insights Understand your congregation better: - Age, gender, marital status - Campus popularity - Membership types - Custom fields like baptism dates or growth track completion 3. Giving Data Monitor financial health and donor engagement: - Total giving over time - Fund, campus, or payment method - Number of donors and first-time givers - Forecast recurring donations ### Top 10 Widgets for Church Leadership Dashboards With option after powerful option, you can create a leadership overview dashboard that is customized to fit your church’s needs. Need some inspiration? We’ve collected our top 10 recommendations and shared our configuration to help you get started. Adult Attendance | Last 13 weeks (Using Headcounts) Kids Attendance | Last 13 weeks (Using Check-ins) First-Time Guests | Last 12 Months (Using List Results to Combine Form Submissions and Check-Ins) Demographic Breakdown | Campus Demographic Breakdown | Gender Demographic Breakdown | Age Total Donors | Last 12 Months Total Giving | Last 12 Months Groups Attendance | Last 13 weeks Volunteers | Last 13 weeks ### Final Thoughts Planning Center’s dashboard widgets offer a powerful way to visualize your ministry’s data. Whether you're tracking attendance, giving, or engagement, a well-designed leadership overview dashboard helps your team make informed decisions and stay aligned. Take time to explore widget options, experiment with layouts, and share your dashboard with key leaders. With just a few clicks, you’ll transform raw data into actionable insights that support your church’s mission. --- ## From Dream Team to Real Team: The “Why” Before the “What” URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/from-dream-team-to-real-team-the-why-before-the-what Author: Tim Cruz Published: 2025-12-16 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Now that you understand that excellence is about being faithful with what’s in front of you, it’s time to move on to the next thing to consider when you’re at a conference and feeling inspired. Often, when we see something we like, we tend to get excited and want to adopt it immediately. The firs Now that you understand that excellence is about being faithful with what’s in front of you, it’s time to move on to the next thing to consider when you’re at a conference and feeling inspired. Often, when we see something we like, we tend to get excited and want to adopt it immediately. The first question that comes out of our mouths is usually, “How do we do this?” or “What do we need to do this?” But the more important question we should be asking before the “what” or the “how” is simply, “Why?” ### The “Why” Before the “What” When we see something that could really benefit our ministry, we don’t usually ask the “why?” questions. For example, we might see a large church paying their worship team at a conference and say, “We need to start paying our team because they do.” Instead, we should be asking: - “Why do you pay your worship team?” - “What’s the heart behind it?” - “What are the pros and cons?” I remember serving at a church where the worship team was paid. I asked the question, “Why do we do this?” Hearing the original reason gave me so much clarity and accountability moving forward. The reason? At the time, the church was growing, and with three services on Saturday and three on Sunday, it was a huge time commitment for the team. Not to mention the preparation required due to the bar of excellence set by the leadership. When the pastor realized how much time volunteers were investing, essentially giving up their entire weekend, he said, “I want to thank them for taking time away from their families to help build the church.” He didn’t see them as volunteers anymore, but as people who deserved to be compensated. That story gives context to why that church made the shift. When you ask the “why,” it helps you determine whether a similar decision is right for your ministry. For example, if you only have one service on Sunday and decide to start paying everyone just because another church does, you may be doing a disservice. Yes, you should honor your volunteers, but there’s a healthy tension between appreciation and giving people the opportunity to serve through their gifts. The “why” should be something you wrestle with, pray about, and define clearly for your team and culture. ### Three Thoughts to Discover and Keep Your “Why” #### 1. “Why” do we need the “what”? Before launching any new initiative or program, take time to pause and process with other leaders and team members. Let others poke holes in your ideas. This helps clarify whether your plan has a clear “why” behind it. With the example of paying worship team members, rather than jumping in after a conference, it’s smart to sit with your oversight or trusted team members and talk through what you saw and how it could affect your ministry. After processing, if your reasoning aligns with the other church (i.e., your team is making a huge time investment and you have the budget and pastoral capacity), it might be the right move. But if your reasoning is, “People aren’t bought in, and this will motivate them,” that might not be a strong enough “why” to justify such a big cultural shift. In that case, what’s needed may be more pastoring, not payroll. #### 2. Explain and explain the “why.” Once you know your “why” behind the “what,” it’s essential to cast the vision and cast it often. Culture doesn’t change just because you said something once. It becomes culture when you say it over and over and live it out consistently. So, make it a rhythm to continually share why you’re doing what you’re doing. This builds buy-in and provides your team with the context and accountability needed to uphold that decision. #### 3. What is the “why,” and does it still apply? This final point might be the most important. If you do this regularly, it will keep your team and systems from becoming stagnant. When I hear systems or initiatives explained, I naturally ask, “Why?” I’m not asking out of defiance but from a desire for clarity. When I’m expected to run a play or lead an initiative, I want to understand how we got there. That clarity helps me buy in. And often, that question has led to a bigger realization — sometimes the “why” behind something no longer applies in the current season.Which means that the system, program, or protocol might need to shift or even be eliminated. So, here’s a question I challenge you to ask regularly: “What is the ‘why,’ and does it still apply?” Asking this question helps your team stay curious, flexible, and effective for the season you’re in now and the one ahead. ### Conclusion: “Why” Matters More Than “What” When you go to your next conference, come back inspired and determined to lead and help bring a new level of excellence to your team and systems. Give yourself time as you process and have the conversations necessary to make meaningful change. After all, it’s important to remember that what inspired you at the conference did not happen overnight; it was built through intentional effort, patience, and perseverance. Don’t rush to implement every new idea immediately. Instead, have the hard conversations, table them if needed, pick them back up, and revisit them again. Growth often happens in the tension between vision and reality, and there’s so much beauty in navigating that tension thoughtfully. Take bold steps but do so with wisdom and clarity. Go get creative. Build something meaningful and lasting. But as you do, always start with the “why.” Let it lead your strategy, shape your systems, and fuel your culture. Because in the long run, the “why” will always matter more than the “what.” Tim Cruz Guest Writer, Threefold Solutions --- ## Start with Strategy: Identify the Real Audience Behind Your Church’s Social Media URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/start-with-strategy-identify-the-real-audience-behind-your-churchs-social-media Author: Kailey Spilger Published: 2025-10-31 Category: Web & Digital (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/web-digital) Discover how to create church social media content that engages members and reaches new visitors with shareable, mission-driven posts. You post three times in a week. One about an upcoming event. One with Sunday service times. One promoting the newsletter. Everything looks clean, consistent, and on brand. But engagement stays flat. No comments. No new visitors. No noticeable difference. After a few weeks of this pattern, you find yourself asking the question you hadn’t thought to ask before: "Who am I even posting for?" ### Who Is Your Church’s Social Media For? One of the most important questions to ask when you start taking your church’s social media seriously is: Who are we actually talking to? Some people believe social media should be used mainly for the congregation. It’s where you post reminders, updates, devotionals, and general church news. Others view it as a tool for reaching people who haven’t yet come through the doors. So, which is it? Let’s take a look at both sides. ### Why Your Social Media Shouldn’t Only Be for Church Members Let’s be honest. Social media is not a reliable way to communicate important information to your congregation. 1. The algorithm doesn’t work in your favor. Unless your church members regularly engage with your content, there’s a good chance they’re not seeing your posts. On Instagram, following a page doesn’t guarantee your content shows up in their feed. On Facebook, unless someone manually turns on notifications or is in a highly engaged group, your posts might get buried**.** With a current average engagement rate of 2%, social media just isn’t reliable for important information. 2. It doesn’t feel personal. An invitation to an event through social media might get the message out, but it doesn’t feel like someone is reaching out directly. It’s fine for awareness, but it lacks personal connection. You are much better off utilizing email or text to get those important messages out to individuals. 3. You risk using too much insider language. If you’re only speaking to people who are already familiar with your church, it’s easy to fall into habits like using acronyms, internal references, or language that doesn’t make sense to someone new. That can turn away potential visitors who feel like the content isn’t for them. ### Why Your Social Media Shouldn’t Only Be for Outsiders Either On the other hand, focusing only on reaching new people comes with its own issues. 1. You might start chasing numbers instead of staying focused on purpose. When reach becomes the goal, it’s easy to focus on likes and follower counts. That can result in building a large following that isn’t local, isn’t connected to your church, and won’t ever show up on a Sunday. 2. You overlook the people already committed to your mission. Your church members are already invested. They’re likely to share your content, invite others, and engage with your posts when it reflects the mission they’re part of. Ignoring them leaves a lot of potential on the table. Your church page should reflect your actual church. At the end of the day, the church isn’t just a brand. It’s a body of people. If your social media presence doesn’t represent the culture, values, or experience of your congregation, it can start to feel disconnected from the real community behind it. Your members should be able to look at what you’re posting and think, Yeah, that feels like us. When content reflects their experience, they’re more likely to engage, share, and feel connected to the mission behind it. ### So, Who Are You Talking To? The real answer is both. You should create content with people outside your church in mind, but in a way that equips your church members to share it. The goal is to speak clearly to someone who doesn’t yet attend while also giving your congregation tools they can use to spread the word. Your members may not always be the main audience, but they’re a key part of your distribution. They can like, share, send, and repost what you create, but only if it’s worth sharing. Think back to when churches used to print holiday tracts and encourage members to hand them out during the week to invite people to church. That method may have worked at the time, but things have shifted. Today, your social media content serves a similar purpose. It gives your church members something they can share with their friends, coworkers, and family, whether that’s reposting to their story or sending a post in a direct message. Even though your content is created with non-members in mind, it functions as a tool for your members to use. It gives them a simple way to introduce others to their church family and live out their faith in everyday conversations online. And here’s the thing: when 20 people from your church share a post, your potential reach doesn’t just double or triple. It can grow by tens of thousands. That kind of reach doesn’t require a paid strategy. It just requires shareable content and people who believe in what you're doing. Church members are far more likely to share content that reflects their identity such as who they are, what they believe, and the kind of church they’re proud to be part of. If your content feels off-brand, overly polished, or disconnected from the culture of your church, it won’t resonate. And if it doesn’t resonate, it won’t get shared. On the other hand, when your content captures something real about your church’s heart or mission, it taps into that sense of belonging. People want to say, “This is my church. This is what we care about.” That’s what makes them repost it, send it to a friend, or even save it for later. ### What Does This Look Like in Practice? When you post about an upcoming event, write in a way that makes sense to someone who isn’t already involved. Avoid acronyms. Answer questions that a potential visitor might have in their minds. Use normal language. Make your content easy to send to a friend. Something simple like: "New to town or just looking for community? Join us this Sunday for coffee and a chance to meet people your age." That doesn’t assume the reader knows anything about your church, but it also gives a church member something they can share with someone they’ve been meaning to invite. ### Before You Post, Ask: - Would someone who’s never been to our church understand what this is about? - Would someone who attends our church feel comfortable sharing this with their network? Your content should help you reach new people, but most often, it will do that through the people who are already with you. Dr. KaileySpilger Guest Writer, Ph.D. in Communication P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Building a Core Leadership Team: From Theory to Practice URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/building-a-core-leadership-team-from-theory-to-practice Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-10-24 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Planning Center apps: People Discover how to build leadership pipelines in your church using Planning Center and intentional development systems. Healthy and growing churches don't accidentally develop great leaders; they cultivate them.While finding leaders via more organic methods has its place, sustainable ministry growth requires systematic approaches that identify, develop, and deploy emerging leaders with clarity and purpose. At the heart of leadership development lies one crucial element: communication. We are not talking about announcements or the occasional pat on the back type conversations, but strategic, consistent, and trackable interactions that shape willing volunteers into confident leaders. Having these strategic conversations is essential but so is knowing the history and growth of a developing leader. This is where pairing this process with your church management system (ChMS) or project management system becomes invaluable. ### Part 1: The Theory Behind Intentional Leadership Development #### The Visibility Principle Great leaders aren't born in shadows but developed in full view. When churches create visible pathways for leadership development, something powerful happens: people begin to see themselves in leadership roles. The mystery disappears, replaced by clear expectations and achievable steps. Traditional leadership development often resembles a black box. Someone volunteers faithfully, and then suddenly, they're asked to lead a team with little preparation or clarity about how they arrived at that invitation. This approach creates anxiety for emerging leaders and inconsistency in leadership quality. By contrast, systematic leadership development creates what we might call "leadership transparency." When people can see a clear set of expectations, track their progress, and take intentional time for self-development, they will engage more confidently in the development process. #### The Two-Pipeline Framework Most churches need two distinct leadership pipelines, each with different rhythms and requirements: Pipeline 1: Congregants to Lead Volunteers This pipeline moves regular attendees into volunteer leadership roles, such as small group leaders, team coordinators, and ministry point persons. The development cycle here typically spans 6-12 months and focuses on character assessment, basic ministry skills, and team dynamics. Pipeline 2: High-Capacity Volunteers to Staff This more intensive pipeline develops proven volunteer leaders toward potential staff roles. The timeline extends 12-24 months and emphasizes strategic thinking, organizational leadership, and ministry philosophy alignment. Understanding these as separate pipelines prevents the common mistake of using the same development approach for vastly different leadership destinations. #### Communication as the Foundation Here's what many churches miss: leadership development is primarily a communication challenge. As a leader myself. The challenge is to provide consistent feedback, to define and set clear expectations, and to have regular connections with current and upcoming leaders. Growing in my leadership, I have found that effective leadership development requires multiple communication touchpoints: - Initial invitation and expectation-setting - Regular progress updates and encouragement - Skill-building opportunities and feedback - Recognition and celebration of growth - Clear communication about next steps Without systematic communication, even well-intentioned leadership development efforts collapse under the weight of assumption and inconsistency. #### The Sustainability Factor One critical consideration often overlooked is what happens when you develop high-capacity volunteer leaders without staff positions. The answer isn't to slow down development but to create meaningful leadership opportunities that don't lead to burnout. The worst thing you can do is push a high-capacity volunteer deeper into burnout because they are one of a few people trusted to get the work done. We need to take stock of the required work and the time and energy these people invest in our ministries. We should design volunteer leadership roles with appropriate scope, provide ongoing support systems, and maintain honest conversations about timelines for potential staff transitions. The goal is sustainable engagement, not leadership fatigue. ### Part 2: Leveraging Your ChMS to Build a Leadership Pipeline (e.g., Planning Center) #### Setting Up Development Workflows Building a leadership pipeline is essential for the long-term sustainability of developing new leaders. Your current approach looks like this: you identify an upcoming leader, have a brief conversation with them, and set a reminder on your phone. However, life gets busy, and you may forget to follow up promptly. As a result, you might only vaguely remember what you discussed and try your best to involve them, but often, another pressing issue takes precedence. This scenario is common in many churches. If this resonates with you, please take a few minutes to establish a defined leadership pipeline. This more formal process will ensure you clearly understand the next steps needed for each person you are developing. Here are two workflows we think will be helpful to establish at your church. #### Congregant-to-Volunteer Leader Workflow: - Initial interest capture and basic information gathering - Character reference completion - Ministry-specific training modules - Shadow current leadership and receive mentoring - Formal leadership invitation #### Volunteer-to-Staff Pipeline Workflow: - Comprehensive leadership assessment - Extended mentoring period with existing staff - Ministry philosophy alignment discussions - Trial leadership project completion - Staff consideration process These workflows are not intended to add more work to your plate. Instead, these workflows ensure no one falls through the cracks. We want every potential leader to receive consistent development attention if they seek leadership opportunities. ### Strategic Announcements for Leadership Development Use Planning Center's announcement features to create ongoing leadership development communication: - Monthly "Leadership Spotlight" announcements highlighting development opportunities - Quarterly "Next Steps" communications for people at different pipeline stages - Annual "Leadership Vision" messages casting vision for the coming year's leadership needs - Celebration announcements recognizing newly developed leaders This approach keeps leadership development visible across your church community while maintaining personal connection with developing leaders. ### Implementing Meaningful Check-ins Regular check-ins separate thriving leadership development from stagnant programs. Schedule quarterly and monthly check-ins for Pipeline 1 participants for Pipeline 2 candidates. Use these check-ins to: - Assess skill development and identify growth areas - Provide encouragement and address concerns - Adjust development timelines based on individual progress - Gather feedback about the development process itself Document these check-ins in Planning Center People profiles to maintain institutional memory and ensure consistency during leadership transitions. ### Participation Tracking That Informs Decisions Move beyond anecdotes about persons' readiness for leadership by tracking meaningful metrics. Here are a few ideas you could keep tabs on. - Consistency in current volunteer roles - Initiative-taking in ministry situations - Response time and quality in communication - Engagement in development opportunities - 360 Feedback from team members and congregants Using a data-driven approach removes guesswork from leadership promotion decisions and provides clear feedback on progress for developing leaders. ### Creating Effective Onboarding Sequences First impressions are crucial in leadership development. When individuals feel excited about their onboarding process, it helps them engage in their personal growth. We recommend designing comprehensive onboarding sequences that set new leaders up for success. Here are a few ideas: - Welcome communication that outlines role expectations and available support - Setup of resource access and coordination of the training schedule - Facilitation of introductions with key team members and ministry partners - Initial project assignment with clear success metrics - Scheduling a 30-day check-in for early feedback Strong onboarding reduces early leadership failures and increases long-term leadership retention. ### Moving Forward Building a core leadership team isn't a destination – it's an ongoing rhythm of identifying, developing, and deploying emerging leaders. The churches that thrive long-term are those that make this rhythm systematic, communication-rich, and sustainably paced. Technology like Planning Center doesn't create leaders but can dramatically improve how we develop them. When we combine intentional systems with consistent communication, we create environments where leadership naturally multiplies. Start with one pipeline, build the system, refine through experience, and expand your capacity to develop the leaders your church's future depends on. Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Stay Ahead of Scheduling Gaps with Planning Center’s New Alert Feature URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/stay-ahead-of-scheduling-gaps-with-planning-centers-new-alert-feature Author: Kristin Emerson Published: 2025-10-20 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: Services Struggling with last-minute volunteer scheduling? Planning Center Services just released a new feature— Scheduling Gap Alerts —to help you stay ahead of unfilled positions. Get customizable email reminders 1 to 7 days before your service so you never miss a spot. Plus, take advantage of tools like If you’re a church leader or volunteer coordinator using Planning Center Services, you know the stress of scrambling to fill last-minute schedule gaps—especially as the weekend approaches. Planning Center just released another impactful update on the Services product that we think is a game-changer! ### Introducing: Scheduling Gap Alerts in Planning Center Services This new feature, Scheduling Gap Alerts, is designed to help teams stay ahead of unfilled positions before the weekend crunch hits. Now, within the Team Settings section of Planning Center Services, you can enable alerts that notify you of scheduling gaps. You can customize how far in advance you want to be alerted—anywhere from 1 to 7 days—giving you time to act before it’s too late. Watch the video below to see this feature in action: ### Here’s How it Works: - Navigate to the team for which you wish to enable alerts. If you’re currently viewing a plan, open the Team Actions dropdown and select Manage Team. If you’re still on the service type level, click on the sprocket (⚙️) and select Teams. - View the Settings tab. - Under the new Scheduling Gap Alerts section, enable alerts for your team. - Choose your preferred notification window. - Receive email alerts when positions remain unfilled. ### Bonus Tip: Rescheduling Declines Made Easy Additionally, don’t forget about the Rescheduling Declines feature, which helps you respond quickly when someone declines a scheduled position. Choose how you want Planning Center to react when a decline comes in: - Send out a signup sheet to your team. - Use auto-scheduling to let Services find the best fit using blockouts, preferences, and history. - Or manually assign someone yourself. This tool is another way to make sure your team is fully-stocked for the weekend! ### Final Thoughts Even small updates like this can make a big impact. If you manage volunteers, this feature is a must-use to keep your services running smoothly. Don’t forget to enable Scheduling Gap Alerts and explore the rescheduling tools to stay ahead of the game. For more tips and updates on Planning Center, be sure to like and subscribe to the Threefold Solutions Youtube Channel. We’re here to help you get the most out of your tools and make ministry management easier—so you can spend more time focusing on what matters most: the people God has placed in your care. --- ## Rediscovering Our Roots: Balancing Tradition and Innovation in Modern Churches URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/rediscovering-our-roots-balancing-tradition-and-innovation-in-modern-churches Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-10-17 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover how to build authentic church community by blending Acts 2 principles with modern ministry practices. Did you know that while 47% of Americans belong to a church, only 31% attend services regularly (Gallup)? In our consumer-driven world, these numbers reflect a deeper reality: many churches have shifted from being communities of believers to becoming providers of ‘spirituality services.’ This transformation raises a critical question: Have we lost sight of what truly makes a church? ### A Personal Journey of Discovery Last year, my wife and I embarked on a cross-country move from Texas to the sun-soaked shores of Pensacola, FL. This transition forced us to do something many Christians dread: church shopping. Our backgrounds couldn't have been more different – I came from some of the nation's largest megachurches, while she grew up in an intimate Baptist congregation. This contrast gave us a unique perspective on finding the sweet spot between these two worlds. ### The Early Church: A Blueprint for Authentic Community During a Hillsong Conference in the early 2010s, I witnessed something unexpected. Ed Young Jr., known for pushing evangelical boundaries, performed a Christian rap with a line that still resonates: "Acts 2 gonna show you what to do." While the delivery was contemporary, the message was timeless. The early church painted a vivid picture of genuine Christian community: > " 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common." (Acts 2:42-44, NIV) Essential Characteristics of the Early Church: - Every member actively participated in worship and ministry - Relationships went beyond Sunday gatherings - Resources and support were freely shared - Discipleship drove spiritual growth - Mission and service defined their identity ### The Modern Megachurch: Innovation Meets Tradition Today's megachurch landscape offers something remarkably different. With cutting-edge technology and global reach, these churches impact millions through various platforms. Their influence spans the globe, reshaping how we experience worship and community. However, this evolution brings unique challenges. The larger a church grows, the more likely its members view it as a service provider rather than a community to serve. While there's nothing inherently wrong with excellent children's programs, coffee shops, or financial classes, the shift from "How can I serve?" to "What can I get?" creates a subtle but significant cultural change. Common Megachurch Challenges: - Passive consumption replacing active participation - Surface-level connections instead of deep relationships - Experience-focused gatherings overshadowing daily discipleship - Internal focus rather than community engagement - Consumer mindset in church selection ### Bridging the Gap: A Path Forward As church leaders and volunteers, we have the unique opportunity to blend the best of both worlds. Here's how we can start: 1. Relationships Over Programs Create intentional spaces for connection beyond Sunday services. Consider implementing: - Monthly community dinners - Interest-based small groups - Mentorship partnerships 2. Member Empowerment Help every person discover and use their spiritual gifts: - Regular spiritual gifts assessments - Leadership development programs - Ministry apprenticeships 3. Intentional Discipleship Shift focus from attendance to growth: - Structured discipleship pathways - One-on-one mentoring - Bible study groups focused on application 4. Community Impact Engage meaningfully with your local community: - Regular service projects - Partnerships with local organizations - Neighborhood outreach events 5. Authentic Worship Balance excellence with participation: - Include testimonies in services - Incorporate interactive prayer times - Create opportunities for spontaneous worship 6. Generous Living Encourage practical expressions of community: - Resource sharing networks - Skills exchange programs - Emergency support systems ### Your Next Step This week, take one concrete action toward building a more relational church culture. Here are some ideas: - Invite a new family to dinner - Start a neighborhood Bible study - Propose a community service project - Join or lead a small group ### Join the Conversation How are you balancing traditional community with modern innovation in your church? Reply to this email with your experiences – your story could inspire others on the same journey. Share this newsletter with fellow church leaders, and let's start a movement back to the basics found in Acts 2, built around Christ-centered communities. Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Effective 1:1s URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/effective-11s Author: Tim Cruz Published: 2025-10-10 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Learn how to run effective 1:1 meetings using the 4 C’s framework to boost trust, clarity, and team development. What is a 1:1 anyway? Some call it an oversight meeting, a check-in, a catch-up, or a one-on-one. Whatever name you give it; it’s a meeting designed to create consistent space for communication between you and the person you are leading. If you've ever been in one of these meetings, you know the experience can vary wildly. Some people might call them insightful and encouraging; others might see them as a waste of time—or even demoralizing. Regardless of your personal experience, there's real value in having regular one-on-one meetings with the people you oversee. These meetings give managers insight into how an employee is doing in real time. They also give employees a space to communicate clearly, ask questions, and give and receive feedback where needed. Over the years, I’ve worked with leaders who had both strengths and blind spots in this area. Some managers lean more relational, others more task-driven—and their 1:1s often reflect those tendencies. That’s why it’s important to have a consistent structure across the organization. No matter the leader’s personality, there should be a standard meeting framework that reflects the culture and values of the organization. It should meet the needs of both the manager and the employee. ### The Four C’s One format I like to use is what I call The 4 C’s: - Care - Communication/Concentration - Challenges - Coaching These four categories create a simple rhythm that an employee can fill out each week before their meeting. That way, the manager comes in prepared and focused, and the employee has clear talking points to guide the conversation. As for frequency, I believe one-on-ones should happen weekly. That consistency builds trust, accountability, and momentum. If weekly is not sustainable with your schedule, find another consistent rhythm that works for you and your team members. The goal should be having a consistent and dependable time on the calendar. ### Care This section is all about how the employee is really doing. John Maxwell says, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” This part of the meeting creates space for personal check-ins, allowing your team to feel seen—not just managed. Examples might include: - “Vacation time in April—does that work?” - “My wife is out of town this week for work. Can I work from home Thursday to handle school pickup?” - “Feeling overwhelmed in this new position.” Some of these updates are professional; others are personal—but both matter. The goal isn’t for your 1:1 to become a counseling session. It’s about building a relational culture where employees feel safe being real. When you’ve built that kind of trust, people are far more likely to communicate challenges before they become problems. ### Communication / Concentration This is where the employee gives updates on where their focus is and what progress has been made. It allows the manager to track ongoing work, provide quick feedback, and stay in the loop without micromanaging. Sample updates could be: - “Just finished organizing notes from our first branding meeting with the client. Do you need me to send the first comps?” - “Reminder: Sarah is going out on FMLA next week. Currently working with her to reassign direct reports.” - “Final deliverables for the client are ready—we’re sending them on the 31st.” In most one-on-one meetings, this section tends to take the most time—and that’s okay. It’s where the work gets aligned and clarified. ### Challenges This section gives employees a chance to say, “Here’s where I’m stuck.” It could be a roadblock in a project, a team dynamic that needs attention, or a decision they need help making. The goal here isn’t to solve everything in the moment—it’s to surface potential issues early, before they escalate. As a manager, this is a great opportunity to ask clarifying questions and dig into the “why” behind an issue. It’s also a chance to coach employees on what kinds of decisions they can own and when they need to escalate. Setting those boundaries is key to avoiding a bottleneck culture and helping your team lead with confidence. ### Coaching This might be my favorite part of the meeting for two reasons: - It provides ongoing leadership development for your employee. - It gives you valuable feedback as a manager. This part takes time to build into your team culture. That’s why the Care section is so critical—it creates relational equity that leads to openness. In this section, I encourage employees to bring something they want to be coached on. It could be how they handled a meeting, led a project, or delivered a presentation. If they don’t bring anything, I always have something in mind to coach them on. It’s important to approach this with honesty and care. You don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings, but you do want to help them grow. Always lead with the end in mind: Who do you want this person to become? What blind spots might they need to overcome to get there? Another powerful way to build a feedback culture is by flipping the script—ask your employee if they have feedback for you. What could you do better? What’s unclear? What’s helpful? When this becomes normal, employees will begin seeking and offering feedback not just to you, but to the teams they lead as well. ### Platforms for 1:1s There are several great platforms that can help you manage and document 1:1s effectively. Here are a few: Google Docs If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, Google Docs is a solid choice. You can maintain a shared document between you and your employee that includes a running log of your meetings, notes, and action items. 15Five 15Five is a more systemized, app- and desktop-based platform that’s great for teams. It offers templates, agenda tools, and check-ins that allow managers to jump in quickly, follow up efficiently, and ensure follow-through. It also enables cross-functional leaders to check in and provide feedback on how 1:1s are going across the organization. Leadr Leadr is an excellent tool for both weekly 1:1s and long-term leadership development. It helps establish goals, track progress, and measure leadership growth. It’s ideal for organizations looking to multiply leaders and build clarity around what success looks like. No matter what platform you choose, tailor it to fit the culture of your organization. The most important thing is consistency—regular, thoughtful check-ins that support your employees and help them grow. Done well, these conversations will yield a powerful return over time. Tim Cruz Guest Writer P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Unlock Your Church's Growth: The Ultimate Church Management System Playbook URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/unlock-your-churchs-growth-the-ultimate-church-management-system-playbook Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-10-03 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People Turn your church database into a powerful ministry tool with smart forms, workflows, and automation that boost engagement and discipleship. Is your church's database living up to its full potential? As ministry shifts towards a digital-first ministry landscape, it's essential to turn your data into an engagement engine. This guide will give you a few key ideas to turn your Church Management System (ChMS) into a tool to engage members at every level. ### Discovering Unseen Opportunities in Your Database Your database is more than just names. It's a goldmine of opportunities waiting to be discovered. Many churches underutilize this powerful tool. They spend years entering data into custom fields but lack processes to convert that data into valuable touchpoints and ministry opportunities. Instead, we need to take charge by implementing strategic systems and automation to transform raw data into meaningful connections. Think of your database as the central nervous system of your church's ministry efforts. Each member experiences a unique journey, with their stories being told through every interaction, attendance record, and form submission. The key is learning to read these stories and respond with timely, relevant ministry initiatives that meet people where they are in their spiritual journey. ### Master These 4 Core Features for Maximum Impact #### 1. Strategic Form Design: Your Digital First Impression Forms serve as your church's digital welcome mat, often representing the first step someone takes with your ministry. Here's how to optimize them for maximum engagement: Essential Form Optimization Strategies: - Design conversion-optimized forms that capture essential information without overwhelming visitors - Implement smart conditional logic to create personalized experiences that adapt to each respondent's unique situation - Set up instant follow-up sequences that make every new contact feel valued and connected through automation - Combine multiple forms into streamlined, unified experiences using conditional fields - Integrate form responses with your broader communication strategy - Include clear calls to action that guide people toward their next steps #### 2. Smart List Management: Personalization at Scale Segmentation is at the heart of every email campaign we receive from major companies. They use our data to help drive us to buy, but as the church, we aren't selling anything. Why not use the same tactics to help people access content that will transform their relationships and lives? Advanced Segmentation Techniques: - Create dynamic segments based on engagement levels, interests, and ministry involvement - Implement custom fields to track key metrics and automate personalized outreach - Maintain list hygiene through regular updates and automated cleaning processes - Leverage automation to connect lists and workflows for seamless ministry progression - Develop targeted communication strategies for each list segment - Use tags and attributes to create micro-segments for highly personalized ministry - Implement engagement scoring to identify highly engaged members and potential leaders - Create reactivation campaigns for people who have shown no activity in the last 6 months #### 3. Automated Workflows: Your 24/7 Ministry Assistant Well-designed workflows ensure consistent communication and timely follow-up while maintaining a personal touch: New Member Journey - Create a comprehensive onboarding sequence that spans the first 90 days - Include touchpoints from different ministry leaders and volunteers - Provide clear next steps for getting involved in church life - Offer opportunities for feedback and questions throughout the journey Volunteer Engagement - Design regular check-in sequences to gauge satisfaction and needs - Provide ongoing training and resource recommendations - Celebrate volunteer anniversaries and milestones - Create pathways for skill development and leadership growth Life Event Support - Implement workflows for marriages, births, and bereavements - Provide relevant resources and connection opportunities - Include pastoral care touchpoints at key moments - Offer prayer support and community connections Deeper Connection Pathways - Create progressive engagement opportunities - Guide people from membership to leadership - Provide clear steps for spiritual growth - Connect people with small groups and ministry teams #### 4. Automations: Multiply Your Ministry Impact Leverage automation to handle routine tasks. That way, we can get you from behind the screen and in front of people! Strategic Automation Opportunities: - Create basic follow-up sequences for key life events and ministry decisions - Celebrate personal milestones automatically while maintaining a personal touch - Monitor engagement patterns to identify opportunities for pastoral care - Deliver personalized resource recommendations based on individual interests - Implement attendance tracking automation for early intervention - Create automated reporting for ministry leaders - Set up triggered notifications for pastoral care needs - Develop automated pathways for spiritual growth resources #### Building a Consistent Foundation Through Training and Development The churches we have found that have had the best use of a ChMS are the ones that reinforce training and have established processes. They begin by providing thorough initial training for all staff and volunteers, ensuring they understand not only the technical aspects but also the rationale behind each process. This training should be followed by semi-regular refresher courses and advanced training opportunities that keep your team sharp and informed about new capabilities. Creating a comprehensive resource library of training materials and best practices gives your team ongoing support and reference materials they can access whenever questions arise. Perhaps most importantly, establish mentor relationships between experienced and new users, fostering a collaborative learning environment where knowledge flows naturally throughout your ministry teams. #### Cultivating Team Excellence and Collaboration Transform your ChMS usage from individual efforts into unified ministry excellence by identifying and empowering champions in each ministry area. These champions become your internal advocates and problem solvers, creating a ripple effect throughout your organization. It's important to give people the opportunity to share what they have learned and celebrate their successes and challenges. Ensure that you establish clear communication channels for technical support and questions so that no one feels isolated when things get tough. Most crucially, develop a culture of continuous improvement and innovation where team members feel empowered to experiment with new approaches and share their discoveries with others. #### Optimizing Processes for Maximum Ministry Impact Your systems should evolve over time to better serve your ministry goals. Consistently, you should review and refine workflows and automations, treating them as tools that that need sharpening. Actively gather feedback from both staff and congregation members, using their insights to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement. Stay updated on new features and capabilities, viewing each update as a potential enhancement for your ministry. Document and share successful strategies across ministry teams, creating a knowledge base that prevents others from reinventing solutions and accelerates ministry-wide excellence. ### Measuring Success: Beyond the Numbers Effective database management isn't just about growing the quantity of people in your database. It's about creating disciples and fostering authentic community connections that transform lives and strengthen your church family. #### Understanding Engagement Through Meaningful Metrics True success in digital ministry shows up in how people interact with your systems and one another. Monitor form completion rates and response times to understand how effectively you're capturing interest and maintaining momentum in people's spiritual journeys. Track workflow progression and completion statistics to see where people are thriving in their connection process and where they might be getting stuck. Pay close attention to volunteer retention and satisfaction levels, as these indicators reveal whether your systems are supporting meaningful service opportunities. Most importantly, observe overall community engagement trends to understand whether your strategies are creating the deeper connections and stronger relationships you're seeking. #### Measuring Ministry Impact That Matters The most important metrics focus on spiritual growth and community development rather than just database size. Track new member retention rates to understand how effectively your digital onboarding process translates into lasting church family connections. Monitor the growth of small group participation as an indicator of deeper community formation and spiritual development opportunities. Observe the expansion of your volunteer team to determine if your systems are successfully identifying and developing servant leaders. Measure ministry program participation to understand whether your digital engagement is translating into real-world involvement and spiritual growth opportunities. #### Evaluating Technical Performance for Ministry Excellence I'm a numbers guy. I like to know what's working, and I want to get an understanding as to why. If you have invested in building these systems, you better be sure they are doing something. Your systems need to perform reliably to support effective ministry, making technical metrics crucial for ongoing success. Therefore, ensure that you monitor the adoption of these systems and processes across ministry areas to identify departments that may require additional training or support. Track things like the use of multi-factor authentication in your web applications to ensure your ministry data remains secure and protected. Maintain high standards for database accuracy and completeness, understanding that clean, current data enables more effective ministry connections. Monitor response times for pastoral care and support requests to ensure your digital systems are accelerating rather than hindering your ability to care for people during important moments in their lives. #### Creating a Comprehensive Success Framework Remember that these metrics work together to paint a complete picture of your digital ministry's effectiveness. Numbers alone don't tell the whole story. Look for patterns that reveal whether your ChMS implementation is genuinely serving your ministry mission and helping people grow in their faith journey. Use these insights to continuously refine your approach, always keeping the ultimate goal in focus: creating disciples and building authentic community through the thoughtful and strategic use of technology. ### Next Steps: Your Digital Ministry Transformation Begins Now Ready to make a change? Start by implementing these strategies one step at a time. Remember, every automation you create and every workflow you optimize brings you closer to your goal of having a more connected and engaged church family. Transform your church database from a simple directory into a powerful ministry tool. Take a moment to assess your current ChMS usage, identify key areas for improvement, and create an implementation timeline that works for your team. The future of church community building is digital, and your ChMS is the key to unlocking that future. Take the first step today by implementing one new strategy from this guide and watch as your church community grows and becomes more connected. Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## How to Set Up a Church Merchandise Store Using Planning Center Registrations URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/how-to-set-up-a-church-merchandise-store-using-planning-center-registrations Author: Kristin Emerson Published: 2025-10-01 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: Registrations Looking to sell church merchandise online without the hassle of setting up a separate store? This step-by-step guide shows you how to use Planning Center Registrations to create a simple, integrated church merch store. Learn how to manage inventory, accept payments through Stripe, offer discounts, a Many churches create their own merchandise—t-shirts, mugs, hats, and more—but struggle to find a simple, cost-effective way to let their congregation purchase it. If you're looking for a way to sell church merch online without setting up a separate store on platforms like Square or Shopify, Planning Center Registrations offers a powerful solution. With built-in payment integration via Stripe, and flexible signup options, you can create a merchandise store that’s easy to manage and even easier for your church members to use. Even if your merchandise is free, this method provides an easy way for people to sign up for the items they wish to receive. Whether you're selling items or giving them away, this guide walks you through the best way to set up your church merchandise store step by step. ### Step 1: Create a New Signup Start by logging into Planning Center Registrations and selecting “Create a New Signup.” During setup, you’ll be asked: - “What are you creating a signup for?” Choose “An ongoing program or opportunity.” - “What kind of registrations do you want to collect?” Select “Simple Signup.” This option collects one contact person per order, making it ideal for merchandise sales. - To Set Your Currency—even if you’re not collecting payments, this step is required. - To Name Your Signup. Click Save to finish setup. Your new registration will open and allow you to customize your configuration. ### Step 2: Configure Your Store Settings On the About page, you can: - Upload an image to represent your store - Add a description of your merchandise - Assign a location, campus, and category - Add contributors who can help manage the store 💡 Tip: Include item images in the description to give buyers a visual preview of your merch. ### Step 3: Create Selection Types for Each Item This is where your church merchandise store begins to take shape. Add a Selection Type for each item you’re offering. You can include: - Item name - Description - Price - Size options (recommended as separate selections for flexibility) Using a consistent naming convention (e.g., “T-Shirt – Medium”) makes it easier for buyers to choose the right items. ### Step 4: Manage Inventory with Capacities If you have limited stock, use the Capacity feature to prevent overselling. Click Edit Capacities and enter the quantity available for each item. As purchases come in, Planning Center will automatically update your inventory count. ### Step 5: Add Discounts for Staff or Promotions Want to offer early bird pricing or staff discounts? Planning Center makes it easy. Go to Discounts in the left panel and click Add a New Discount. Enter a name, choose the amount type (flat rate or percentage), and specify the amount. Then, use the dropdown to choose a discount type. Here's a quick overview: - Code – Share a promo code for buyers to enter - Group – Offer bulk discounts based on quantity - Early Bird – Set a date-based discount for early purchases You can also apply discounts to specific items or selection types. ### Step 6: Customize the Confirmation Message After checkout, buyers receive a confirmation email with a summary of their purchase. Use the Custom Confirmation Message feature to include pickup instructions, contact info, or any other helpful details. ### Step 7: Preview and Test Your Church Merchandise Store Click “View on Church Center” to preview your store. Walk through the signup process to ensure: - All items are visible - Prices are correct - Discounts apply properly - Inventory limits are working ### Frequently Asked Questions - **“Can I use a detailed signup instead of a simple signup?”**Yes, but it’s not recommended for merchandise. Detailed signups require assigning each item to an attendee, which can confuse buyers and slow down the process. - **“What about the Registrations Add-ons Feature?”**Add-ons are only available in detailed signups and are tied to individual attendees. While they work well for event-specific merch, they’re less flexible for general merchandise sales—especially if buyers want to order multiple sizes. - **“How do I show pictures of each item?”**Selection types don’t support images directly, but you can include item photos in the description section at the top of your signup form. - **“Will I be charged for my test submissions?”**Create a test discount to prevent accidental charges. Set the discount for 100% and use a code that you will share with your test audience (e.g., TEST100). For extra security, consider setting this code to expire before your store goes live. ### Conclusion: Launch Your Church Merchandise Store with Confidence Setting up a church merchandise store with Planning Center Registrations is a smart, streamlined way to serve your congregation. Whether you're selling items or giving them away, this platform helps you manage inventory, collect payments through Stripe, and offer discounts—all without needing a separate e-commerce site. By following this guide, you’ll create a store that’s easy to use, visually appealing, and fully integrated with your church’s existing systems. Ready to get started? Your merch store is just a few clicks away. --- ## Busy Doesn't Always Mean Productive URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/busy-doesnt-always-mean-productive Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-09-26 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Avoid busy procrastination in church leadership. Learn to align your ministry with vision, purpose, and true spiritual impact. In our journey to build God's kingdom, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of activity that comes with running a church. But are we truly moving forward, or are we just spinning our wheels? A recent conversation with a friend starting a business reminded me of a crucial lesson that applies just as much to our churches as it does to the business world. ### The Parable of the Misguided Entrepreneur My friend, eager to launch his new venture, found himself consumed with branding and website design deep in the weeds of logos, fonts, and colors. While these elements have their place, they distract him from the core tasks needed to start and grow his business permits, build out of his office, production of goods, etc. In his busyness, he was, in fact, procrastinating on the essential groundwork. This scenario mirrors a challenge many of our churches face today. We pour our energy into programs, events, and aesthetics, believing that these activities equate to progress. But are we addressing the real needs of our congregation and community? Are we truly advancing our mission? ### The Danger of "Busy Procrastination" in Church Leadership Just as my friend was avoiding the challenging but necessary tasks of business development, we in church leadership can fall into the trap of "busy procrastination." We might find ourselves: - Creating a trendy sermon brand ID in Canva versus reaching out to new members - Planning elaborate events without clear spiritual growth objectives - Focusing on administrative tasks while neglecting personal connections with our congregation Remember, busyness does not always equate to effectiveness. As the book of Proverbs wisely counsels, "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty." (Proverbs 21:5, ESV) ### Aligning Actions with Vision To avoid this pitfall, we must ensure that our actions align with our church's vision and God's calling. Here are some steps to consider: - Clarify Your Vision: What specific impact do you want your church to have on your congregation and community? This vision should guide all your activities. - Prioritize Essential Tasks: Identify the core activities that directly contribute to spiritual growth, community outreach, and discipleship. - Evaluate Current Activities: Assess your church's programs and initiatives. Do they align with your vision and prioritize the essentials? - Focus on Relationships: Remember, the church is not a building or a set of programs, but a community of believers. Prioritize activities that build and strengthen relationships. - Measure What Matters: Don't confuse activity with progress. Establish metrics that reflect genuine spiritual growth and community impact. The apostle Paul reminds us to be intentional in our efforts: "So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air." (1 Corinthians 9:26, ESV) ### A Call to Purposeful Action As leaders, we're called to be good stewards of our time and resources. Let's challenge ourselves to move beyond mere busyness to true kingdom-building activities. Ask yourself: - Are we focusing on what truly matters for the spiritual growth of our congregation? - How can we shift our energy from "busy work" to impactful ministry? - What one change can we make this week to better align our actions with our vision? Remember, Jesus himself focused on what was truly important, often withdrawing from the crowds to pray and commune with the Father (Luke 5:16). Let's follow His example of purposeful action guided by divine priorities. ### Your Next Step If you find yourself struggling to set a clear strategy or vision for your church, or if you need help putting these practices into place, we're here to help. Reach out to us and let's work together to grow your church in a way that truly matters. Let's commit to moving beyond busy procrastination and into purposeful, vision-driven ministry. After all, as the body of Christ, we're called not just to be busy but to be fruitful (John 15:8). Let's Get Started Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. Have you experienced "busy procrastination" in your ministry? We'd love to hear your own stories and strategies for overcoming it. Let's learn from each other as we strive to build God's kingdom more effectively. P.P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## A Quick Guide on Exporting Calendar Feeds from Planning Center to Google Calendar URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/a-quick-guide-on-exporting-calendar-feeds-from-planning-center-to-google-calendar Author: Kristin Emerson Published: 2025-09-22 Category: Web & Digital (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/web-digital) Planning Center apps: Calendar If your team uses Android and Google Calendar, subscribing to Planning Center calendar feeds is still possible—even if the “Share to Google Calendar” option seems missing. Most Planning Center apps now offer iCal feed links , which work seamlessly with Google Calendar. Syncing Planning Center event If your team uses Google Calendar on Android and you’re wondering how to subscribe to a Planning Center Calendar feed, you’re not alone. A recent community thread asked whether the share to Google Calendar option was deprecated and how Android users can still sync. You may have noticed it too—While some planning center apps still offer a Google Calendar-specific link, others have moved to simply offering an iCal feed link. Here's the short answer: you can subscribe to any iCal URL on the Google Calendar desktop site by adding it using the “From URL” option. That subscription then syncs to your Android devices signed into the same Google account. Here’s a quick, shareable walkthrough you can send to staff, volunteers, and even congregation members so they can add any iCal link to Google Calendar in a couple of minutes. If you have yet to export your iCal link out of Planning Center, follow these instructions. Once you have your link copied to the clipboard, follow the steps below: ### Step-by-step: Add an iCal link to Google Calendar - Open Google Calendar in a desktop browser: calendar.google.com - Sign in to your Google Account if you aren't already. - In the left sidebar, next to "Other calendars," Click the plus button + (add other calendars). - Choose From URL. - Paste your iCal URL into the field. - Click Add calendar. - The calendar displays on the left, under "Other calendars." - Optional: Click the newly added calendar to rename it, pick a color, or adjust notification settings. Once added on the web, the calendar will sync to Google Calendar on Android for the same account. Sync can take a few minutes. ### Troubleshooting - You can also find these options under settings. Select “Add Calendar” on the left and open the dropdown to locate the “From URL” option. - Not showing up on mobile yet: pull-to-refresh the app, check account selection, and go to settings to make sure the subscribed calendar is toggled on for display. - Slow updates: subscribed iCal feeds refresh periodically on Google's schedule. It may take several hours to reflect external changes. ### FAQ - “Can I do this from the mobile app?” Google currently requires adding new iCal subscriptions from the web interface; management and visibility are available in the mobile app after it syncs. - “Can I remove it later?” Yes. In Google Calendar on the web, hover over the calendar name, click the three dots, and choose Settings to unsubscribe. ### Conclusion In today's fast-paced world, "busy" barely describes most people's hectic schedules. By syncing feeds from Planning Center Calendar, Services, or Groups to Google Calendar, you help your staff, volunteers, and congregation members stay informed about church activities. When events appear directly in their personal calendars, people can more easily engage with the community, grow spiritually, and participate in your church's mission and vision. --- ## How We Communicate URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/how-we-communicate Author: Tim Cruz Published: 2025-09-19 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover how understanding communication styles can boost team clarity, connection, and collaboration in your leadership. ### Communication is Key I’ve always heard the phrase, “Communication is key.” So, I’ve spent a big part of my life trying to communicate clearly and concisely. But what if how we communicate is just one side of the coin, and the other side is how others receive our communication? Everyone has their own way of communicating. Some leaders like bullet points and some just want the bottom line. While others want to be taken on a walk through the garden—to hear the story from the conception of a design. Still others want data to support your point, especially in a pitch meeting or presentation. Everyone has a method that works for them. But what if we took it a step further and started asking ourselves: How do the people I work with or lead need to receive communication? Nowadays, we have so many different assessments and tools that help us understand how we’re wired. These tools are designed to show how we give and receive communication. They’re powerful resources if we use them to help us lead well. One important insight these tools offer is not just how we communicate, but how we might come across. How many times have you heard someone say, *“I didn’t mean to come across that way”?*While it wasn’t their intention, the reality is—sometimes our actions or tone prove otherwise. Let's discuss three things we can learn from these assessments and tools. ### 1. We Learn How We Communicate I’m a storyteller. I like to walk people through the garden of details and drama to show them how I got there. I enjoy taking people on a journey—through emotion, twists, and turns—leading to the “Ah-ha!” moment of discovery. Growing up, I was always told I was a great storyteller. I remember in school, during lunch, my friends would gather around to hear some grand story—usually about how I got out of doing my homework during the last period. (Not something I recommend, by the way!) I’m also a verbal processor and natural critical thinker—so a lot of times when I’m speaking, I’m fleshing out ideas in real time. That’s a huge thing to know—and for your team to know. I can’t count how many times I’ve walked away from a meeting where my team thought what I was processing was actually a directive. Because of this, my team and I are now intentional. We always clarify: What’s just being processed, and what’s the direction we’re taking? That clarity prevents confusion. Knowing your communication style is huge—for both you and your team. It allows you to be yourself, recognize your gaps, and be open with those you lead. For example, because I’m a verbal processor and can take a long time explaining things, I hired an assistant who’s more bullet-point oriented. She does a great job keeping me on time, highlighting where clarity is needed before meetings, and executing directives for the team. ### 2. Knowing Our Gaps This one is huge. I hear people say all the time, “That’s just how I’m wired!” or “Sorry if I came off too strong—I’m just direct.” While that may be true, it’s still important to recognize how we naturally come across to others. Within the personality typing system of the Enneagram, I’m a 3—the “Performer.” People like me often need feedback and encouragement from their leaders to know we’re on the right track. I remember working at an organization where my manager, a “Challenger” (an Enneagram 8, very direct and to the point), gave me some feedback on a project. He ended by saying, “Sorry if I come off strong—that’s just how I’m wired.” At that moment, I felt the need to lead up and share some insight. Now, I’m not suggesting you say what I said—but I used it as a teachable moment. I told him, “I know you’re an 8 and tend to be strong, but that doesn’t give you an excuse to be a jerk.” He was a bit taken aback. I went on: “We throw around the phrase ‘That’s how I’m wired,’ but it’s just as important to know how your team is wired and how they receive communication.” That created a lightbulb moment for both of us. We had been so focused on ourselves and our wiring that we forgot to ask: How does this land with the people we lead? That moment sparked a change for me. When I lead teams now, I like to know their strengths, personality types, and communication styles—not to label them, but to better understand how to effectively lead them day in and day out. ### 3. Communicate to Your Team’s Strengths Back to the example with my manager: after that meeting, I started reflecting on past conversations. There were times when I’d be presenting something, and halfway through, he’d get this glazed look on his face like he was thinking, “Just get to the point!” Why? I eventually learned that “Challengers” prefer direct, concise communication. So, from that day forward, when I met with him, I led with bullet points and focused summaries—what he needed. It made our time together more effective. But something else happened too: my manager started meeting me where I was. When he needed more context or wanted to hear the full backstory, he’d say, **“Walk me through the garden.”**That was his way of saying, “I know you’ve been communicating to me on my level—now show me how you got there.” That became a beautiful example of how teammates can serve each other by recognizing and responding to different communication styles. This creates a synergy on the team when we are both self-aware and aware of our team’s communication frequencies. ### Communication and Curiosity So, when we think of communication, we naturally think: “How do I communicate?” Maybe we need to start thinking: “How do they communicate?” When meeting with teams and individuals, a little curiosity can go a long way. By taking the focus off yourself and onto others, it’s amazing how effective your communication can become. After all, communication is about being heard and understood—so why not learn how others receive information and meet them on their wavelength. Tim Cruz Guest Writer P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Leading a Generous Church: Building a Culture of Discipleship Through Giving URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/leading-a-generous-church-building-a-culture-of-discipleship-through-giving Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-09-12 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover how to grow generosity in your church through vision, discipleship, and strategic storytelling that inspires lasting impact. Money conversations don't have to be awkward. They shouldn't be. As ministry leaders navigating today's landscape, we've discovered that teaching generosity isn't about funding church programs – it's about unleashing the transformative life-giving change found in the person of Jesus Christ. Generosity is more than a church strategy; it's spiritual. It connects our hearts to Kingdom purposes. When we avoid conversations about giving, we inadvertently disconnect people from one of the most powerful aspects of their spiritual journey. Research consistently shows that generous people are happier people. Giving isn't just obedience – it's an invitation to experience the blessed life, to partner with God's purposes, and to leverage resources for eternal impact. ### Why Generosity Matters in Modern Ministry In our data-driven age, we track engagement metrics, attendance patterns, and digital reach. But here's what we've learned: generosity is the ultimate discipleship metric. When someone begins to trust God with their finances, it catalyzes growth in every other spiritual dimension. > Strategic Insight: Generosity is not a money issue; it's a transformation issue. This principle becomes the foundation for every giving conversation, every campaign, and every vision moment. Generosity extends beyond financial contributions; it reflects a profound commitment to faith and community. According to the Barna Group, a significant majority of practicing Christians (91%) have donated to their church, with many also supporting missions (75%) and local organizations that aid those in need (70%). This pattern suggests that generosity is integral to their spiritual practice and community involvement. Furthermore, the North American Division (NAD) Stewardship Ministries emphasizes that stewardship encompasses all aspects of life, not just monetary giving. They advocate for a holistic approach where generosity is a lifestyle that mirrors one's relationship with God, highlighting that "stewardship is worship." It's about giving our all to the One who gave His all for us. Barna Group NAD Stewardship ### Connect Generosity to Vision Through Strategic Storytelling People don't respond to budget presentations. They respond to vision-casting that shows how their sacrifice creates transformation. In our connected world, every ministry initiative should be communicated as a story of life-change waiting to happen. > Remember: People don't give to need. They give to vision. This becomes your guiding principle for all fundraising communications. Building Your Vision Communication System: - Collect impact stories weekly - Create visual testimonies for digital platforms - Share metrics that matter (lives changed, not just dollars raised) - Develop multi-channel storytelling strategies - Train staff to become vision ambassadors ### Stewardship as Modern Discipleship Today's believers need practical financial discipleship that addresses contemporary challenges: student debt, economic uncertainty, digital giving platforms, and cryptocurrency considerations. Our role extends beyond asking for money – we're called to develop wise stewards for the 21st century. Key Teaching Points: - Biblical principles remain timeless, but applications evolve - First fruits look different in a gig economy - Digital giving creates new opportunities for systematic generosity - Generosity starts with the tithe but grows into a lifestyle Creating Your Stewardship Education Framework: - Foundational Teaching: "Tithing is the training wheels, not the finish line" - Progressive Principles: Move from obligation to opportunity to overflow - Practical Application: Integrate financial planning with spiritual formation - Technology Integration: Leverage apps and platforms for giving accountability ### Making the Ask: Confidence Through Clarity Many leaders hesitate at this crucial moment. But when we understand generosity as spiritual formation, we can lead with confidence. The ask becomes an invitation to worship, not a request for resources. Strategic Communication Framework: - Purpose Over Pressure: Frame giving as Kingdom investment - Transparency Builds Trust: Share specific goals and regular updates - Progress Creates Momentum: Celebrate milestones publicly - Digital Integration: Use technology to simplify giving processes ### Growing a Generosity Culture Generosity can't be relegated to annual campaigns or crisis moments. It must become an integral part of your church's culture, consistently present, regularly updated, and seamlessly integrated. Culture-Building Strategies: Weekly Rhythms: - Share one impact story per service - Rotate testimony types (local, global, individual, community) - Integrate giving moments naturally into worship flow Leadership Modeling: - Pastor and staff lead by example - Board members champion generosity initiatives - Small group leaders incorporate stewardship discussions Teaching Integration: - Include financial discipleship consistently throughout the year - Create or implement generosity small group curriculum - Develop age-appropriate resources for all demographics Celebration Systems: - Public recognition for generosity milestones - Annual appreciation events for consistent givers - Social media spotlights on impact stories ### Technology Tools for Generosity Growth Modern ministry requires modern methods. Here's our tested toolkit: Essential Platforms: - Mobile giving apps with recurring options - Text-to-give for spontaneous generosity - Online pledge systems for campaigns - Dashboard analytics for tracking trends Communication Channels: - Email sequences for donor development - Social media for story amplification - Video testimonies for emotional connection - Interactive websites for real-time updates Measuring What Matters: Track these key performance indicators: - Percentage of regular attenders who give - Average gift size trends - Retention rates for first-time givers - Participation in special offerings - Growth in recurring giving adoption ### Final Thoughts: The Generous Church Advantage Generosity isn't just about meeting budget needs – it's about unleashing your church’s full potential. When we shift the conversation from obligation to opportunity, from fundraising to formation, we create churches that change communities. The generous church is the growing church. Not just numerically, but spiritually. When people discover the joy of living open-handed, they become magnets for Kingdom transformation. Let's give our churches the opportunity to experience this reality. Let's lead with vision, teach with passion, and model with authenticity. Because ultimately, the generous church isn't just funded differently, it lives differently - and that difference changes everything. Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Empowering Small Group Leaders with Planning Center URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/empowering-small-group-leaders-with-planning-center Author: Alicia Osgood Published: 2025-09-05 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: Groups, Publishing Empower small group leaders with Planning Center tools to simplify scheduling, communication, and discipleship. Leading small groups has been one of the greatest joys in my adult life. Over the years, my husband and I have been part of several churches—some small and cozy, some large and bustling. No matter the size or structure, being part of small group ministry has consistently helped us grow—both spiritually and relationally. There’s something so powerful about gathering with a handful of people in a living room or around a kitchen table. Whether we’re digging into Scripture, praying for each other, wrestling through tough life questions, or simply sharing a meal, small groups create space for real connection. That’s where discipleship becomes personal and where the church becomes family. But here’s the truth—leading a small group takes work. It’s rewarding, yes. But it also comes with a lot of moving pieces. Coordinating schedules, planning discussions, managing communication, keeping track of who’s attending, remembering to follow up with someone who missed a few weeks—it can quickly become overwhelming without a good system in place. I remember what it was like before we had access to digital tools. We relied on long text threads, printed sign-up sheets, physical attendance rosters, and email chains that never seemed to include everyone. It wasn’t efficient, and more importantly, it pulled focus away from what really mattered—leading and loving our people well. Thankfully, those days are behind us. ### Enter: Planning Center Planning Center is one of those tools that I wish we had access to sooner. It’s a powerful, intuitive, and incredibly helpful platform built specifically for churches. And within Planning Center, the Groups feature has been a game-changer for our small group ministry. If you’re a small group leader, or a staff member overseeing groups at your church, this tool can help streamline everything from communication and attendance to scheduling and resource sharing. It’s like having a behind-the-scenes ministry assistant helping you stay organized and connected. Here’s a closer look at how Planning Center can make small group leadership not just easier, but more impactful. ### Attendance Tracking Made Simple I know that “tracking attendance” doesn’t sound super spiritual. But hear me out: it’s not about numbers. It’s about people. Knowing who’s consistently attending and who might be drifting away allows us to care more intentionally. That college student who hasn’t shown up in a month? You’ll notice. That new couple who just started coming regularly? You’ll be able to celebrate their engagement. Planning Center makes this process incredibly simple: - Automated reminders are sent to leaders after every scheduled meeting, so you never forget to take attendance. - Customizable reports help you track trends over time—like someone consistently missing or a new member becoming more active. - You can even assign an “Attendance Taker” role to a group member, which takes the pressure off the leader and frees you up to focus on leading the conversation. And best of all? It can all be done right from your phone using the Church Center app. No spreadsheets. No clipboards. Just quick, easy, accurate data that helps you love your people better. ### Streamlined Communication (Finally!) If you’ve ever tried to communicate with a group of people using five different apps, you know the chaos that can come with that. Text messages get lost. Emails go unread. Group chats get buried under memes and side conversations. Planning Center brings all your group communication into one centralized place: - You can send announcements, group messages, or individual follow-ups directly from the Groups dashboard. - Members can reply, ask questions, or engage in conversation right in the app, in a safe, ministry-focused environment. It takes all the guesswork and fragmentation out of communication. Everyone gets the same message, in the same place, at the same time. It's simple, clear, and consistent. ### Organizing Events with Ease We all know that small groups aren’t just about Bible studies. Sometimes you’re planning a potluck or a BBQ. Other times, it’s a game night, a service project, or a group outing. Planning Center makes scheduling and event organization a breeze: - You can create recurring or one-time events and have them appear on the group’s shared calendar. - Include important details like the address, start time, what to bring, or even a link to sign up for snacks or childcare. - Group members can RSVP through the Church Center app, which helps you plan more accurately and avoid last-minute surprises. What I love is how centralized it is. You’re not chasing down responses in a group chat or trying to remember who said what. Everything is organized, up-to-date, and easy to manage. ### Empowering Members Through the Church Center App Church Center is the mobile app that connects directly to Planning Center. This tool is a total win for group members. From the app, members can: - Join a group, RSVP to events, and view the group calendar. - Message leaders or other members, ask questions, or stay in the loop. - Access resources like discussion questions, study guides, or devotionals. You can even post weekly reminders, prayer requests, or follow-up notes right in the app. It becomes a hub for group life, giving people 24/7 access to everything they need to stay connected and grow. The best part? It’s incredibly user-friendly. Even folks who aren’t tech-savvy can navigate it easily. And for newer members or visitors, it helps them feel plugged in without feeling overwhelmed. ### Onboarding New Leaders and Members Let’s not forget about the process of bringing in new leaders or adding members to your group. That used to be a bit clunky—lots of manual entry, emails, and unclear roles. Now, it’s smooth and straightforward: - New leaders can be added with specific permissions, so they only see what they need. - Everything is tied into your church’s database, so you avoid duplicate profiles and messy contact lists. This is especially helpful if your church has lots of groups or rotating leadership. It keeps everything neat, consistent, and ready to go. ### Final Thoughts Here’s the bottom line: Small group leaders are doing sacred work. They’re walking with people through the highs and lows of life, helping them grow in faith, and creating a space for meaningful community. That’s no small task. But they don’t have to do it alone and they don’t have to do it with outdated tools. Planning Center truly is a ministry partner that supports the behind-the-scenes stuff so leaders can focus on what really matters: building relationships, fostering spiritual growth, and pointing people to Jesus. If you’re already leading a group, consider how these tools could help you lead more effectively. And if you’re on the fence about trying it out—go for it. The setup is easy, the interface is clean, and the support is great. Once you get started, you’ll wonder how you ever did it without it. Your group members will feel more connected. You’ll feel more organized. And your ministry will have room to grow both in numbers, and depth and discipleship. So, if you haven’t explored Planning Center Groups or the Church Center app yet, now’s the perfect time. Your future self—and your small group—will thank you. Alicia Osgood Support & Implementation Specialist, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Your Website Is the Digital Lobby of Your Church—Are You Treating It That Way? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/your-website-is-the-digital-lobby-of-your-churchare-you-treating-it-that-way Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-08-29 Category: Web & Digital (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/web-digital) Your church website is your digital front door—make it clear, welcoming, and visitor-focused to grow your community. ### Imagine this.. A new visitor walks through your church doors for the first time. They're greeted warmly, someone helps them find their seat, and there's clear signage directing them to where they need to go. The carefully arranged welcome desk, friendly greeters, and fresh coffee brewing... all meticulously planned to create that perfect first impression. Now, let's contrast that with your church's website. ### First Impressions Happen Online For most people, your website is the first experience they have with your church—not your physical building. Before they ever step foot inside, they're checking out your site—sometimes multiple times. Studies show that people often visit a website 5 to 7 times before acting, whether that's filling out a form, watching a sermon, or deciding to visit in person. The question is: Does your website reflect the same level of hospitality, clarity, and warmth that your in-person experience does? ### The Digital-Physical Disconnect Your physical lobby says: "We've been expecting you! We care about your experience here!" But many church websites unintentionally say: "We haven't updated this since 2017, and we're not really sure why you're here." This juxtaposition matters more than we realize. In today's digital-first world, an outdated or confusing website isn't just inconvenient—it's actively turning away the very people you're trying to reach. ### The Digital Guest Experience Matters Most churches put tremendous effort into their Sunday morning experience. They have welcome teams, signage, and a plan to ensure first-time guests feel at home. But online? Many church websites are outdated, cluttered, or difficult to navigate. After surveying hundreds of church websites over the last few months, a common trend has emerged: the church website is primarily designed for those who already attend the church rather than for potential visitors. I believe this is backward. When people search on Google for a new church after moving to a new area or when they feel led to deepen their relationship with God, we need to ensure that your church is discoverable and welcoming online. ### Multiple Touch Points Before Action Here's a reality many church leaders miss: the average person visits a church's website multiple times before making their first in-person visit. Just like someone might visit your church a few times before getting involved, they'll likely visit your website before filling out a form or showing up in person. They might never take that next step if their online experience isn't clear and welcoming. That's why your digital lobby deserves the same attention as your physical one. ### The Hard Truth About Church Websites Let's be honest about the current state of many church websites: - Your website is your first impression. Before someone comes to your church, they've already "visited" you online. 75% of potential visitors will judge your church's relevance and professionalism based on your website alone. - A confusing website is like a confusing lobby. If a guest walks into a chaotic church lobby with no greeters, signage, and no clear way to connect, they'll likely walk right back out. The same goes for a website that's hard to navigate. - Most first-time visitors have thoroughly researched your church online before ever stepping foot inside. If you're not seeing new visitors show up each weekend, your website might be a significant reason for the lack of new attending families. ### Finding the Right Balance Parts of your church's website should absolutely cater to those actively involved in your congregation. But just as you wouldn't start a book with the last chapter, your church's website must take visitors on a journey. It should introduce them to the key elements that make your church unique and help them envision themselves stepping through your doors for the first time. Your website must be both a resource for members and a welcoming digital front door for guests. ### 3 Ways to Make Your Website a Welcoming Digital Lobby #### 1. Simplify Your Homepage Like clear signage in your church helps people know where to go, your website should make the next steps obvious. Answer key questions up front: - "What time are services?" - "Where do I park?" - "What can I expect?" - "What do you believe?" Remember that your homepage isn't the place for every announcement and ministry update. Keep it clean, clear, and focused on helping first-time visitors feel welcome. #### 2. Make It Easy to Connect If a guest at your church has a question, there's a volunteer ready to help. Online, it should be just as easy. Have clear buttons for "Plan Your Visit," "Watch Online," and "Contact Us." Every page should have an obvious next step. Don't make visitors hunt for basic information or ways to get involved. Just like your physical lobby has clear pathways, your website should guide visitors naturally from one step to the next. #### 3. Be Mobile-Friendly Most visitors check out your church from their phones. If your site is hard to navigate on mobile, you're losing people before they even step foot in your building. A mobile-friendly site isn't just about technology—it's about hospitality. It says, "We've thought about how you'll interact with us, and we've made it easy for you." ### What Your Digital Lobby Needs Just like your physical space, your digital lobby should: - Make first-time visitors feel immediately welcome - Clearly answer the key questions visitors have - Make the next steps obvious and easy to take - Reflect the real personality and energy of your church family ### It's Time to Step Up Your Church's Digital Hospitality Your website is your digital front door. It's your first chance to make people feel welcome, seen, and invited. Don't let an outdated or confusing website be why someone never makes it to your church in person. The good news is that creating a welcoming digital experience doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Often, it's about simplifying what you already have and making sure it clearly communicates who you are and how new people can get connected. If you need help making sure your website creates a welcoming digital experience, let's talk. I'd love to help you create a site that reflects the heart of your church and invites people in before they even set foot in your lobby. What's one thing you could improve about your church's digital lobby this week? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Let's Chat About Your Church Website Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Using Planning Center to Prepare for Fall Events URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/using-planning-center-to-prepare-for-fall-events Author: Alicia Osgood Published: 2025-08-22 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People, Registrations Plan your fall church events with ease using Planning Center tools for volunteers, registration, communication, and more. If you're anything like us, you're still packing up decor from VBS, so thinking about Fall events might not be on your radar just yet. But here’s the thing—Fall is coming, and it’s coming fast. That means it’s almost time for trunk-or-treat nights, youth retreats, chili cook-offs, and Thanksgiving outreaches. For most churches, Fall is one of the busiest (and most exciting) times of year - it can also be one of the most overwhelming. Between juggling ministry calendars, managing volunteers, and trying to stay on top of communication, it’s a lot - but you don’t have to do it all alone. With a little planning, and some help from Planning Center, you can head into the season feeling prepared instead of panicked. Let’s walk through how Planning Center can help you pull off your Fall events with clarity, confidence, and minimal chaos. ### Why Planning Center Is a Game Changer for Fall Ministry First, let’s talk about what Planning Center is (beyond that app you might only open on Sunday mornings to check your volunteer schedule). It’s more than a database or a place to organize worship sets. Planning Center is a full toolkit built for churches like yours—where things move fast, people matter most, and every event has the potential to create connection. Fall events often require a lot of moving pieces: booking rooms, signing people up, collecting payments, organizing volunteers, sending reminders, and—oh yeah—making sure everything runs smoothly on the big day. Planning Center helps you do all of that in one place. It gives your team a single, shared space to organize rooms, schedule volunteers, manage registrations, and communicate with attendees. No more guessing who’s bringing what, wondering if anyone signed up, or digging through old emails to find event details. ### Let’s Break It Down 1. Start with Calendar: Reserve Your Rooms and Resources The best place to start? Calendar. Whether you’re planning a one-night community event or a multi-day retreat, get it on the church calendar first. That means locking down your spaces (no more double-booking the fellowship hall), reserving any resources you’ll need (tables, sound equipment, popcorn machine—you know, the essentials), and making sure your event fits well with everything else already happening at church. Assigning someone as the event owner or manager keeps things from falling through the cracks. Now you’ve got the “where” and the “when” in place, and your team can start building around that. 2. Build Your Volunteer Teams in Services Once the date and location are settled, it’s time to gather your crew. Whether you need greeters at the door, people to help with parking, or someone to refill hot chocolate, your volunteers are the heartbeat of your event. And let’s be honest—they’re also the ones you’re texting at the last minute when you forget something. Planning Center Services lets you create custom teams and roles for your event. You can assign people directly or open sign-up positions so folks can sign up themselves (which, bonus, gives them ownership). Services also handles scheduling, sends automatic reminders, and lets people block out dates when they’re unavailable. Fewer awkward last-minute cancellations? Yes, please. One of our favorite features is the ability to reuse templates. If this is an event you’ve done before, you don’t have to start from scratch every time. Just duplicate last year’s setup and tweak it as needed. 3. Need Sign-Ups? Use Registrations If your event involves RSVPs, payments, or participant details, Planning Center Registrations will save you hours of admin time. You can create a form that asks all the right questions (Do they have allergies? What size shirt do they wear? Are they coming to the family dinner too?). You can also set capacity limits, collect payments, and send confirmation emails automatically. The best part? On the day of the event, you’ll know exactly who’s coming—and you’ll have all their info right where you need it. 4. Don’t Forget Communication Once the logistics and volunteers are in place, you’ll want to start sharing details with your people. And not just once—multiple times, in different ways, to make sure everyone knows what’s going on. This is where Planning Center really shines. You can use People Lists to group volunteers, registrants, or families, and send them emails tailored to their role. Need to send arrival instructions to your parking team? Done. Want to remind families to bring blankets for the movie night? Easy. Workflows are also super handy for follow-up. You can send thank-you emails to volunteers the day after the event, set reminders to check in with new guests, or even automate surveys to gather feedback. For last-minute changes (because we all know those happen), connecting with a texting service like Clearstream or Text In Church can be a lifesaver. 5. Use Check-Ins for Safety and Simplicity If your event includes children, or just has a lot of moving parts, using Planning Center Check-Ins is a great way to stay organized and keep people safe. Kids get a name tag with any special notes (like allergies), parents get a pickup label, and you can easily track attendance. You can also use Check-Ins for volunteers or general attendance if you want to track who came. That kind of data is super helpful when you’re planning next year’s event or doing follow-up. ### Helpful Tips to Make It All Run Smoother - Start early. We know, we know—easier said than done. But if you can start planning at least 6–8 weeks ahead, it gives you plenty of time to promote the event, recruit volunteers, and open registration without the stress. - Lean into the tools you’ve already used. If you hosted this event last year, reuse your templates and teams to save time. - Plan for the follow-up. A thank-you note, a quick “we’re glad you came” email, or even an invitation to come back on Sunday can go a long way in making guests feel like part of your church family. - And finally—ask for feedback. People love to feel heard, and you might learn something that helps you make your next event even better. ### You Don’t Have to Do This Alone Fall is an incredible season for church outreach. People are open to connecting, kids are back in school, and families are looking for meaningful ways to spend time together. It’s a prime opportunity to create memories, invite people into community, and share the love of Jesus in tangible ways. But you don’t have to burn out trying to do it all yourself. Planning Center gives you the tools to stay organized, lead well, and serve your people without the last-minute scramble. Alicia Osgood Support & Implementation Specialist, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Hands-on, Hands-off, or Hands-in? Finding Your Leadership Balance in Ministry URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/hands-on-hands-off-or-hands-in-finding-your-leadership-balance-in-ministry Author: Tim Cruz Published: 2025-08-15 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Explore hands-on, hands-off, and hands-in leadership styles to build trust, empower your team, and lead with clarity. In leadership, there are many styles and approaches when it comes to guiding a team. Some leaders are visionary—always thinking about what’s next. Others thrive in developing talent and empowering those around them. While every leader brings a unique approach, most leadership styles fall into one of three categories: hands-on, hands-off, or hands-in. Understanding these styles can help clarify how you lead and how your team experiences your leadership. ### Hands-on Leadership The hands-on leader is deeply involved in day-to-day operations. They’re often in the room when the work is being done and tend to keep a close eye on how projects are progressing. While it’s beneficial to have a leader who stays informed and engaged, this style can sometimes feel overbearing. Teams may experience hands-on leadership as micromanagement. Even when the intention is to collaborate, this leader’s voice can dominate the conversation, and their ideas may overshadow contributions from the rest of the team. Over time, this can stifle creativity and discourage team members who have both the skills and desire to lead in their own areas of influence. Additionally, hands-on leaders often operate out of a place of wanting to protect the team or the outcome. While this might come from a good place, it can unintentionally communicate a lack of trust. When team members feel like they aren’t trusted to execute, it creates a ceiling on growth and ownership. ### Hands-off Leadership On the other end of the spectrum is the hands-off leader. This type of leader champions empowerment and trusts their team to get the job done—but they’re often absent from the process. Whether due to a packed schedule or a preference for delegation, hands-off leaders tend to have fewer touch points with their team. Meetings may get pushed aside, and feedback is often delayed or vague. Although this leader might pride themselves on giving their team autonomy, it can come across as disengagement. Without intentional connection and clarity, team members may feel unsupported or even unimportant. A hands-off leader might be surprised to learn that while they think they’re giving freedom, their silence is being interpreted as a lack of investment. The best teams still need presence. Empowerment doesn’t mean stepping away entirely—it means creating a rhythm of support that allows people to thrive while working autonomously. ### Hands-in Leadership Then there’s the hands-in leader—the balanced blend of involvement and empowerment. This leader is present in the process without taking over. They’re intentional about staying connected, offering support, and checking in with their team while still allowing space for others to lead within their strengths. A hands-in leader delegates with clarity, establishes touch points, and provides insight and guidance as needed. Their feedback comes across as collaboration rather than control. They may make the final decisions that shape the organization’s direction, but they also create space for others to operate in their God-given strengths. They define the boundaries—setting the vision and goals—while allowing the team to innovate within those lines. What makes hands-in leadership so effective is its consistency. This leader doesn’t just show up when things go wrong or when it's time to celebrate. They’re engaged throughout, asking questions, celebrating wins, and troubleshooting alongside their team. Their presence communicates support, not surveillance. ### How Do You Know What Kind of Leader You Are? A great way to find out is to ask your team. One of the most effective practices I’ve incorporated into my leadership is regular feedback, both given and received, during one-on-one meetings. For example, I may offer coaching on how a team member conducted themselves in a meeting, but I also turn the mirror back on myself and ask questions like: - “How am I doing in leading you?” - “What’s working about my leadership—and what’s not?” Feedback is not always easy to hear, but it’s incredibly helpful. I’ll often provide specific prompts to uncover blind spots, and I encourage honesty because I genuinely want to grow. Feedback isn’t just a tool for my team—it’s a part of our culture. Consistent touch points help me measure not just performance but how my leadership is landing with the people I serve. Creating a culture where feedback flows both ways fosters trust. It also empowers your team to speak up, not just about your leadership, but about what they need to succeed in their roles. When people know they have a voice, they show up with greater ownership and engagement. > Pause and reflect. Now that we have covered the leadership types and the need to invite feedback from our teams, take a moment to consider what type of leader you are currently: hands-on, hands-off, or hands-in. Pause and reflect. Are you where you want to be in your leadership? Give yourself honest feedback and think about what type of leader you want to be as you continue to develop and grow. Write down your leadership goals for the next year. ### Are You Hiring Leaders or Minions? Now that you’ve reflected on the type of leader you want to be, here’s another important question: What kind of employees are you hiring? This matters more than most people realize. If you’re hiring leaders—people with initiative, vision, and the capacity to own projects—then you must let them lead. If you treat them like minions, assigning tasks without autonomy or voice, it’s only a matter of time before frustration sets in. The truth is, hiring leaders often means adjusting your style. If you’re used to being hands-on, you may need to step back. If you’re naturally hands-off, you may need to show up more intentionally. Knowing your team and understanding their capacity is essential. Resources like StrengthsFinder or personality tests are great tools to help assess communication styles and leadership potential. These tools aren’t meant to label your team—but rather to help you lead them better by increasing your understanding of the individuals on your team. When you know someone’s strengths, you can align their work in a way that brings out their best. ### Create the Sandbox, Then Step Back Leadership is also about providing structure—the “sandbox” in which your team can create. Your job is to set the vision, define the boundaries, and provide the resources needed to succeed. You supply the tools, the timeline, the expectations, and then… you step back. Imagine telling your team to build a sandcastle. The hands-off leader gives the instruction but no tools or boundaries. The hands-on leader jumps into the sandbox and builds it themselves. But the hands-in leader? They provide the sand, the pails, the shovels, and the vision—then give their team the space to build creatively. When leaders step aside after setting the stage, they cultivate ownership, trust, and innovation. A Stanford study from 2014 showed that collaboration boosts morale simply by creating space for people to work together toward shared goals. Other studies have shown that employees are willing to leave higher-paying jobs to be part of a healthy team culture—one where their voice is heard, and they feel valued. ### Final Thoughts Hands-in leadership sets the stage for lasting success. This approach doesn’t create ceilings for your team—it lays a strong foundation. It equips people to build something meaningful, using their unique skills and gifts, with clarity and confidence. A hands-in leader is present, supportive, and empowering. And most importantly, they know when to lead from the front, when to walk alongside, and when to get out of the way. Tim Cruz Guest Writer P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## The Ministry Dilemma: Balancing Maintenance and Growth URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-ministry-dilemma-balancing-maintenance-and-growth Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-08-08 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Learn how to balance maintenance and growth in ministry by discerning your current season and leading with clarity, purpose, and strategy. > Every thriving ministry needs both maintenance and growth—the challenge is knowing which season you're in and when to shift. In ministry leadership, there's a natural tension that every leader must navigate. It's not about choosing between right and wrong approaches—it's about discerning between what's needed now and what's needed next. As church leaders, we need to find a balance between maintenance mode and growth mode. Many of us find ourselves bouncing between urgent issues, solving problems as they arise and trying to keep ministry systems running smoothly. This reactive state can become our default, especially when pressures mount. We respond by prioritizing stability and appointing reliable "maintainers" to ministry roles—dedicated people who excel at preserving what exists. Here's the key insight: Both maintenance and growth serve crucial purposes in different seasons. The challenge isn't eliminating one for the other—it's recognizing which mode your ministry currently operates in and whether that aligns with your current needs and calling. ### Understanding the Maintenance Mindset Maintenance mode is fundamentally about preservation. It says, "Let's keep things from falling apart." Moses demonstrated this when establishing judges to handle disputes in Exodus 18—he needed structure to sustain what God had started. In many seasons, this stabilizing function is exactly what ministry requires. Good maintainers bring incredible value, ensuring consistency, protecting established systems, and providing reliability when it’s needed most. They excel at solving problems and creating stability, qualities essential for certain ministry roles and seasons. However, long-term maintenance without growth carries an inherent limitation: it preserves but doesn't advance. When maintenance becomes the permanent strategy rather than a seasonal necessity, churches often mistake activity for advancement. Staff meetings revolve around calendars and complaints rather than vision and strategy. Vision gradually leaks, culture steadily drifts, and ministry impact plateaus. ### Cultivating a Growth Mindset Growth mode, by contrast, is driven by mission. It asks essential questions: "Where is God leading us? Who must we become to get there? What needs to change?" This reflects the early Church in Acts, not merely surviving but multiplying. Growth mode embraces necessary change, fosters innovation, and develops people. It refuses to settle for "good enough" because it operates from the conviction that God is always doing a new thing. To foster genuine growth, churches need more than efficient systems; they need leaders with vision and conviction. They need builders, not just maintainers, and pioneers, not just preservers. ### The Digital Ministry Connection Today's ministry landscape requires both maintenance and growth mindsets to be applied thoughtfully to your digital presence. Your online platforms aren't just technological tools—they're mission-critical ministry spaces where both stability and innovation matter. Churches with a maintenance-focused digital strategy tend to treat their website and social media as static digital brochures, reliable but rarely refreshed. They maintain what exists but miss opportunities for deeper engagement. This approach works during some seasons when consistency is the primary need. Churches with a growth-focused digital mindset see these same platforms as dynamic relationship-building environments. They experiment with new approaches, measure engagement metrics, and continuously refine their digital strategy. They use technology to help people take meaningful steps toward Christ and community. The most effective ministries know when to stabilize their digital systems (maintenance) and when to push into new digital territories (growth). Neither approach is inherently superior—timing and purpose determine which is needed. ### The Firefighting Trap (and Finding Balance) Here's the core challenge many ministries face: getting stuck in perpetual firefighting mode. When this happens, we chase problems instead of pursuing purpose. In that chaos, we sometimes make desperate decisions about leadership roles, elevate people prematurely, or prioritize immediate peace over long-term progress. Charlotte Gamble brilliantly illustrates this with her metaphor of "mice," minor distractions that steal focus and sabotage healthy ministry rhythms: - The Mouse Called Reluctance: When you appoint someone who's reluctant, regardless of whether they're a maintainer or grower, you're not raising a leader. You're creating an unsustainable situation. The best maintainers are those who embrace their stabilizing role with conviction, not those who accept it with resignation. - The Mouse Called Immaturity: Roles need to match readiness. Both maintenance and growth require appropriate maturity, just in different ways. A maintainer needs the maturity to handle consistent responsibilities, while a growth-focused leader needs the maturity to navigate change and uncertainty. - The Mouse Called Distraction: Chasing every new idea or copying another church's approach without discernment creates confusion in either mode. Maintainers get pulled from their stabilizing work, while growth-oriented leaders never focus long enough on one direction to see results. Every ministry needs both maintainers and builders, but they must be in the right roles at the right time for the right reasons. ### Recognizing When It's Time to Shift How do you recognize when your ministry needs to shift from maintenance to growth mode? Watch for these five indicators: - Vision feels static or routine. When conversations center more on preserving the past than pursuing possibilities, it may be time to reawaken your growth muscles. - Team energy is steady but not sparked. Maintainers provide reliable consistency, but when your ministry needs fresh momentum, growth-oriented leaders bring catalytic energy. - You're solving identical problems repeatedly. Maintenance mode keeps systems running, but it sometimes doesn't address the root causes. Growth mode breaks stagnant cycles by reimagining approaches. - The culture feels comfortable but unchallenged. When no one questions processes or pursues excellence, comfort may be crowding out your church’s potential. - Transformation stories have become scarce. Beyond attendance metrics, when testimonies of life change become infrequent, your ministry may need growth-oriented leadership to revitalize its impact. Remember, shifting between maintenance and growth isn't about declaring one approach "right" and the other "wrong." It's about aligning your leadership approach with your current season and calling. Some ministries need stability and consistent systems right now. Others need fresh vision and innovative approaches. The key is honest discernment about which season you're in. ### Moving Forward: Creating Healthy Rhythms Creating a thriving ministry requires wisdom to know when to maintain and when to grow. Effective ministry leaders develop these healthy rhythms: - Strategic maintenance seasons: Intentionally schedule time to focus on improving systems, documenting processes, and ensuring that things remain sustainable. Seasons of ministry change, and our teams change; these aren't "settling" seasons—they're strategic investments that shore up the foundation of your church. - Planned growth initiatives: Rather than throwing spaghetti at the wall type innovation, designate specific seasons to pursue new approaches, launch fresh ministries, or reimagine existing programs. - Team composition assessment: Regularly evaluate whether your team balance reflects your current ministry season. Maintenance-heavy seasons need reliable stabilizers. Growth seasons require visionary activators. - Honest culture conversations: Create safe spaces where team members can discuss whether your current approach aligns with your ministry's needs and calling. Is maintenance becoming avoidance? Is growth becoming chaotic? The most effective ministries aren't permanently fixed in either maintenance or growth mode—they develop a dynamic rhythm between the two. They recognize that both stability and innovation serve the mission when deployed at the right time. ### Conclusion: Finding Your Ministry Rhythm Both maintenance and growth serve vital purposes in ministry—the key is discerning what you need at this moment. Maintenance keeps ministry systems functioning reliably. It provides stability during transition, consistency during uncertainty, and sustainability during expansion. Good maintainers are incredible gifts to any ministry team. Growth pushes ministry forward into new territory. It catalyzes fresh vision, develops new leaders, and reaches new people. Growth-oriented leaders help ministries avoid stagnation and fulfill their kingdom potential. Church leader, your calling isn't to permanently choose one mode over the other. It's to discern your current season and lead accordingly wisely. Sometimes, that means strengthening systems and stabilizing ministries. At other times, it means challenging one's comfort zone and pursuing a bold vision. Don't let the daily demands determine your leadership approach. Don't let "mice" distract you from intentional discernment. Instead, regularly step back, assess your ministry season, and align your leadership accordingly. The most impactful ministries develop a dynamic rhythm—they know when to maintain and when to grow. They appreciate maintainers for their stability and builders for their vision. And they ensure the right people are serving in the right roles during the right seasons. Your ministry needs both maintenance and growth. The question is: which does it need right now? Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Planning Center Updates: What’s new this Summer 2025? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/planning-center-updates-whats-new-this-summer-2025 Author: Sam Fahl Published: 2025-08-01 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People Discover Planning Center's Summer 2025 updates—new tools, smarter workflows, and powerful features to simplify church management. Planning Center is always innovating and pushing their suite of products forward, often based on your feedback and requests. This summer's updates involve various aspects, from improved processes in People to major updates in Giving. Planning Center also released a highly requested feature on emails inside of People! Grab your favorite ice cream and let’s jump into what’s new in Planning Center! ### Streamlined List Management: Delete Function Now More Accessible Managing multiple lists just got easier with a small but impactful update to Planning Center People. Previously, users who needed to delete lists had to navigate through several clicks, drilling down into each individual list to access the delete function. This process became particularly inconvenient for users who frequently create one-off lists or need to perform bulk cleanup operations, as those extra clicks quickly accumulated into a time-consuming task. (Read more here) The People team has now addressed this friction point by adding a delete icon directly to the main lists page, positioned alongside the existing duplicate and edit icons. This enhancement allows users to remove unwanted lists with a single click right from the overview screen, eliminating the need to open each list individually. While it may seem like a minor change, this improvement significantly streamlines the list management workflow, especially for users who regularly maintain and organize their list collections. ### New CSV Export Feature in Groups Simplifies Multi-Group Event Attendance Reporting Church administrators often struggle with tracking and analyzing event attendance across multiple groups, making it difficult to identify which groups need support due to low attendance or which high-performing groups could share best practices. Previously, combining attendance data with other church information for presentations and reports was cumbersome due to limited data access. To address these challenges, a new CSV export feature has been launched for multi-group event attendance reporting, giving admins streamlined access to comprehensive group event data. (Read more here) ### Profile Information Gets More Intuitive Organization in People Lists The Planning Center People team have heard from many admins on profile organization in lists, particularly how essential contact information, demographics, and membership details were buried under a "Personal" condition option rather than being easily accessible alongside other key profile data like names and photos. This placement made critical information hard to locate, creating inefficiencies in daily administrative tasks and profile management workflows. (Read more here) In response to this feedback, Planning Center has eliminated the "Personal" section entirely, moving all its conditions to the top level where they belong with other primary profile information. The update also includes improved organization through the addition of helpful labels and logical grouping of similar conditions to enhance discoverability. Additionally, two conditions received clearer naming: "Authorized Application" is now called "Mobile & third-party app usage," and "Applications" has been renamed to "Planning Center access," making their purposes immediately apparent to users navigating profile settings. Additionally, rather than scrolling, you can type to search for the category you are looking for within this menu. ### New Dashboard Widgets in the Home Dashboard Enhance Information Sharing and Organization The Home dashboard has been enhanced with two powerful new widgets designed to improve information management and team collaboration. The Notepad widget allows users to jot down important notes directly on their dashboard, while the Quick Links widget provides easy access to essential pages and resources both within and outside the platform. These widgets can be added to any Home dashboard by selecting Home as the product and choosing from the new widget options. (Read more here) While both widgets can be useful on your personal dashboard, they truly excel when used on shareable dashboards, opening exciting possibilities for team collaboration. Event coordinators can create dedicated dashboards for large events, using the Notepad widget to store vendor lists and contact information in one accessible location. Ministry teams can establish centralized hubs by utilizing Quick Links to direct members to crucial resources and pages, ensuring everyone stays aligned and focused on key priorities. By combining these information-sharing capabilities with existing dashboard widgets, it allows teams to stay aligned and focused on what matters. ### New archive feature and email formatting updates for workflows Admins have long faced a dilemma when dealing with outdated workflows that still contain valuable historical data and notes they want to preserve. Previously, there was no convenient way to remove these workflows from active view without completely deleting them and losing all associated card data in the process. The only workaround available was the cumbersome practice of adding prefixes like "ZZZ-" to workflow names, forcing them to appear at the bottom of the workflow list while keeping the important historical information intact. That’s not the case any longer! We can now archive workflows! (Read more here) Workflow card emails have been upgraded to include the same convenient features we enjoy, now supporting rich text formatting options and the ability to utilize email templates, bringing significant time-saving capabilities to communication within workflows. (Read more here) ### Changed: Dedicated 10-digit numbers now required for Text2give in Giving Mobile carriers have implemented new regulations that discontinue support for shared short codes and require enhanced security measures for text-based donations, prompting significant updates to the Text2Give program. The previous system using shared short code 84321 allowed multiple organizations to send messages from the same number, which unfortunately led to spam complaints, misuse by bad actors, and reduced SMS deliverability. To ensure compliance with these carrier requirements and improve overall security and reliability, all churches using Text2Give must transition to a new system before June 2, 2025. The update introduces three key changes: churches must register a dedicated 10-digit phone number ($5 monthly fee), donors must include the keyword "GIVE" followed by the donation amount, and all donations now require confirmation through a secure web link. While existing fund keywords will continue working and other donation methods remain unaffected, the REFUND keyword is no longer supported, requiring donors to contact their church directly for refund requests. Churches can register their dedicated numbers through Account Settings and will receive comprehensive communication tools including customizable templates, QR codes, and donor lists to help facilitate a smooth transition for their congregations. (Read more here) ### Services update! Turn Pages in Music Stand with a Wink, Nod, or Smile Musicians can now focus entirely on worshipping without worrying about page turns, thanks to the new Facial Gesture Detection feature in Music Stand. This innovative hands-free system allows musicians to flip pages using natural facial expressions—whether their hands are occupied with a piano, guitar, or microphone. The feature offers three gesture options: mouth movements, head twists, or winks, each working in both left and right directions to navigate forward or backward through music charts without any physical contact with the device. The system is designed for flexibility and ease of use, with customizable sensitivity settings and a built-in preview mode that lets musicians test and fine-tune their gestures before using in a service. Users can access the feature through Music Stand settings under the Control section, where they can enable facial gestures, adjust sensitivity levels, and practice using the gesture preview tool. The feature works best on devices with front-facing camera support, though some older iPads may have limited compatibility. Musicians who prefer traditional methods can still use foot pedals and swipe gestures, giving them complete control over how they interact with their digital music library. (Read more here) ### Custom email senders or in other words send emails on behalf of someone else! Finally! A highly requested feature is being introduced: the ability to send emails in Planning Center People with custom senders. With this change, admins can now choose a custom name and reply-to email address to send on behalf of someone else or ministry. (Read more here) ### Stay Informed We invite you to explore the latest features and enhancements in your Planning Center account. For detailed information on each update, visit the official Planning Center What’s New page and browse the support documentation on their website. We’ll continue providing quarterly updates to keep you in the loop. Sam Fahl Client Success Specialist, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## 5 Leadership Lessons from ARC Conference that Transformed My Ministry Approach URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/5-leadership-lessons-from-arc-conference-that-transformed-my-ministry-approach Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-07-25 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Explore 5 transformative leadership lessons from ARC Conference to grow in character, clarity, and Kingdom impact in today’s digital ministry world. ### The Digital Age of Ministry Leadership There's a unique power when ministry leaders gather in the same room—each carrying their vision while collectively pursuing God's heart. This year's ARC Conference far exceeded my expectations for a typical ‘leadership summit.’ It was a transformative experience that reset my perspectives, sharpened my focus, and redefined my leadership approach. If you've been in vocational ministry for any length of time, you understand the weight of modern leadership: the comparison trap, visibility pressures, and the constant tension between innovation and tradition. The ARC Conference provided both the mirror and the map I needed—exposing areas that required transformation while offering practical pathways forward. Here are five takeaways that are already reshaping how I lead. ### 1. Surrender > Survival: The Revolutionary Leadership Paradigm Chris Hodges delivered a perspective that fundamentally challenged my leadership framework: "The secret to Paul's success is that he didn't need to survive." In our metrics-driven ministry culture, we often celebrate resilience and endurance. But what if authentic power flows from surrender, not survival? Paul wasn't grasping for platform recognition or measurable results. He had already released them. This was our invitation to die to the subtle idols that infiltrate modern ministry leadership. #### The Five Deaths Every Leader Must Experience: - Approval: The addiction to universal acceptance - Recognition: The hunger for visibility and validation - Competition: The compulsion to outperform other ministries - Control: The illusion of orchestrating outcomes - A Finish Line: The fantasy of arriving at ministry completion Each point penetrated deeper than the last. The solution wasn't merely "stop caring"—it was a complete reorientation. We're called to amplify Jesus (John 3:30), champion others' success, grip our calling while holding positions lightly, and embrace ministry as a lifelong journey, not a career destination. #### Implementation Strategy: - Conduct a personal leadership audit - Identify which "death" challenges you most - Create accountability structures around these areas - Develop metrics beyond numerical growth - Regularly recalibrate your "why" ### 2. Running the Right Race, the Right Way One insight struck particularly deep: You can run the right race... the wrong way. In our digitally accelerated ministry environment, we're tempted to sprint through what God designed as a marathon. We execute the right activities—preaching, leading, building digital platforms—but constant comparison derails our effectiveness. #### The Comparison Trap: Ministry's Silent Killer Too many leaders are birthing their own "Ishmael’s"—initiatives that appear promising but lack divine directive. The conference reinforced a critical truth: not every opportunity is ordained. In our age of instant communication and viral ministry moments, discernment becomes our most valuable asset. #### Strategic Alignment Framework: - Evaluate opportunities through prayer, not pressure - Consider timing as seriously as the opportunity itself - Measure initiatives against your core mission - Build buffers against reactive decision-making - Create space for Spirit-led pivots ### 3. Character Over Competence: Building Leadership That Others Want to Follow Charisma launches ministries, but character sustains them. In our social media age, where perception often overshadows reality, this distinction becomes mission critical. Here's what struck me most – we're living in a time where leaders can have millions of followers online but struggle to build a team of twelve who trust them offline. Why? Because there's a fundamental gap between positional and moral authority: #### The Leadership Authority Gap: - Positional Authority: What your title says you can do - Moral Authority: What your character earns you the right to do This gap explained why some leaders hit invisible ceilings. You can only lead people as far as your character can carry them. The conference revealed how this plays out through a four-stage progression that helped me benchmark my current leadership capacity and gave words to how I must develop as a leader: #### The Character-Driven Leadership Journey: - Godly Leader: Built on integrity, humility, and genuine spiritual pursuit - Disciplined Leader: Demonstrates consistency, financial wisdom, and strategic focus - Strategic Leader: Excels at vision-casting, team empowerment, and achievement - Magnetic Leader: Radiates hospitality, generosity, and authentic joy My personal takeaway? I'd been attempting to fast-track to stages 3 and 4 – the visible, celebrated aspects of leadership – while skating over the foundational work of stages 1 and 2. It's like trying to build a skyscraper on a foundation meant for a house. The plateaus we hit aren't about needing better strategies; they're about needing deeper character. #### Building Your Character Development System: Just as we implement technology solutions strategically, character development requires intentional infrastructure: - Quarterly Leadership Audits: Create space for honest self-evaluation - Mentorship Protocols: Establish formal accountability relationships - Character Metrics: Track integrity markers alongside ministry KPIs - Wellness Investment: Prioritize emotional and spiritual health systematically - Transparency Culture: Model vulnerability to build trust The breakthrough insight? In digital ministry, your character travels faster than your content. Every post, message, and interaction either reinforces or erodes the moral authority you're building. Technology amplifies who you are, not just what you say. ### 4. Build Different: Authentic Innovation in Ministry The conference challenged us to transcend trendy ministry models and build what's eternally true. Using Acts 14 as our blueprint, we explored how God's timeline rarely aligns with our urgency. As much as we would like, there's no shortcut to Kingdom significance. #### The ARC Leadership Principles: - Risk Takers Over Comfort Seekers: Embracing calculated faith steps - We Over Me: Prioritizing collective Kingdom impact - Construct Over Criticize: Building rather than tearing down - Grit Over Giving Up: Persevering through all ranges of ministry challenges These principles are reshaping how I approach church leadership and innovation. We're not self-appointed influencers; we're divinely sent messengers. This distinction transforms everything from our communication strategies to our success metrics. #### Implementation Through Technology: - Use digital tools to facilitate "we" culture - Create platforms for constructive feedback - Develop systems that reward persistence - Leverage technology for Kingdom collaboration - Measure impact beyond engagement metrics ### 5. Prayer: The Ultimate Leadership Strategy Priscilla Shirer provided the conference's spiritual anchor, reminding us that prayer isn't supplemental—it's foundational. "Prayer is the key that unlocks heaven's resources. Prayerlessness indicates pride." In our efficiency-driven ministry culture, where we can schedule posts, automate follow-ups, and analyze engagement metrics, prayer often becomes an afterthought. She challenged us to recognize that authentic leaders don't pray for appearances; we pray for divine appointments. #### Prayer-Driven Leadership Model: - Begin every strategic session with prayer - Create prayer partnerships within leadership teams - Bring prayer accountability into oversight meetings Joel 2's call to "return to the Lord with all your heart" isn't just personal devotion—it's strategic alignment with Heaven's agenda rather than our own perspectives. #### The Digital Ministry Transformation If you haven't attended a church leadership conference recently, prioritize it not merely for information transfer, but for spiritual impartation. Something supernatural occurs when leaders who understand the weight of ministry gather to sharpen one another. ARC Conference delivered more than motivation—it provided realignment. These insights are already transforming how I approach digital ministry, team leadership, and Kingdom innovation. #### Moving Forward: Your Implementation Roadmap - Assess Your Current State: Which leadership lesson challenges you most? - Create an Action Plan: Develop specific steps for each area - Leverage Technology Wisely: Use digital tools to reinforce these principles - Build Accountability: Share these insights with your team - Measure Transformation: Track character growth alongside ministry metrics ### Final Thoughts Let's become leaders who run our race with authentic humility. Those who serve without striving. Those who daily surrender our digital platforms and ministry metrics so Jesus can be made famous through every channel we steward. The future of ministry leadership isn't about mastering the latest technology or growth strategy, it's about anchoring ourselves in timeless principles while leveraging modern tools to make a lasting Kingdom impact. That's the transformation ARC Conference ignited—and it's the journey I invite you to join. Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Elevate Your Congregation's Engagement: Creating and Sharing Sermon Notes URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/elevate-your-congregations-engagement-creating-and-sharing-sermon-notes Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2025-07-18 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: Publishing Create and share sermon notes using YouVersion and Planning Center to boost engagement and deepen weekly connection with your congregation. In today's digital age, providing accessible and interactive sermon notes is a powerful way to enhance your congregation's engagement with the weekly message. By leveraging the capabilities of Planning Center Publishing, Church Center, and YouVersion Bible events, we can create a seamless experience for your church members. Follow this step-by-step guide to set up and share your sermon notes effectively. ### Step 1: Set Up and Create Your Sermon Notes in YouVersion Bible - If you don't have a YouVersion account: - Go to the YouVersion website (www.youversion.com) or download the YouVersion Bible app from your device's app store. - Click on "Sign Up" or "Create Account." - You can sign up using your email address, or connect with your Google, Facebook, or Apple account. - Follow the prompts to complete your account setup. - Once you have an account, log in to YouVersion. - Navigate to the "Events" section. In the app, this might be under "More" or a menu icon. - Click on "Create New Event." - Choose "Sermon" as the event type. - Fill in the sermon details, including title, date, and time. - Add your sermon notes, scripture references, and any additional resources. - Save and publish the event. ### Step 2: Generate a Shareable Link in YouVersion - Once your sermon event is published, locate it in your YouVersion Events dashboard. - Look for the "Share" or "Get Link" option. - Copy the provided link – this is what we'll use in Planning Center Publishing. ### Step 3: Create a Sermon Notes Link in Planning Center Publishing - Log in to your Planning Center account. - Navigate to the "Publishing" module. - Select "Add Item" or "Create New." - Choose "Link" as the item type. - Name your item (e.g., "This Week's Sermon Notes"). - In the URL field, paste the YouVersion event link you copied earlier. - Add a brief description to encourage engagement. - Set the publication date to align with your sermon schedule. - Save the item. ### Step 4: Display the Sermon Notes in Church Center - Still in Planning Center Publishing, locate your newly created Sermon Notes link. - Click on the item to open its details. - Look for the "Visibility" or "Display" settings. - Ensure that "Show in Church Center" is toggled on. - If desired, you can also set it to display on your church's website if it's integrated with Planning Center. ### Step 5: Promote and Share - In your church announcements or newsletter, let your congregation know about this new feature. - Provide clear instructions on how to access Church Center (via app or web). - Encourage members to bring their devices to the service or access the notes throughout the week for deeper study. ### Best Practices for Engagement - Update your sermon notes link weekly to keep content fresh and relevant. - Use compelling titles that spark curiosity and encourage clicks. - Include discussion questions in your YouVersion event to promote small group conversations. - Consider creating a QR code linking directly to your Church Center sermon notes page for easy access. By following these steps, you're not just sharing information – you're creating an interactive experience that extends beyond Sunday morning. This approach allows your congregation to engage more deeply with the message, fostering spiritual growth and community connection throughout the week. Remember, consistency is key. Make this a regular part of your weekly preparation and watch as engagement with your sermon content grows over time. Happy publishing! Jason Silbernagel Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## 5 Ways to Empower Your Staff and Volunteers URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/5-ways-to-empower-your-staff-and-volunteers Author: Alicia Osgood Published: 2025-07-11 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Empower your church team with trust, vision, and support. Discover 5 ways to lead with confidence and build a stronger ministry. One of my kids is extra curious. Most kids go through a "why" phase, but Sam's lasted longer than most. From the moment he could talk, he asked "why?" and "how?" about everything. - Why does the car need gas in it? - How do I know that you're really my mom? - Why did God make broccoli green? Sometimes he was just being inquisitive. Other times, he was straight-up challenging what he was being told. - Why do I need to brush my teeth again? - Why do I need to wear shoes to church? - Why do I need to go to bed now? Some days, his endless curiosity was adorable. Other days, it about drove me to tears. My "question everything" kid was strong-willed, opinionated, and ready to battle over the tiniest things. As his mom, it took me a while to figure out that I didn't have to fight him on every little issue. I thought being a good parent meant enforcing my way all the time. I called it "consistency," but honestly, I was just being stubborn in my own adult way. After a lot of prayer, trial and error, and reading every parenting book I could find, I started to realize that much of our conflict came from me trying to control how Sam did things rather than focusing on what I wanted to accomplish. I had to learn to adjust my approach so I could guide him instead of just battling him. The rules of our house didn't change, but how we got there had to become more flexible. Turns out, this is also a pretty important lesson for leadership in the church. Sometimes, as leaders, we get stuck on how we want things to be done instead of focusing on what really matters. We want things done "our way," and that can make people feel stifled or frustrated. If we want to empower our teams—whether staff or volunteers—we need to shift our focus to the bigger picture. Being a good leader isn't about controlling every detail; it's about equipping people to do their best work for the Kingdom. ### 1. Give Your Team Authority—Not Just Responsibility It's easy to hand out tasks but harder to let go of control. True empowerment means trusting your team to make decisions within their roles. If we just assign jobs without giving real authority, people end up feeling like babysitters instead of team members. When people are entrusted with authority, they feel more confident and invested in their work. They start thinking strategically, taking ownership, and making good decisions without waiting for constant approval. A church team that feels empowered is more engaged, motivated, and effective. ### 2. Give Your Team Ownership. Micromanaging doesn't help anyone. Instead of hovering over every little thing, let your team know what success looks like and then give them space to figure out how to get there. Encourage them to set their own goals, try new things, and take responsibility for the results. When people have true ownership over their work, they start caring about more than just checking off tasks—they want to do things well. When church volunteers or staff feel like their contributions truly matter, they'll go above and beyond to serve with excellence. ### 3. Give Your Team Your Trust Trust is the glue that holds everything together. If people feel like their leader doesn’t trust them, they’ll hesitate, second-guess themselves, and avoid taking initiative. Building trust starts with listening, communicating openly, and giving honest feedback. Resist the urge to interfere in the things that don’t matter. Let your team members work independently while still offering support when they need it. When people feel trusted, they thrive—and so does the Church. ### 4. Give Your Team Resources Even the most talented people can't do their jobs well without the right tools. Whether it's training, technology, budget, or mentorship, make sure your team has what they need to succeed. Investing in professional and spiritual growth is just as important as practical resources. Encourage your team to attend workshops, find mentors, or learn new skills. And don’t forget that emotional and spiritual support is just as vital as physical resources. Make sure your team knows they are valued, supported, and encouraged. ### 5. Give Your Team Clear Vision A strong team needs a clear vision, and your team shouldn’t have to define their own targets. People are more motivated when they understand the bigger purpose behind what they’re doing. Leaders should regularly communicate the church’s mission, goals, and values so that everyone is working toward the same thing. Regular team meetings, one-on-one check-ins, and open conversations help ensure everyone is on the same page. And don't just talk—listen. Be open to feedback and adjust where needed to keep things moving forward. ### Final Thoughts Just like I had to learn how to parent my strong-willed, inquisitive child in a way that worked, church leaders need to be willing to adapt their leadership style to bring out the best in their staff members and volunteers. When we give team members authority, ownership, trust, and the right resources, we create a culture where people feel valued and ready to serve wholeheartedly. At the end of the day, leadership isn’t about control—it’s about equipping and empowering people to do the work God has called them to do. Alicia Osgood Support & Implementation Specialist, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## The Sweet Spot of Service: Unleashing Gifts for Kingdom Impact URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-sweet-spot-of-service-unleashing-gifts-for-kingdom-impact Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2025-07-04 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Help your church volunteers serve with joy by aligning their gifts, passions, and purpose through a strengths-based ministry approach. ### When Serving Becomes a Joy, Not an Obligation There's a big difference between a volunteer filling a position and one serving from their God-given strengths. When people serve in an area that aligns with their spiritual gifts, natural abilities, and passions, something remarkable happens; serving becomes energizing and life-giving rather than draining, creativity flourishes, and both the volunteer and church experience the benefits. Helping people find their ideal serving position is the first step in this process. Utilizing the Spiritual Gifts test, Strength Finder 2.0, DISC profile tests, Life Languages, or any popular strength and gifts testing can help people discover these gifts and strengths. You may want to consider adding these tools as the next step in your membership process or growth track program. Providing your congregants with the tools to find and discover their gifts, strengths, and passions will change how they think about serving and becoming involved. ### Identifying Spiritual DNA (First Steps) Create a systematic approach to help people discover their unique ministry profile. The journey begins with thoughtful assessment. Provide an opportunity for comprehensive spiritual gifts assessments that include personality profiles and God-given abilities. These tools aren't meant to put people in boxes but to start meaningful conversations about how God has uniquely wired them and how that applies to service. The assessment process should always include one-on-one conversations with team members who can help interpret results and explore implications. These conversations should dig deeper than the assessment results, exploring formative experiences, natural inclinations, and the types of service that have previously brought joy and fulfillment. The goal isn't just knowledge about gifts but how those gifts fit different roles in the church. At the same time, develop detailed ministry role profiles that specify which spiritual gifts fit which positions. Rather than generic job descriptions, these profiles should paint a picture of how different gifts flourish in that role. For example, a children's ministry description might explain how teachers, encouragers, and administrators each contribute uniquely to the ministry's success. ### Cultivating Gift-Based Excellence Once you’ve placed a volunteer onto a team, they will need to be on-boarded into their position. Each team should emulate the culture and DNA of the church and you will need to allow the new volunteer a few weeks to learn that culture and become familiar with it. Your leaders should be equipped to train and help their team members grow in this role but, most importantly, use their giftings. A volunteer with the gift of encouragement might be shown how their personality helps anxious new members feel welcome. Someone with administrative gifts might see how their systems thinking creates efficiency, allowing others to focus on relationship building. ### Reconnecting the Disengaged Volunteer Many volunteers who serve inconsistently or without ownership are potentially mismatched in their roles. Consider having a health-check conversation when volunteers show signs of burnout or disengagement. Allow these volunteers to give feedback about the teams or positions they are participating in. Ensure leaders follow this health-check methodology and have regular meetings with their team members. You may also want to offer a re-fresh discovery process. This may include an opportunity to retake assessments, exposure to different ministry environments, or conversations with others who share their same gifts. Create low-commitment opportunities for them to test new service areas without feeling like they're failing in their current role. When it becomes clear that a volunteer (or leader) needs to change roles, frame the transition as good stewardship rather than failure. Celebrate their past contributions while supporting their move into a better-aligned role. When someone goes through a transition, follow up a few weeks after the transition to confirm that the new role fits their gifts and strengths better. Show them you are interested in their gifts and talents by intentionally connecting to ensure they are on the right path to flourishing in this new role or position. ### Engaged Volunteers Become Invested As volunteers continue to serve, they will begin taking ownership of how their unique design contributes to the church's mission. Hopefully, they will experience something I call “Belong-ship,” where they feel included in your church's community. When someone belongs to a community and derives joy and happiness from that community, they look forward to consistently serving within the community and start to tell others about it. They want to “belong” to something, and they want their friends to belong as well. Make sure to communicate regularly with your volunteers about how valued they are and encourage their participation. Encouragement is one of the best incentives you can offer your team. It doesn’t cost you anything, and it provides enormous returns in volunteer longevity. For volunteers thriving in their roles, create opportunities for more significant impact. This might include leadership opportunities focused on their primary gifts, such as a hospitality-gifted greeter becoming the welcome team coordinator or an administration-gifted volunteer overseeing Sunday morning systems. Provide cross-training in complementary gift areas that enhance their effectiveness and create pathways for them to teach or mentor others with similar gift patterns. ### Creating a Serving Culture Implementing gift-based service requires intentional culture-building. Begin by evaluating your current tools for helping people identify their spiritual gifts. If you don’t have these in your process now, do some research on tools that help people move beyond simplistic assessments to comprehensive discovery processes that consider gifts, personality, passion, and experience. Review ministry position descriptions to identify which gifts naturally thrive in each role and revise them to be gift-explicit rather than just task-focused. Become a volunteer or team member recruiter. Look for people in your congregation who have the qualities you value and match certain positions or roles. Invite them to consider serving in certain positions and invite them to your Discovery class or event. Throughout the church, incorporate stories of gift-based impact in communications, celebrating how people serving from their strengths produce extraordinary outcomes. These testimonies reinforce the value of gift-aligned service and inspire others to discover their own sweet spots. ### When the Seeds of Serving Produce a Harvest Remember, the more specifically volunteers serve according to their unique design, the greater the fruit they will produce. When people serve from their giftedness, ownership naturally follows. They don't just perform tasks; they steward a calling. They don't just fill slots or a need; they fulfill purpose. And in that sweet spot, both the volunteer and the church experience the abundant life Jesus promised. As you build systems that connect people with their perfect place of service, you're not just solving volunteer shortages—you're creating pathways for people to discover who God created them to be. The most compelling vision for volunteers isn't just what the church needs at a particular moment; it's who they were designed to become. When these align, kingdom impact follows naturally. Jason Silbernagel Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Systems That Stand the Test of Time URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/systems-that-stand-the-test-of-time Author: Tim Cruz Published: 2025-06-27 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Planning Center apps: People Build sustainable systems that serve your team long-term. Learn key principles and top tools for creating lasting organizational processes. When it comes to processes and systems, people usually fall into one of two categories: those who love them and those who can’t stand them. Group 1 thrives on structure, always searching for ways to optimize and improve. Group 2, however, dreads the thought of another system, often rolling their eyes when the topic comes up. At the end of the day, a good system should serve you or your organization—not the other way around. If a system becomes a bottleneck or hinders your objectives, it’s no longer effective. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, one thing remains true: we should be building systems that stand the test of time. Systems that aren’t just tailored to one individual but can function seamlessly regardless of who is in the role. ### Key Principles for Building Long-Lasting Systems 1. Identify the Need What problem are you trying to solve? Before jumping into implementation, take a step back and clarify your target. The need should be clear, specific, and address a real issue within your organization. Because most systems are born out of either a leadership challenge or an operational gap, identifying the true need ensures you create something valuable rather than just adding another layer of complexity. 2. Define the Why After identifying the need, it’s tempting to dive straight into execution. But before addressing the "how," you need to understand the "why." For example, let’s say a church sees a successful weekly worship team coaching program at another church. They might ask, "How do we implement this?" But the better question is, "Why was this system put in place?" The answer could be that the church's vision is to develop musicians for all generational ministries—kids, youth, midweek events, and weekend services. Their "why" determines their "how." Without a clear "why," a system can quickly become irrelevant. It’s also essential to assess what resources you already have. This prevents unnecessary reinvention and helps refine what’s currently in place. Before adopting a system, ask: What is the "why," and does it still apply? Many processes remain in place long after their purpose has expired simply because no one stopped to question their relevance. 3. Build a Sustainable "How" Once you have a solid understanding of the "why," you can construct a "how" that is built to last. Ask yourself: - Will this system work regardless of who is in the role? - Does this process rely on a specific person’s way of working, or can anyone step in and succeed? A common mistake is creating systems that are too personalized. Leaders often design processes that align with their workflow but don’t necessarily translate to a team. I once asked a team member for a "master to-do list" for an event, and they provided just five bullet points. While it seemed concise, it quickly became apparent that it only made sense to them—it wasn’t comprehensive enough for the team to follow. As leaders, we must ensure that what we build isn’t just effective for us but for those who follow. ### What Are the Best Platforms for Systemizing Processes? There are plenty of tools available to help streamline systems and processes. Here are a few platforms that might work well for your organization: Microsoft To Do For those seeking a simple, cost-effective to-do list, Microsoft To Do is a great option. This program allows you to create tasks and subtasks, making it easy to track specific steps within a process. A key feature is the ability to share tasks with team members, ensuring collaboration. Since it's part of the Microsoft suite, it integrates well with other Microsoft products and is also available as an app for iOS and Android. Monday.com If you need a more detailed and visually appealing tool, Monday.com is a great option. While it can be used as a basic to-do list, it is far more robust, allowing for project management, task assignments, and real-time progress tracking. This tool is ideal for teams working remotely, as it provides a clear snapshot of a project’s progress. A major advantage is the ability to create reusable project templates that can be archived and reopened when needed. Keep in mind that Monday.com requires a paid subscription per user. Microsoft Excel For those who prefer a more traditional approach, Microsoft Excel can serve as an effective system for tracking processes. By utilizing cloud-based features, teams can update sheets in real time. If your organization already uses the Microsoft suite, this tool is included at no additional cost. Notion Notion is a powerful all-in-one workspace that combines note-taking, database management, and task tracking. It allows you to create custom templates, making it a flexible tool for systemizing processes. Notion is great for teams that need a collaborative space where documents, checklists, and workflows are all accessible in one place. Trello Trello is a simple yet effective project management tool that uses a card-based system to organize tasks and workflows. It’s great for visual thinkers who prefer a drag-and-drop approach to tracking progress. With its ability to integrate with various third-party apps, Trello can help teams maintain efficiency and transparency. ### Avoiding Common Pitfalls in System Implementation While implementing a new system can be exciting, there are common pitfalls to avoid: - Over-complication: If a system is too complex, people won’t use it. Keep it simple and user-friendly. - Lack of Training: A great system is useless if no one knows how to use it. Invest time in training your team and leaders. - Ignoring Feedback: Your team members are the ones using the system daily. Their feedback is invaluable for refining and improving processes. - Failure to Adapt: A rigid system that doesn’t evolve with organizational needs will become obsolete. Also, it’s important that there is buy in from the top down your organization. Failure to do so can lead to systems that are compromised even before they start. ### Final Thoughts The best systems are those that enable teams to thrive beyond the current leader. When creating new processes, ask yourself: Am I designing something that will benefit the team long-term, or just something that works for me right now? By prioritizing sustainability, clarity, and adaptability, we can develop systems that truly stand the test of time. Regardless of the platform you choose, focus on creating practical steps that align with your goals and can be used by anyone, regardless of their personality or work style. Tim Cruz Guest Writer, Associate Campus Pastor - Gateway Prosper P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Why Your Church Needs Google Analytics: A Simple Guide to Understanding Website Trends URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/why-your-church-needs-google-analytics-a-simple-guide-to-understanding-website-trends Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-06-20 Category: Web & Digital (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/web-digital) Set up Google Analytics for your church website to track visitors, boost engagement, and make smarter ministry decisions online. In today's digital world, your church website isn't just a digital bulletin board—it's often the first place potential visitors encounter your ministry. But here's a question worth pondering: do you know who's visiting your website, what they're looking for, and whether they're finding it? If you answered, "not really," you're not alone. Most churches build a website and then... well, hope for the best. But what if I told you there's a free tool that could help you understand your online visitors almost as well as you understand the folks who walk through your physical doors each Sunday? ### Why Your Church Should Care About Google Analytics Let's start with the "why" before we get to the "how." 1. Your Website Is Your Digital Front Door Think about it—when someone's looking for a church in your area, what's the first thing they do? They Google it. Your website creates a first impression before anyone steps foot in your sanctuary. Analytics helps you understand if that first impression is connecting or confusing visitors. 2. Stewardship Extends to Digital Resources As good stewards of your ministry resources, you've invested time and money into your website. Shouldn't you know if that effort is making a difference? Google Analytics helps you measure the return on that investment. 3. Better Data Leads to Better Ministry Decisions Imagine knowing which sermons resonated most with your online audience, which events garnered the most interest, or what time of day most people visit your site. This kind of information helps you make strategic decisions about content, programming, and outreach. 4. Reach People Where They Are Jesus met people where they were—physically and spiritually. In our digital age, meeting people "where they are" includes your online presence. Analytics gives you insights into who's visiting, what they're interested in, and how you can better serve them. 5. Measure and Improve Ministry Impact Without measurement, improvement is just guesswork. Analytics provides concrete data about what's working and what isn't, allowing you to make informed adjustments to extend your ministry's reach. ### Google Analytics Basics: Understanding the Lingo Before we dive into setup, let's demystify some basic analytics terms: - Users: The number of individual people visiting your site - Sessions: The number of visits to your site (one person can have multiple sessions) - Pageviews: The total number of pages viewed - Bounce Rate: The percentage of visitors who leave after viewing only one page - Session Duration: How long visitors stay on your site - Acquisition: How people find your website (Google search, social media, etc.) - Behavior: What visitors do on your site (which pages they visit, how long they stay, etc.) ### Setting Up Google Analytics for Your Church (It's Easier Than You Think!) Ready to get started? The good news is that setting up Google Analytics is simpler than preparing for a church potluck. Here's how: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/9304153?hl=en Step 1: Create a Google Analytics Account - Go to analytics.google.com - Sign in with your Google account (or create one if you don't have one) - Click "Start measuring" - Provide your account name (your church's name works perfectly) - Click "Next" Step 2: Set Up a Property - Enter your property name (typically your website name) - Select your reporting time zone and currency - Click "Next" - Fill in your business information (select "Faith Activities" under category) - Click "Create" Step 3: Set Up a Data Stream - Select "Web" as your platform - Enter your website's URL - Give your stream a name (your website name works here too) - Click "Create stream" Step 4: Install the Tracking Code This is where you might need that technically inclined volunteer or staff member: - Google Analytics will provide a tracking code (it looks like a snippet of computer code) - This code needs to be added to every page of your website - How you add it depends on your website platform. Most websites have instructions on how to add this. If you need help, feel free to reach out to us at support@threefold.solutions Step 5: Verify Installation - Wait 24-48 hours for data to start appearing - Visit your website while logged into Google Analytics - Check the "Real-time" report to see if your visit is being tracked ### What to Look for Now That You're Set Up Congratulations! You've opened a whole new window into your ministry. Here's what to pay attention to in your first few weeks: 1. Where are People Coming From? In Google Analytics, go to Reports → Acquisition → Traffic Acquisition. This shows you whether people are finding you through Google searches, social media, or by directly typing your URL. This information helps you know where to focus your outreach efforts. 2. What are People Looking At? Check Reports → Engagement → Pages and Screens to see which pages get the most visits. Are people checking out your service times? Reading about your ministries? Listening to sermons? This information helps you understand what information matters most to your visitors. 3. Who is Visiting? Under Reports → User → User Attributes → Overview, you can see the demographic of the people who visit your site most. This might help you tailor your content to better fit the types of people visiting your site. 4. How are Mobile Users Experiencing Your Site? Look at Reports → Tech → Overview to see what percentage of your visitors are on phones vs. computers. If most are on mobile, but your site isn't mobile-friendly, that's a red flag! 5. How Engaged are Your Visitors? Check your average session duration and bounce rate under Reports → Engagement → Pages and Screens. If people are leaving quickly or only view one page, your site might not answer their questions effectively. You can also use the search bar to look up your bounce rate and see how many people only look at one page before they exit your site to head to another. The lower the number, the better. ### Practical Ways to Use This Information Now that you have data, what do you do with it? - Create more of what works: If your sermon recordings get the most traffic, consider featuring them more prominently. - Fix what doesn't: If visitors consistently abandon your "New Here" page, it might need clearer information. - Improve your digital welcome: If most visitors go straight to your service times, make sure that information is clear and up to date. - Target your outreach: If you see spikes in traffic after Facebook posts but not email newsletters, you might want to invest more in your social media presence. - Track special events: Watch how announcements about events affect your traffic—this helps you know which communication channels work best. ### Final Thoughts: Data as a Ministry Tool Remember, Google Analytics isn't just about numbers—it's about people. Behind every pageview is a person seeking information about your church. This tool helps you serve them better by understanding their needs and improving how you communicate. Jesus taught using methods and language his audience could understand. In the same way, Google Analytics helps your church communicate more effectively in our digital age. It's not about becoming obsessed with metrics—it's about being intentional with the digital ministry opportunities God has given us. So, take that first step today. Set up Google Analytics, and in just a few weeks, you'll have insights that can help you extend your ministry's reach and impact both online and offline. Need help getting started? Don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions about setting up or interpreting your analytics. Your digital ministry matters and understanding it better can only strengthen your overall church mission! Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## SEO Essentials for Churches: Your Guide to Digital Ministry Growth URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/seo-essentials-for-churches-your-guide-to-digital-ministry-growth Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-06-13 Category: Web & Digital (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/web-digital) Boost your church’s visibility with SEO tips on headings, keywords, mobile optimization, and content that connects seekers to your ministry. Your church's website isn't just a digital bulletin board—it's often the first point of contact for people needing help, spiritual guidance, or a new church home. Unfortunately, SEO tends to be the last thing that churches think about when updating their websites. This oversight can mean the difference between a family finding your church or choosing another down the road, simply because you didn't show up in their search results. ### What is SEO and Why Should Your Church Care? Search Engine Optimization (SEO) isn't just a buzzword; it's a ministry tool that helps connect seekers with your church. When someone in your community searches for "churches near me" or struggles with questions about faith, proper SEO ensures your church appears in their moment of need. ### Understanding Heading Tags: Structuring Your Digital Ministry Just as your sermons have a clear structure, your website content needs organization. That's where heading tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) come in. Here's how to use them effectively: - H1: Your main title (use only once per page) Example: "Welcome to First Baptist Church of Springfield" - H2: Major sections of your content Example: "Sunday Service Times" or "Our Ministries" - H3: Subsections within your main sections Example: Under "Our Ministries", "Youth Program", or "Community Outreach" Pro Tip: Think of heading tags as your content's hierarchy—similar to how you'd outline a sermon. ### Finding Keywords That Connect Your community is actively searching online. Here's how to speak their language: - Local Keywords (Priority Focus) - "[Your City Name] church" - "Churches near me" - "Christian church in [Your City Name]" - "[Denomination] church [Your City Name]" - Ministry-Specific Keywords - "Youth group [Your City Name]" - "Bible study near me" - "Community outreach programs" - Life Question Keywords - "How to deal with depression Christian perspective" - "What does the Bible say about anxiety" - "Understanding speaking in tongues" - "Christian marriage counseling" ### Essential SEO Tools for Your Church 1. The Detailed SEO Chrome Extension This powerful tool helps you: - Identify and fix on-page issues quickly - Analyze heading structures and content optimization 2. Semrush This powerful paid software helps you: - Monitor your site's authority and trustworthiness - Track keyword performance and opportunities 3. Google Search Console Free and essential for: - Monitoring your website's performance - Understanding what searches bring people to your site - Identifying technical issues that need attention ### Creating Content That Serves Your Community Your website should be a resource center for both seekers and church attenders: 1. Address Common Spiritual Questions Create content that thoughtfully addresses: - "How do I know God is real?" - "What is speaking in tongues?" - "How to pray effectively" - "Understanding baptism" 2. Provide Practical Support Develop resources about: - Dealing with depression from a Christian perspective - Finding community in church - Marriage and family support - Personal faith development 3. Share Your Church's Story Create engaging content about: - Your church's history and vision - Staff and leadership team - Ministry success stories - Upcoming events and programs ### Technical Fundamentals for Better Visibility 1. Mobile Optimization With over 60% of searches happening on mobile devices, your website must work flawlessly on smartphones. Test your site's mobile-friendliness using Google's Mobile-Friendly Test tool. 2. Page Speed Optimization A slow website can drive seekers away. Use https://pagespeed.web.dev/ to: - Analyze your current page speed - Get specific recommendations for improvement - Monitor speed improvements over time 3. Local SEO Essentials - Claim and fully optimize your Google Business Profile - Maintain consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information across all platforms - Actively encourage and respond to Google reviews - Include your location in website metadata and content ### Your Next Steps - Install the Detailed SEO Chrome extension - Audit your current website structure and heading tags - Create a content calendar addressing common spiritual questions - Optimize your Google Business Profile - Set up Google Search Console monitoring - Check your website's mobile responsiveness - Review and improve page loading speeds - Monitor progress via Google Analytics ### Keep It Simple: Focus on What Matters Remember, SEO isn't about gaming the system—it's about removing digital barriers between seekers and your ministry. Start with these basics: - Organize your content clearly with proper heading tags - Create helpful content that answers real questions - Ensure your website works well on mobile devices - Keep your local information accurate and consistent Need help getting started? We're here to support your church's digital ministry journey. Feel free to reach out with questions about implementing any of these strategies. Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## The #1 Type of Content People Actually Want to See from Your Church (Yes, Seriously) URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-1-type-of-content-people-actually-want-to-see-from-your-church-yes-seriously Author: Kailey Spilger Published: 2025-06-06 Category: Web & Digital (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/web-digital) Discover what people really want to see from your church on social media—and how to create engaging posts that build trust and connection. I’ll never forget the moment I discovered my church had a social media account. After a few swipes, I was pretty disappointed. It was just a lineup of event graphics… for things I already knew about. No stories, very few faces, nothing I would share, no reason to click “like”—and this was my church! That experience stuck with me, especially as I began digging into church communication in my doctoral work. One of the first questions I had to tackle? “What do people actually want to see from churches on social media?” Turns out, a study from a couple of years ago answered exactly that. And here’s the kicker: according to my own study from last year, the type of content people want to see the MOST is actually the type of content that’s posted the LEAST by churches. Let’s dive in, shall we? ### 4. Religious Information You know, the stuff you already post. But there’s a better way to do it. This is the content that gives people the nuts and bolts: service times, event details, and faith-based resources. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “We already post this stuff all the time!” And you do. The only issue? Your graphic posts don’t exactly get the love they deserve. But fear not – people still want to get the info! Pro Tip: Look for ways to get the information out in a more interesting way. Examples: - A video of a couple staff members explaining event details. - A recap video montage from last year’s event, with all of this year’s details in the caption. - A monthly events preview in a carousel format (so your feed doesn’t get bogged down by infographics). - A short video showing what it looks like to check a kid into the kid’s ministry on Sundays. - A photo of the new Youth Director and his family with 5 fun facts about him in the caption. ### 3. Relaxing Entertainment It’s time to have some fun! Let’s be real: social media is more about entertainment than it is about being informative these days. People scroll to relax, laugh, and maybe watch some trendy content. Guess what? They actually like seeing fun stuff from your church, too. It’s a great way to build rapport and attract others by simply being likable. Pro Tip: Be sure to showcase your church members’ personalities! Examples: - A fun video montage of a community group gathering. - A meme or meme video that applies Christianity to a popular trend (get creative, people love a good laugh!). - A funny video of you and a group of teens doing a social media trend together (because why not?). - A montage of your Sunday service with a worship song in the background. - An acoustic solo of a worship song from one of your worship team members. ### 2. Spiritual Enlightenment Because who better to share truth and encouragement than the Church?! This content focuses on inspiring and uplifting your followers spiritually. Think sermon clips, Bible verses, devotionals, and testimonials. It’s all about encouraging people and offering a little light to help them through the day. Pro Tip: Think about things that would be uplifting to a Christian to come across in the middle of their day. Examples: - A short devotional video from your pastor. - A short video featuring a teen sharing their testimony (raw, real, and relatable). - An aesthetic montage of calming clips with a verse overlaid – you know, something that makes people stop scrolling and go, “Wow, I needed that.” - A B-roll reel with just lyrics to a worship song playing on the screen. - Videos of Baptisms at church, demonstrating life change. ### 1. Ministering People need to see that the Church is not just another business. Here’s the shocking part: this is the #1 type of content people are looking for, yet it’s the LEAST posted by churches. Ministering content focuses on your church’s outreach, efforts to help others, and sharing God’s love. People need to see seeing the Church is actively making a difference. Pro Tip: Show, don’t just tell. People want to see what the Church is doing Monday through Saturday. It’s inspiring and encouraging. Examples: - Behind-the-scenes clips of volunteers at your outreach events, like packing food or cleaning up after a community project. - A video update from missionaries your church supports. - A photo carousel of church members dropping off donations to a local birthing center. - A video montage of the women’s ministry visiting the local assisted living facility. - End-of-month photo carousels highlighting results of ministry efforts that month. ### So, let’s recap.. The social media content people actually want to see from your church is a well-rounded mix of Religious Information, Relaxing Entertainment, Spiritual Enlightenment, and Ministering. But, here's the thing—if your social media strategy is leaning too heavily in one direction or, worse, if you’re stuck only posting the same old event updates, you’re missing the mark. Remember: people want more than just reminders about service times or invites to Sunday morning. Take a moment to think about the types of content you’re posting right now. Is it all about the logistics of church life (good info, but not too exciting)? Or are you showing the heart of your church—people living out their faith in tangible ways? People are craving to see how your church lives out its mission and impacts real lives in your community. ### Here’s a challenge. Take a good look at your content calendar for the next month. Grab some highlighters and color-code where each type of content fits. Try to tweak your social media plan to have a balance of all four of these types of content that people are looking for. In the end, social media isn’t just about pushing content—it’s about sharing your church in a way that attracts your local community. With the right balance, you can create a social media presence that really makes a difference. Now go forth and post with purpose, knowing that people actually want to see it! Dr. KaileySpilger Guest Writer, Ph.D. in Communication P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## The Craftsmanship of Ministry: Building Something That Lasts URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-craftsmanship-of-ministry-building-something-that-lasts Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-05-30 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover why lasting ministry impact requires patience, vision, and craftsmanship—not quick fixes or short-term success. In the world of ministry, we often find ourselves caught between the desire for immediate results and the reality that meaningful change takes time. As pastors and church leaders, building ministry or the church requires diligence to focus on the right things. It requires us to take a different and longer-term perspective on the work we are doing. I feel, at times, as leaders we are too quick to stop doing something just because it's not an overnight success. We might make changes to the youth ministry to make it more relevant and fun for students. After the first few weeks, if attendance drops below the levels of where we started, we may start to panic and revert to what we were doing before, just to make those who might not have liked the change comfortable once again. Sometimes change takes time to create impactful results. As we implement change, I think we should keep a pulse on the relevance of our programs to the variety of individuals and families in our congregation and community. Our churches should include and welcome people of all walks of life. If there are not people in your congregation outside of your typical social circles, you are not building a church, you are building a clique. ### The Carpenter's Wisdom In Jon Gordon's book "The Carpenter," the master craftsman shares wisdom that applies powerfully to our work in ministry. As I've reflected on his insights, three principles have particularly transformed my approach to church leadership: "A carpenter builds things. A craftsman creates a work of art." This distinction is crucial for ministry leaders. Many of us are content to simply build programs, services, and structures that function adequately. But God calls us to something higher—to approach our work as craftsmen creating something beautiful that reflects His glory. The difference lies not in the tools or materials, but in the mindset, intention, and care we bring to our work. When we approach ministry with craftsmanship, we elevate our service from mere functionality to something that can be life changing. Always begin with the end in mind. The master craftsman never starts cutting wood without a clear vision of the finished piece. Similarly, effective ministry requires us to envision the ultimate spiritual outcome before implementing changes. What kind of disciples are we trying to form? What kingdom impact are we working toward? Starting with this clear vision allows us to make decisions that align with our ultimate purpose, even when immediate results seem discouraging. Without this end vision, we risk making reactive decisions based on temporary setbacks. **While most people approach their work with the mindset that they just want to get it done, craftsmen are different. They don't rush. They don't cut corners. They focus on doing their work with excellence.**This insight speaks directly to our culture's obsession with efficiency and immediate results. In ministry, we often feel pressured to produce quick, visible outcomes. But transformation—both individual and communal—requires time. When we rush change or measure success by short-term metrics, we undermine the deep work God wants to do. The craftsman's approach reminds us that patience and excellence honor both the process and the people we serve. ### Understanding the Change Timeline Meaningful change doesn't happen overnight—it's a journey measured in years, not weeks or months. Church growth experts have consistently found that substantial cultural shifts within established churches typically require three to five years before demonstrating sustainable growth patterns. Thom Rainer, a respected church consultant, has studied over 300,000 churches in the U.S. needing revitalization—not merely for numerical growth, but to recenter congregations on the foundational mission of developing disciples who actively share and embody the gospel. Drawing from business insights, we can see that revitalization often follows a pattern known as a "J-curve"—an initial period of decline or stagnation before meaningful and lasting growth emerges. This timeline makes perfect sense when we consider that we're working with people's hearts, habits, and deeply ingrained cultural expectations—not just programs or structures. Leaders navigating these periods of change must recognize that temporary setbacks aren't signs of failure but necessary parts of the transformation process. The dip in the J-curve requires us to hold fast to our vision, practicing the carpenter's patience while continuing to communicate clearly why these changes matter for kingdom impact. It's precisely during these challenging seasons that craftsmanship in ministry becomes most crucial—when we must focus on building with excellence even when immediate results aren't visible. https://churchanswers.com/blog/three-types-of-church-revitalization-introducing-church-answers-monthly/ ### The Tiger Woods Lesson Consider the example of Tiger Woods, one of the greatest golfers of all time. In 1997-1999, at the height of his early success, Woods made the courageous decision to completely rebuild his swing with coach Butch Harmon. This wasn't a minor adjustment but a fundamental reconstruction of the very thing that had brought him fame and success. The results were initially devastating. His world ranking dropped from #1 to #13. He won only one tournament in 1998. Critics questioned his judgment. Fans worried he had ruined his natural talent. The easy path would have been to abandon the change and return to his previous swing. But Woods understood something essential: *short-term regression was necessary for long-term greatness.*After fully integrating the swing changes, he went on to win 8 major championships in the next 5 years and dominated the sport in ways previously unimaginable. ### Applying Craftsmanship to Ministry Like Tiger Woods rebuilding his swing, our ministries sometimes need fundamental restructuring that will temporarily disrupt established patterns. Gordon's carpenter would remind us that the strength of the structure depends on the details that no one sees. The most important work in ministry often happens beneath the surface, invisible to those who count only attendance or immediate engagement. When attendance drops after implementing changes, remember: - Trust the process. Just as a carpenter follows a blueprint even when the structure doesn't yet resemble the final product, trust the discernment process that led to the change in the first place. If you've prayed, consulted wise counsel, and feel God's leading, allow time for the vision to materialize. - Focus on quality, not speed. In "The Carpenter," Gordon highlights that when you rush, you make mistakes. Ministry rushed for the sake of quick results rarely produces lasting fruit. Focus instead on building with excellence, even if it takes longer. - Communicate the "why" repeatedly. People resist change when they don't understand its purpose. The carpenter doesn't just build—he helps clients understand why each choice matters. Similarly, keep casting vision for why the changes matter for the kingdom of God. - Expect resistance as normal. Even Jesus faced resistance to new ways of thinking. Resistance doesn't mean you're doing something wrong—it often means you're challenging comfortable patterns that need to be disrupted. - Build for the next generation. The master craftsman builds furniture that will last for generations, not just for immediate use. Similarly, our ministry changes should consider not just current attendees but future participants who will benefit from the foundation we're laying. ### The Patience of Craftsmanship Gordon's carpenter says, > “The way to success is the way of the craftsman, where you work really hard for years. You show up every day. You do the work. You see yourself as an artist dedicated to your craft with a desire to get better every day. You put your heart and soul into your work as you strive for excellence. You desire to create perfection, knowing you’ll never truly achieve it but hoping to get close to it. You try new things. You fail. You improve. You grow. You face countless challenges and tons of rejection that make you doubt yourself and cause you to want to quit. But you don’t. You keep working hard, stay positive, and persevere through it all with resilience, determination, and a lot of hope and faith. Then you make it! Everyone wants to work with you. And the world says, ‘Where have you been?’ And you say, ‘I’ve been here all along, and hopefully getting better day by day.’ To the world, you are an overnight success. To you, the journey continues. You’re a craftsman who wants to make your next work of art your best work no matter what you have accomplished in the past.” This patience—loving the process itself—is perhaps the most countercultural aspect of craftsmanship in our instant-results world. Ministry crafted with patience produces fruit that lasts. Quick fixes might boost attendance temporarily, but they rarely transform lives or communities. The most impactful ministries are those built by leaders who understand that real change happens slowly, intentionally, and often through periods that appear unproductive. When you feel discouraged by the apparent regression that sometimes follows innovation in ministry, remember Tiger Woods. Remember the J-curve of church growth. Remember the carpenter who knows that greatness emerges not from rushed work but from patient craftsmanship focused on long-term impact rather than immediate results. The kingdom of God, after all, grows like a mustard seed—starting small, seemingly insignificant, yet eventually providing shelter for many. May we have the courage to build with that same patient expectation, creating ministries that will stand the test of time. Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Church Calendar: Preparing for Summer Events URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/church-calendar-preparing-for-summer-events Author: Alicia Osgood Published: 2025-05-23 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Plan a purposeful summer with 7 strategies to lead fun, mission-focused church events and outreach. As I sit to write this article, I still have snow in my backyard. However, the sun is shining and the steady drip of melting ice off my roof reminds me that spring is here, and summer will soon follow. I have so many wonderful memories of summer – especially as a kid: - Vacation Bible School (VBS) at church, with its crafts, songs, and Bible stories. - Bible camp with all my cousins, swimming in the lake and having campfire worship. - Mission trips with my youth group friends, sharing the Gospel in another county. Summers always gave me so much to be excited about. As an adult, I still look forward to all the fun that summer brings, but I think about it differently as a member of a church staff. Summer can be one of the most dynamic and opportunity-rich times in the life of a church family, but planning events and activities presents an ever-evolving challenge. Without careful preparation, summer events can become a blur of logistics, sign-up sheets, and last-minute scrambles—distracting us from their true purpose: growing disciples, serving our neighbors, and drawing people into deeper relationship with Jesus. So how can church leaders best prepare for summer while staying grounded in our mission? How do we plan while balancing activities with restfulness? Here are seven strategies for building a summer calendar that's fruitful, fun, and faithful. ### 1. Ask Yourself "Why?" Before you pencil in a single date, gather your team together and ask this simple but powerful question: Why are we doing this? Summer events should always connect to your church's mission and values. Whether it's outreach-focused (like a community carnival), discipleship-driven (like a youth retreat), or meant for fellowship and refreshment (like a church picnic), knowing the purpose behind each event will guide your planning and help your team avoid burnout. Ask: - How does this event serve our congregation or our community? - What do we want participants to walk away with—spiritually or relationally? - Is this something God is truly calling us to do this year? Real-world application: At our church, we evaluated our annual Vacation Bible School program and realized that the program would be more effective if we ran our program in the evenings throughout the summer rather than consecutive weekdays. This enabled us to reach more families at the times they were available to participate as well as recruit more volunteers. Remember, sometimes the best decision is to say "no" to a good event that no longer aligns with your church's calling in this season. Just because you've done an event in the past doesn't mean you have to do it again! Give your team permission to depart from the past or make changes to accommodate the changing culture of our community. ### 2. Plan Early. Communicate Often. Clarity is one of the best gifts you can give your church (and yourself!). Start your summer planning as early as possible and communicate your plans clearly with leaders and church members. Create a comprehensive Summer Events Calendar that you publish across all platforms: - Church website (with online registration links) - Social media (with shareable graphics for each event) - Weekly email newsletters (highlighting upcoming events) - Printed handouts (for Sunday services) - Announcement slides (during worship) For each event, clearly communicate: - Dates, times, and locations - Purpose or theme - Registration details and deadlines - What to bring or how to prepare - Contact information for questions Pro tip: Create a standard "Summer Events FAQ" document that answers common questions about registration, costs, scholarships, volunteer needs, and cancellation policies. Remember, over-communication is better than under-communication. Families are often managing vacations, sports schedules, and family commitments. The more clearly you outline expectations and timelines, the more likely you'll have strong participation and fewer last-minute issues. ### 3. Empower Your Leaders and Volunteers Summer ministry can be taxing, so multiply leadership wherever possible. This not only makes the work more manageable but also disciples leaders by giving them ownership and responsibility. Practical steps for empowering volunteers: - Provide clear role descriptions with specific responsibilities - Offer training sessions before the summer rush - Create leadership teams rather than placing responsibility on individuals - Establish a mentor system where experienced volunteers guide newcomers - Schedule regular check-ins throughout the summer season Example: For Vacation Bible School, instead of having staff members lead each station, recruit volunteer "station captains" who own their area completely—from planning to execution. Provide them with resources, a budget, and the authority to build their own teams. And don't forget to celebrate your team! Host a volunteer appreciation lunch, write personal thank-you notes, or create photo books capturing memories from the summer's events. Recognition and gratitude go a long way in sustaining morale and building a culture of service. ### 4. Budget with Mission in Mind Summer events often require extra spending. Whether it's craft supplies for VBS, transportation for a mission trip, or food for a community BBQ, make sure your budget aligns with your goals. Here are a few helpful tips: - Review last year's expenses and adjust based on what worked (or didn't) - Create a "Summer Ministry Fund" in your budget or as a special giving opportunity - Break down costs per participant to better understand your investment - Seek out sponsors or donors for specific needs (e.g., T-shirts, meals, scholarships) - Research creative funding options like matching grants or community partnerships - Be transparent with the church about financial needs—they're often more willing to give when they see the impact Budget-stretching idea: Create a "Summer Resource Share" where multiple churches in your area pool or share expensive resources like inflatable games, sound equipment, or curriculum materials. A well-planned budget is not just about saving money—it's about stewarding resources for maximum kingdom impact. ### 5. Engage Your Community Summer is a golden opportunity for outreach. People are more likely to attend outdoor events, kids are out of school, and neighbors may be looking for connection. Think strategically about how your church can be a presence in the community. Effective community engagement ideas: - Family Movie Nights: Set up a projector on your church lawn with free popcorn and lemonade. Screen family-friendly films and create space for conversation before and after. - Community Service Days: Partner with local organizations to clean parks, stock food pantries, or help elderly residents with yard work. - Parenting Workshops: Offer practical sessions on topics like "Surviving Summer with Teens" or "Screen-Time Strategies for Families." - Neighborhood Block Parties: Take your church to the community by hosting simple gatherings in different neighborhoods where church members live. Promotion strategies that work: - Create eye-catching yard signs for church members to place in their neighborhoods - Develop relationships with local school counselors who can refer families to your programs - Submit events to community calendars in local papers and online platforms - Post in neighborhood apps like NextDoor or in local Facebook groups - Equip your congregation with simple invitation cards they can hand to friends - Most importantly: when people show up, be ready to connect. Train greeters to identify newcomers, create simple follow-up systems, and design your events with natural conversation spaces where relationships can form. ### 6. Sabbath Rhythms Still Matter Summer can feel like a sprint, but it's also a season where people seek rest. As leaders, we need to model healthy rhythms even in the busiest times. Practical ways to incorporate rest: - Schedule "blackout weeks" on your church calendar where no major events happen - Encourage staff to take vacation time and fully disconnect - Consider lighter Sunday service formats for certain summer weekends - Create rotating schedules so volunteers serve at some events but can attend others as participants - Begin staff meetings with longer periods of prayer and reflection - Provide devotional resources that help families incorporate spiritual practices into vacation time Church example: One congregation designates July as "Sabbath Month" with simplified worship services, no committee meetings, and an emphasis on personal spiritual renewal. They report starting fall ministries with greater energy and clarity. Remember, ministry is not about productivity—it's about abiding in Christ and inviting others to do the same. ### 7. Pray Through Every Plan Finally, and most importantly – cover your summer season in prayer. - Host a prayer walk through your facilities before the season begins - Create prayer cards for each major event that church members can take home - Establish prayer partnerships between volunteers and participants - Set up a prayer team that commits to daily intercession throughout the summer - Begin and end all planning meetings with specific prayer for the people you'll serve - Create visual prayer prompts around your church building Practical idea: Create a "Summer Prayer Map" displaying all your events on a timeline with specific prayer points for each week. Make it visually appealing and display it prominently in your church. Prayer reminds us that we're not just hosting events—we're sowing seeds of eternal impact. And only God can bring the growth. ### In Closing Summer ministry is a beautiful mix of joy, hard work, and divine opportunity. As you plan, remember that God is already at work in your church and your community. Our role is to show up faithfully, plan wisely, and trust Him with the results. So, grab your calendar, gather your team, and get ready. Summer is coming—and with it, the chance to shine the light of Christ in ways that may last far beyond the season. Alicia Osgood Support & Implementation Specialist, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Establishing a Feedback Culture URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/establishing-a-feedback-culture-honesty-is-honoring Author: Tim Cruz Published: 2025-05-16 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Build a healthy feedback culture in your church by embracing honesty, fostering growth, and leading with openness. Honesty honors and strengthens teams. ### Honesty = Honoring > Proverbs 27:6 – “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” Back in the summer of 2002, a new show burst onto the scene and took the world by storm — American Idol. It was the show everyone was talking about, and regardless of your upbringing, you knew about this hit sensation. Growing up, I watched this show religiously every single week with my family, and man, did we look forward to it! You never knew what was going to happen. While I loved watching these incredibly talented artists compete to become the next American Idol, my family had a different favorite part—the worst singers on the show! You know what I’m talking about. Every week, there was always someone who had grown up "singing" while being told by friends and family how amazing they were. But the truth? They were awful. They couldn’t sing, couldn’t hold a tune, and had no idea how bad they really were because no one had ever told them the truth. That is, until they walked into that audition room and faced the brutally honest Simon Cowell, the smooth and cool Randy Jackson, and the kind yet talented Paula Abdul. Then came the moment of truth. They would open their mouth to sing, and it was just… awful—sometimes painful to watch. You could see the judges trying to stay professional, struggling not to laugh. Sometimes, Simon would end the torture with a casual, “We’ve heard enough,” bringing their dream-crushing performance to a merciful stop. Then, the truth would come out. The judges gave real feedback—harsh but honest. And more often than not, the contestant was completely blindsided. Up to this moment, they had been brainwashed into thinking they were the greatest thing since sliced bread. I remember watching these moments and thinking: If their family had just been honest from the start, this poor person wouldn’t have had to endure such public humiliation. ### The Church and Feedback Unfortunately, we do this a lot in the church. Think about it — how many times do we have an opportunity to give honest feedback to a leader, team member, or volunteer, but we hesitate because we’re afraid of hurting their feelings? Instead, when someone on our team asks for feedback, we freeze and say the safest thing we can think of: Great job! — even when it wasn’t actually a great job. But why do we do this? I think sometimes our motives are pure and that we want to “honor” the person, but in the process, we end up compromising honesty with the person. The bottom line? It’s critical to develop a healthy feedback culture in your organization. Yes, I said healthy feedback culture. Here are a few things to consider as you work through this: #### 1. Culture Takes Time Culture doesn’t change overnight just because you talk about it once. It’s built over time throughconsistent reinforcement and example. Talk about feedback regularly in team meetings, oversight meetings, and one-on-one conversations. #### 2. Set the Example Ask for feedback from your team members. Lead the way by saying: · “How can I lead you better?” · “How did I come across in that meeting or event?” Showing a willingness to receive feedback communicates that feedback culture starts from the top down. #### 3. Team Buy-In While the leader sets the tone, do the other leaders in your organization embrace and reinforce the same culture? When everyone is on board, the whole team will lean in. #### 4. Lead Relationally Take time to get to know your team members beyond just their volunteer status on Planning Center. It’s huge. It shows that we care—because we actually do. We just need to remind ourselves to slow down and invest in the people we’re leading. #### 5. Honesty = Honoring Sometimes, we think honoring someone means protecting them from potentially getting their feelings hurt. But here’s the thing: we are called to steward the leaders and teams around us. That means it’s our responsibility to be honest with them when it comes to feedback. One day, they will no longer be under our leadership, and it’s our job to make sure we’ve prepared them for their next step. ### The Power of Embracing Feedback When we, as leaders, embrace the culture of giving and receiving feedback, we open the door for our teams to be honest and grow in their leadership. We also pave the way for real, honest, and healthy growth in every individual who serves on our team. Tim Cruz Guest Writer, Associate Campus Pastor - Gateway Prosper P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## How to Make Your Church More Welcoming for Easter Guests URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/how-to-make-your-church-more-welcoming-for-easter-guests Author: Alicia Osgood Published: 2025-05-09 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Make your church more welcoming this Easter! Learn simple tips to help first-time guests feel at home from the moment they walk through the doors. I live in a cold-weather climate, so an annual winter visit to Florida to see family is a welcome escape from the harsh winter. This year, I surprised my daughter with a day trip to Hollywood Studios as part of her high school graduation gift. We are not what you would consider "Disney people." We’ve never done many theme park vacations, so I am a bit of a novice when it comes to planning this type of excursion. Although we only went to the park for a single day, the planning was a little daunting. I wanted to make the most of our time there and be sure to hit all the main attractions, but I found the Disney website and planning process to be complex. Before purchasing my tickets, I called my sister, a Disney Vacation Club member, to enlist her expertise. - What is a FastPass, and which type should I choose? - How do I guarantee that we get on the rides we want? - What’s a MagicBand, and is it required? As she answered my questions, I realized that frequent Disney vacationers know all the tips and tricks to make the experience enjoyable. They know the best days to go, where to start their day, and they understand the Disney lingo. All of this made me realize that I am a Disney outsider. The process of planning just a single day at Disney was intimidating, and it made me want to call the whole thing off. This experience got me thinking about how overwhelming it can be for new people walking into our church buildings for the first time. With Easter right around the corner, many church teams are preparing for an increase in first-time guests. While some may have attended a church before, for many, it may be their first time. This is a great season to reassess how “outsider-friendly” your church is! ### Before Easter - Update your service times online. Many churches add additional service times on Easter weekend or adjust their regular schedule. Don’t forget to update your website and social media accounts to reflect these changes! (It’s shocking how often this gets overlooked.) Be sure to include specific details, such as whether kids’ ministry will be available during all services or only at select times. - Answer questions before they’re asked. Every church has its own culture regarding dress, worship style, communion, etc. Both churched and unchurched visitors may wonder what to expect. If your church doesn’t have a “FAQ” or “What to Expect” page on its website, consider adding one or posting this information on social media before Easter. Useful details include service times, attire, kids’ ministry options, and parking information. - Clean and declutter. Before Easter weekend, take a walkthrough of the building to declutter. Like our homes, church buildings accumulate “stuff” over time. After a while, it blends into the background, but to visitors, it may standout. Viewing the facility through a visitor’s eyes is an easy and cost-effective way to improve the church atmosphere. - Think about parking. Redesigning your parking lot may be costly, but there are simple ways to improve the experience for visitors. Ask staff and volunteers to park in the farthest spots, freeing up spaces for guests. Use traffic cones to temporarily redirect cars for better traffic flow. If you have outdoor signs, consider using them to ask first-time guests to turn on their hazard lights so parking attendants can direct them to priority parking. - Provide clear signage. You don’t need a big budget to improve way-finding signage. If all you have is a printer and laminating paper, you can create effective directional signs. Don’t assume that people know where the auditorium, kids’ classrooms, or bathrooms are. Simple signs can help visitors feel more at ease and alleviate first-time jitters. ### Easter Sunday - Be on the lookout. Most churches have greeters or ushers to assist guests. Remind them to be proactive in helping people. First-time visitors often step into the building and immediately look up—literally searching for a sign! Train greeters and ushers with simple phrases to engage newcomers, such as, “Hi there! Can I help you find something?” This small gesture can make a big difference in making people feel welcome. - Watch your language. Nothing says, “You don’t belong here” like insider jargon. If your church has unique terminology, be intentional about explaining it. For example, if you call your volunteers the “Dream Team,” be sure to define the term when it’s mentioned. When referencing staff members, clarify their roles: “I was meeting with Mike, our student pastor, this week…” Additionally, be mindful that some attendees may be completely unchurched. Words like tithe, atonement, Eucharist, deacons, or Pentecost may be unfamiliar. Taking the time to define these terms is a small but meaningful way to help newcomers feel included and take steps toward understanding faith. - Don’t make it weird. As an introvert, I always feel nervous attending a church for the first time. My worst fear is being identified as a newcomer and asked to stand to introduce myself during the service. It’s happened to me a few times, and honestly, it was the most unwelcoming experience. (Needless to say, I never returned to those churches.) Try to empathize with first-time guests. The goal is to be welcoming without being overbearing—inviting without making it awkward. - Provide clear next steps. Make it easy for people to know how they can get involved. No one should leave your church service unsure of how to connect further. Provide simple next steps, such as filling out a connect card, visiting an info table, or attending a newcomer’s event. Clarity in communication helps people feel comfortable taking their next step in faith and community. By taking these small but intentional steps, your church can create a welcoming atmosphere for first-time guests this Easter. Just as Disney insiders know how to navigate the parks effortlessly, long-time church members may take their knowledge for granted. Making your church more accessible and inviting will ensure that new visitors feel at home from the moment they walk through the doors. Alicia Osgood Support & Implementation Specialist, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Planning Center Updates: What's New This Spring 2025? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/planning-center-updates-whats-new-this-spring-2025 Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2025-05-02 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Discover the latest Spring 2025 Planning Center updates with new features for communication, scheduling, security, and volunteer coordination. Staying up to date with updates and new features in Planning Center plays an important role in the success of your church and ministry processes. New features bring new and exciting opportunities to your staff and teams. But often, a new feature or update can cause your processes to change, and your documentation or instructions must be updated. In these update articles, I’ll summarize the key updates released during the last quarter and highlight how these changes can benefit your church staff and congregation. This quarter's updates involve various aspects of the Planning Center suite, from enhanced security measures and more granular control over permissions to improved communication tools and a more customizable user experience. Let's jump into what's new. ### 1. Communication Enhancements: Amplify Your Outreach - Text In Church Integration (February 21, 2025): This add-on allows you to send personalized text messages directly within Planning Center using a Text In Church account. This integration streamlines communication, making it easier to engage with congregants through their preferred channels. Text in Church joins Clearstream with a deep integration add-on in People to enhance your texting capabilities. [(Read more here)]((Read more here) - Scheduled Text Messages (February 25, 2025): You can now schedule text messages to be sent at optimal times using the built-in text options in People, providing timely communication without the need to send messages manually. This feature will be handy for reminders about events, classes or meetings. (Read more here) ### 2. Data Management Improvements: Streamline Your Records - Global Permissions Management (March 10, 2025): No more switching between apps to assign permissions! A centralized option to manage user permissions across all Planning Center applications directly from the user’s profile is now found under the Action menu. (Read more here) - Primary Address Column (March 4, 2025): The People quick lists now include a primary address column option, which provides staff with quick access to address information, which is essential for mailings and visits.(Read more here) - Improved Note Category Management (January 13, 2025): An update to permissions in note categories now allows for better management of note categories for Admins. (Read more here) ### 3. Event and Scheduling Features: Orchestrate with Ease - Keyboard Shortcuts for Calendar Power Users (March 6, 2025): The Introduction of keyboard shortcuts in Calendar makes for faster navigation and task completion within the app for staff managing events. (Read more here) - Start Week on Monday in Calendar (January 6, 2025): This update allows staff to customize the start of the week in Calendar, which will help you to sync with organizational preferences for event planning. (Read more here) - Redesigned tags page with Church Center filters in Calendar (February 24, 2025): Now, it's easier than ever to set up categories that help congregants find the events they're interested in and help admins see which tags are public-facing and which are not. (Read more here) ### 4. Child Check-In Enhancements: Nurture with Precision - Milestone Distribution (January 21, 2025): This update enables location options based on a child's developmental phase, allowing for age-appropriate classroom assignments and customized locations outside of age/grade options. One example is the scenario of crawlers vs. walkers as an infant milestone. (Read more here) ### 5. Confidentiality and Privacy: One to One Groups - Confidential Member Groups (February 25, 2025): Staff can now create confidential groups, ensuring sensitive member information is accessible only to admins and leaders, which is vital for support groups or counseling sessions. (Read more here) ### 6. Dashboard and Reporting: Visualize Your Impact - Shareable Dashboards (February 26, 2025): Custom dashboards can now be shared among staff, promoting transparency and collaborative analysis of church metrics. All metrics have now moved to the Home app. (Read more here) ### 7. Volunteer Coordination: Empower Your Team - More Control Over Songs & Media Permissions (March 10, 2025): Updated permissions in Services now allow for more granular control over access to songs and media, ensuring volunteers have the resources they need without compromising security. (Read more here) These updates all aim to improve your team’s efficiency and effectiveness, enabling those teams to focus more on ministry and less on administrative tasks. ### Stay up to date We encourage you to check out these new features and improvements within your Planning Center account. To learn more about each update, refer to the official Planning Center What’s New page and the support documentation available on the Planning Center website. We’ll continue with quarterly updates to keep you informed on these updates within Planning Center. Jason Silbernagel Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Measuring Local Impact: How to Track Your Church's Effectiveness in the Community URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/measuring-local-impact-how-to-track-your-churchs-effectiveness-in-the-community Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-04-25 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Learn how to measure your church’s true impact beyond numbers—track lives changed, build lasting community connections, and create transformational change. Over the past three weeks, we've explored how to measure engagement, digital impact, and discipleship growth. Now, let's bring it all together with one final, essential question: How do you measure your church's impact in the community? If your church disappeared tomorrow, would your city feel the loss? If you cannot respond with an emphatic 'yes,' it might be worth asking yourself what might be needed to change that story. ### Beyond the Numbers: Measuring What Matters Many churches track attendance, donations, or the number of meals they hand out, but these numbers don't tell the whole story. The real impact isn't just what you give but the lives that change because of it. For example, during the Texas winter storms, our church distributed 28,217 meals, but the greater impact was: - The relationships built with local families - The new partnerships formed with nonprofits and city leaders - The long-term programs that emerged from those efforts Counts are much easier to track than 'impact,' so how do we track the things that drive impact? Let's break it down into simple and measurable steps. ### Step 1: Define What You're Measuring Before tracking your church's community impact, ask: - **What does success look like? (**Lives changed, relationships formed, policies influenced?) - What impact do we hope to create? (Spiritual, social, economic, or all three?) - What indicators prove our efforts are working? (Volunteer retention, community feedback, lasting partnerships?) #### Key Metrics to Track: Metric Type | What It Measures | Example Metrics Direct Impact | Immediate reach | People served, meals provided, volunteer hours, partnerships formed Long-Term Effect | Lasting change | Relationships built, systemic improvements, church-community integration Ripple Effect | Broader influence | Cultural shifts, new ministries launched, community perception changes ### Step 2: Start a Simple Impact Scorecard A straightforward way to measure impact is to create a Community Impact Scorecard. It tracks: - Who or what needs are being met? (Demographics, needs met) - How did we allocate our resources? (Time, money, partnerships) - What relationships did we form? (New connections, volunteer retention) - What are the long-term results? (Sustainability, transformation) [Example of an Impact Scorecard] ### Step 3: Use Stories to Go Beyond the Numbers While numbers are helpful, stories show real impact. Every quarter, collect: - Testimonials – How has someone's life changed because of your church? - Before & After Cases – What did their life look like before vs. after your outreach? - Ministry Growth – What new ministries, leaders, or partnerships have formed? #### How to Track Stories Easily: - Assign a team member to gather impact stories monthly - Ask volunteers to submit quick "God at Work" reports - Use surveys or interviews with those your church has helped Example: Instead of just saying, "We gave $942,000 to crisis relief," you could share: "Jane, a single mother, was on the verge of losing her home. Because of our crisis fund, she was able to stay housed, find work, and is now leading a small group for other moms in transition." This approach connects those simple ‘count’ metrics to the people we impact. ### Step 4: Set Up an Ongoing Review Tracking impact isn't just a once-and-done thing. It's something that requires ongoing attention. Here are a few ways to keep tabs on things: - Quarterly Impact Reviews - Review your key metrics every quarter and update your game plan to increase your church’s impact. - Annual Community Surveys - Contact local government or community members to gauge how your church is making a difference. - Leadership Check-ins – Regularly assess your outreach effectiveness with other local church leaders. (We are all part of the Big C church. Let’s collaborate with other local churches to build the kingdom.) > Pro Tip: Use a simple Community Impact Dashboard (Google Sheets, Notion, or a church database) to track numbers and stories over time. ### Step 5: Multiply Your Impact The final step is ensuring your efforts lead to ongoing transformation. How? By making sure your impact is reproducible and scalable. #### How to Multiply What's Working: - Train & Equip More Leaders – Are volunteers becoming leaders? - Expand High-Impact Programs – What's working best? Can it grow? - Empower Community Partners – Can you strengthen local collaborations? - Create a Replicable System – Could another church copy your model and succeed? Example: If your church has a thriving food ministry, instead of just increasing meals, consider the following: - Partnering with local businesses to provide job opportunities - Training other churches to launch similar programs - Helping families become self-sufficient rather than dependent on food aid That's how impact moves beyond transactional to transformational. ### Your Action Plan This Week Step 1: Audit your current impact tracking (What's missing?) Step 2: Create a simple scorecard (Start with 3-5 key impact areas) Step 3: Collect one community story (Interview someone impacted) Step 4: Set a review date (When will you review your church’s progress?) Step 5: Identify one next step to grow your church’s community impact ### Final Thoughts: Metrics Matter Because People Matter Measuring impact isn't just about the numbers—it's about people and stories. We want to capture the testimonies of the people we have impacted. Remember: Every number has a name. Every statistic tells a story. Every trend reflects a testimony. Your church's impact is not measured in the size of your congregation but by the lives changed in your community. How does your church measure impact? What's working? What's missing? Get in touch—I'd love to hear your story! Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## The Growth Pipeline: Tracking Your Church's Discipleship Journey URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-growth-pipeline-tracking-your-churchs-discipleship-journey Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-04-18 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Discover how to track discipleship growth beyond milestones with the "Growth Pipeline" and key metrics to measure spiritual transformation in your church. In our first two weeks, we explored how to measure true reach and digital impact. But here's a question that keeps many church leaders up at night: "How do we know if people are actually growing spiritually?" We discovered something surprising that changed our thinking about measuring discipleship. ### The Discipleship Data Gap When our team started to investigate our data, we noticed something that we knew we needed to work on. We've always done a great job tracking major milestones (like salvations and baptisms), but we were missing crucial data about the journey between these moments. We had the start and finish, but we didn't know how people got from point A to point B. This revelation led us to develop what we call the "Growth Pipeline" – a way to track and nurture spiritual growth at every stage. ### Understanding the Growth Pipeline Think of your church's discipleship journey like a pipeline. We learned that every person typically moves through several stages: - First Connection - Initial visit (online or in-person) - Connection with the welcome team - First-time guest follow-up - Early Engagement - Regular attendance - Class attendance - Participation in 'community' events - Growing Commitment - Join a small group - Volunteering - Giving patterns - Spiritual Maturity - Leadership development - Mentoring others - Kingdom impact ### The Numbers That Tell the Story As we pushed to understand better what was happening in our church, we dove into metrics that we believe helped to show if things were healthy and growing. Here are just a few of the metrics we focused on: - Salvations to Baptisms ratio (indicating initial follow-through) - Small group participation rates (percentage of people in a small group) - Volunteer retention rates (how long people serve at your church) - New Leaders (how many and type of leadership positions) ### Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) vs. Kingdom Performance Indicators Remember, we're not just tracking numbers – we're measuring impact. Here's a way to balance both: - Quantitative Metrics: - Attendance numbers (quantity and consistency) - Participation in church programs (how many classes taken) - Giving patterns (frequency and amount) - Volunteer hours (location and quantity) - Qualitative Indicators: - Prayer life development (what do people say about their own spiritual growth) - Scripture engagement (people completing your church reading plans) - Relationship growth (people's self-assessment of the quality of their relationships) - Ministry impact (the testimony of how your church impacts others) ### Making It Work in Your Church Here's a practical framework for tracking discipleship growth: - Map Your Discipleship Journey - Identify key stages in your church's discipleship path (e.g., guest, attendee, member) - Define clear markers for each stage - Create tracking mechanisms for transitions (what action or actions push people to the next stage) - Measure Movement - Track the progression through stages - Monitor time spent in each phase - Identify common sticking points - Monitor Multiplication - Track disciple-making activities (e.g., newly saved to baptized) - Measure leadership development - Monitor ministry multiplication (what is the growth year over year or month over month?) ### Real-World Application One of my favorite projects I participated in was creating the "Saved Journey," an 8-day automated sequence that helped new believers take their first steps. We provided personalized content to people when they were the most interested and fine-tuned the calls to action to help sure people were taking the desired next steps we had prescribed for them. We didn't just track email open rates; we measured actual engagement and the next steps taken. ### This Week's Action Steps: - Map out your church's current discipleship pathway - Identify gaps in your measurement system - Choose 3-5 key metrics for each stage of growth - Set up a simple tracking system for these metrics > Pro Tip: Create a "Discipleship Dashboard" that shows: · Current numbers in each stage · Movement between stages · Sticking points and successes · Growth trends over time ### Making Data Personal Remember Maya Angelou's wisdom: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." The same applies to discipleship metrics. The numbers should tell a story of life change, not just track program success. ### Quick Win for This Week Start tracking your "Next Step-Rate": (Number of people taking next steps ÷ Total number in current stage) × 100 This simple metric can reveal how effectively you're moving people forward in their faith journey. ### Looking Ahead Next week, we'll explore our final topic: "Measuring Local Impact: Your Church's Community Footprint," and discover how to track your church's influence beyond its walls. What metrics have you found most helpful in tracking discipleship growth? Reply and share your experience – I'd love to learn from you! Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Digital Ministry Metrics That Drive Real-World Impact URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/digital-ministry-metrics-that-drive-real-world-impact Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-04-11 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Discover how to measure real impact in digital ministry by focusing on engagement and next steps instead of vanity metrics like views and follower counts. Last week, we explored how to measure your church's true reach. This week, we'll tackle a question I constantly hear from church leaders: "Are our digital efforts actually making a difference?" It's a fair question. With churches investing significant time and resources into online ministry, how do we know if it's really working? Let me share a story that changed how I think about digital ministry metrics. ### The Tale of Two Videos During my time at Gateway Church, our creative team wanted to run an experiment on what videos would perform better. So, the team produced two types of videos: high-production event recaps and simple, personal follow-up messages from campus pastors. The recap videos looked amazing and got lots of views. In contrast, the personal messages were basic – just a pastor talking to their iPhone. Guess which one drove more real-world engagement? Surprisingly, those simple personal videos led to significantly higher response rates and actual ministry engagement. While the polished videos got more initial views (a vanity metric), the personal messages resulted in more people taking next steps in their faith journey (a true impact metric). ### The Digital Ministry Paradox Here's what we learned: What's easily measurable in digital ministry isn't always what's most meaningful. Interestingly, 27% of churchgoers now rely on online services regularly (Pew Research). For us church leaders, we need to expand the reach of our ministries to meet people where they are. If you received a text from a friend or family member, most of you would have opened it within a few hours. The messaging stats are astounding; 98% of text messages are opened (Consumer SMS Behavior Survey). That means that if we want to increase the reach of our ministry as pastors, we just need to reach out. It's also true that we as church leaders sometimes focus on the quick wins or easier-to-capture metrics, which tend to be less substantial in driving the desired impact outcomes we pray for. The key is knowing which numbers indicate real-world impact. ### Three Types of Digital Metrics - Vanity Metrics (Be Cautious) - Total video views - Social media follower count - Website traffic numbers - App download counts - Engagement Metrics (Getting Warmer) - Watch time on videos - Comments and meaningful interactions - Click-through rates - Return visitor rates - Impact Metrics (The Gold Standard) - Online-to-offline conversions - Next steps taken - Prayer request submissions - Small group sign-ups - Volunteer registrations ### Making Digital Ministry Count One big shift we can make as churches is to stop creating general content and move towards creating personalized content. When we implemented this approach, specifically with email, we doubled our engagement rates not by creating more content but by making it more personal and actionable. Here's how you can apply similar principles: - Track the Full Journey - Monitor how online engagement leads to in-person participation - Track which content drives real-world outcomes (what email, text, on-screen promo, makes people sign up) - Measure the time between online first contact and in-person engagement (How often people visit your website before signing up for a class, to serve, etc.) - Focus on Response Rates - Track how many people take action after engaging with digital content (click-through rate) - Measure response times across different platforms - Monitor which types of content drive the most meaningful responses (look for quality as well as quantity) - Measure Ministry Moments - Prayer requests submitted through digital platforms - Online giving patterns - Digital discipleship or Next Steps - Number of connections people have with Pastoral staff ### Real-World Application Here's a practical example: Instead of just counting video views for your Sunday service, track: - Average watch time - Number of people that engaged with chat during the service - Number of prayer requests submitted - Number of next-step cards filled out - Number of follow-up coffee/lunches booked with congregants ### This Week's Action Steps: - Audit your current digital metrics - separate them into vanity, engagement, and impact categories - Identify your top three digital touch points with your congregation - Set up tracking for at least one new impact metric - Create a simple way to connect online engagement to real-world participation > Pro Tip: Try this simple test: For each metric you track, ask, "If this number changed dramatically, would it actually indicate a change in our ministry impact?" ### Quick Win for This Week Start tracking the "next step rate" for your digital content: (Number of people who take a next step ÷ Number of people who engaged with the content) × 100 This single metric can tell you more about your digital ministry's effectiveness than dozens of vanity metrics combined. ### Looking Ahead Next week, we'll explore "The Growth Pipeline: Tracking Your Church's Discipleship Journey" and show you how to measure spiritual growth meaningfully. Have you discovered any digital metrics that have been particularly helpful for your church? Reply and let me know – I'd love to hear what metrics work best for you and your church! Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Understanding Your True Reach: The Science Behind Congregation Engagement URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/understanding-your-true-reach-the-science-behind-congregation-engagement Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-04-04 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Discover why church attendance numbers don’t tell the full story and how to measure true engagement for greater ministry impact in 2025. Have you ever wondered if your church's attendance numbers tell the whole story? I remember walking into the office on Monday morning and staring at our 'weekend at a glance' dashboard. The numbers looked good – 153,000 average weekly attendance between online and in-person services. But something was nagging at me. Sure, attendance matters. But what if we're missing something more meaningful? This question led us down a path that transformed how we understood and measured engagement at Gateway. Today, I want to share what we learned about measuring true reach – and why it matters more than ever for your church in 2025. ### Beyond the Sunday Count Here's a surprising truth: Your church's impact is likely much bigger (or sometimes smaller) than your attendance numbers suggest. Let me explain. We all know that 2020 changed the church forever. As my Catholic friends liked to call out, it allowed Christians to experience a eucharistic free faith. For us Protestants, our parallel was the rejection of the assembly of believers. We no longer needed to be in person to 'attend' church. So, let's take a minute to rewind things and see what new foundation we are building our churches upon. As all churches did during the pandemic, we faced a massive challenge. With traditional attendance metrics disrupted, we needed new ways to understand how we were reaching people. We discovered that while some metrics went down, others unexpectedly rose. For instance, when we implemented a personalized text message campaign, we reached over 100,000 people—with an astounding 60% response rate within 48 hours. This taught us a valuable lesson: engagement isn't just about who's in the room – it's about who's being impacted by your ministry across all touch points. ### Three Dimensions of True Reach Think of your church's reach like a 3D image instead of a flat photograph. Here are the key dimensions you should be measuring: - Physical Engagement - Sunday attendance (both services and classes) - Small group participation - Volunteer involvement - Event attendance - Digital Engagement - Online service views (but look at watch time, not just views) - Social media interaction (meaningful engagement, not just likes) - Email open rates and click-through rates - Website activity (time on page, not just page views) - Ministry Engagement - Prayer requests - Giving patterns - Ministry participation - Next steps taken (baptisms, memberships, etc.) ### The Engagement Discovery We made an interesting discovery when we started measuring all three dimensions. While our Sunday attendance showed one picture, our actual reach was significantly different when we accounted for all touch points. For example, when we shifted our email strategy to focus on personalization (the right message, to the right person, at the right time, in the right channel (e.g., text, email, social media, etc.), our engagement rates doubled – from 40% to 80% open rates. This wasn't just about better numbers. These improved metrics translated into real ministry impact: more people connected to small groups, increased volunteer participation, and stronger discipleship journeys. ### Making It Work for Your Church Whether your church has 100 or 10,000 members, you can start measuring true reach today. Here's how: - Start With What You Have - List all your current touch points with your congregation - Document your current metrics for each - Identify gaps in your measurement - Focus on Trends, Not Just Numbers - Track month-over-month changes - Look for patterns in engagement - Pay attention to seasonal variations - Measure What Matters - Don't track numbers just for numbers' sake - Focus on metrics that indicate spiritual growth - Look for correlations between different types of engagement ### Action Steps for This Week: - Audit your current measurement systems - what are you tracking now? - Identify at least one new engagement metric you can start measuring - Set up a simple spreadsheet or dashboard to track all three dimensions - Schedule a monthly review of these metrics with your leadership team ### The Bottom Line Remember, the goal isn't just more or better numbers – it's better ministry. > "Technology is an accelerant for ministry." - Tyler Vance, Life.Church The same is true for metrics. When we measure the more impactful things, we can make better decisions about how to serve our people and advance God's kingdom. Want to dive deeper? Check out our blog on 5 Essential Church Metrics You Need to Track in 2025 as a quick way to get started. Next week, we'll explore digital ministry metrics that drive real-world impact and show you how to turn online engagement into real-world ministry impact. Do you have questions or want to share your insights? Reply to this email—I'd love to hear your thoughts! Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Have You Tried Texting? Revolutionize Your Ministry with the Power of SMS URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/have-you-tried-texting-revolutionize-your-ministry-with-the-power-of-sms Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-03-28 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Revolutionize your ministry with text messaging! Reach your congregation instantly, foster real connections, and boost engagement with SMS. In today's fast-paced digital world, staying connected with your congregation and building meaningful relationships can be challenging. But what if I told you that the solution is right at your fingertips – literally. It's time to harness the power of text messaging to transform your ministry and create deeper, more personal connections with your community. ### Why Text Messaging? Let's face it: email inboxes are overflowing, and social media feeds are cluttered. But text messages? They're personal, immediate, and boast an impressive 98% open rate. That's right – almost everyone reads their texts. By incorporating SMS into your ministry strategy, you are tapping into a direct line of communication that's both effective and efficient. One of the most significant advantages of text messaging is its inherently personal nature. When you send a text, it feels like a one-on-one conversation, even if it's part of a larger campaign. This personal touch can make all the difference in building and maintaining relationships within your ministry. The real magic happens when you move beyond one-way broadcasting to two-way conversations. By encouraging replies and engaging in dialogue, you're not just sending messages – you're fostering relationships. This ongoing interaction helps members feel heard, valued, and connected to your ministry in a more meaningful way. ### Leveraging Technology: Planning Center and Clearstream Now, you might be wondering how to implement this strategy effectively. That's where tools like Planning Center and Clearstream come into play. Planning Center: Your Ministry Hub If you're already using Planning Center for your ministry management, you're in luck! Planning Center offers text messaging capabilities that integrate seamlessly with your existing workflows. You can: - Send targeted messages to specific groups or individuals - Schedule texts in advance for timely reminders - Use templates to streamline your communication Clearstream: Taking It to the Next Level For those looking to supercharge their text messaging strategy, Clearstream is a game-changer. This third-party tool offers powerful features designed specifically for ministry communication: - Automation: Set up automated sequences to nurture new leads or welcome new members. - Two-Way Inbox: Engage in real-time, two-way conversations with your community. - Segmentation: Target your messages based on interests, involvement, or any custom criteria. - Analytics: Gain insights into engagement rates and message effectiveness. For those that want to try Clearstream, this link (app.clearstream.io) will save you 10% for the duration of your use of the platform. (As a note, we do not receive any commission for referrals, we just believe in the platform, and it’s benefits for your church.) ### Implementing Your Text Messaging Strategy Ready to get started? Here's a step-by-step guide to implementing a powerful text messaging strategy in your ministry: - Build Your List: Start collecting phone numbers (with permission, of course) at events, through your website, or during services. - Plan Your Content: Develop a content calendar that includes inspirational messages, event reminders, prayer requests, and opportunities for engagement. - Create a Welcome Sequence: Design a series of welcome messages for new subscribers to introduce them to your ministry and set expectations. - Encourage Interaction: Ask questions, run polls, or invite replies to foster two-way communication. - Segment Your Audience: Group your subscribers based on interests or involvement to send more targeted, relevant messages. - Monitor and Adjust: Keep an eye on engagement metrics and be ready to adjust your strategy based on what resonates with your community. ### Best Practices for Ministry Texting To make the most of your text messaging efforts: - Keep it Concise: Text messages should be short and to the point. - Be Authentic: Let your ministry's unique voice shine through. - Respect Boundaries: Stick to appropriate times for sending messages and honor opt-out requests promptly. - Provide Value: Every message should serve a purpose, whether it's to inform, inspire, or engage. - Don’t Overdo It: Find the sweet spot between staying connected and overwhelming your subscribers. - Leverage Short Form Video: Look to send short updates or encouragement videos to your congregation. It’s more personal when people can see your face. ### The Power of Personal Connection Remember, the goal of text messaging in ministry isn't just to broadcast information – it's to build relationships. By leveraging the immediacy and personal nature of texts, you're opening new avenues for meaningful connection. Imagine being able to send a timely word of encouragement, remind someone of their importance in your community, or quickly mobilize volunteers for an urgent need. With text messaging, all of this becomes not just possible, but easy and effective. ### Conclusion: Your Ministry, Amplified In a world where digital noise is constant, text messaging offers a unique opportunity to cut through the clutter and reach hearts directly. By implementing a thoughtful SMS strategy, you're not just adapting to modern communication preferences – you're embracing a powerful tool to extend your ministry's impact beyond the walls of your church. So, have you tried texting? If not, there's no better time to start. Your congregation is waiting to hear from you, one message at a time. Michael Visser Co-founder of Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Volunteer Engagement: Celebrating Unseen Teams URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/volunteer-engagement-celebrating-unseen-teams Author: Alicia Osgood Published: 2025-03-21 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Celebrate and appreciate the unseen volunteer teams in your church with simple gestures, personalized events, and tools like Planning Center. This morning, I received a text message from my 18-year-old daughter. She said, “I’m sorry for how stupid I was when I was a kid. How did you manage to put up with all three of us?” I replied, “That’s why God made you all so cute.” I wondered what prompted her text message and then she reminded me that she was at work. She nannies for a family with three kids under the age of five and this morning was challenging. The kids were more demanding than usual, full of energy, and not listening well. This culminated in one of them knocking over my daughter’s coffee that she had picked up on her drive to their house. The morning chaos had given her a momentary glimpse into what my life was like on an almost daily basis for many years when she and her brothers were young. Being a parent is a lot of hard work, and most days you won’t receive a “thank you” or any type of recognition. Mom and Dad can remember to pay the bills, clean the house, mow the yard, pick up the groceries, do the laundry, and plan the birthday party, but not hear a word of praise. Conversely, if one of those things goes undone there will be family protests. A similar dynamic can be found within the walls of our churches. In this “family” there are often individuals (or entire teams!) whose work goes unnoticed. They work behind the scenes, making Sunday services and weekly programs run smoothly. They do the things that we tend to only notice when they stophappening. While their contribution is invaluable, their recognition sometimes falls short. Creating intentional methods to celebrate those who fill these roles is an important part of stewarding volunteers and keeping them engaged. ### Seeing the Unseen: Methods of Showing Appreciation 1. Turn on the spotlight. Be intentional about highlighting the teams and volunteers who serve. Commit to a weekly or monthly rhythm of publicly recognizing the teams that are otherwise unseen. This can be done by using the communication methods already in place at your church – newsletters, videos, social media posts, etc. Showcase the parking team's dedication during winter storms or the production crew's early Sunday arrivals. Share stories about how one of the volunteers made an impact in the ministry. But be careful not to fall into the recruitment trap! Many times, we only talk about our teams when we are trying to enlist new volunteers, but by emphasizing teams outside the context of recruitment we create a more community-centered view of what it means to be a part of the team. 2. Take Time to Celebrate. Recognition should extend beyond public acknowledgment to create meaningful moments of appreciation that strengthen team bonds and morale. Host regular appreciation events targeting specific teams, thoughtfully designed around their unique dynamics and preferences. These should be fun, relational gatherings that your team members eagerly anticipate and view as genuine celebrations rather than obligatory functions. Rather than defaulting to generic pizza parties, tailor celebrations to each group's preferences and schedules – perhaps a barista-led coffee tasting for your early morning teams, a family picnic for those serving in children's ministry, or an evening food truck festival for your youth leaders. These personalized events demonstrate that you understand and value each team's distinct contribution while creating opportunities for deeper connection and community building. When team members feel seen and celebrated in ways that resonate with their interests and circumstances, it reinforces their sense of belonging and importance to the church. 3. Offer a simple “Thank you.” The first year that my husband was in ministry he decided to write a thank you note to each of his Small Group leaders at the end of the Group semester. He was shocked to hear from one couple who told him that in over a decade of serving at the church they had never received a thank you note from a pastor for anything. That note had a greater impact on them than any gift could have had. In our era of instant messages and quick emails, a handwritten thank you note stands as a powerful gesture of genuine gratitude and personal connection. Unlike digital communications, these physical expressions of appreciation require time and thought, making their impact far more meaningful and memorable for both sender and recipient. Thank you notes only cost about 5 minutes of our time (and maybe a stamp) so don’t underestimate the effect it might have on one of your team members! ### Hacking the System: Using Planning Center’s Tools to Celebrate your teams Recently I had a pastor refer to church management tools (like Planning Center) as being part of the “Church Industrial Complex.” He was mostly joking, but the underlying concern that he had is that, by using software tools such as Planning Center, was he going to start viewing his church members as just another name in the database. He didn’t want to lose sight of the fact that the church is not a dashboard of metrics on a computer screen – it’s a people. I told him what I tell nearly all church teams that I work with – if you’re using Planning Center’s tools well, your people won’t feel like a name in a database – they’ll feel seen and cared for. What do I mean? Well, Planning Center has some amazing tools that can help create a culture of appreciation and comradery. Here are just a few ideas: - Birthdays Alerts: Use a Planning Center list to see which volunteers have a birthday coming up next month. Then, use automations to perform an action like sending a birthday email or creating a task to remind you to drop a card in the mail. - Anniversary Alerts: Set up Custom Fields or use tags to mark anniversary dates for when volunteers started serving. You can use this information to celebrate long-term volunteers and remind the team of how much impact they’ve made. - Absence Alerts: Set up automatic alerts to notify team leaders or ministry coordinators when a volunteer misses a scheduled shift. This allows you to follow up with those volunteers to keep them engaged. This can be done by setting up a recurring list in People. - Impact Reports: Regularly send out reports to teams showing how their work has made a difference. For example, “This past month, your team served 200 hours and helped 50 families!” This reinforces the importance of their work and gives them a sense of purpose. - New Team Members: When a volunteer joins a team, make a point to announce them to the group. This can be done through Messaging or during in-person gatherings. You can also use Custom Fields to tag new team members and highlight their contributions over time. - Celebratory Feedback Forms: Use Forms to gather feedback from your volunteers about their experiences and how they feel celebrated. You can use this information to improve future celebrations and ensure that your team feels valued. Celebrating the unseen teams in your church is more than just a nice gesture—it’s a vital practice that nurtures a culture of gratitude and community. By recognizing the hard work and dedication of those who serve behind the scenes, you not only boost their morale but also cultivate a deeper sense of belonging and purpose. With tools like Planning Center, it’s easier than ever to stay organized and intentional about showing appreciation, ensuring that every volunteer feels valued and celebrated for the unique contributions they make. Whether it’s a simple thank you, a personalized celebration, or a thoughtful acknowledgment of milestones, taking the time to invest in your teams’ well-being will help them stay engaged, motivated, and committed to the mission of the church. After all, a well-celebrated team is a team that thrives—and the impact of their work is felt by everyone. Alicia Osgood Support & Implementation Specialist, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Leadership Insight: Navigating Shifting and Crisis in Ministry URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/leadership-insight-navigating-shifting-and-crisis-in-ministry Author: Joe Jones Published: 2025-03-14 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Learn how to navigate change and crisis in ministry with resilience, encouragement, and faith, turning challenges into growth opportunities. When I was moving from Oklahoma to Texas after college, someone gave me the use of their old pickup truck to help move my belongings and travel to my new city. They dropped it off and I loaded it up to leave town. As I got in, preparing to drive away, I realized that this truck had a manual transmission on the steering column (this was the early 80’s). I had never driven one of those before! There were a few things I needed to learn very quickly. I had to understand the gear layout which wasn’t posted anywhere. (Nowadays, it’s more conveniently located at the top of the gear shift handle.) I also had to engage a pedal on the floor with my left foot called the clutch. Instead of one simple pedal to accelerate, now I had to use two pedals and two feet. I had to shift and engage at the right times to change gears and drive forward. If I let go of the clutch too early, it made a loud grinding sound like I just scraped a brick across the hood of the truck. It sounded painful, it felt broken, and there was a whole lot of shaking happening. In the church or ministry, when navigating huge changes or crisis situations, it can feel like learning to drive a manual vehicle for the first time. Uncertain, shaky, complex. People can be shuffled around, some are let go, the ministry can feel broken, and everything seems to be shaken up. But here is some good news. No matter how I grinded out those gears, I eventually found the way to lock it in and move ahead. It wasn’t the most pleasant trip, but I did arrive at my destination. Getting there was part of the adventure, and I learned that shifting is never boring! Let’s face it, if you work inside of a ministry organization for long enough, you are going to have to learn how to work and lead through change (sometimes even crisis). We will need to know how to be brave and strong through transition. Why? Because ministries and churches are always shifting and are made up of imperfect people that may sometimes behave outside of the character fitting of a follower of Jesus. Ministry leaders may make unpopular decisions, and your team members may be impacted as a result. You may be affected, too! When you are tasked with navigating a job or a team in the middle of a shift, transition or crisis, there are two things to be aware of: it is never fun, and it is never popular. It's never fun: In the middle of challenging times, everyone is emotionally and mentally in a different place regarding how they are processing what is being collectively experienced. This means that the network of opinions and emotions will likely cover a wide spectrum that cannot be fully appeased as concerns are understood and addressed. As someone leading through the change, transition, or crisis, it is quite likely that you will not realize complete buy-in from your whole team at any point. There may always be someone that disagrees while another group may be fine with the decisions that are being made. It's never popular: When everyone is feeling and behaving in different ways, solutions are illusive. Nothing seems to get resolved in the middle of crisis, it’s just managed and hopefully moved forward. And that is what we as leaders (or workers) need to be aware of…moving forward. And remember this: forward is forward regardless of the pace. We will get to where we need to be as well! As followers of Christ, we must trust the process and often must go along for the ride. We may not always agree with the people that are driving, or those on the ride with us, and we may have to fight off the desire to open our mouths and comment on the way they are shifting through these changes. Learn the art of staying supportive. Nobody likes a backseat driver! Change is hard and huge shifts in an organization present many difficulties, but we need to realize that they also bring us many beautiful opportunities for growth and development. Let me provide a couple ways for us to be intentional about how we can bring health back to our culture: - Encourage the people in your circle of influence. Don’t miss an opportunity to dispense hope. When you encourage, you “put courage” into others. - Empathize with what others may be feeling. Consider what they are going through during the changes. Support them by keeping your attitude positive. - Be present and available to jump in, collaborate or just listen whenever necessary. Being in the moment, steady and ready, positions us for whatever need may arise. How we handle ourselves and communicate with others in these seasons will determine just how far we can go and where we end up. No one likes change. When shifts and transitions take place it can be unsettling. Don’t be afraid of it. Lean in. You will come through stronger and wiser every time. Joe Jones Guest Writer and Pastor of Online at Gateway Church P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Who's Going to Carry the Boats? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/whos-going-to-carry-the-boats Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-03-07 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Who’s going to carry the boats? Discover the power of resilience, leadership, and faith in overcoming life's toughest challenges. "Who's going to carry the boats?" The question echoes across the cold, wet sand of Coronado Beach, where Navy SEAL candidates face one of the world's most grueling military training programs. It's not just a question of physical endurance – it's a challenge that cuts to the core of leadership, commitment, and purpose. The boats, weighing over 200 pounds, become the ultimate test of not just individual strength, but of team resilience and unwavering determination. For nearly two years, I have witnessed my brother-in-law’s relentless pursuit of earning his trident – the prestigious emblem that marks a soldier's transformation into a SEAL. It took him almost eighteen months to complete the rigorous training, starting with Basic, then BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL), and finishing with SQT (SEAL qualification training); his journey embodied the essence of unstoppable determination. He's always known this was his calling, determined that nothing would stand between him and earning his trident. During Hell Week – the make-or-break crucible of SEAL training – candidates must carry massive inflatable boats through deep sand for hours until exhaustion claims them one by one. As others fall away, remaining team members must shoulder an increasingly heavy burden. For my brother-in-law, this test became even more daunting when he broke his foot during a landing. In those final hours, when his body screamed for surrender and the infamous brass bell beckoned with its promise of relief, something remarkable happened. On the brink of total exhaustion, he felt God's presence helping to push him through the pain to the finish line. That divine partnership carried him past his physical limits to achieve what seemed impossible. This powerful question – "Who's going to carry the boats?" – resonates far beyond the shores of Coronado. As we step into 2025, it challenges each of us to consider: What heavy loads has God called us to bear? What crucial responsibilities are we uniquely positioned to shoulder? The weight of these questions becomes even more significant when we realize that, like those SEAL candidates, our willingness to carry the load often determines whether others will have to bear additional burdens or find the strength to rejoin the fight. The biblical story of Nehemiah provides a striking parallel. Upon learning that Jerusalem's walls lay in ruins, Nehemiah felt a divine calling to rebuild them. His response is telling: "Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, 'If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.'" Like a SEAL candidate facing that weighted boat, Nehemiah stepped forward when others stepped back. The challenges facing our communities in 2025 demand similar courage and commitment. We need leaders willing to: - Launch ambitious community outreach programs that seem beyond our resources, reaching into neighborhoods and demographics we've never reached before - Build bridges across deep social divides within our congregations, facilitating difficult conversations and fostering genuine understanding - Mentor the next generation of leaders through uncertain times, investing countless hours in developing character and competence - Champion innovative ministry initiatives that push us beyond our comfort zones, embracing new methods while preserving timeless truths - Address systemic issues in our communities that others have been deemed too complex or controversial to tackle Each of these challenges requires the same kind of resilience demonstrated by SEAL candidates during Hell Week. The path forward isn't always clear, and progress often comes at a significant personal cost. Sometimes we must press on through broken moments, trusting that our calling is greater than our comfort. These challenges might seem as daunting as rebuilding Jerusalem's walls. Opposition will come, just as it did for Nehemiah: "Hear us, our God, for we are despised... for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders." Yet the wall was rebuilt in 52 days because the people "worked with all their heart." This remarkable achievement reminds us that seemingly impossible tasks become attainable when we combine divine calling with unwavering commitment, and we work in deep partnership with the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, our God-sized dreams feel too big to share. Nehemiah himself admits, "I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem." Many of us carry visions and callings that seem too audacious to voice aloud, we too must press forward when God places a vision in our hearts. The weight of leadership can feel overwhelming. Just as SEAL candidates watch their boat crew dwindle during Hell Week, making the load heavier for those who remain, leaders often experience increasing burdens as others step back. That's precisely when we must ask ourselves, "Who's going to carry the boats?" If not us, then who? If not now, then when? When we step up to carry the load God has assigned us, we're never carrying it alone. God’s presence, is available to each of us as we pursue our God-given missions, pushing us through our darkest hours. Just as every SEAL candidate discovers depths of strength they never knew they possessed we, too, will find resources beyond our natural capabilities when we commit to our calling. It was an absolute honor to watch my brother-in-law receive his trident. During the intimate ceremony, his eyes reflected both overwhelming gratitude and triumph as the gold insignia was pinned to his uniform – a moment shared by only a few thousand individuals throughout history. The weight of the achievement was palpable in the room as he joined the ranks of an elite brotherhood. Family members dabbed tears from their eyes, understanding the magnitude of what he had endured to reach this milestone. As he stood there, transformed by his journey, I was reminded that some achievements hold a deeper significance than any words can capture. Sometimes, the rewards of our efforts are displayed for those to see; other times, they remain just between us and God. For those of us who are not at the finish line but are in the process of building the walls that God has tasked us with, I want to share encouragement from my life verse (which has taken on new meaning as I've witnessed the power of divine partnership in moments of extreme challenge): > "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:30-31 As we face the challenges of 2025, remember: The question isn't whether the boats are heavy – they always are. The question is who will step forward to carry them. Discovering divine strength and pushing beyond physical limits, we can access the supernatural when we commit to carrying the loads God has prepared for us. The walls need rebuilding. The boats are waiting. The challenges of 2025 loom large. Who's going to carry the boats? Will you? Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## 5 Essential Church Metrics You Need to Track in 2025 URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/5-essential-church-metrics-you-need-to-track-in-2025 Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-03-03 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Discover five essential church metrics to track in 2025 to measure engagement, spiritual growth, and ministry impact beyond attendance numbers. ### Does Your Church Have a Dashboard? If not, I hope this article convinces you to create one by the time you reach the end. In today's church, having a clear overview of your ministry's impact is not just helpful—it's essential. That's why successful businesses and thriving ministries alike rely on measurable data to drive growth. > Pearson's Law states: "When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates." Think about that. Just tracking something naturally improves it. But growth truly happens when we measure, report, and refine based on those insights. ### Why Traditional Metrics Fall Short I learned this firsthand when reviewing our weekend attendance numbers. Coming in early on a Monday morning, the numbers looked decent, but something felt off. Then it dawned on me. We've been doing a great job measuring attendance, but did that matter regarding our church's vision? What was our church's impact on all these weekend attendees? That's when I realized we needed more than just clicks, shares, and attendees in seats; I wanted to know what impact we were having on the people that were connected to our church. From that point, the team and I started to dig into the numbers, looking beyond traditional metrics like attendance and giving. Today, I want to share five of my favorite measurements that I believe will help you transform how you assess your church's health and effectiveness. But first let me ask again:Does your church have a dashboard? If not, or if you're unsure whether you're tracking the right things, this post is for you. ### 1. Engagement Conversion Rate: Moving People from Observers to Participants Your engagement conversion rate is like your ministry's pulse. It measures how effectively you're moving people from casual observers to active participants in your church community. Engagement tracking isn't just about tracking clicks—it's about tracking impact. #### Understanding Click-Through Rates (CTR) In the digital world, click-through rate (CTR) measures the number of people who act when presented with an opportunity. For example, if you email 1,000 people about joining a small group and 100 people click the link, your CTR is 10%. Tracking CTR helps you determine: - How compelling your call to action is - Whether your message resonates with your audience - The effectiveness of your timing and communication channels At Gateway Church, we refined our email strategy to focus on personalization—sending the right message to the right person, at the right time, through the right channel—and saw open rates double from 40% to 80%! #### 3 Key Engagement Metrics to Track: - Digital Response Tracking - Monitor form submissions for the next steps taken - Track event signups, prayer requests, and volunteer applications - First-Time Guest Journey - Measure how many guests complete your welcome process - Track small group connection rates - Monitor follow-up response rates - Digital-to-Physical Transition - Track how many online viewers attend in-person - Measure the time between the first online engagement and the first physical visit Takeaway: Tracking engagement conversion rates helps you understand how well you're moving people from spectators to active members in your church. ### 2. Lifetime Ministry Value (LMV): Measuring Long-Term Impact Businesses track Lifetime Value (LTV) to measure how much revenue a customer generates over time. But in ministry, the value isn't financial—it's spiritual. #### What is Lifetime Ministry Value (LMV)? LMV measures the depth and duration of a person's faith journey within your church. It helps answer questions like: - How well are we disciplining people over time? - Where are people getting stuck in their faith journey? - Are we fostering long-term spiritual growth? #### Key LMV Metrics to Track: - Growth Pipeline Progression - Movement through discipleship stages (First Connection → Early Engagement → Growing Commitment → Spiritual Maturity) - Participation in small groups, classes, and leadership training - Ministry impact (mentoring, serving, leading others) - Engagement Depth - Small group participation and retention - Volunteer involvement and leadership growth - Ministry multiplication (how many others they are disciplining) - Relationship Longevity - Duration of active membership - Consistency of attendance and involvement Takeaway: LMV helps you assess spiritual growth over time—not just attendance or giving. ### 3. Member Referrals and Network Growth: The Power of Invitation #### Why Member Referrals Matter In business, referral marketing is the holy grail of growth because referred customers: - Have a 16% higher lifetime value - Show 37% higher retention rates Similarly, church growth thrives on personal invitation. #### How to Track Church Referrals - Direct Referral Tracking - Percentage of new attendees who came through personal invitation - Number of invite cards or digital shares used - Member-Initiated Growth - Small group multiplications led by members - Volunteers recruiting new volunteers - Network Effect Measurement - Second-degree connections (friends of friends who join) - Social media shares and engagement from members Takeaway: Word of mouth is the most authentic way to grow your church. The more you track and encourage it, the more your church will thrive. ### 4. Volunteer and Participation Retention: Building a Healthy Ministry Your volunteers are the heartbeat of your church. Without them, the ministry stagnates. #### Key Volunteer Metrics to Track: - Retention Rates - Percentage of volunteers still serving after 3, 6, and 12 months - Engagement levels over time (do they drop off?) - Participation Ratios - Volunteers-to-Attendee Ratio (healthy churches aim for 45-50%) - Leader-to-participant ratio in small groups - Growth Ratios - New Volunteer to Total Volunteer Ratio (is recruitment keeping up?) Takeaway: Healthy churches don't just recruit volunteers—they retain and develop them. ### 5. Donation Engagement Metrics: Nurturing a Culture of Generosity While giving isn't the primary measure of church health, it reveals engagement patterns and helps sustain ministry efforts. #### Key Giving Metrics to Track: - First-Time to Recurring Giver Journey - Percentage of first-time givers who become recurring - The time between the first and the second gift - Giving Pattern Analysis - Frequency of giving - Average gift amount by donor segment - Digital Engagement Impact - Online giving adoption rates - Mobile vs. desktop giving trends Takeaway: Tracking giving metrics isn't about money—it's about fostering generosity and stewarding church resources well. ### Final Thoughts: Making These Metrics Work for Your Church - Start where you are. Track what you can with the tools you have. - Focus on trends. Look for patterns and movement over time. - Connect the dots. The interactions between these metrics reveal potent insights. ### What's Next? Which of these metrics are you currently tracking? What insights have you gained? Get in touch—I'd love to hear from you! Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Transforming Ministry with Discovery-Based Volunteer Teams URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/transforming-ministry-with-discovery-based-volunteer-teams Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2025-02-28 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover how a discovery-based volunteer approach helps churches place people in roles aligned with their gifts, creating energized and thriving teams. I'm excited to talk about something close to my heart - helping volunteers find their perfect fit in ministry. While I served at my previous church, I observed how ministry worked behind the scenes, and what I witnessed there totally transformed how I think about volunteer ministry. Now, as I work with churches, one of the biggest challenges I regularly see is volunteer placement. Often, churches handle volunteer recruitment by simply announcing, "Hey, we need people to serve in children's ministry" from the platform or in the bulletin. Then we cross our fingers and hope people sign up. But the church where I served for years, including being a part of their volunteer leadership team, had a different way of thinking about and approaching volunteer onboarding. Let me explain what made this church's approach completely different. ### The Discovery Path: A Game-Changer They had developed what they called a "Discovery Path" – a super simple yet powerful concept. The idea here is that before anybody starts serving, they take time to really understand that person's unique combination of gifts, talents, and passions. Now, I know what you're thinking – it sounds like it takes a lot more time than just filling slots. But let me give you a quick example of how this saves time in the long run. I remember this lady, who we’ll call Sarah, who served on our team - she had an interesting story that really brought this to life. Sarah had been faithfully serving in the nursery for about three years because, you know, that's where we needed help. But she was burning out, getting frustrated, and thinking about stepping away from serving altogether. Through our Discovery Path process, we discovered she had this amazing gift for training and development - something she used to do in her corporate job before becoming a stay-at-home mom. With that insight, we were able to move her into a role more suited to her skillset and passions. Now, instead of changing diapers, she's training other volunteers and developing leaders, and she's totally energized by it. The transformation in her attitude toward serving was incredible to see. She’s now serving in her gifting and the church is better off for it. Okay, so let me walk you through how this church did this. They started with what I consider to be three important assessments: - They did a spiritual gifts inventory to understand how God has specifically gifted each person - They used StrengthsFinder to look at natural talents and abilities - They wrapped it up with a DISC profile to understand how people interact and communicate ### Finding the Sweet Spot Now, here's what made this effective - they didn't just ask people to take the assessments and say, "Good luck." They actually sat down with them and had a ministry coach help interpret all this information. The idea is to find that sweet spot where your gifts and the church's needs come together. The ministry coaches knew all the volunteer opportunities and could help walk alongside the people once they had their results. Each of the assessments was part of the Discovery Path classes. There were opportunities to take the assessments during the classes. The results were recorded to the people’s profiles within Planning Center People using a shared form with custom fields. They put the QR code for the form on a slide so people could easily access it from their own mobile devices. Let me show you another example of how this worked. They had this guy, Tom, who was super introverted, and he had been trying to serve as a greeter because that's where they needed people. However, once they discovered his technical mind and attention to detail through these assessments, they asked him to move to the media team. Now, he's thriving in the production booth, and you can see the joy on his face when he's serving. That's the end product of helping people find their perfect fit and place to serve. ### The Power of Perfect Placement The results of this approach were amazing. They saw volunteers stick around longer and enjoy what they were doing. It wasn't just about filling slots anymore – they were building sustainable ministry teams with people who loved what they were doing. And here's something interesting - when people served in roles that matched their gifts, they got energized rather than drained or burned out. The premise is simple: when people were serving in their perfect place, they experienced more fulfillment, creating more ownership in the role and much less turnover. So, nowadays, when I help our clients with volunteer teams, I always recommend a discovery process. I recommend these same tools - spiritual gifts assessments, DISC profiles, and StrengthsFinder. Our goal is to make orientation sessions feel more like personal growth workshops rather than traditional training meetings. People will get excited about going through the process because they're learning about themselves while finding their perfect place to serve. The transformation in our volunteer culture was incredible. Instead of constantly struggling to fill positions, we started seeing people get excited about serving. They were finding their sweet spot in ministry, and both the volunteers and the church were being blessed by it. And you know what's really cool? When people served in their areas of strength, they naturally started mentoring others with similar gifts. It created this amazing multiplication effect in our ministry. ### Lasting Impact Let me wrap this up by sharing something really powerful that a former lead pastor used to say. He said, *"When we help people serve from their strengths, we're not just filling positions - we're fulfilling God's design for His church.”*That really stuck with me, and it's changed how I approach volunteer ministry ever since. If you've tried something similar at your church, I'd love to hear about it. We love helping churches develop healthy volunteer cultures, and we'll keep creating content like this to support you in your ministry journey. Jason Silbernagel Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Church Growth Stages: Your Roadmap to Sustainable Growth URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/church-growth-stages-your-roadmap-to-sustainable-growth Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-02-21 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Learn the 4 stages of church growth and discover actionable steps to build sustainable, healthy ministries at every stage of your journey. Not every church aims to become a megachurch, but growth is a requirement for healthy churches. Growth might not be a massive expansion in attendance but rather a deepening of relationships. Whether you're the lead pastor leading a small congregation or overseeing a large ministry, understanding your current stage of growth is crucial for making informed decisions about your next steps. ### Why Understanding Your Growth Stage Matters Drawing insights from Michael Masterson's Ready, Fire, Aim, we can understand how the dynamics change as a church expands; we've identified four distinct stages that churches typically experience. Remember: These stages aren't a ladder you must climb but rather different seasons of ministry, each with its own opportunities and challenges. As you read the four stages of church growth, take a moment to see what stage your church is currently in and what it might take to grow to the next level. ### Stage 1: Foundation (1-8 Staff/Volunteers) You might be here if: - Your leadership team meets around one table - Most decisions go through you directly - Everyone knows everyone else - You're still working to establish regular programs - Your systems are mostly informal Signs you're ready to grow: - Core team is consistently overworked - Basic systems are becoming strained - Regular attendees are asking for more ministry programs or initiatives - You're seeing consistent first-time visitors Next Steps for Growth: - Document your current processes, even if they're simple - Start identifying potential leaders among your volunteers - Create a basic leadership structure with clear roles - Focus on excellent Sunday experiences - Invest in a simple church management system ### Stage 2: Development (9-50 Staff/Volunteers) You might be here if: - You need regular leadership meetings to stay coordinated - Some volunteers are leading other volunteers - You're running multiple ministry programs - You're experiencing consistent growth in attendance - You've implemented basic systems and processes Signs you're ready to grow: - Communication is becoming more challenging - Ministry leaders need more autonomy - You're struggling to maintain personal connections - Programs are reaching capacity - Volunteer teams are maxing out Next Steps for Growth: - Develop a middle management structure - Create documented training and onboarding systems for staff and volunteers - Implement regular leadership development opportunities - Establish clear communication channels - Start thinking about scalable systems ### Stage 3: Expansion (51-350 Staff/Volunteers) You might be here if: - You have multiple layers of leadership - Most ministry areas have dedicated staff - You're running numerous programs simultaneously - You have established systems and processes - Direct access to senior leadership is limited Signs you're ready to grow: - Current systems are showing strain - Department coordination is challenging - There is a need for more specialized roles - Communication gaps are appearing - Decision-making is slowing down Next Steps for Growth: - Invest in professional management training - Implement robust church management software - Develop comprehensive policy manuals - Create clear organizational structure - Establish inter-department communication protocols ### Stage 4: Enterprise (350+ Staff/Volunteers) You might be here if: - You have multiple campuses or services - Specialized departments with professional staff - Complex organizational structure - Established systems and procedures - Strong brand presence in the community and beyond Signs you need revitalization: - Growth has plateaued - Innovation has slowed - Departments are becoming siloed - Decision-making is bureaucratic - Culture feels more corporate than familial Next Steps for Continued Growth: - Implement innovation teams - Develop leadership pipelines - Create new growth channels - Foster entrepreneurial spirit within departments - Focus on maintaining a personal touch despite the size ### Key Principles for Every Stage - Stay Mission-Focused: Keep your original calling and vision at the forefront - Maintain Excellence: Quality over quantity in every program and service - Invest in People: Leadership development should never stop - Keep Communication Clear: Overcommunicate vision and direction - Embrace Change: Be willing to adapt systems as you grow Remember, these stages aren't about reaching a specific size – they're about creating healthy, sustainable growth that allows your church to maximize its impact on the Kingdom. Each stage builds upon the previous one, creating a strong foundation for whatever God has next for your ministry. Need help implementing these principles? We're here to support your church's growth journey. Reach out to us at info@threefold.solutions for personalized guidance and resources. Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Transform Your Year: Yearly Themes > Resolutions URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/transform-your-year-yearly-themes-gt-resolutions Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-02-07 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover the power of yearly themes over resolutions! Embrace grace, foster growth, and transform your year with this practical framework. Have you ever felt the familiar sting of a failed New Year's resolution? You're not alone. As church leaders, we're called to be examples of growth and transformation, but the traditional resolution approach often leaves us feeling defeated rather than inspired. ### The Hidden Problem with Resolutions Picture this: Last January, you resolved to read through the Bible in a year. By March, you were three weeks behind, and by June, you had completely abandoned the plan. Does this sound familiar? I know this has never happened to you; it’s just an example. The problem isn't your commitment – it's the rigid structure of resolutions themselves. ### Introducing the Power of Yearly Themes What if I told you there was a more grace-filled, transformative approach to personal and professional growth? Enter the concept of yearly themes. Instead of setting rigid goals like read the Bible in a year, you might choose a theme like the year of drawing closer or the year of reading. ### Why Themes Work Better Than Resolutions 1. Themes Embrace the Journey - A resolution says: Read 4 chapters of the Bible daily - A theme says: This is a year of growth in Biblical Wisdom 2. Themes Allow for Grace - A resolution declares success or failure - A theme celebrates progress and growth in any form 3. Themes Shape Your Worldview - Resolutions focus on specific actions - Themes influence every decision and direction ### Your Framework for Creating a Powerful Yearly Theme Step 1: Reflect and Pray - What area of your life or ministry needs the most attention? - Where do you feel God calling you to grow? - What word or phrase keeps coming to mind when you pray about the year ahead? Step 2: Choose Your Theme Your theme should be: - Broad enough to encompass multiple areas of growth - Specific enough to guide decision-making - Memorable enough to keep top of mind Examples: - The Year of Intentional Leadership - The Year of Health - The Year of Small Improvements Step 3: Implementation Strategy - Monthly Check-ins: Schedule a recurring calendar appointment for the first Monday of each month. Ask yourself: - How has my theme influenced my choices this month? - What opportunities have I embraced or missed? - What adjustments could better align with my theme? - Quarterly Deep Dives: Set aside 2 hours every three months to review and refine. Do the following: - Review your journal entries and decisions - Identify patterns and areas for growth - Adjust your approach as needed ### Making Your Theme Work For You 💡 Pro Tip: Create visual reminders of your theme. 💡 - Set it as your phone wallpaper - Put it on your mirror so you see it every morning ### The Power of Community Share your theme with your leadership team and congregation. Not only does this create accountability, but it also inspires others to adopt their own themes, creates natural mentoring opportunities, and builds a culture of continuous growth. ### Your Next Steps - Take time this week to pray and reflect on potential themes - Schedule your monthly and quarterly check-ins now - Share your theme with at least three trusted colleagues - Start journaling about how your theme might shape your year ### Final Thoughts Remember, a theme isn't about perfection – it's about progress. It's about creating a framework for growth that aligns with God's grace and your unique calling as a leader. Ready to embrace your yearly theme? Reply to this email and share what theme you're considering. I'd love to pray for you and offer any insights as you begin this journey. P.S. Forward this to another church leader who might benefit from this approach to personal and professional growth. Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## The Planning Center Playbook Objective URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-planning-center-playbook-objective Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2025-01-31 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: People Unlock the full potential of Planning Center to grow your church community, deepen engagement, and build lasting connections in 2025. In today's fast-paced ministry environment, staying connected with your congregation and fostering a sense of community is more crucial than ever. You've taken the first step by using Planning Center, but are you harnessing its full potential to build lasting relationships and help people find their place in your church? As we look ahead to 2025, let's dive into how you can utilize Planning Center for future growth, deeper engagement, and stronger community bonds. ### The Hidden Gold in Your Planning Center Database Your Planning Center People database is your church’s story. The data stored within it tells you who your congregation is. It houses their contact information, their history and activity of ministry milestones, event registrations, small group involvement, donation frequency, and more. If you haven’t been using Planning Center to its full potential or if you would like to utilize additional features in 2025, we’re going to look at some of the most important ones in this article. ### Forms: Your Path to Meaningful Connections Forms serve as more than just data collection tools; they act as your digital welcome mat, providing your congregation with a way to ask questions, submit prayer requests, and express interest in volunteering, just to name a few uses. Here's how to make forms work more effectively for you: - Simplify and Streamline: Keep your forms short and sweet. Ask only for essential information that will help you connect people to the right opportunities. - Use Conditional Logic: Tailor the form experience to each individual. Use conditional fields to show relevant questions based on previous answers. This not only simplifies the form but also makes respondents feel understood and valued. These fields could help you to consolidate multiple forms into one form. - Follow-Up Automation: Set up automated email responses for form submissions. A personalized "We're excited to connect with you!" can go a long way in making people feel welcomed into your community and start a conversation. You can also add your respondents to a Workflow where a series of connection steps will continue the conversation and begin to develop the relationship. - Custom Field fields: Use these fields to allow your congregation an opportunity to provide answers to their profile custom fields. Fields like baptism date, military service, spiritual gifts, and more can be automatically added to a profile using these special fields. ### Lists: Personalization for Deeper Connections Lists are the backbone of filtering your database and effective communication when community building. Here's how to leverage them: - Segment Thoughtfully: Break your main list into smaller, more targeted lists based on interests, involvement, or life stages. This allows for more personalized communication and helps people find their niche within your church community. - Use Profile Custom Fields Wisely: Implement a custom field system to refine your lists further. Create a Custom Tab with fields like New Visitor, Young Families, or Outreach Volunteer can help you connect people with the right opportunities and support. - Keep Lists Fresh: Regularly update your lists to ensure you're reaching out to people in ways that match their current involvement and interests. This shows that you are attentive to their journey in your church. - List Synergy: Create automations with your lists that automatically add people to relevant workflows based on their activities in Planning Center apps ensuring they're always connected to the most relevant information and opportunities. ### Workflows: Building Pathways to Belonging Workflows are where the community-building magic happens. They are the key to ensuring no one feels overlooked or disconnected: - New Member Journey: Create a workflow that guides new members through their first few months, introducing them to different aspects of your church community (such as small groups, equipping classes) and helping them find their place. - Volunteer Engagement: Set up a workflow that regularly checks in with volunteers, asking for feedback, offering support, and helping them feel valued in their service. - Deeper Connection Sequences: Implement workflows that guide individuals from being observers to active participants in your church community, nurturing them toward deeper involvement and relationships. - Life Event Support: Use workflows to provide support and resources during significant life events (new baby, loss of a loved one, etc.), showing your congregation you care about their whole life journey. ### Automations Are Your 24/7 Community-Building Assistant Use Automations with Lists and Forms to free up your time to focus on what matters most - building genuine relationships: - Personalized Follow-Up: Set up automations to send follow-ups to new families and visitors, as well as salvation decisions, baptisms, and more. - Milestone Celebrations: Use automations to recognize and celebrate personal milestones, church anniversaries, or spiritual growth markers. - Engagement Tracking: Implement automations that track involvement patterns and alert you when someone's engagement level changes, allowing for timely personal outreach. - Resource Recommendations: Set up automations to suggest relevant resources, classes, or groups based on an individual's interests and involvement. ### Overcoming Adoption Hurdles Getting your team on board with new processes can be challenging, but it's crucial for creating a cohesive community-building effort. - Start Small: Begin with one feature at a time. Master forms before moving on to workflows, for example. Once mastered, link them together by adding an automation. - Provide Training: Offer regular training sessions, both in-person and via recorded videos, focusing on how these tools help build stronger connections. Utilize outside training resources such as the Threefold Solutions YouTube channel for additional training. - Celebrate Wins: Highlight team members who are using Planning Center effectively to foster community. Share their success stories and their impact on individuals. - Make it a Team Effort: Assign Planning Center champions within different ministry areas to provide peer-to-peer support and share best practices for community building. ### The Road to a Thriving Church Community Structuring your Planning Center database for future growth and deeper connections is not a one-time event but an ongoing journey. By focusing on forms, lists, workflows, and automations, you're laying a solid foundation for increased engagement and a stronger sense of community within your church. Remember, the goal isn't just to use a tool; it's to build meaningful relationships and help every individual find their place in your church family. Every form filled, list segmented, workflow created, and automation set up is a step towards more personalized, effective ministry and stronger community bonds. As you implement these strategies, keep in mind that your ability to consistently connect with your congregation is directly responsible for the strength of your church community. Planning Center is your relationship-building superpower - use it wisely, use it often, and watch your church family grow and thrive. Are you ready to unlock the full potential of Planning Center and build a more connected, engaged church community? Your journey to a more effective, relationship-focused ministry starts now. Let's make it happen! Jason Silbernagel Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Closed Highways, Leadership Responsibility, and Removing Obstacles URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/closed-highways-leadership-responsibility-and-removing-obstacles Author: Amanda Visser Published: 2025-01-17 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Learn how to identify and overcome internal and external obstacles to support your team's success, growth, and resilience in the workplace. Living in a metroplex has its benefits: 2 Costco’s within 20 minutes, same-day delivery options from Amazon, and too many restaurants to dine at over a lifetime – but the traffic is wild. From 7-9 AM and 4-6 PM daily, a typically 20-minute drive can take anywhere from 45-60 minutes, and that is without the possible variables of construction or an accident. I was recently driving to church for a worship rehearsal, taking a route that normally takes me 25 minutes, and got caught in traffic due to the highway being closed. Like the whole highway completely blocked off. After 20 minutes on the on-ramp, I finally made it to the detour and was back on my way, thinking I would only be 5-10 minutes late. Then I missed my exit. For the next 40 minutes, maps attempted to route me to the correct location, and every highway on-ramp I was redirected to take was blocked off by orange construction cones. I was caught on the wrong side of the highway and had no idea how to get beyond the obstacles. This can happen in our work (and the work of our team members), causing delays, frustration, or even causing us to give up on the goal we set out to achieve altogether. As leaders, being aware of and removing obstacles for our team is essential. One of the best bosses I ever worked for was a champion at removing obstacles for me. I didn’t always see him remove the obstacles, but I could feel the impact. The work that he did in the background allowed me to run unhindered into the work I was asked to complete, and it’s one of the best things that we can do for our teams. ### Obstacles Defined: Internal and External Interference To understand how to remove obstacles, we must first be aware of what types of obstacles we may face. An obstacle can be defined as anything that slows down or limits your ability to complete your work. Obstacles can be communication gaps, unclear processes, differences of opinion in how the work should be completed, or can even be internal dialogue around the ability to complete tasks or the work at hand. When we help team members navigate their work by clearing obstacles, we allow them to bring their best to each task/project, unhindered. There are typically two groups that obstacles can be broken up into: internal and external interference. 1. Internal interferences are things that affect mental and emotional state. This could present as insecurity, frustration, confusion, feeling overwhelmed by the work, ect. Everyone experiences and processes internal interference differently, some team members may become quiet and withdrawn while others may become more vocal about frustrations or concerns. As a leader, when you notice a change in someone’s presence, it’s a great time to slow down and ask, “How are you doing/feeling?” 2. External interferences are things in the environment that are hindering progress. Often, these interferences are outside of the direct control of the individual. This could look like distractingly loud music or conversations, unending notifications from work or personal technology, interruptions from co-workers, unexpected changes in goals and deadlines, ect. When a team member is experiencing external interference, they may be less organized, miss deadlines, or have a noticeable change in their overall performance. This is a great time to ask, “Where are you getting stuck?” ### Silencing Internal Interference as a Leader Here are a couple of ways that we can help team members navigate internal obstacles: 1. Create clarity – Clarity is a gift. Most of the work of leading is defining clear goals, with actionable steps, and measurable outcomes, silencing the potential of confusion from unclear communication and goals. When we do this, our teams can do the work that only they can do, and often, they will bring innovation and solutions that we might not have thought of, simply because of clear communication and goals. 2. Be a sounding board – As leaders, we don’t have to have all the answers, even if it feels like it. Our teams are filled with brilliance, and they usually have the answers within themselves. When we create space for dialogue, listening, and asking questions, we allow them to process and ultimately uncover solutions and ideas within their own minds, silencing insecurity and doubt in their ability. 3. Ask, “How are you?” – When deadlines are quickly approaching, it can be easy to fall into only talking about the tasks to be completed. But often the greatest hindrance to a team member’s output is their internal dialogue. If they are navigating frustrations or feeling overwhelmed, it can cloud their ability to think clearly. Checking in on them as people, not just employees, can lead to uncovering these obstacles, allowing you to lean in, share encouragement, and invite the Lord in through prayer. ### Navigating External Interference as a Leader While we cannot always remove all external obstacles, we can create systems and cultures that support an environment where teams can thrive: 1. Build an Empowered Team – Set transparent goals and measurables so that your team operates independently and empower your team to make decisions within their realm of responsibility. Instill a feedback culture where your team can navigate minor interferences themselves while also feeling comfortable bringing larger concerns to you directly. 2. Curate your Environment – Schedule “open door” timeframes for discussions and feedback to limit possible disruptions. Implement focus hours where non-essential notifications are turned off, using resources like Do Not Disturb. 3. Optimize Communications – Use tools to streamline communication (e.g., email filters, automated responses) and keep communication relevant to those who need it. Encourage your team to use features like statuses in Slack to share their availability throughout the day. Use written communication for updates when applicable, rather than defaulting to additional meetings. ### Overcoming Obstacles and Closing Thoughts For the record, despite all the setbacks, I did end up making it to worship rehearsal (almost 40 minutes late). While I wish there would have been someone that could have cleared the way for me sooner, I was able to eventually navigate the obstacles and find my way. Obstacles in work are much the same. As leaders, we can do everything in our control to support our team in removing obstacles, but some cannot be removed, they must be navigated. Ultimately, obstacles are an opportunity for growth and learning. They are opportunities to develop in agility and resilience for our teams, and for us as leaders. So, if you find yourself stuck on the on-ramp of a closed highway, embrace the developmental journey found in overcoming obstacles, and in helping your teams to do the same. Amanda Visser Project Manager, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Planning Center Unleashes Major Updates to Streamline Church Operations URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/planning-center-unleashes-major-updates-to-streamline-church-operations Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2025-01-14 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: People, Publishing Explore the latest Planning Center updates to improve church management, streamline communication, and enhance team collaboration. As we jump into the new year, I want to update you on the latest features that Planning Center has released. These enhancements significantly improve church management and foster better team collaboration. The updates from November and December highlight Planning Center’s commitment to enhancing communication, streamlining event management, and boosting administrative efficiency. Let’s look at how these updates can benefit you in your ministry efforts. ### Innovative Updates to Team Communication This December Chat update brought a transformative shift in how volunteer teams can communicate. The introduction of Services’ team chats within the Church Center app creates a seamless communication experience, allowing staff and volunteers to initiate conversations directly from the app they use most. This integration eliminates switching between multiple apps, keeping all church-related chats in one central location. To complement this new option, Planning Center has introduced customizable notification preferences, enabling users to select their preferred app for chat alerts. This extra feature ensures that essential messages never go unnoticed while preventing notification fatigue – something we all deal with today. #### New Chat Filtering for Improved Thread Management Planning Center also introduced chat filtering in the Services app, making organizing and locating specific conversations easier. Coupled with the ability to mark all messages as read with a single click, these features significantly improve chat thread management and keeping up to date with your chats. #### Additional New Chat Features in Groups Groups also released new chat features. Group leaders can now freeze conversations. This feature disables members from adding new message replies, while leaders can still add new messages. And everyone will be able to add emoji reactions. Here’s how to do it: - On the Church Center app (v2024.11.11 or newer), tap on a chat conversation header to view the details - From this details screen, you can freeze the conversation - Freezing the conversation will prevent other members from adding message replies, but they can still add reactions (❤️🙏😂👍👎). - Tip: toggle the Freeze conversation setting for any previously frozen conversations to enable reactions. ### Enhanced Event Management Capabilities in Calendar and Groups The new Event Connections feature in Calendar, launched in December, represents a significant leap forward in understanding congregation engagement. This analytical tool provides deeper insights into event participation, enabling church staff to make more informed decisions about their events and resource allocation. Event management flexibility has also been improved in Groups by introducing optional RSVPs. You can now disable RSVP functionality for specific group events, simplifying the attendance process when formal registration isn't necessary. This feature is nice for regular gatherings or events where tracking attendance numbers isn't critical. RSVPs can also get a bit tedious for members to manage in Church Center if they are in multiple groups that are committed to meeting regularly. ### Cover Letter Formatting in Donor Statements Statement season is upon us, and you can now utilize rich text (additional text formatting options) in your cover letters. Statements serve as a vital connection with your donors, offering a meaningful chance to showcase the results of their continued support. With some formatting, you can produce a refined and persuasive communication message. Here’s what’s new: - Rich Text Formatting: Bold and italicize your message, adjust font sizes, and organize content with bulleted or numbered lists. - Clickable Links in Emails: If you want to share a video of recent highlights or reference an impact report on your website, you can link directly to it. ### Guest access for Church Center Mobile app Another November update is guest access to the Church Center mobile app. On Church Center web, congregants have always been able to browse as guests without needing to log in. This feature simplifies the experience for newcomers, allowing them to explore public group listings, calendar events, signups, sermons, and any custom page content made available by your church. Previously, accessing the Church Center app required congregants to log in using a phone number or email, which could deter those who were looking to explore. Now, when visitors search for your church, they will see the option to "Continue as Guest." As a guest, users can access the same content available on the Church Center website without needing to log in. However, if they navigate to a page that requires a login—such as signing up for a group, signing up for an event, or viewing their profile—they will be prompted to log in first. ### New Sermon Notes in Church Center Planning Center also released Sermon Notes, a new feature designed to enhance congregants' engagement with sermon content. This new addition is available in beta for all Publishing sermon plans and offers a dynamic way for church members to interact with sermon outlines. #### Customizable and Interactive The Sermon Notes feature allows church administrators to create fill-in-the-blank outlines for each sermon episode. These notes can be customized to fit the specific needs of the sermon, making it easier for congregants to follow along and engage with the message. Once enabled, a “Sermon notes” tab appears on the channel, where admins can design and structure the notes. #### Engagement Through Church Center Congregants can access these interactive sermon notes via Church Center. Logged-in users can fill in the blanks during the sermon, with the option to reveal answers by tapping an eye icon. This feature ensures that notes are private to each user’s profile, but they can also be shared via email or other apps. This new feature represents a significant step forward in Planning Center Publishing’s sermons, making them more interactive and personalized for each member. This is a significant new feature and if you want to learn more, visit the support page for the new Sermon Notes feature. ### Administrative and Management Efficiency Improvements Several other updates focus on streamlining administrative tasks. The new universal search feature for Calendar admins makes finding specific events and information faster than ever. #### Duplicate Existing Workflows This is a big feature enhancement for those churches that must recreate Workflows across campuses and ministry departments. The ability to duplicate workflows saves valuable time when setting up recurring processes or similar projects. #### Permanently delete contact data from the Activity Feed Planning Center has also addressed data privacy concerns with new features for permanently deleting contact data from the Activity Feed, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations while maintaining trust within the congregation and community. #### Email notifications for list refreshes You can now add subscribers who will receive email notifications whenever a list auto-refreshes. When “Enable auto-refresh” is toggled on, you’ll see a new section for notifications. This feature is great for admins and managers who watch over automations and data maintenance lists. ### Looking Forward Planning Center has released many updates and new features over the last several months, and it’s hard to keep up with all of their momentum. This is one of the reasons we love Planning Center. They consistently develop and update the software to reflect the needs and wishes of their user community. As we move into 2025, I hope you’ll find this rundown of new features and updates useful. If you have any questions or need help implementing any of the new features, Threefold Solutions is here to help. You can review more about our coaching or strategy sessions on our services page. Jason Silbernagel Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## You Don't Have an Excuse URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/you-dont-have-an-excuse Author: Michael Visser Published: 2025-01-10 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover how to create time for church growth and ministry priorities with practical, faith-driven strategies that transform your impact. Have you ever caught yourself saying, "We just don't have the time?” I have no doubts this is a common phrase in vocabulary. We've all been there. Whether it's improving our outreach programs, developing new ministries, or working on that community project we've been praying about, time always seems to slip through our fingers. But here's the gentle truth: You do have the time. It's about prayerfully considering our priorities and stewardship of the time God has given us. ### A Tale of Two Churches: The Time Trap Let me share a story about two churches, Grace Community and Faith Fellowship. Both were passionate about growing their congregations and building vibrant, Christ-centered communities. Pastor A at Grace Community constantly lamented not having enough time to improve their first-time guest retention strategy. They are always "too busy" managing weekly services and having one-on-one meetings with members of the congregation. Despite their dedication, the church struggled to keep new families engaged beyond their first few visits. Pastor B at Faith Fellowship, however, decided to make time. They set aside two hours every week to work on welcoming and integrating new members. It wasn't easy – they had to wake up earlier for prayer and delegate some tasks – but they remained committed. Six months later, Grace Community was still struggling with member retention, leaving Pastor A feeling overwhelmed and questioning their approach. Faith Fellowship, on the other hand, had seen an increase in regular attendance, with new families actively participating in various ministries. The difference? Pastor B didn't find the time, they made it - by focusing on the ministry initiatives God highlighted to their leadership team and practically carving out time to focus on the things only they could do. ### The Excuse Epidemic in Ministry "We don't have time" is just the beginning of the excuses we often make. Let's discuss some hypothetical misconceptions: - "We're too busy with current members." Translation: "Welcoming new people isn't a priority right now." - "We'll focus on growth when things settle down." Remember, the Great Commission doesn't wait for perfect timing. - "We need to wait for the right resources." God often calls us to step out in faith with what we have. - "We're not sure where to start." This often masks a fear of change or lack of planning. These excuses, while understandable, can hinder our church's growth and our ability to reach more people for Christ. ### The Time Creation Formula for Church Leaders How can we break free from these limitations and create time for what truly matters in our ministry? Here's a spiritually grounded approach: - Pray for Wisdom in Time Management: Seek God's guidance in how to best use your time for His glory. - Audit Your Time: For one week, track every 30-minute block of your day. You might be surprised at how much time is spent on tasks that could be delegated or eliminated. - Prioritize Kingdom-Focused Activities: Use a modified Eisenhower Matrix: - Urgent and Important for the Kingdom: Do these immediately. - Important for Growth but Not Urgent: Schedule these. - Urgent but Can Be Delegated: Empower your team or volunteers. - Neither Urgent nor Kingdom-Focused: Prayerfully consider eliminating these. - Block Your Time: Assign specific time blocks for important tasks like developing welcome strategies or planning community outreach. Treat these as sacred appointments. - Eliminate Distractions: Create a peaceful environment for focused work and prayer. Remember, even Jesus sought solitude for important tasks (Luke 5:16). - Start Small: Begin with just 30 minutes a day dedicated to church growth and guest retention strategies. Consistency in small steps can lead to significant progress. - Use the "One Thing" Principle: Ask, "What's the ONE thing we can do this week to make our church more welcoming to new families?" ### The Power of Tiny Time Investments in Ministry Small, consistent efforts, when blessed by God, can yield abundant fruit. Consider this: If you dedicate just 30 minutes a day to improving your church's first-time guest experience, that's 3.5 hours a week, 14 hours a month, and 168 hours a year. Imagine the impact on your congregation after 168 hours of focused prayer and work on making your church a more welcoming, engaging community for new families! ### The Cost of Inaction in Our Calling Let's reflect on the cost of not making time for church growth and community building: Every week we don't invest in welcoming strategies, we risk losing potential members of our church family. Every month we don't focus on retention, we miss opportunities to disciple new believers. Every year we don't grow, we limit our church's impact on the community. The cost of inaction might mean souls not reached and lives not transformed by the Gospel. ### Your Time Creation Challenge I challenge you to stop making excuses and start making time for church growth. Here's how to begin: - Identify one ministry area in your church that needs attention. - Commit to spending 30 minutes a day in prayer and action on this area for the next week. - At the end of the week, assess your progress and how God has moved. You'll be amazed at what can be accomplished with prayer and 3.5 hours of focused effort. ### The Time is Now Remember, we all have the same 24 hours in a day. What sets thriving churches apart is how they choose to use those hours in service to God and their communities. You don't find time. You create it. You prioritize it. You make it happen, with God's guidance. So, the next time you catch yourself saying, "We don't have time," stop and rephrase it to, "This isn't a priority for our church right now." If that statement doesn't align with your calling, then it's time to make a change. Your future congregation will thank you for the time you invest today. Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## New Features Guide: Planning Center's October 2024 Updates URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/new-features-guide-planning-centers-october-2024-updates Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2025-01-03 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: People, Publishing Explore Planning Center's latest features: branded emails, enhanced forms, mobile upgrades, and customizable check-ins for streamlined ministry. Here's your inside scoop on Planning Center's latest feature updates. From enhanced communication tools to streamlined workflows, these updates are designed to make your ministry more effective than ever. ### 📧 Personalized Church Communications NEW: Church-Branded Emails from Lists and Automations Finally, your church communications can maintain consistent branding! Now, you can send emails from your church's name instead of individual staff members. Here's what's new: - Emails will appear from your church's name while using mailer@churchcenteronline.com(still the same) - Reply-to address can now be set to your church's general email - Available for both Lists and Automation emails - Easily toggle between your personal and church email addresses - Full tracking of which admin created each email in the profile communication tab This huge update brings some much-needed flexibility to sending emails to lists and not having to worry about being the person who received all replies in their personal inbox. Now, you can send the emails using your church’s general email address as the reply-to address. *Pro Tip: Update your Account Settings to ensure your church's email address is correctly configured before using this feature. ### 🛡️ Enhanced Form Management NEW: Two Major Form Updates to Streamline Data Collection 1. Improved Form Submissions Display - Now showing form headings and field descriptions - Better printing functionality with form titles - Enhanced readability for submission reviews - Complete context for each form field 2. Spam Prevention Tool (New for Organization Administrators) - Block specific email addresses from form submissions - Dedicated spam management interface - Automated filtering of blocked submissions - No notifications or automation triggers for blocked emails - Visual indicators on profiles with blocked addresses Planning Center has reimagined how forms work to better serve both your staff and congregation. The form submission experience has been enhanced to include complete context for every response. Now, when reviewing submissions, you'll see the answers, section headings, and field descriptions that guided the respondent. This context helps when reviewing responses, especially for complex forms like volunteer applications or event registrations. Alongside these display improvements comes a robust new spam prevention system. Organization administrators now have access to a dedicated spam management interface, allowing you to block problematic email addresses from submitting forms proactively. When an email address is blocked, the system automatically filters out their submissions, prevents notification triggers, and provides visual indicators on affected profiles. This strategic approach to form security helps maintain the integrity of your data while reducing administrative overhead. You will find this new spam email management feature under People > Settings (dropdown) > Manage spam list. ### 👥 Unverified Social Media Links Removed NEW: Automated Social Media Profile Imports Discontinued Planning Center has significantly enhanced your congregation's privacy and data accuracy by discontinuing automated social media profile imports. What's Changing: - Discontinued: Automatic imports from LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram - Removed: All unverified social media profiles from third-party integration - Preserved: Previously verified and manually added social media links - Available: Manual social media link addition capability Planning Center's social media integration has undergone a significant change that's important to understand. Previously, the platform utilized a third-party service that automatically searched across LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to match your church members with their social media profiles. This automated system would find and link these profiles to your members' Planning Center accounts. However, the social media landscape has evolved considerably. Social platforms have strengthened their privacy measures, making it increasingly difficult to search and match. This led to growing concerns about accuracy, as the automated system sometimes connected incorrect profiles to members' accounts. Additionally, rising privacy considerations and changing attitudes about automated data collection made it clear that a more mindful approach was needed. What's Happening Now: - Any social media links that were automatically imported but never verified are being removed - If your staff manually added social media links, these stay in place - If you previously verified any auto-imported links, these also stay in place ### 📱 Mobile Experience Upgrades NEW: Church Center Chat Update and Workflow refinements in the People Mobile App Church Center App Chat Filters (v2024.10.7) Navigate conversations like a pro with new filtering options: - Filter by all groups - Filter by teams and plans - Select specific group conversations - Choose specific team discussions - Persistent filter settings across sessions New Workflows-only Mobile Access (v2.14.0) - Dedicated access for workflow managers - Streamlined mobile interface - Focused workflow management on the go - Perfect for volunteer leaders The mobile experience in Planning Center has undergone a significant update, particularly when managing workflows. Now, volunteers with the "Workflows only" permission in People can access those workflows in the People mobile app, creating a focused environment for workflow managers and participants. This streamlined access means volunteer leaders and staff can handle their responsibilities from anywhere without needing full system access. Additionally, the Church Center app now features an intelligent chat filtering system. Gone are the days of scrolling through mixed message feeds – users can now curate their chat conversations based on groups, teams, or ministry areas. These filters persist across sessions, creating a personalized communication experience that adapts to each person's unique engagement with your church. ### ✨ Check-ins Optimization NEW: Customizable Pre-check Experience (v2024.10.10+) Take control of your check-in process: - Option to minimize the confirmation barcode display - Customizable security code visibility - Streamlined check-in confirmation messages - Full control through Check-Ins event settings The latest update to Church Center's Pre-Check system brings welcome flexibility to your check-in process. Understanding that different ministries have varying security needs, Planning Center has introduced customizable barcode visibility settings. This enhancement allows you to minimize barcode displays where appropriate while maintaining robust security measures for sensitive areas like children's ministry. Admins can now choose between streamlined confirmations for adult programs and security protocols for children and student services, managed through simple event settings. This adaptability ensures that your check-in process matches the specific needs of each ministry area while maintaining appropriate security levels. ### What's Next? Planning Center has been busy with new features and updates, and we’ll continue to highlight those updates regularly and discuss how they will benefit you. These updates are one of the reasons we love Planning Center. They continue to listen to their users and the feedback they provide to update the apps consistently. If you need help implementing any of these new features or would like assistance with any area of Planning Center, Threefold Solutions provides monthly options for coaching and support. You can find out more at www.threefold.solutions/services. Jason Silbernagel Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Thanksgiving, Racetracks, and SMART Goals URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/thanksgiving-racetracks-and-smart-goals Author: Amanda Visser Published: 2024-12-27 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Learn how SMART goals inspire teamwork, clarity, and progress for achieving personal and organizational success. Growing up, my cousins and I spent Thanksgiving afternoons in our grandparent’s semi-finished basement where the toys lived. While my parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles chattered upstairs, my brother, cousins, and I were running around downstairs. In the array of toys, there was one that always seemed to capture our attention and bring us all together toward a common goal. The racetrack. The racetrack was a modular, buildable track with loops and turns and blocks. While I’m sure the intention of the racetrack creator was for us to create tracks to race side by side, we were far more interested in testing the limitations of what our little imaginations could build. Our goal was to build a single racetrack that extended across the basement, included multiple elements, and could still be traversed successfully by a Hot Wheels car. It was a lot of trial and error, flying cars, and broken tracks. There were cheers when we were successful and laments when we failed. After the failures and edits, there was nothing quite like the feeling when we would watch our little car happily travel to the other side of the basement across the whole route of a complex and extensive track that we created. That was the ultimate accomplishment of Thanksgiving afternoons. The feeling is the same when we achieve our goals organizationally, but one of the biggest obstacles that we, or our team members, face is not knowing where to start or how to measure progress toward our goals. When goals are not clear or measurable, this can halt progress and keep us from taking steps forward altogether. Implementing a framework like SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) goals can create alignment and clarity when it comes to individual and team goals, allowing us to move quickly and in unity toward all we feel the Lord asking us to steward and build. ### What are SMART Goals? - Specific – Goals are clearly defined and focused. - Measurable – Goals have specific metrics that can be leveraged to measure progress. - Achievable – Goals are attainable and realistic. - Relevant – Goals are aligned with current organizational objectives. - Time-Bound – Goals have a defined timeline or deadline. If we were to take our original racetrack goal - to build a single racetrack that extends across the basement, includes multiple elements, and can be traversed successfully by a Hot Wheels car – and update it to include this framework, it would look more like: within 2 hours, build a single racetrack that is 30 feet in length, includes 2 loops and a 3-foot drop, and can be traversed in its entirety by a Hot Wheels car. Subtle changes can make all the difference in a goal being clearly defined, measurable, and achievable. ### The Benefits of Using SMART Goals Have you ever been in a team with a great vision but no clear goals or goal-setting strategy on how to build the vision? When everyone begins to set goals, it can almost feel like the goals are competing or incompatible with one another. In the lack of clarity or aligned action, progress becomes minimal, and the vision feels impossible to accomplish. This is where having an aligned goal-setting framework supports organizational goal setting as well as individual goal setting. When overall goals are clear to everyone, it also clarifies what individual contribution is needed. Clarity is motivating. There is nothing better than a day where you know exactly what tasks you need to accomplish and you able to check off everything from your task list. SMART goals allow you and your teams to know exactly what needs to be on your list, allow for better planning, and even allow you to see where you may have missed the mark toward the goal so that you can recalibrate and catch up. Another framework to partner with SMART goals is the four disciplines of execution. You can learn more about how to implement these additional strategies in a previous The Fold article, Unlocking Growth: Harnessing the Four Disciplines of Execution in Your Church. ### How to Set and Achieve SMART Goals - Identify the goal: Begin with setting an overall goal that aligns with your long-term objectives and is meaningful to your work. Keep it clear, defined, and specific. It can be tempting to keep the goal broad, but you want it to be so clearly defined that the smaller steps toward achieving the goal are also clear. - Break It Down: Once you have the overall goal, create smaller tasks (additional SMART goals). Keep these actionable, like little stepping stones along the way to your larger goal. For every step you take forward, ask the question, “What is the direct next step toward achieving my goal?” - Set a Timeline: When do you want to accomplish your goal? Set a deadline. Then establish a realistic timeframe for when you will need to complete each subsequent task to arrive at your deadline on time. - Monitor Progress: Set a regular cadence to review the progress toward your goal and adjust your plan as needed. Maybe you will need to add additional smaller tasks or update the timeline. It’s okay to adjust along the way to keep the goal relevant, and achievable in the end. - Celebrate Milestones: When you arrive at a milestone, celebrate it! Within the overall goal, there may be many smaller achievements that are crucial to the overall goal being achieved. Celebrating these moments maintains momentum and engagement in the larger goal. As a note, organizing goals into cadences - quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily – can be especially helpful for maintaining progress toward larger goals. Once you define cadences, you can leverage repeating events or tasks within calendar or reminders helping you stay on track with the smaller goals/tasks needed to accomplish your overall goals. Set these reminders/events for a period and review/update for relevance regularly. You want them to stay actionable and supportive to your goals, not to become another notification to clear. ### Submitted Goals While I love a good strategy for planning, goal setting, and organization, no framework can substitute the leading of the Lord. As we grow in understanding, we also must grow in submission to God. We need His heart and mind in our goal setting to give us strategies for engaging our congregations and communities. When we take our goals and ideas to God, He brings perspective, clarity, and insight. When we submit our ways to Him, He makes the path clear (Proverbs 3:6). So, as you set your goals, submit them to the Lord and watch Him bring the insight that you need to truly achieve all that He has called you to achieve. Happy goal setting! Amanda Visser Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Hope in the Light and the Shadows URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/hope-in-the-light-and-the-shadows Author: Alicia Osgood Published: 2024-12-25 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Find hope this holiday season in the light and shadows, embracing the joy and peace of Emmanuel, God with us, amidst life's challenges. I grew up in New England where the crisp November weather is immediately followed by gray December skies. No reminder that winter has arrived is needed here – nature has its way of telling us that the season has changed, and the holidays are around the corner. Winter has a different smell, a different light, and a different sound than the rest of the year. In this corner of the country, holiday décor and traditions fend off the gloomy winter nights that might otherwise bury us in darkness. The long nights are contrasted by the warm glow of Christmas lights - each strand of twinkling lights is a declaration that light will always triumph over dark and reminds me of the hope we celebrate during this season. Hope can sometimes be hard to hold onto during the holidays. For those of us serving in ministry, Christmas is often a mixed bag of emotions and demands. Not only are our schedules busy, but oftentimes the emotional output is high. Just this week I’ve been working on preparing music for my church’s Christmas Eve services while also watching a member of our small group plan a funeral service for his brother. I’ve experienced the joy of gathering with friends to make cookies and exchange gifts, while balancing the pressures of family gatherings when relationships are strained or broken. I know I am not the only one holding burdens in one hand and joy in the other - it’s a tension we’ll manage until the day of Christ’s return when all things are made new. Until that day comes, I find hope in knowing that my Savior truly is Emmanuel, God with us. We serve an ever-present, all-knowing, compassionate Lord who took on our flesh so He could do that which we could not do on our own – give us hope. He brings us hope for salvation. Hope for healing. Hope for reconciliation. Hope for eternity. It’s not a simplistic, sanitized version of joy that ignores our pain. It's profound and resilient - acknowledging our struggles and pointing us toward Someone greater. As we stand on the eve of yet another Christmas, may we make room in our hearts, our homes, and our communities – for both the light and the shadows. And may we trust that Emmanuel – God with us – is present in every single moment, transforming us with His unfailing love. Merry Christmas. --- ## Unlocking Church Growth: The 10/80/10 Rule for Effective Delegation URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/unlocking-church-growth-the-108010-rule Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-12-20 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Unlock church growth with the 10/80/10 Rule! Master planning, delegation, and optimization to empower your team and multiply ministry impact. In the bustling world of ministry, do you ever feel like you're juggling too many things at once? Like there's never enough time to focus on what truly matters? You're not alone. Today, I'm excited to share a game-changing strategy that could revolutionize how you lead and grow your church: Dan Martell's 10/80/10 Rule. ### The Struggle Is Real Picture this: It's Sunday morning. You're putting the finishing touches on your sermon, the worship team is setting up, and suddenly, you're pulled away to handle a last-minute volunteer cancellation. Sound familiar? As church leaders, we often find ourselves spread thin, trying to be everywhere and do everything. But here's the truth: this approach isn't just unsustainable—it's holding your church back from reaching its full potential. ### Enter the 10/80/10 Rule Dan Martell, a renowned entrepreneur and business coach, developed the 10/80/10 Rule as a powerful framework for delegation and focus. But don't be fooled by its simplicity—this rule has the power to transform your ministry. Here's how it breaks down: - 10% Planning: This is where you set the vision, strategize, and map out the road ahead. - 80% Delegation: The bulk of the work—executed by your team and volunteers. - 10% Optimization: Fine-tuning and improving processes based on results. Let's dive deeper into each component and see how it applies to your church leadership. ### The First 10%: Visionary Planning As a church leader, your primary role is to be the visionary. This is where you: - Seek God's guidance for your church's direction - Set clear, inspiring goals for your staff and volunteers - Develop strategies to achieve those goals - Identify key areas for growth and improvement > Action Step: Block out dedicated time each week for prayer, reflection, and strategic planning. This isn't just another task—it's the foundation of your leadership. ### The Crucial 80%: Empowering Through Delegation This is where the magic happens. By delegating 80% of the work, you: - Empower Your Team: Trust your staff and volunteers with meaningful responsibilities. This isn't just about lightening your load—it's about nurturing future leaders. - Focus on Your Strengths: As the leader, your time is best spent on tasks that only you can do. Delegating frees you up to lean into your unique gifts. - Multiply Your Impact: When you delegate effectively, your church's capacity for ministry expands exponentially. Delegation in Action: - Identify tasks that don't require your direct involvement - Match tasks with team members' strengths and passions - Provide clear instructions and expectations - Offer support and resources for success Remember, delegation isn't about dumping tasks—it's about equipping others to shine. ### The Final 10%: Optimizing for Excellence This last piece is often overlooked, but it's crucial for long-term success. In this phase, you: - Review the outcomes of delegated tasks - Gather feedback from your team and congregation - Identify areas for improvement - Implement changes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness > Making It Work: Schedule regular check-ins with your team. Use these times to celebrate wins, address challenges, and refine your processes. ### Overcoming Delegation Hurdles Let's address some common concerns: - "But no one can do it as well as I can." - Remember, perfection is the enemy of progress. Your team may do things differently, but that's okay—and often, it leads to innovation. - "I don't have time to train someone else." - Slow down to speed up. The time invested in training pays off dividends in the future. - "What if they make mistakes?" - Mistakes are learning opportunities. Create a culture where it's safe to fail and learn. ### Your Next Steps - Assess: Look at your current responsibilities. What can you delegate? - Plan: Set aside time this week for strategic planning. - Communicate: Share the 10/80/10 vision with your leadership team. - Act: Start delegating one task this week. - Review: Schedule your first optimization meeting. ### The Promise of 10/80/10 Imagine a church where: - You're free to focus on your God-given vision - Your team is engaged, growing, and thriving - New leaders are emerging at every level - Your impact in the community is multiplying This isn't just a dream—it's the promise of the 10/80/10 Rule in action. ### Closing Thoughts Dear leader, you've been called to shepherd, not to shoulder every burden alone. By embracing the 10/80/10 Rule, you're not just improving your leadership—you're multiplying your ministry's impact for the Kingdom. Remember, Jesus himself modeled this principle. He invested deeply in his disciples, delegated ministry to them, and then sent them out to change the world. It's time to break free from the bottlenecks holding your church back. Embrace the 10/80/10 Rule and watch as God works through you and your empowered team to build His Kingdom in ways you never imagined possible. Are you ready to take the first step? The future of your church—and your leadership—awaits. Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Everything I Built is Now Gone: Finding Peace in Ministry Transitions URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/everything-i-built-is-now-gone Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-12-13 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Find peace in ministry transitions by focusing on eternal impact, planting seeds, and trusting God's plan for your lasting legacy. The call came from one of those friends – the kind who tells you hard truths and somehow still leaves you feeling encouraged. "Hey, got a minute?" His voice carried weight. "It's about the old church." My stomach tightened. Six years of my life. Systems built from nothing. Countless late nights perfecting processes and training volunteers. All the blood, sweat, and tears poured into creating something I thought would last. "They're sunsetting everything you built." Have you ever watched something you created, something you believed would stand the test of time, simply... disappear? As someone who transitioned from full-time ministry to church consulting, I've learned that watching your creations fade feels like losing a piece of yourself. But along this journey of letting go, I've discovered some profound truths about legacy that changed everything. ### The Identity Trap Here's what no one tells you about ministry work: it's dangerously easy to let your creations become your identity. Those late nights perfecting the volunteer system, the countless hours fine-tuning the digital strategy, and the pride in seeing your vision come to life – they become more than projects. They become proof of your worth, your calling, and your impact. But God gently reminds us: We are not our systems, programs, or successes. ### Seeds vs. Structures Think about Jesus's ministry for a moment. He didn't build a single building. He didn't create a complex organizational chart. Instead, He planted seeds – ideas, relationships, things that grew long after He ascended. What if we viewed our work the same way? Every conversation that encouraged a volunteer, every system that made someone feel valued, and every initiative that brought someone closer to Jesus—they're seeds planted in the hearts of people. The structures aren’t meant to last forever, but the seeds root, grow, and produce fruit. ### The Art of Letting Go When you see your work being dismantled, here are four truths to hold onto: - Impact outlives implementation: The lives you impact don't become unchanged just because a program ends. The marriages strengthened, the leaders developed, and the faith deepened – these ripples continue long after the stone stops skipping. - Change isn't rejection. New leadership bringing new direction isn't a reflection on your work. It's simply the next chapter in God's ongoing story. The church isn't rejecting your contribution; they're responding to new seasons and new needs. - Your worth is in Christ. Your value was never in what you built. It was always in whose you are. Let this transition drive you deeper into that truth. - Kingdom work is eternal. Even when we can't see it, God is weaving our faithful work into His larger tapestry. And we know that God works together all things for good to those loving God, to those being called according to His purpose. ### Moving Forward with Grace So how do we remain objective and supportive when watching our work transform or dissolve? - Pray for perspective. Ask God to help you see the situation through His eternal lens rather than your temporal one. - Celebrate the new. Find joy in seeing others bring fresh vision and energy to the ministry. - Keep planting seeds. In your new role, focus on planting seeds that will grow in different soils. - Trust the journey. Remember that God's work in and through you isn't finished – it's just changing form. ### The Beautiful Truth Here's what I've learned in my journey from staff member to consultant: Everything I built isn't really gone. It's transformed. It's in the DNA of the lives that were changed. It's in the stories people still tell. It's in the foundations others build upon, even as they create something new. Perhaps that's the most beautiful part of kingdom work – it's never really about what we build. It's about who we become in the building, who others become through our service, and how God uses it all for His glory. Your legacy isn't in your systems or strategies. It's in the ideas you shared, the faith you sparked, and the people you cared for along the way. Everything you built isn't gone. It's exactly where God intended it to be – planted deep in the soil, waiting to someday bear fruit. Whether we see it or not, God does – and that's more than enough. Michael Visser Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## Old Pianos, the Uncanny Valley, and Gen Z URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/old-pianos-the-uncanny-valley-and-gen-z Author: Alicia Osgood Published: 2024-12-06 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover how imperfection, authenticity, and joy can connect churches with Gen Z, a generation craving real, meaningful experiences. I have an old upright piano that I love to play. Miraculously, after moving it several times, it has managed to hold a decent tune, but it is by no means perfect. My husband has asked me several times throughout the years if I want to “upgrade” to a digital piano, but I always refuse. I prefer the sound of the slightly out-of-tune melodies. It reminds me of learning to play as a child on the old piano at my church. To me, music feels more comforting when a few imperfections come through. It’s not just my music that I prefer to be less than perfect. I love hands with wrinkles and callouses, old houses with creaky staircases, slightly burnt toast, and those weird-shaped strawberries. Truthfully, I get uneasy when things are too perfect; and I am not alone. ### Something isn’t quite right. Have you heard of the Uncanny Valley? It’s the phenomenon that describes the nervous feeling you get when you see something that is almost human but not quite. This term has been around since the 1970’s, but with recent advancements in technology and the rise of AI, the Uncanny Valley phenomenon has become a topic of discussion one again. I first became aware of the Uncanny Valley effect when my kids were young, and we watched The Polar Express one Christmas. I had heard for years that this was a Christmas classic, but the movie unnerved my kids and they declared that it was “creepy”. At the risk of angering fans of this beloved film, I agree with my kids – there is something weird about the animation of the movie. It’s the same feeling I get when I watch Marvel or Star Wars movies and they de-age an actor for a flashback scene – it is technically good, but something seems off about it. Somehow, my brain detects that what I am seeing is not completely genuine. The more I read about (and experience) the Uncanny Valley the more I think this phenomenon can also be detected in church. Sometimes, in our pursuit for excellence, we inadvertently turn out an atmosphere that is too produced and too polished. When our services, programs, and interactions become too perfect, they often lose their authenticity (which is the very thing people are looking for). ### A generation looking for what’s real. At a recent world missions conference, I found myself in a discussion group with some leaders from around the country talking about Gen-Z’s current involvement in their mission’s organization. I was surprised to learn that they have seen a recent increase in Gen-Z adults (ages 18-27) diving into long-term world missions. This took me by surprise because statistics consistently show that Generation Z is the least-churched generation yet. In fact, one-third of Gen Z claims to have no religious affiliation and over half say that religion is not an important part of their lives. How is it possible that this religiously apathetic, un-churched segment of our population is out-pacing millennials in their commitment to global missions? I believe it’s because, although today’s young adults are less likely to identify as Christian than previous generations, a higher percent of those who are Christian want to put their faith into action. Why? Because, since birth, Gen Z has been fed a diet of digitally manufactured experiences and many of them are longing for something authentic – life experiences that are meaningful. ### Keeping it Real. There are a few things we can do to keep our church environments from becoming contrived. - Focus on authenticity and not perfection. I’ve been a part of churches that would talk about “excellence over perfection” but, when it came down to it, their definition of “excellence” looked no different than perfection. This generation appreciates vulnerability, so when a church community embraces imperfection, it creates a space where everyone feels welcome to be themselves. Reach for what is do-able and practical for your team and then do it to the best of your abilities. When mistakes happen (and they will!), respond with grace and humility. Personally, I am thankful that the Lord’s ability to work is not dependent on my team’s ability to turn on a microphone at exactly the right moment or display the worship lyrics with perfect synchronicity. 2. Ditch the Social Media Comparison. Social media can distort reality. It's important for church leaders to remember that what we see online is often just a highlight reel. A 30-second Tik-Tok or Instagram video has been intentionally chosen to highlight the best moments from the weekend. Gen Z is aware of this—and they appreciate transparency. Healthy pastors are in tune with how to best minister to the people God has placed in their communities – so get your marching orders from Him. If our goal is to look like, sound like, and preach like the mega-churches that we see online then we may miss the calling that God has placed on our ministries. 3. Laugh. Ministry can be challenging, but laughter is a powerful antidote to stress. Gen Z thrives in environments that balance seriousness with humor. The most refreshing moments in life happen when we embrace the unexpected with humor. Sometimes we get weighed down by the burdens of ministry and forget that there can be so much joy in serving Jesus. Take the serious things seriously but then take time to laugh at the little things that are beyond our control. When laughter is part of our ministry, it shows that faith doesn’t have to be somber; it can be vibrant and full of joy. ### What we leave behind. This generation is looking for spaces where they can be real, connect genuinely, and experience joy in their faith journey. When people are presented with something real they know it. As pastors and leaders of the church, it’s our job to make sure that what we are offering them is genuine, honest, and purposeful. And what is more real than a life-changing encounter with the Living God? Church trends come and go, but the Gospel is the most authentic thing we can offer those who are coming through our doors. Let’s not give our lives to building a brand or a movement. Instead, let’s become a part of the faithful army of Christ, warring for a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Alicia Osgood P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## The Internal Communication Revolution: 7 Powerful Strategies URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-internal-communication-revolution Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2024-11-29 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover 7 powerful strategies, including using Planning Center, to revolutionize your church's internal communication, boost team efficiency, and strengthen connections. Effective internal communication is the cornerstone of a thriving church team in today's fast-paced ministry environment. Whether you're coordinating volunteers, planning events, or simply keeping everyone on the same page, mastering the art of internal communication can transform your church's efficiency and impact. Let's dive into seven game-changing strategies that will elevate your team's connectivity and productivity. ### 1. Embrace the Digital Revolution: Implement a Church Management System Gone are the days of scattered spreadsheets and missed memos. A robust Church Management System (ChMS) is your team's central hub for all communication and coordination. A popular option is Planning Center. This ChMS can streamline your operations and keep everyone in sync with simplicity and powerful features like: - Integrated calendars - Task management tools - Instant messaging features - Email and texting options - Volunteer management ### 2. Create a Culture of Transparency: Regular Town Hall Meetings Transparency builds trust, and trust is the foundation of effective communication. Host monthly or quarterly town hall meetings where: - Leadership shares vision and updates - Team members can ask questions openly - Successes are celebrated collectively - Challenges are addressed collaboratively > Remember: These meetings aren't just about disseminating information; they're about fostering a sense of community and shared purpose. Look for opportunities to recognize and celebrate hard work or those who have gone above and beyond. Consider discussing challenging topics openly with humility and love. These meetings are a time of encouragement and a place to foster a sense of belonging. ### 3. Leverage the Power of Video: Weekly Update Vlogs In our visual-centric world, video content reigns supreme. Consider creating weekly video updates that: - Recap key events and announcements - Preview upcoming initiatives - Spotlight team members and their contributions - Share inspiring stories of impact > Bonus: An iPhone or Android phone works just as well as an expensive video camera. Don’t go overboard with the video creation. These videos are for communication purposes and can be placed in an email, Slack, Teams channel, or your shared cloud storage space. ### 4. Establish Clear Communication Channels: The Right Tool for the Right Message Not all messages are created equal. Clarity in channel usage reduces confusion and ensures important messages don't get lost in the noise. Cut down on the email and keep updates and general communication in the proper tools and channels. Slack and Teams channels associated with departments, ministry areas, volunteers, etc., are becoming the standard in a culture that is increasingly becoming email-resistant and chat message-friendly. Establish guidelines for using different communication tools: - Email: For formal announcements and detailed information - Instant messaging (e.g., Slack): For quick questions and informal team chats - Project management tools (e.g. Notion or Monday): For task-specific discussions and updates - In-person meetings: For sensitive conversations and brainstorming sessions ### 5. Implement a "Need-to-Know" Matrix: Tailored Information Delivery Information overload can be as detrimental as a lack of communication. Develop a system that ensures team members receive information relevant to their roles. A targeted approach respects everyone's time and keeps the focus on what matters most to each role. Here’s how: - Create role-based distribution lists - Use tags, lists, or custom fields in your ChMS to filter updates - Encourage team leads to curate and disseminate pertinent information to their teams ### 6. Foster Two-Way Communication: Regular Feedback Loops Communication isn't just about top-down information flow. Implement regular feedback mechanisms such as: - Scheduled feedback meetings - Quarterly surveys on team satisfaction and communication effectiveness - Open-door policies for leadership - Peer-to-peer recognition programs These initiatives ensure that every voice is heard and valued, boosting morale and uncovering valuable insights. Take this one seriously. Healthy teams begin with open doors and safe opportunities for challenging conversations. ### 7. Invest in Communication Training: Equip Your Team for Success Effective communication is a skill that can be developed. Invest in your team by providing: - Workshops on active listening and clear articulation - Training on using your chosen digital tools effectively - Conflict resolution seminars - Public speaking courses for those who lead groups or give announcements > Remember: A team that communicates well internally is better equipped to communicate the church's message externally. ### Putting It All Together: Your Communication Revolution Starts Now Implementing these strategies won't happen overnight, but the journey toward better internal communication starts with a single step. Begin by assessing your current communication landscape and identifying areas for immediate improvement. As you roll out these changes, remember that consistency is key. Regular check-ins and adjustments will help you fine-tune your approach and create a communication ecosystem that serves your unique culture and church community. By transforming your internal communication, you're not just improving efficiency—you're building a stronger, more connected team that's better equipped to fulfill your church's mission, impact lives for Christ, and weather those unforeseen storms. Ready to take your church team's communication? Be intentional and start with one strategy this week and watch your team's connectivity and effectiveness soar! Jason Silbernagel Co-founder, Threefold Solutions P.S. We assist with coaching, training, strategy, and support. --- ## The Myth of Overnight Success URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-myth-of-overnight-success Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-11-22 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover the truth behind the myth of overnight success and learn how consistent, long-term effort leads to lasting achievements in life and ministry. ### Introduction A few years back, I joked with friends about going through a "mid-midlife crisis" at thirty. Reflecting on the past decade, I tallied my accomplishments: living in Australia, earning a bachelor's in contemporary ministry, relocating to Texas, mastering guitar amp construction, working for one of the country's largest churches, touring as a musician, and learning to code. While impressive to some, I still felt disappointed and close to burnout. If this resonates with you, you're not alone. Many of us fall into the trap of overestimating what we can accomplish in one year while underestimating our potential over five years. The adage "hindsight is 20/20" rings true – it's far easier to chart our course looking back than when we are in the thick of moving forward. Perhaps you're experiencing this tension yourself: misjudging your short-term capabilities while underestimating the transformative power of sustained, long-term effort. This common struggle permeates various aspects of our lives – from personal ambitions to professional goals, and even our relationship with Christ. ### The Myth of Overnight Success In our fast-paced world, the myth of overnight success is pervasive. Social media often showcases end results, not journeys. We see successes like Elon Musk and Oprah Winfrey, assuming their rise was swift. In reality, these individuals invested years of hard work, facing numerous setbacks. We overestimate our short-term capabilities partly due to our desire for quick results and immediate gratification. We set ambitious one-year goals, expecting dramatic changes without considering the complexities and time required. This desire for instant success can be particularly disheartening in church ministry, where progress is often slow and the fruits of labor not immediately visible. ### The Power of Consistent Effort Consistency is the secret sauce to success. It's about taking small, steady steps daily rather than making massive leaps in a short time. Consider J.K. Rowling's story: before Harry Potter became a global phenomenon, Rowling faced numerous rejections and hardships. Her success was the result of years of persistent effort and resilience. In church work, this principle is equally valid. Building a strong, vibrant faith community takes time, involving countless hours of planning, prayer, and personal investment. The seeds you plant today may not bear fruit for years, but they're growing beneath the surface. ### Long-term Vision vs. Short-term Goals Balancing long-term vision with short-term goals is crucial. A long-term vision provides direction and purpose, while short-term goals keep you motivated and focused. To avoid burnout, set achievable, incremental goals. For instance, if your long-term vision is writing a book, your short-term goals could include writing a certain number of words daily. In church settings, this might translate to setting goals for community outreach events, spiritual growth initiatives, or weekly attendance. Each small step builds towards a larger, more impactful ministry. ### Case Studies and Success Stories Consider Amazon: Jeff Bezos started the company in his garage in 1994, and it took several years to become profitable. Similarly, Airbnb spent years refining their business model and overcoming challenges before achieving success. These stories highlight the importance of patience, persistence, and long-term planning. In our church, we have similar stories. Think of the Sunday school program that began with just a handful of children and now nurtures dozens each week, or the outreach initiative that started with small acts of kindness and has grown into a cornerstone of our community engagement. These successes remind us that meaningful progress often starts with humble beginnings. ### Actionable Tips - Set Realistic One-Year Goals: Break down your big vision into smaller, manageable tasks. Focus on what you can realistically achieve in one year without overwhelming yourself. In a church context, this might mean aiming to increase volunteer participation by a small percentage or launching one new community program. - Create a Five-Year Plan: Envision where you want to be in five years. Write down your goals and the steps you need to take each year to get there. This could include milestones for church growth, such as building expansions, increased membership, or new ministry initiatives. - Track Your Progress: Regularly review your goals and progress. Adjust your plans as necessary but stay committed to your long-term vision. Keeping a ministry journal or having regular planning meetings can help you stay on track. - Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements along the way. This keeps you motivated and reinforces your commitment to your goals. Whether it's a successful event, a new member joining the church, or a personal breakthrough in someone's faith journey, these victories are worth celebrating. ### Conclusion When feeling challenged by difficulties, the key lies in understanding the time and effort required for true success. By setting realistic short-term goals and committing to a long-term vision, you can achieve far more than you ever imagined. Remember, you often overestimate what you can do in one year and underestimate what you can achieve in five years. Start planning, stay consistent, and watch your dreams unfold over time. In your ministry, keep this perspective at the forefront. The impact you desire won't happen overnight, but with patience, persistence, and faith, the seeds you plant today will grow into a thriving, impactful ministry that blesses many. Keep moving forward, even when it's difficult, and trust in the slow, steady process of growth and transformation. Michael Visser --- ## The Silent Threat of Incremental Degradation URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-silent-threat-of-incremental-degradation Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-11-15 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Is your church sacrificing future growth for short-term savings? Learn how to prevent incremental degradation and foster long-term community vitality. ### Are We Sacrificing Our Future to Save a Buck Today? In 2018, our church was buzzing with life. Families of all ages filled the pews, programs thrived, and the sense of community was palpable. Fast forward to post-COVID times, and while our attendance numbers bounced back to their previous levels, a troubling shift had occurred. Our congregation had become predominantly older, and the young families who once brought so much vitality to our church were conspicuously absent. We were optimizing and becoming more efficient, cutting back on programs to save costs, and we didn't even notice we were losing a key demographic. This wasn’t an isolated issue but a classic example of incremental degradation—the slow, often unnoticed decline in quality or effectiveness over time. ### The Current Challenge In today's economic climate, many churches, businesses, and organizations are facing pressure to cut costs. The fear of a looming recession prompts leaders to make decisions that seem prudent in the short term. However, without careful consideration, these decisions can lead to unintended consequences. Our church’s experience offers a stark reminder of how subtle changes can accumulate into significant problems. ### What Is Incremental Degradation? Incremental degradation is the gradual deterioration of a system, process, or organization, often unnoticed until it reaches a critical point. Unlike sudden failures, this type of decline is insidious, making it harder to detect and rectify. ### The Unseen Costs of Cost-Cutting Our church's story is a powerful illustration of how incremental degradation can sneak up on you. Over the past four years, we had gradually reduced or eliminated programs that were crucial for engaging young families. "Mom's Day Out" Thursdays and babysitting scholarships were among the casualties of our cost-saving measures. These programs, while seemingly peripheral, were key to maintaining a diverse and vibrant community. Initially, these cuts seemed like smart moves. We were reducing expenses and streamlining operations, all in response to the immediate pressures of the pandemic. However, as the months turned into years, the long-term impact became clear. Our optimization efforts had inadvertently alienated young families, leading to a homogenous and aging congregation. We’re not alone in facing this challenge. In Michael Masterson’s book Ready, Fire, Aim, he recounts the story of a candy company that experienced a similar issue. To cut costs, the company removed one of the 38 ingredients from their product, saving millions. Initially, customers didn’t notice the change, so the company continued this process, each time comparing the latest version of the candy to the one immediately prior. However, this approach overlooked the cumulative effect of the changes. Over time, loyal customers noticed the declining quality and switched to competitors, leading to a significant drop in sales. It wasn’t until the company compared the latest version of the candy to the original that they realized how dramatically the product had drifted from the beloved candy. This is just a simple story of how incremental degradation, driven by cost-cutting measures, can harm an organization’s long-term success. ### The Broader Implications This issue isn’t unique to our church. Across the country, organizations are making similar decisions to weather economic uncertainty. The challenge is finding ways to cut back without losing sight of the bigger picture. When we focus too narrowly on short-term gains, we risk undermining the very foundations that support long-term success. This is the essence of incremental degradation. Each small cut seems harmless, but together, they can erode the core of what makes an organization impactful and resilient. ### Preventing Incremental Degradation So, how can we protect our organizations from this silent threat? Here are some strategies: - Regular Data Reviews: Establish a routine for reviewing data and trends. Look beyond the surface numbers to understand the deeper shifts in your organization’s demographics and engagement levels. - Prioritize Value Over Efficiency: Efficiency is important, but it shouldn't come at the expense of the programs and services that provide significant value. Consider the long-term impact of cuts and seek a balance. - Maintain Diverse Engagement: Ensure that your organization continues to meet the needs of all demographic groups. This might mean keeping certain programs alive, even if they seem less critical in the short term. - Adapt and Evolve: Be prepared to adapt based on feedback and changing circumstances. What worked in the past may not be effective now, and staying responsive is key to long-term success. ### Moving Forward Our church’s experience with incremental degradation was a wake-up call. We realized that while our optimizations seemed prudent, they were slowly eroding the diversity and vitality of our community. By recognizing the impact of these changes, we can take proactive steps to rebuild and strengthen our engagement with young families and other key demographics. As we move forward, let’s remember that the health of our organizations depends on the ability to balance short-term efficiencies with long-term sustainability. By staying vigilant and proactive, we can prevent small degradations from turning into major declines. ### Conclusion In closing, I urge you to reflect on your own organizations or communities. Are there areas where incremental degradation might be occurring? What steps can you take to address these issues before they become significant problems? By staying aware of the subtle shifts and making mindful decisions, we can ensure a brighter, more inclusive future for all. Let’s not sacrifice our future to save a buck today. Instead, let’s invest in the programs and people that make our communities vibrant and resilient. Michael Visser --- ## Something’s Gotta Change URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/somethings-gotta-change Author: Alicia Osgood Published: 2024-11-08 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Learn how to navigate team changes with empathy, effective communication, and strategies to ease resistance and foster growth. My husband grew up with his grandparents right next door. His grandfather was one of 13 children born into a first-generation Lebanese family and raised during The Depression. Jidu (Arabic for “grandfather”) was a quirky old man. He was generous and kind, but also stubborn and opinionated. Like many in his generation, he learned how to squeeze nickels so hard they would bleed. Receipts were always scrutinized for accuracy, and he knew exactly how much he paid for every item he owned. If a family member mentioned the need to replace a car, lawnmower, kitchen appliance, or hand tool he would pepper them with questions about why it needed to be replaced. “That toaster has worked just fine for 22 years. There’s nuthin’ wrong with that toaster!” Not only was he being frugal, but he couldn’t see the value in making a change or an upgrade without just cause. “The buttons are different. It doesn’t toast the same way as the other one did. I can’t get the foolish thing to work!” Jidu would rather have spent a day and a half fixing the broken toaster than spend $20 on a new one that was different than the one before. It’s been nearly a decade since Jidu passed but the whole family still laughingly declares, “There’s nuthin’ wrong with that whatchamacallit!” every timesomething breaks. Jidu was not a fan of change – especially when it was being forced upon him, and he certainly isn’t alone. Navigating change is a nearly constant dynamic within church staffs and volunteer teams. Implementing these changes can be difficult to navigate – especially if you have some team members who are highly change resistant. Generally speaking, when you make a change – even a seemingly insignificant one – 80% of people are not going to have strong feelings about it – they will go with the flow. However, of the remaining 20%, about half will be enthusiastic supporters and half will disapprove. Steering a group of change resistant team members through transitions can be frustrating and time consuming for leaders, but by understanding the duality of change you can help ease the tension and lead your team to the other side. ### The duality of change. Change is a two-sided coin. The first side is the logical, rational understanding of why a change is needed or is happening. It explains the why behind an impending switch. Example: We’re restructuring our staff because we’ve grown as a team, and we need to add some layers to our leadership, so we don’t burn out our current leaders. But there is a second side of change that we often underestimate – the emotional side. Navigating people’s emotions during change comes easier to some leaders than to others. If you’re a highly logical thinker with low empathy, you may not think through the emotional impact that even slight changes have on team members. Personally, I can fall into this category. When I present the right information (the “why” behind a change) to my teammates, I assume they’ll jump on board, and everything will flow seamlessly. I am inevitably surprised when someone gets frustrated and upset by what I estimate to be “no big deal.” Just this week I had a conversation with a church member who was telling me how upset they were 6 years ago when the lobby was re-painted. They were laughing about it now because, since time has passed, they see that their initial response was over-the-top, but in the middle of the situation they were having an emotional response to change that they didn’t fully understand. ### Helping your team embrace change. - Communicate, communicate, communicate. First, communicate early and communicate often. Don’t drop information about a major change on the eve of implementation. Letting your team know ahead of time gives them the opportunity to prepare for how the change will impact them. Let them ask questions and don’t rush the answers. As the leader with the decision-making power, you’ve likely looked at the need for change from multiple angles and fully understand all the implications, so give others time to catch up and bring their perspective. Remind your team often about the broader vision behind the change that is being made. This will help provide a sense of direction and motivation that can guide your team through the transition. - Acknowledge the discomfort. Second, be honest about the discomfort that change can bring. Whether you’re changing an organizational policy, a leadership structure, an HR system, or bringing on a new staff member, all change brings a degree of stress. Despite our best efforts and superior planning, there will be bumps along the road. Be realistic about what the transition period will look like and give others a framework for navigating issues as they arise. Change is a disruption from what has always been, and, for many people, this disruption could alter their sense of belonging. Consistent encouragement and reassurance will go a long way in building team morale and ease the tension in teammates who are still navigating the change. - Adaptation takes time. Third, don’t mistake change with adaptation. “Change” might be the starting line, but “adaptation” is the race. Once you’ve made a change there is still a period of adaptation for everyone involved. It may take longer than you realize for people to fully grasp the intricacies of a new process or system. Be patient with your team as they adjust and clearly communicate your expectations along the way. - Sometimes change has a cost. Finally, recognize that not everyone will make the transition with you. As leaders, we do what we can to coach people through the changes that we’re bringing, but ultimately, some people may choose to bow out rather than align themselves with a shift. This is especially true with volunteer teams in our churches. Something as simple as changing how you manage schedules (or painting the lobby a new color!) may cost you a volunteer. If you find yourself at a crossroads with a volunteer, thank them for their time, remind them of the positive impact that they made during their time on the team, and (if you’re able) leave the door open for them to return to the team in the future. ### Ready or not… You may have heard the adage that “The only constant in life is change itself” and this has proven to be an unchangeable (pun intended!) truth. Walking your team through periods of change requires a unique blend of patience, determination, understanding, and grit. Whether you’re navigating a change that you’ve chosen or one that was unforeseen, guiding your team with empathy can transform challenges into achievements and bring new growth and momentum to your team. You may even surprise yourself and win over even the most change-resistant team member! Alicia Osgood --- ## Unlocking the Power of Planning Center People: 5 Important Lists You Need Now! URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/unlocking-the-power-of-planning-center-people-5-important-lists-you-need-now Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2024-11-01 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Planning Center apps: People Unlock the power of Planning Center People with 5 must-have lists to streamline your ministry and strengthen your church connections! Are you ready to take your Planning Center People game to the next level? Today, we're diving into my top 5 favorite lists that will change how you manage your congregation. These aren't just any lists – they're the keys to streamlining your ministry and connecting with your people like never before. ### The "New Here" Nurture List for Visitors Why it's important: Imagine never missing the opportunity to welcome visitors again! This list helps you roll out the red carpet for newcomers, ensuring they feel welcomed and connected from day one. It also helps you monitor any new profiles created within your database, and from a security standpoint, that’s never a bad idea. How to set it up: - Go to Lists > New List - Name it "New Here Nurture" - Set rule conditions: Rule 1: People | Created | since | 1 | week ago - Save and watch your newcomer engagement soar! - Create an Automation on this list to send these new profiles to a “New Here Nurture” Workflow (*you must create the workflow first). > When a person… | Is added to this list > Then perform an action in… | People | Add to workflow > Workflow | New Here Nurture > Check the box for Skip people who have already started or completed this workflow Note: If profiles are found when creating this list, do not check the box for Apply action to current members on this list. ### The "Birthday Celebration" List Why this list matters: Show your congregation you care by never missing a birthday again. This simple list lets your congregation know you care enough to acknowledge and celebrate their day of birth! Quick setup: - Create a new list and name it "Birthday Celebration” - Set rule conditions: Rule 1: People | Personal | Birthday (any year) | in the next (without year) | 1 | week - Get ready to spread some birthday cheer! Set up a list Automation to send an email from a template. (*you will need to create the email template first. See how in Planning Center's email template guide) > When a person... | is added to this list > Then perform an action in… | People | Send email from template > Template | Happy birthday email (named whatever you would like) Note: If profiles are found when creating this list, check the box for Apply action to current members on this list. - Visit the list settings tab to specify when this automation and list should run. Click the Enable auto-refresh button and then choose your Frequency: Weekly on Monday (or the day of your choosing). ### The "Volunteer All-Stars" List Why it’s so essential: Recognize and retain your MVPs (Most Valuable Participants) with this list that tracks your most active volunteers. Let them know you see their contributions and acknowledge that in a fun email that celebrates them. Here's how: - Create a new list and name it "Volunteer All-Stars" - Set rule conditions (*This list is a bit more complex. Follow the image below to see how these conditions are set up): Rule 1: Services | Scheduled | to | Any service type | Any team | since (including future) | 3 | months ago | check the box for Confirmed And: Services | Scheduled | to | Any service type | Any team | since (including future) | 2 | months ago | check the box for Confirmed And: Services | Scheduled | to | Any service type | Any team | since (including future) | 1 | months ago | check the box for Confirmed And: Services | Scheduled | to | Any service type | Any team | since (including future) | 2 | weeks ago | check the box for Confirmed - Send out those MVP acknowledgments! Set up a list Automation on this new list to send an email from a template. (*you will need to create the email template first. See how in Planning Center's email template guide) > When a person... | is added to this list > Then perform an action in… | People | Send email from template > Template | You’re an All-Star! email (named whatever you would like) Note: If profiles are found when creating this list, check the box for Apply action to current members on this list. - Visit the list settings tab to set your refresh options. - Watch as you create a culture of appreciation and a consistently reliable volunteer team! ### The "Re-Engagement Radar" List Why it's crucial: Don't let anyone fall through the cracks! This list helps you identify and reach out to those who might be drifting away. Set it up: - Create a new list - Name it "Re-Engagement Radar" - Set rule conditions*. Use people matching none of these conditions: Rule 1: Check-ins | Attendance | attended | any event | any location | any time | since | 3 | months ago | any number of times | check the boxes to include: Guests and Regulars Nor: Giving | Donors | gave a donation | any amount | since | 3 | months ago Nor: Groups | Attended | at least | 1 | event | since | 3 | months ago | Only active groups | any group type | any group | Any tag groups | any options | Led by: | any leader | Current role: check boxes for leader and regular member Nor: Services | Scheduled | to | Any service type | Any team | since (including future) | 2 | weeks ago | check the box for Confirmed (*This list is also a bit more complex. Follow the image below to see how these conditions are set up.) - Create an Automation on this list to send these profiles to a “Re-Engagement Reach-out” Workflow (*you must create the workflow first). > When a person… | Is added to this list > Then perform an action in… | People | Add to workflow > Workflow | Re-Engagement Reach Out > Check the box for Skip people who have already started or completed this workflow Note: If profiles are found when creating this list, check the box for Apply action to current members on this list. - Reach out to the folks added to the workflow and remember to avoid leading with an email. Phone calls will be much more meaningful and personal! ### The "Next Steps Navigator" List Why it's transformative: Guide your members on their spiritual journey by tracking and encouraging their next steps, from baptism to small group participation and everything in between. Make it happen: - Create a new list and name it "Next Steps Navigator" - Setup rule conditions: Rule 1: Check-Ins | Attendance | attended | Membership Class | any location | any time | since | 1| month ago | any number times | check the boxes for Guests and Regulars Rule 2: Services | Scheduled | to | Any service type | Any team | ever | check boxes for Unconfirmed,Confirmed, and Declined Nor: Groups | Member | of a group | Only active groups | any group type | any group | Any tag groups | any options | Led by: any leader | Role: check boxes for leader and regular member Nor: People | [Tab for Custom Field relating to Baptism date or Decision for Christ or similar] | is set (Follow the image below to see how these conditions are set up. Remember, these can be adjusted to fit your custom fields that track congregants' important dates, membership class completions, etc. The idea is to show that the member has taken the step to become a member but hasn’t gotten involved in other areas yet.) - Create an Automation on this list to send these profiles to a “Next Steps Journey” Workflow (*you must create the workflow first). > When a person… | Is added to this list > Then perform an action in… | People | Add to workflow > Workflow | Next Steps Journey > Check the box for Skip people who have already started or completed this workflow Note: If profiles are found when creating this list, check the box for Apply action to current members on this list. - Utilize Planning Center integrations like Clearstream or MailChimp to send these members into a text or email journey to encourage them to take their next steps within your discipleship process. Try these lists and remember to tweak them to fit your database to accomplish the goals. This is just a sample of what you can do with Planning Center People lists. As I always say, you must use lists to get good at lists. Keep the momentum going by coming up with your own lists! Jason Silbernagel Co-founder, Threefold Solutions --- ## Empowering Others to Solve the RIGHT Problems URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/empowering-others-to-solve-the-right-problems Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-10-25 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Learn how leaders can delegate effectively, empower their teams, and focus on strategic goals using the 10/80/10 rule for leadership success. As leaders, entrusted with guiding our church community, we often find ourselves immersed in the daily operations, grappling with myriad tasks and challenges. It's easy to fall into the trap of focusing on minor details and issues that, in the grand scheme of things, don't significantly impact our mission. This tendency to focus on problems that are minor — or to get bogged down in minutiae — can be a significant barrier to effective leadership. Today, I want to share some thoughts on how we can lead from a higher vantage point and empower others to take on the details, allowing us to guide and inspire our teams and community more effectively. ### The Problem with Solving Non-Existent Problems In any leadership role, especially within the church, there is an inherent desire to ensure that everything runs smoothly. We care deeply about our community and our mission, so it's natural to want to address every issue, no matter how small. However, this well-intentioned approach can lead to what I call "problem-solving for the sake of problem-solving." We might find ourselves spending precious time and energy on problems that, when examined closely, aren't real problems at all or are so minor that they don't require our focus. As a kid, I remember hearing the rumor that if Bill Gates walked past a hundred-dollar bill on the side of the road, it wasn’t worth his time to reach down and pick it up. The idea was that his time was so valuable, he could make far more in the moments it would take to retrieve that bill. I think sometimes we forget that as leaders, we are billionaires when it comes to our time, energy, and attention. Every minute we spend on a problem that someone else could capably address is a minute we lose from focusing on our core mission, vision, and the bigger issues that need our attention. This phenomenon often stems from a lack of delegation and a tendency to micromanage. When leaders become overly involved in the details, they inadvertently create or amplify problems that could have been resolved by someone else, or that might not have been problems at all had they been left alone. The result is a leadership approach that is reactive rather than proactive, stifling creativity, initiative, and growth within the team. ### The 10/80/10 Rule: A Framework for Effective Delegation To counter this tendency, I recommend embracing Dan Martell's 10/80/10 rule as a guiding principle. This rule provides a framework for effective delegation, allowing leaders to maintain high standards while empowering their team members to take ownership of their work. ### Here’s how the 10/80/10 rule works: - The First 10%: As a leader, your role is to provide the initial direction. This involves clearly communicating the vision, goals, and desired outcomes for a project or task. At this stage, you set the parameters, provide context, and outline the expectations. This ensures that the team understands the purpose behind the task and has a clear direction to follow. - The Middle 80%: This is where you step back and let your team take over. Trust your team members to handle the bulk of the work. They will bring their own creativity, skills, and perspectives to the task, which often leads to solutions and outcomes that you might not have envisioned. During this phase, it's essential to resist the urge to micromanage or interfere unless necessary. Allow your team the space to innovate and problem-solve independently. - The Final 10%: Once the bulk of the work is done, your role as a leader is to review the final product and ensure it meets the established standards. This is where you make any necessary adjustments, provide feedback, and ensure that the outcome aligns with the original vision. However, your involvement at this stage should be minimal, focused on fine-tuning rather than overhauling. ### Coaching for Alignment Even with a clear framework like the 10/80/10 rule, there will be times when the work returned by your team doesn’t fully align with your expectations. This is a natural part of the leadership process and an opportunity for growth—for both you and your team members. The key is to approach these situations with a coaching mindset rather than a disciplinary one. Here are some strategies for coaching team members when their work doesn’t meet expectations: - Provide Constructive Feedback: When reviewing the final 10% of a project, be specific about what aspects of the work need improvement. Rather than simply pointing out what’s wrong, explain why it doesn’t align with the initial vision and how it can be improved. Focus on the outcomes and the reasons behind your expectations. - Encourage Self-Reflection: Ask your team members to reflect on the work they’ve done and identify areas where they think improvements could be made. This encourages them to take ownership of their work and develop a critical eye, which is essential for growth. Self-reflection also fosters a sense of responsibility and helps team members internalize the standards you’re aiming for. - Offer Support and Resources: Sometimes, the gap between expectations and outcomes is due to a lack of resources, knowledge, or support. As a leader, it’s important to provide the tools and guidance your team needs to succeed. This could mean offering additional training, clarifying instructions, or providing examples of the desired outcome. - Empower Through Trust: Trust is a crucial element in any coaching relationship. When you trust your team members, you empower them to take risks, make decisions, and grow in their roles. Even when mistakes are made, use these moments as learning opportunities rather than reasons to take control back. Remember, the goal is to develop your team’s capabilities, not to ensure that everything is done perfectly according to your methods. ### The Impact of Letting Go When leaders focus on empowering their team rather than solving every problem themselves, the impact can be profound. Not only does this approach free up your time to focus on higher-level strategic thinking and vision casting, but it also fosters a culture of ownership and initiative within your team. By letting go of the need to control every detail, you allow your team members to develop their skills, take on more responsibility, and contribute more meaningfully to the church’s mission. This doesn’t mean abandoning oversight or lowering standards—it means trusting your team to rise to the occasion and guiding them towards success. ### Avoiding Common Pitfalls While the 10/80/10 rule is a powerful tool for effective delegation, it’s important to be mindful of common pitfalls that can undermine its effectiveness: - Failing to Set Clear Expectations: The success of the 10/80/10 rule hinges on the clarity of the initial 10%. If your team doesn’t fully understand the vision or the goals, they’re likely to veer off course during the middle 80%. Make sure your instructions are clear, concise, and well-understood. - Micromanaging During the Middle 80%: It can be tempting to check in constantly and offer “suggestions” as your team works on a project. However, this can stifle creativity and send the message that you don’t trust them to do the job. If you find yourself wanting to intervene, ask yourself whether it’s truly necessary or if it can wait until the final 10%. - Over-Correcting in the Final 10%: The final review stage is about fine-tuning, not redoing. If you find that the work isn’t meeting your standards, consider whether this is due to a lack of clarity at the outset or if additional coaching is needed. Overhauling the work at this stage can be demoralizing for your team and undermine their confidence. ### A Call to Action As leaders, our role is to guide, inspire, and empower those around us to achieve great things. By stepping back from the details and allowing our team members to take ownership of their work, we create an environment where innovation and growth can flourish. Let’s commit to focusing on what truly matters, trusting our team to handle the rest, and coaching them towards excellence when needed. I encourage each of you to reflect on your current leadership approach. Are there areas where you might be solving problems that don’t really exist? Are there opportunities to delegate more effectively, using the 10/80/10 rule as a guide? And when your team’s work doesn’t align with your expectations, are you approaching the situation with a coaching mindset? Let’s work together to build a culture of empowerment within our church community—one where leaders focus on vision and strategy, and our staff and volunteers are trusted and equipped to bring that vision to life. Michael Visser --- ## Favorite Features: Workflow Settings You Should Be Using URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/favorite-features-workflow-settings-you-should-be-using Author: Alicia Osgood Published: 2024-10-18 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People Optimize your Planning Center workflows with snoozed cards, deadlines, and shortcuts to improve follow-up and team efficiency. When I was younger, I had an amazing memory. I could memorize paragraphs of information with very little effort. I was in a play in Jr. High that required me to spout off random monologues from several of Shakespeare plays and had no trouble committing these lines to memory in just two weeks. Many things I memorized as a child or teenager are still firmly set in my mind. Bible verses, song lyrics, the theme song from Fresh Prince, the complete script from The Princess Bride - it’s all still in there and available for recall whenever the need arises. However, as an adult who is now juggling a family, homeschooling three teenagers, a job, ministry, volunteering at church, and trying to find time for friendships, I find that my memory is no longer 100% reliable. If I go to the grocery store without a list, I will inevitably forget some of the items I went there to purchase. I wish that I could “defrag” my brain like a computer to make room for the things that are important now (like deadlines and the name of my next-door neighbor) and get rid of the useless information that still lives in the recesses of my memory (like all the words to the Big Red Gum jingle from 1985). To combat the unavoidable aging of my mind, I rely more than ever on good systems with a LOT of reminders, notifications, and shortcuts built in. Out of necessity, utilizing the organizational tools at my disposal has become a part of my personal and professional rhythms. When it comes to Planning Center Workflows, there are a few underutilized tools that would make a huge difference if they were embraced and implemented by church teams. ### Snoozing Workflow Cards If you’re anything like me, un-read notifications annoy you (if you’re one of those people with 18,477 unopened emails – how do you sleep at night?). Snoozing workflow cards is by far my favorite workflow feature because it allows me to trust that the green notifications on my dashboard are truly things that need my attention today. How does snoozing work? So glad you asked. Just like a snoozed alarm or a reminder on your phone, you can schedule a time for a workflow card to “wake up” so you’ll be reminded to take an action at a future date. For example, you may have a workflow for visitor follow-up and the first workflow step is to send an email or make a phone call to the individual. The second step is to reach out again in two weeks to invite them to a membership class or new-comers lunch. By applying a “snooze until” date to their workflow card, the card will be grayed-out and hidden from your view until the selected time. On the day that the card “wakes up” you’ll receive an email letting you know that it’s time to act on the card. Snoozing workflow cards is a gamechanger when it comes to follow-up because it does all the remembering for you! You can add a snooze date to a workflow card on an “as-needed” basis or build a pre-set snooze time into a workflow step as a default. So, roll over and rest your brain from the workflow cards that can wait until later! ### Give Yourself a Deadline Another often-forgotten Workflow setting is the “Expected Response Time” checkbox which can be found on each workflow step. When this box is checked you can add a preset timeframe for when you want the step to be completed (*i.e. within 7 days).*If the step hasn’t been completed within the pre-determined timeframe, you’ll get an email letting you know about your deadline. And who doesn’t like a loving reminder that it’s time to get up and do something? ### A Shortcut to the Info You Need I love a good shortcut. After a decade of living in major cities, nothing made me feel more like a local than knowing all the hacks for dodging backed-up traffic. If you know where to find it, Workflow Cards have a few shortcuts built in. First, People Forms often use workflow fields to add someone to a workflow. When this happens, you can quickly see the answers to their form while you’re looking at their card in the workflow. You can do this in just a single step by scrolling to the bottom of the workflow card and clicking on the link at the bottom of the card. The link will open a new tab on your web browser showing you their form submission. Secondly, if you’re working on a workflow card and need to view the individual’s People Profile you can get there quickly by clicking on the pop-out arrow icon next to their name at the top of the card. This will open their profile in a separate web browser page so you can view all their Planning Center information without losing your place in the workflow. This is a professional-level Planning Center move! ### Share the Workflow Workload The final Workflow feature you should know about is the “pin assignment” check box. By selecting the “pin assignment” checkbox in a workflow card you can override the default assignee settings in the workflow steps. This means that you can “pin” a workflow card to a team member and that the card will stay with them for all subsequent steps regardless of who is the default assignee on the workflow step. This is a great tool to use if you have multiple team members sharing responsibility for a workflow. The default assignee for step one can divvy up the responsibilities by pinning cards to various team members as needed depending on workload, schedules, etc. So go ahead and pin your cards to a teammate and head out on vacation - someone else can handle it! If you’re not using these workflow tools, I highly recommend giving them a try. They will take your Planning Center game to the next level and make you a follow-up champion! If you want to know more about workflows, check out our blog How to Use Planning Center Workflowsor learn more in our Intro to Workflows in Planning Center People video on YouTube. Alicia Osgood --- ## Getting Unstuck URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/getting-unstuck Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-10-11 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Feeling stuck? Discover how to reframe your mindset, recognize growth, and find progress even when it feels elusive. Have you ever felt like you're spinning your wheels, stuck in the same place despite all your efforts? You’re not alone. In fact, I talk to friends from all walks of life, experiencing this sensation all the time. They often say something like this: “I just feel like I am unable to, [insert your feeling here].” First off, I get it. And let me assure you, you're not the only one. Just a few months ago, I found myself in a similar place, wrestling with that same feeling of stagnation in a few of my own pursuits. It’s a frustrating place to be—especially when you know you’ve been putting in the work, showing up every day, and doing all the “right” things. Yet, somehow, it feels like nothing is changing. No matter how hard you push, progress seems elusive, like you’re treading water in an endless sea of tasks, challenges, and obstacles. But here’s the thing: “Stuck” is often more perception than reality. When I’m in that headspace—feeling like my efforts are going nowhere—I ask myself a simple, but powerful question: > What can I do today that wasn’t possible for me six months ago? This question isn’t just a mental exercise; it’s a reframe that can radically shift your perspective on your journey. It’s easy to overlook incremental progress because it often doesn’t feel like progress, but by asking this question, you start to see your growth in a new light. ### The Power of Reframing: Shining a Light on Your Progress Let's dig deeper into why this question is so effective. As humans, we’re wired to notice what's wrong or what's missing more easily than we notice what’s right or what’s improving. It’s a survival instinct, designed to keep us alert to danger. But in our modern lives, this tendency can create a skewed perception of our progress. We fixate on the gap between where we are and where we want to be, rather than recognizing the strides we've made. By asking, *“What can I do today that wasn’t possible for me six months ago?”*you force yourself to shift your focus. Instead of dwelling on what's not working, you start to highlight the small wins and the subtle shifts that are often easy to miss. For example, six months ago, maybe you were struggling to maintain a consistent routine. Today, you’ve established a solid habit of showing up daily, even if the results aren’t as dramatic as you’d hoped. That’s progress. Or perhaps six months ago, you couldn’t complete a certain task without significant effort or help. Now, you do it almost on autopilot. That’s growth. ### What Felt Hard Then, Feels Easier Now Another way to gauge your growth is by reflecting on what felt difficult six months ago but now feels easier (or at least more manageable). This is a tangible indicator that you’re not the same person you were back then—you’ve developed skills, knowledge, and resilience. As a result, what was once difficult has become more routine. Let’s say you started a new project six months ago that was completely outside your comfort zone. Maybe at first, every step felt overwhelming and uncertain. But today, you handle the challenges with more confidence. You’ve built a rhythm, learned what works and what doesn’t, and can navigate obstacles more smoothly. This is a clear sign of your growth. Remember, growth doesn’t always show up as big, flashy milestones. Often, it’s the quieter, more subtle shifts in how we approach our tasks, challenges, and goals. When something that used to take all your energy and focus now feels like just another part of your day, you’ve grown. ### The Illusion of Being Stuck The feeling of being stuck is often more about perception than reality. Our minds can play tricks on us, making us feel like we’re standing still when, in fact, we’re moving forward. The progress might be slow or in a different form than expected, but it’s there. Let’s be real — growth isn’t always linear. Sometimes, it feels like you’re taking two steps forward and one step back. Other times, it might seem like you’re walking in circles. But even those moments where you feel like you’re regressing are often necessary parts of the journey. They’re the times when you’re internalizing lessons, building resilience, and setting the stage for your next leap forward. ### The Magic of Small Wins Another important aspect of this reframe is acknowledging the power of small wins. It’s easy to overlook the minor victories when you’re focused on big goals, but these small wins are the building blocks of larger success. Maybe six months ago, you were struggling to carve out time for a personal project amidst a busy schedule. Today, you’ve managed to consistently dedicate time to it each week. That might not seem like a huge accomplishment in the grand scheme of things, but it’s a significant step forward. Each of these small wins accumulates, creating momentum and setting you up for bigger breakthroughs. ### Uncovering Your Growth Here’s a practical exercise you can do right now to uncover your growth: - Take a few moments to think back to where you were six months ago. What were the major challenges or obstacles you were facing? What goals were you working towards? What felt particularly difficult or overwhelming? - Now, consider where you are today. What can you do now that wasn’t possible back then? What have you learned or mastered that you didn’t know before? How have your habits, routines, or mindset shifted? - Write down at least three specific examples of progress or growth. It could be anything from mastering a new skill, to developing a healthier habit, to feeling more confident in a particular area of your life. - Reflect on how far you’ve come and give yourself credit for your progress. Recognizing and celebrating your growth is crucial for maintaining motivation and continuing to move forward. ### Final Thoughts: You're Progressing, Even When It Doesn’t Feel Like It The next time you find yourself feeling stuck or frustrated by a perceived lack of progress, remember this: Growth isn't always loud or obvious; often, it’s subtle and incremental — it’s happening, whether you see it or not. And just to be clear, I’m preaching to myself as much as to you. I have a habit of moving the goalposts just before I reach them, leaving me in a perpetual state of feeling like I haven’t accomplished much. This is why it’s so crucial to reframe your perspective and take stock of what’s actually happened. So, what can you do today that wasn’t possible six months ago? Take a moment to reflect, and you might be surprised by how much you’ve truly accomplished. Stay committed to your journey, keep asking the right questions, and always remember: You’re growing, even when it feels like you’re standing still. Until next time, Michael Visser --- ## New Planning Center Features You Need to Know About URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/new-planning-center-features-you-need-to-know-about Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2024-10-04 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: People, Check-ins Discover the latest Planning Center features, including updates to People lists, Check-ins, Registrations, and the Home Dashboard. Stay informed today! Planning Center has been busy releasing many new features this summer. Because new feature releases may change your processes and documentation, it’s vital to stay up to date. Keeping up with all these new options and features can be difficult, so we’re going to give you an opportunity to catch up by covering some of the big releases in this article. > As a note, these new features are often based on feedback and requests from users so it’s never a bad idea to submit your feature requests. You can submit your ideas/feature requests by clicking on the question mark in the top right corner of any Planning Center page or in a support email. ### A Big Update in People Lists Now, let’s get to some of these new features. First off, People lists have a new option that is a real game changer. Planning Center has introduced the ability to select individuals within a list. This is huge when it comes to sending communications to only certain people within your list or only selecting certain people you want to update with a bulk action (i.e. moving a subset of people into a group within Groups or adding select people to a workflow within People). This new option is found in Lists in the top left corner of your results. See the image below to review what this feature looks like and where this feature can be found. ### Check-ins and Brother Printer Update If you use iPads or Android tablets and Brother printers, you will want to update to the latest version of the Check-ins mobile app. This new version (3.0.0) addresses some significant issues with the printers disconnecting and adds some major stability fixes. The desktop version of the software, which runs on Mac and Windows computers, has also been updated. One additional feature with these updated desktop versions is the ability to connect to the Brother printers. This is a welcome addition as it allows you to connect your Brother (800 series) printers to a desktop computer with a USB cable. Now, Brother printers can be connected to your desktop computers and mobile devices. Check for Check-ins app updates on your mobile device and desktop stations. If you would like to verify which versions of the software your stations are running, you can do that from the station cards found on the Stations menu in the Check-ins app. See the image below for an example of that page for mobile device and desktop stations. ### Waitlist Option Now Available in Registrations If you have noticed the waitlist button in your Selection types on Detailed Signups in the past but always hated that you couldn’t select this button to give people a chance to get on a waitlist when you had reached capacity, the button is now available! See the image below for where to find the Waitlist option with your Selection Types. It always felt like a tease to show the waitlist button and not be able to select it in Detailed Signups. It’s been available for some time in Simple Signups, but now it’s universally available for either type of signup. It has some additional features, too! You can now manually promote someone to be an attendee from the waitlist. You can also notify the whole list of people on a waitlist. This is another welcome update for managing events, especially those with limited childcare availability. ### Metrics Widgets are Now Available within the Home Dashboard All the widgets can now live in one place in the Home app. If you start your day with the Home Dashboard (and if you don’t, you should!), you’ll now see the attendances or Giving updates (and many others) live and in real-time. Now, you can add those metrics widgets that you keep an eye on within your People/Metrics Dashboard right alongside your Home Dashboard task widgets. You can view your assigned workflow cards beside your attendance widget for Children’s check-ins. This Home dashboard is now a one-stop location for all your favorite widgets. ### But Wait, There’s More! Planning Center has certainly been busy, and I have only listed a few of the recent updates. Here’s a quick reference to some of the other updates: - Publishing: A new Sermon Channel walk-through wizard to help launch your Sermon pages. They have also updated a new promotional video option with your Church Center logo embedded within the video. You can find this new feature here: Customize > Resources - Publishing (planningcenteronline.com) - Services: You can now set up auto-reschedule when you receive a declined request. - Giving: Non-deductible giving options! This is a big update and you can find out more here: Non-Deductible Giving - People: New permission level “Workflows Only” for volunteers to participate in Workflows without needing to give them “Viewer” access to the whole database. This is just a sample of the new features and updates. If you would like to see all of them, you can visit the “What’s New” page here: Planning Center Changelog. ### How To Keep Up With All Of These Feature Updates? I have only listed a few of the new Planning Center feature updates above. There are plenty more you should read about and become familiar with. But you might be thinking, “How do I keep up with all of these updates?” The answer is to visit the support pages for each of the apps, and you do that by clicking on the question mark in the top right-hand corner of any Planning Center page. Next, click on the “Browse all documentation” link found just below the search field. Once there, go down the page and select the card or square on the right-hand side called “What’s new?”. You will now be taken to a page listing the app’s newest features and updates. Look for the “Follow” button just under the title. When you click on the Follow button, you will be asked to create a new account. This differs from your Planning Center login, so create a new account. Now, you will be subscribed to all the latest updates and features and will receive an email each time these updates are released. See image below. ### Requesting New Features Planning Center will continue to develop new features and add enhancements to all their applications. Users' suggestions and feature requests will also contribute to these updates. We encourage you to submit your own feature requests when you feel like a function needs to be added within an app. You can do this by clicking on the question mark in the top right corner of the page and selecting the email support option. Submit your feature request here just as you would a support request. ### Conclusion Staying updated with these feature updates and changes is essential for your teams and users. Your procedures may change, and this may require updating documentation from time to time, but it’s part of having good procedures and worth the benefits these updates bring. Hopefully, with the inclusion of the best practices mentioned, you will now find staying updated with Planning Center feature releases a whole lot easier. Jason Silbernagel --- ## The Failure Factor URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-failure-factor Author: Amanda Visser Published: 2024-09-27 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover how embracing failure can boost team growth, resilience, and problem-solving in leadership. Learn to turn setbacks into success. Growing up, my brother and I had a brilliant idea – or so we thought – to use the laundry basket to ride down the stairs. As the younger of the two of us, I suggested he go first. At the time that I was preparing to give my brother a push to start his voyage to the basement, my mother recalls trying to stop us (from what was about to be an epic failure), but she was too late. As she joined me at the edge of the stairs, we watched my brother flip and roll down to the basement – not the smooth ride in the laundry basket that our young brains had imagined. Once he plopped to the bottom, there was a moment where my mother and I held our breaths waiting to see if he was okay. Thankfully he was, and he walked away with only a few rug burns. After the failed endeavor, we retired the idea, and I was spared from my own failed flight down the stairs. Innately, as a leader, I am like my mother, I will do everything in my power not to let anyone fail. If I see a possibility of failure on the horizon, I will jump in and try and save the day. The challenge is individuals often grow from failures at a faster rate than from successes. It is necessary for team members to try something, to fail, to learn from the moment, and then to get up and try it again. As leaders, we cannot keep our teams from failing, but we can be there in those moments, offering our support, asking great questions, and ultimately creating space for them to grow from the experience. ### The benefits of chasing failure. I recently listened to Ryan Leek’s perspective on failure in his book Chasing Failure. In a world where we typically shy away from any situation where failure is possible, Ryan advocates for the opposite; instead, emphasizing that we should chase opportunities in which we might fail. In doing so, we put ourselves in places where we can eventually succeed due to the things learned from failing quickly and often. > “What’s worse: failing while trying or failing by not trying?” – Ryan Leek Why chase failure? Through failure, we form a grit and resilience that we would not have developed in any other way. Here are just a few of the psychological benefits that can be gleaned through failure: - Adaptability: Through failure, adaptability can be strengthened – as a result, adjusting to new circumstances or implementing new strategies can be more easily executed in a future moment. - Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills: It becomes easier to spot potential obstacles or blind spots in future scenarios, causing more creativity in solutions and the ability to solve for possible roadblocks before they occur. - Increased Motivation and Perseverance: The resilience and determination gained from failure can re-motivate an individual toward achieving their goals and pushing beyond the limitations of their past missteps. - Improved Risk-Taking: It’s often the fear of failure that is more limiting that failure itself. Ultimately, when an individual experiences failure and bounces back, they are more likely to take calculated risks comfortably. ### Processing failure with your team. When a team member feels weight or pressure from a missed deadline or from a challenging conversation due to something they did or did not do, as leaders, we might want to save them from the discomfort, but we shouldn’t. Instead, we should lean in, help them uncover the possible missteps in their execution, and help them create a plan to continue moving forward. At the point that they succeed, not only can we celebrate their accomplishment, but we can also celebrate the growth they experienced along the way. Potential questions to ask a team member when processing failure: 1. How did you expect that to go? It’s often the dissonance between expectation and reality that causes someone to feel like they have failed. In processing those moments, it’s crucial to understand what your team member expected to happen to help them understand where they possibly missed the mark. 2. How would you have liked that to go? When you’re able to help someone see the full picture of the outcome they were desiring to achieve, you can support them in establishing clear action steps that it will take to get to that outcome. 3. What might you have done differently? When it comes to failure, as humans, we are adept at demeaning our own ability or being generally critical toward self. After a perceived failure, if someone’s internal dialogue is just critique without defined action for the next time, it’s easy to become demoralized and frozen. That is why this question is so helpful, it can help someone understand the action(s) to implement in the next scenario. When empowered with clear action steps, they can move forward with intention and ultimately create a different outcome. ### Conclusion While we can’t always keep our teams from their own “laundry basket down the stairs” moments, we can help them process their failures, recalibrate for their next attempt, and ultimately grow in capacity and resilience through it all. Failure doesn't have to be the last word; it is only a point of learning along the developmental journey. > For the righteous falls seven times and rises again.. Proverbs 24:16a Let’s learn to fail forward, knowing that for every moment that feels like a misstep, we will certainly rise again, stronger and more capable of successfully navigating what’s to come. Amanda Visser --- ## Why SEO Matters for Churches: Becoming a Beacon of Hope URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-importance-of-seo-for-churches-being-a-beacon-of-hope-online Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-09-20 Category: Web & Digital (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/web-digital) Boost your church's online visibility with SEO. Learn how to attract new visitors, engage your community, and build trust. In today’s digital age, having an online presence is not just an option; it’s a necessity. For churches, this means ensuring that when someone searches for a church near them or is looking for answers to life’s biggest questions, your church appears at the top of their search results. This is where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is critical. What is SEO? SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the practice of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results. When people search for terms like “churches near me” or “financial aid,” SEO helps ensure your church is one of the first results they see. Why is SEO Crucial for Churches? Visibility online means visibility in your community. Many people use search engines to find local churches, learn about their values, and discover upcoming events. Without a robust SEO strategy, your church might remain hidden, missing out on the opportunity to connect with potential new members and provide support to those in need. ### Benefits of SEO for Churches 1. Enhanced Visibility One of the primary benefits of SEO is increased visibility. When your church ranks higher in search engine results, more people will find your website. This visibility is crucial for attracting new visitors and ensuring that your current members can easily access important information. 2. Increased Engagement SEO not only helps you reach more people but also enhances engagement with your current congregation. By providing easily accessible and relevant content, you encourage regular visits to your site, keeping your community informed and engaged. 3. Building Trust and Authority High search engine rankings can also build trust and authority. When your church appears at the top of search results, it sends a message of credibility and reliability. People are more likely to trust and visit a church that has a strong online presence. ### Basics of SEO 1. Keyword Research The foundation of SEO is keyword research. Keywords are the terms people type into search engines. For churches, relevant keywords might include “church in [your city],” “Sunday service,” “youth ministry,” or “community outreach.” Using tools like Google Keyword Planner can help you find popular and relevant keywords to target. 2. On-Page SEO On-page SEO involves optimizing individual pages on your website to rank higher. Here are some key elements: - Title Tags: Include your main keyword in the title tag of each page. - Meta Descriptions: Write compelling meta descriptions that incorporate your keywords and entice users to click. - Content Optimization: Ensure your content is valuable, relevant, and includes your targeted keywords naturally. - Header Tags (H1, H2, etc.): Use header tags to organize your content and make it easier for search engines to understand. 3. Off-Page SEO Off-page SEO involves actions taken outside your website to impact your rankings. This primarily involves building backlinks—links from other websites to your site. Here’s how: - Citations: Ensure your church’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistently listed across online directories. - Quality Backlinks: Seek opportunities to get links from reputable websites, such as local news sites or community organizations. ### Creating Content 1. Create Diverse Content Creating diverse types of content can significantly boost your SEO efforts. Consider the following: - Blog Posts: Share articles about your church’s activities, community events, and spiritual guidance. - Event Announcements: Promote upcoming events, services, and community outreach programs. - Sermons: Upload text or video versions of your sermons. - Community Stories: Highlight inspiring stories from your congregation. 2. Implement a Content Strategy Having a content strategy ensures consistency and relevance. Here’s how to create one: - Regular Posting Schedule: Determine a realistic schedule for publishing new content—weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. - Keyword Targeting: Choose specific keywords for each piece of content to target relevant search queries. - Quality Over Quantity: Focus on creating valuable, well-researched content rather than churning out numerous low-quality posts. ### Action Steps for Churches 1. Audit Your Current Website Start by assessing your current SEO status. Tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console can provide insights into your website’s performance and highlight areas for improvement. 2. Implement Basic On-Page SEO Make sure your website’s pages are optimized with relevant keywords, engaging meta descriptions, and organized content. This foundational step can significantly improve your search engine rankings. 3. Create a Content Calendar Planning is crucial for consistency. Develop a content calendar that outlines what type of content you will publish and when you plan to publish that content. This helps ensure that your website remains active and engaging. ### Conclusion SEO might seem complex, but starting with the basics can make a significant difference in your church’s online visibility. By understanding and implementing simple SEO practices, your church can reach more people, build trust, and strengthen your community. Take the first step today by conducting an SEO audit and developing a content strategy tailored to your church’s mission. > Call to Action We’re here to help you get started! If you need help with your church's SEO strategy or would like assistance with setting up some of the basics, let’s talk. We’d love to collaborate to make your church’s presence become more visible online. Michael Visser --- ## The Art of Followship URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-art-of-followship Author: Alicia Osgood Published: 2024-09-13 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover the power of followship in the Christian life. Learn why following Jesus is essential and how to embrace it within leadership. *“Come and Follow.”*We read these words of Jesus repeatedly in the Gospels. It was His call to the disciples by the Sea of Galilee and to the crowds who surrounded Him. The Gospels record Jesus inviting people to become His followers about nineteen times. What is shockingly absent from the call of Jesus is this phrase: “Come and lead.” He never taught about leading – only following. In fact, the only times Jesus spoke about leading was in a negative context (leading others astray, being led into temptation, etc.). So, if Jesus emphasized following, why does it seem like the modern church is so obsessed with leading? As an experiment, I went to Amazon’s Book page and searched for “Christian Leadership” books. There were more than 50,000 search results. I’m not sure what’s left to be written on the topic, but I guarantee that there will be more Christian Leadership books published in the years to come. A quick online search for church leadership conferences will yield several pages of options – just pick a location and I am sure you can find a conference to attend! What I failed to find, however, were any “followship” conferences. (Yes, followship is a real word - I checked the dictionary just to make sure). Now, before we go much further, I’d like to say that I think leading well is incredibly important. Our churches are full of people who need to be shepherded, so we should be men and women of God who faithfully steward the influence that we have been given. As we continue to grow in our leadership skills, let’s not forget that while leading is something we do, being a follower is what we are. Being a follower is sometimes viewed as being inferior. In corporate America, if you’re following, it’s because you haven’t risen to the top yet – you’re not the alpha in the pack. If you’re a follower, it is because you are not yet skilled or equipped to lead and make decisions. As Christians though, following should mean something different. All positions of leadership, authority, and influence could be stripped away from us in a moment. What remains is our identity as followers of Him. Amid the pressures of leading, what can we do to stay rooted in our “followship”? ### Remember the first things. You can’t help others follow if you’re not taking time to follow. Commonly, many pastors only spend time studying and reading scriptures while preparing for their sermons. During the busyness of ministry, it can be difficult to find time for ourselves, but you will never regret taking time to renew your heart through Scripture, prayer, or meditation. ### Take your sabbath. Hey pastor/leader, with God, you can do all you need to do in six days. Don’t feel guilty for taking your day off or your vacation time. It’s okay to ignore a phone call or leave an email unanswered while you’re spending time with your spouse and kids, going fishing, mowing the lawn, or taking a nap. The sabbath is needed to rest, to heal, and to hear God. Taking this day each week goes a long way in maintaining health. ### Get out of the Green Room. The practice of creating a green room at our churches has become common. While having a designated space for the staff to gather, prayer, rest for a few minutes, or eat a meal is perfectly fine, let’s not let the green room keep us from the very people we’re ministering to. Yes, there were times that Jesus got away from the crowds, but He never fully removed himself from the people He had come to serve. When pastors and church teams stay in the comfort of the green room it can create an unnecessary barrier between the clergy and the parishioner – and people notice. Don’t let a green room culture unintentionally keep you and your team from building relationship with those in your church. ### Don’t forgo friendships. Find your people. Do life together. Join the community. These small group slogans are abundant in American churches; however, pastors are often the least likely to be in a group themselves. In fact, as cited in this 2016 survey of pastors, 58% of pastors feel they do not have true friends and 27% of pastors say they have no one to turn to if they’re facing a personal crisis! Building genuine relationships within the church you’re leading can be difficult. People may tend to see you solely as their pastor may keep their guard up. Conversely, you may feel that you can’t be real and vulnerable when interacting with church members because you’re in “pastor mode.” As followers, we need to invest in healthy relationships where we feel safe, can be our true selves, and can find accountability. In my own experience, this takes a lot of time and intentionality, but it is possible! These communities have kept me grounded and encouraged me to keep seeing myself as a follower first. Jesus had close friends – we can too. ### The ultimate follower. Jesus did only what the Father told Him to do (John 15:19-20). Even Jesus – the only begotten son of God – chose to follow the Father. He could have been the greatest leader that the world had ever seen. He could have commanded armies, demanded loyalty, or started a political movement. Instead, He washed feet, and He invites all his followers to do the same. Alicia Osgood --- ## What Does Community Look Like in the Church Today? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/what-does-community-look-like Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2024-09-06 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover how to blend in person and digital communication to foster a thriving, connected church community today. One thing I vividly remember from my childhood was the church family we belonged to within our congregation. We had a circle of families that were friends and hung out often. We did life together. Each family had children around the same age, and we went camping and had regular dinners and get-togethers. We celebrated together and helped each other during hard times. It was truly our church “family”. Our church was a small church, and fellowship happened primarily after church in the lobby or dining area for lunch. If you were a new visitor to our small flock, you were welcomed with open arms and people within the congregation made it their duty to welcome you and help you feel included. ### The Rules of Communication Have Changed Expectations were different at that time. There weren’t any classes offered on how to greet guests or how to retain visitors after their first visit. It was natural and easy, and much less effort was put into the practice during this time. We still spoke on landline phones; we didn’t have texting or social media. It was just plain old conversation, person to person, and looking each other in the eye or shaking someone’s hand. Today people prefer mediated communication (e.g., texting, emailing, social media) over actual face-to-face interactions. This shift caters to convenience and efficiency but ignores the deeper emotional connections and non-verbal cues that were crucial in our traditional, old-fashioned interactions. These connections were the glue that bound us together. It allowed us to create a sense of community just by being in the room together. A bright smile and an open hand to shake were safe and welcoming. These actions were genuine, and they were felt at an emotional level, forming the core of our church family. As church leaders, we are now faced with the challenge of navigating the shift in communication styles brought about by modern technology while integrating the deeper, more personal connections of the past. This challenge is amplified by the residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has further entrenched digital communication in our daily lives. However, by blending the strengths of both old and new communication methods, we can still create a thriving, connected church community. ### Navigating Modern and Traditional Communication Styles To begin with, it's essential to rebuild physical fellowship intentionally. Encouraging church members to participate in face-to-face activities is crucial. Organizing community events such as potlucks, game nights, and service projects provides opportunities for genuine conversations and helps rebuild the emotional connections that are often missing in digital interactions. Regular check-ins through personal visits, phone calls, and handwritten notes can make individuals feel valued and cared for, fostering a sense of belonging and a feeling of “family.” These personal interactions are crucial and can’t be emphasized enough. Many times, leaders and staff members can fall into the digital convenience trap. It’s easy to send the email or text but miss the interaction altogether. Another critical aspect is leveraging technology wisely. While continuing to utilize technology for meetings and events, when necessary, we should prioritize in-person interactions whenever possible. Hybrid models can ensure inclusivity for those who cannot attend physically while still emphasizing the importance of face-to-face connections. Digital invitations and updates can be used to keep members informed about church activities, but these platforms should complement rather than replace personal interactions. ### Creating Welcoming Church Environments Creating welcoming environments within the church is also vital. Training a dedicated team to greet newcomers warmly, engage them in meaningful conversations, and follow up after their visit can make new members feel immediately included and appreciated. Having leadership also model and demonstrate the same communication practices with existing congregants will help build a sense of belonging and community. ### Building Community Through Small Groups Encouraging the formation of small groups that meet regularly can help build smaller, more intimate communities within the larger church. These groups provide a setting for members to share their lives, pray together, and support one another. Prioritizing regular in-person meetings helps to build deeper connections. Additionally, developing mentorship programs where experienced members guide and support newer or younger members can provide valuable personal connections and opportunities for spiritual growth. ### Fostering a Culture of Care in Church Congregations Fostering a culture of care is fundamental to maintaining strong, supportive relationships within the congregation. Emphasizing pastoral care through regular visits, prayer groups, and personal check-ins by church leaders can make a significant difference. Creating initiatives that encourage members to support each other in practical ways, such as meal trains for those in need, shared childcare, or assistance with household tasks, can further strengthen the sense of community and continue building the church “family”. ### Conclusion: Blending Old and New Communication Methods Re-establishing a sense of community within our church congregations requires a thoughtful balance between embracing modern technology and nurturing traditional face-to-face interactions. By intentionally creating opportunities for personal connection and leveraging the strengths of digital communication, we can foster a vibrant, supportive church family. Let’s strive to blend the best of both worlds, ensuring our congregations are places of genuine connection and belonging in this digital age. By focusing on these areas, we can navigate the challenges posed by modern communication trends and the aftermath of the pandemic, ultimately fostering a vibrant, connected church community once again. Jason Silbernagel --- ## Empowering Volunteers: A Church Leader's Guide URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/empowering-volunteers-with-strengthsfinder-20-a-church-leaders-guide Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-08-30 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover how to empower church volunteers with StrengthsFinder 2.0 by aligning their strengths with impactful ministry roles. Over the last decade, personality tests have gained immense popularity. From the Enneagram to Myers-Briggs, it seems everyone knows someone who can’t stop talking about these tests and the deeper self-awareness they provide. As a recovering personality test enthusiast, I can attest to how empowering it is to have your strengths and attributes validated. If you haven’t taken a personality test in a while, I have a new one for you to consider: Strength Finders 2.0. Unlike the more personality-focused tests mentioned above, Strength Finders 2.0 focuses solely on helping you uncover your strengths. Not only is it helpful to you as an individual, but it's very eye-opening when you start using it with your staff and volunteers. As church leaders, one of our most important tasks is to place volunteers in roles where they can thrive. However, understanding each person’s unique gifts and aligning them with the right ministry can be challenging. Strength Finders 2.0 offers a powerful solution to this challenge by identifying volunteers' strengths and helping you position them in roles where they can make the greatest impact. ### Understanding Strength Finders 2.0 The Strengths Finder assessment, developed by Gallup, is a powerful tool designed to help individuals identify their unique strengths and leverage them for personal and professional growth. Based on over four decades of research, this assessment provides a comprehensive analysis of an individual's top talents from a list of 34 possible themes. Here’s a basic summary of the Strengths Finder assessment, its methodology, and its benefits. The Science Behind Strengths Finder The Strengths Finder assessment is rooted in positive psychology, which focuses on enhancing what people do well rather than correcting their weaknesses. The underlying premise is that individuals are more productive, engaged, and fulfilled when they focus on their natural talents. Gallup's research shows that people who use their strengths every day are six times more likely to be engaged at work and three times more likely to report having an excellent quality of life. How the Assessment Works The assessment consists of paired statements where participants must choose the statement that best describes them and indicate how strongly they relate to it. The forced-choice format ensures that respondents make quick decisions, which helps capture their natural tendencies and preferences. Once completed, the Strengths Finder assessment generates a personalized report that highlights an individual’s top five strengths out of the 34 themes. These themes fall into four domains: Executing, Influencing, RelationshipBuilding, and Strategic Thinking*.*Each strength is accompanied by a detailed description and actionable insights, helping individuals understand how to apply their talents in various contexts. ### The Benefits of Strength-Based Volunteer Placement Now that we have asked our teams to take the assessment, how can we benefit from the results? - Enhanced Engagement:When volunteers serve in roles that align with their strengths, they are more engaged and passionate about their work. For example, a volunteer with strengths in ‘Communication’ and ‘Empathy’ might excel in a role that involves pastoral care or teaching, while someone with strengths in *‘*Strategic’ and ‘Focus’ might thrive in administrative or planning roles. - Increased Retention: Volunteers who feel valued and see their impact are more likely to stay committed to the ministry. Strength-based placement reduces burnout and fosters a sense of belonging and purpose. - Maximized Impact: Serving in areas where they naturally excel, volunteers can contribute more effectively. This not only benefits the individual but also enhances the overall effectiveness of the ministry. ### Implementing Strength Finders 2.0 in Your Church - Introduce the Tool: Start by educating your team about the value of Strength Finders 2.0. Share success stories and testimonials from other churches that have benefited from using this tool. Consider hosting a workshop or a seminar to explain how it works and what to expect from the assessment. - Conduct Assessments:Provide access to the Strength Finders 2.0 assessment for all volunteers. Ensure that the process is seamless and supportive. You might want to allocate a specific time during a volunteer meeting for everyone to complete the assessment together. - Analyze Results: Once the assessments are complete, gather the results and analyze them. Look for patterns and key strengths that stand out. This analysis will help you understand the unique makeup of your volunteer team. - Align Strengths with Roles: Using the insights gained, start aligning volunteers with roles that suit their strengths. Create a detailed plan that maps out each volunteer’s top strengths and potential ministry roles where they can thrive. For instance, someone with a strength in 'Activator' might be perfect for leading new initiatives, while someone strong in 'Harmony' could excel in conflict resolution roles. - Continuous Support and Development: Empower your volunteers with ongoing support and opportunities for growth. Encourage them to continue developing their strengths and exploring new ways to serve. Provide feedback and recognize their contributions regularly. ### Conclusion In conclusion, utilizing Strength Finders 2.0 to place volunteers in their ideal roles is a transformative approach that benefits both the individual and the church. By understanding and leveraging the unique strengths of each volunteer, you can create a more engaged, effective, and fulfilled team. While the initial investment in Strength Finders 2.0 may seem significant, starting with your immediate team can provide valuable insights and demonstrate the impact of a strengths-based approach. As you observe the positive changes and increased engagement within your team, you can gradually expand this initiative to other parts of your church. Embracing and working on strengths can lead to remarkable growth and satisfaction for your volunteers, helping them to serve with passion and purpose. This, in turn, strengthens the overall ministry, creating a vibrant, supportive community where everyone’s unique gifts are celebrated and utilized. By focusing on what each individual does best and unlocking the full potential of our volunteers, your church can achieve its mission more effectively. The incredible transformation that comes from a strengths-based approach can create a lasting, positive impact on both volunteers and the community you serve. Michael Visser --- ## The key to managing rapid church growth: a strong, reliable foundation. URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-key-to-managing-rapid-church-growth-a-strong-reliable-foundation Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2024-08-23 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Learn how to manage rapid church growth with a strong foundation, centralized processes, and effective team culture for sustainable expansion. As your church grows, whether you're launching an additional service or adding a new campus, you will need to manage numerous changes: hiring staff, training volunteers, restructuring services, expanding ministries, and more. With growth comes stress and the potential for miscommunication. Building a strong foundation and team culture is crucial for supporting rapid growth. Here are some tips to help your church manage expansion effectively. ### Create a Central Information Repository I recommend beginning by documenting your processes and procedures and storing them in an easy-to-access location. Creating a central location for these procedures and process documents helps create alignment among your teams. This knowledge base is invaluable for both new and existing team members, allowing them to independently find answers to their questions. While training takes time, providing these resources helps everyone get acclimated more quickly, also making onboarding smoother. ### Online Software Solutions There are great online software resources available to help create this knowledge base. I have listed a few popular apps that specialize in hosting and sharing these types of documents. Here are some of the popular software solutions: - Notion: Notion is a versatile tool that combines notes, databases, task management, and wikis. It's great for creating a collaborative knowledge base with rich content types. - Zoho Learn: Part of the Zoho suite, Zoho Learn allows teams to create a secure and collaborative knowledge base. It supports customization and integration with other Zoho applications or can be used as a stand-alone solution. - Slab: Slab is a knowledge management tool specifically designed for creating and maintaining a knowledge base. It integrates with many other tools your team might be using. - Guru: Guru is a knowledge management solution that helps teams create, share, access, and update information. It offers browser extensions and integrations to provide knowledge in context. - Tettra: Tettra is a simple and straightforward knowledge base and wiki tool for teams. It integrates well with Slack and other tools to ensure information is easily accessible. ### How to Get Started Begin by documenting processes for each department or ministry area. These documented processes will act as instruction manuals for your teams. Keep them simple and clear. I'm not talking about multi-page dissertations; I’m suggesting simple one or two-page documents that clearly outline each process. Make sure to include volunteer teams as well as staff teams when creating your documents. ### Standardize Your Language When developing your processes, use consistent terminology across all departments, ministry areas, or campuses. Standardize the titles, names, and steps of your processes. This ensures everyone knows what is being referred to, promoting clarity and efficiency. ### Practical Example: Volunteer Onboarding Consider the process of onboarding new volunteers. Without a standardized procedure, new volunteers might feel lost. Create a documented process outlining each step involved in onboarding volunteers. Here’s a possible volunteer onboarding process: - Initial Contact Phone Call - Welcome and Introduction: Greet the volunteers warmly and introduce them to the department or ministry area. - Review Information: Review information such as name, contact details, and areas of interest from the Volunteer Interest Form submission. - Orientation - Orientation Session: Conduct a session to provide an overview of the position or role, its programs, and the importance of volunteer roles. - Tour of Facilities: Show them around the church facilities, including key areas where they might be serving. - Introduction to team members: Introduce volunteer to leader and team members. - Paperwork and Screening - Application Form: Have the volunteer fill out an application form. - Background Check: If necessary (depending on position), conduct a background check. - Confidentiality Agreement: Have volunteers sign any necessary confidentiality agreements. - Training - Schedule a Shadow Session: Schedule a shadow session with the volunteer and leader of the team or ministry area. - Additional Training: Schedule additional training specific to the volunteer’s role, including any necessary skills and responsibilities. - Mentorship: Assign a mentor to guide them through the initial stages of their volunteering. - Support and Communication - Regular Check-Ins: Schedule regular check-ins to provide support and address any concerns or questions. - Health Check-up: After 30 days, conduct a health check-up with the volunteer to ensure they are thriving in the role. This example ensures that all volunteers receive consistent information and training, creating confidence and preparedness as they begin their service. It also helps the staff and team members follow a consistent model across all volunteer areas. By having procedures like this documented in your knowledge base, new team members can easily find and follow the steps, understand their responsibilities, and get up to speed quickly. ### Building a Strong Foundation for Sustainable Growth Creating standardized procedures in the form of instruction manuals, or Playbooks, creates a culture of consistency and clarity. This not only benefits new team members but also enhances the efficiency and unity of your entire organization. As your church grows, having these standardized processes in place will help you maintain accuracy and unity across all ministry areas and departments. By investing time in documenting and centralizing your procedures, you create a scalable model that supports sustainable growth. Remember, a strong foundation built on clear, accessible, and standardized procedures empowers your team to focus on what truly matters: ministering to the congregation and fulfilling your church’s mission. Embrace this approach, and watch your teams thrive as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of growth. Jason Silbernagel --- ## Lost in Buckets URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/lost-in-buckets Author: Alicia Osgood Published: 2024-08-16 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover how church leaders can rebuild trust and foster a safe, supportive environment amidst challenges and scandals. For years my husband and I have told our kids that *“trust is earned in drops and lost in buckets.”*There have been times they’ve told me that’s not fair, but my response has always been, “Fair or not - it’s true.” In my own Christian journey, I’ve occupied a lot of “seats” within the church. I’ve been a pastor’s kid, a pastor’s wife, a churchgoer, a church volunteer, a church staff member, and worked for a Christian non-profit ministry. It’s allowed me to experience the Christian life and ministry from varying perspectives. I’ve known amazing pastors – men and women of God who love the Body and minister with grace and humility. I’ve seen lives genuinely changed by the Spirit of God. I’ve experienced healthy faith communities. But I’ve also watched leaders and ministries crumble under the weight of scandal. I’ve seen congregations split and churches close their doors. Lately, it feels like the global Kingdom of God has been experiencing a lot of “spilled buckets.” Hardly a week goes by without a story of ministry scandal or denominational in-fighting hitting the news. The public response is often a feeding frenzy. People boldly comment from behind their keyboards confidently condemning or defending the subject at hand. Even on a local level where I live in the Northeast, there are pastors burning out, leaders caught in sin, coverups being exposed, and churches splitting or closing due to systemic moral or legal issues. Ultimately, the result is that the Body of Christ is consumed with infighting and trust becomes even lower. So, what should church leaders do when trust is lost? How should we respond when the world points their fingers and says, “See, I knew they were a bunch of hypocrites.” ### Be Hopeful Don’t be discouraged by the media reports. For every church scandal you see on the news there are thousands of other good churches and wholesome pastors doing the work of the ministry. As leaders it can be easy to feel like Elijah when Jezebel was out to kill him (1 Kings 19). We start to think, “I am the only one left!” In these moments, if we let Him, the Lord is near and wants to remind us that we’re not fighting the good fight alone – there are others who are still faithfully serving Him with clean hands and pure hearts. ### Be Approachable Be humble, honest, and transparent. Let your congregants and team members ask questions and stay open and approachable to their inquiries. As leaders, we are asking our team and church members to give of their time, talents, and resources, so we should make room for their questions. We shouldn’t take it personally if they ask about how the church’s money is spent, or the way decisions get made. Letting them in on our policies and processes goes a long way in earning (or rebuilding) trust. Transparency protects leaders, team members, and churchgoers alike. ### Be Sensitive Church hurt is real, and many people who walk through our doors on a Sunday morning have experienced hurt or disappointment at the hands of spiritual leaders. It isn’t as simple as telling them to forgive and move on. Abuse and trauma - especially when committed within the walls of the church – can be life-altering. Many people don’t recover and simply walk away from their faith altogether. If a person is courageous enough to attend church again, we need to shepherd their souls with care. We should never minimize their experiences or their pain. Instead, our churches and leadership should be an instrument of healing in their lives. ### Be Safe Churches should be the safest places in our communities – both for attendees and staff members. Establish policies regarding background checks for volunteers and staff. Have mandated reporting procedures and ensure you protect those who come forward by having a structure for whistleblower response. How we handle these things should be above reproach, and we should willingly go above and beyond what the law requires to keep our people safe. > Note: Please contact us if you have any questions about implementing these types of procedures in your church. We would be more than happy to support your church in adding these. ### Be Wise and Discerning If you’re on a church staff and something feels “off” don’t ignore the red flags. If you’re aware of sin, abuse, or coverups happening at your church don’t stay quiet. Speaking up isn’t the same as gossip. Turning a blind eye to these things might feel like the loving or gracious thing to do, but it often leads to more trouble down the road. Find a trusted leader or friend and have truthful conversations, and then, if you need to, be willing to move on and find a new faith community. Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” So, release forgiveness, walk in truth, and leave in peace. ### Some Final Thoughts If I’m honest, there are days when I wonder if ministry is worth it or if my time would be better spent doing other things. *What if I just followed Jesus and left this whole “church” thing behind?*Then I return to Scripture to see what Jesus had in mind for His Church and, in doing so, I re-learn what the Christian life is supposed to look like. Humility. Grace. Love. Sacrifice. Surrender. These are the marks of the followers of Jesus. This side of heaven there is no “perfect” church, but we can keep running the race set before us. Being faithful to the end, let’s help rebuild trust that is often lost in our churches one drop at a time. > “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:9-10 Alicia Osgood --- ## The Role of the Chief Reminding Officer in Leadership URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-role-of-the-chief-reminding-officer-in-leadership Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-08-09 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover the vital role of a Chief Reminding Officer in leadership and how constant communication keeps your team motivated and aligned with your vision. Leadership is hard. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to casting vision and getting people to follow you on a journey. Different motivations drive everyone, and it’s the leader's goal to align others' motivations with the desired outcome. If you are anything like me, you love learning; it’s a lifelong pursuit. You read articles, watch YouTube videos, listen to audiobooks, the works. I find myself most of the time highly motivated and driven to learn and pursue excellence. Still, there have been weeks lately when it's hard to stay generally motivated, not to mention the challenge of staying motivated for months on end. You may not even be close to ‘burnout,’ but motivation can waver from day to day. This is why having a plan, accountability partners, and being part of a community can be so helpful in reminding you to stay focused on the things that matter. If, as leaders, we are sometimes unable to find the motivation ourselves to keep pressing on, why would we assume that our volunteers and staff will remain self-motivated? For readers like me, you likely have heard of Patrick Lencioni. (On a side note, is it just me, or is he competing with John Maxwell for the most leadership books authored? Just my two cents.) As I have read a few books by him recently, a concept in his writing keeps coming to mind: the concept of the Chief Reminding Officer (CRO). Lencioni talks about how it's important to have leaders actively recite vision and purpose, which is crucial for effective leadership and organizational health. Lencioni emphasizes that leaders must continually communicate and reinforce the organization's core values, strategy, and priorities to their teams. This role is vital for creating clarity and maintaining focus within the organization. So today, this article will be a reminder (see what I did there?) to get out there and share the vision God has placed on your heart with your staff and volunteers. Let’s break down the keys to becoming the CRO for our teams. ### The Importance of Constant Reminding Lencioni argues that leaders often fail to communicate enough due to the fear of being redundant or insulting their audience's intelligence. However, the truth is that over-communication is necessary. Employees need constant reminders to internalize the organization’s mission and goals. Lencioni famously notes that you aren't communicating enough until your employees can imitate your key messages when you're not around. ### The Concept of Chief Reminding Officer Lencioni delves deeper into the idea that a leader's primary function is to remind their team of the core mission and values repeatedly. He explains that many leaders fall into the trap of thinking their job is about setting strategy or being a visionary. However, he argues that the real work of a leader is in the daily, sometimes monotonous, task of reinforcing what’s most important. ### The Psychological Basis for Reminding The need for constant reminding is rooted in psychological principles. Humans tend to forget and get distracted, especially in a fast-paced work environment. This is why frequent reminders are essential for keeping important information at the forefront of staff and volunteer minds. In your brain, there is a fundamental process that governs motivation it's called the Reticular Activating System (RAS). RAS, on a fundamental level, is a network of neurons in the brain that filters out unnecessary information and helps focus on what’s important. By repeatedly communicating key messages, leaders can train their team’s RAS to prioritize and remember their church's vision and mission, helping them to stay focused on what matters most. ### The Six Critical Questions Effective communication involves reiterating the organization's culture, strategy, and priorities frequently. It’s about embedding those elements so deeply that they become second nature to every team member. Before we start to share the vision and mission of our church with our teams, let’s take a second to remind ourselves (especially if we are the ones setting the vision) of the ‘why’ behind what we do. Lencioni suggests that leaders must answer six critical questions to ensure organizational clarity: - ‘Why does our church exist?’ - ‘How do we behave?’ - ‘What do we do?’ - ‘How will we succeed?’ - ‘What is most important right now?’ - ‘Who must do what?’ These questions form the foundation of what needs to be communicated repeatedly to the team. ### The Role of Repetition in Leadership Repetition is key in the role of a CRO. Samuel Johnson states, "People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed." This quote underscores the necessity of reiteration in leadership. It’s not enough to communicate the company’s values and priorities once; it must be done consistently. ### Practical Steps for Leaders To implement the CRO role effectively, leaders should focus on three key practices: - Inject Positive Content: Counteract the natural negativity bias by regularly sharing positive and inspiring messages. This helps in creating a positive mental framework and fosters a productive work environment. - Daily Reminders: Leaders should remind themselves and their teams daily about their core values and purpose. This can be done through personal declarations or mantras that reinforce positive and truthful thoughts. - Frequent Team Communication: Use meetings and regular check-ins to reiterate the organization’s values, vision, and priorities. This constant reinforcement helps in building a strong organizational culture and keeps the team aligned with the company's goals. ### The Impact of Effective Reminding Effective reminding has a significant impact on organizational health. It helps in aligning the team’s efforts with the company’s strategic goals and ensures that everyone is moving in the same direction. Moreover, it fosters a sense of purpose and motivation among employees, as they understand how their work contributes to the larger mission. Let’s take a second to consider this from a fifty-thousand-foot perspective. What are the consequences if we, as leaders, fail to act as CROs? What would it look like if we did not remind our teams of the things that matter? The consequences will likely look like general misalignment and confusion within the team. Simply put, it will look like people are investing time and resources into projects that are not making a significant impact on supporting the church, ultimately hindering the organization’s performance. As leaders, we want teams to work on projects on purpose, for a purpose. In this simple thought experiment, you can see how critical the role of a CRO is in maintaining clarity and focus within a team. ### Addressing Common Challenges Leaders often face challenges in fulfilling the role of a CRO. One common challenge is the fear of redundancy. Leaders might worry that constant repetition will bore their employees or fear it will be perceived as wasteful or inefficient. However, the reality is quite the opposite. Repetition is necessary for embedding key messages into the organizational culture. Lencioni advises leaders to embrace repetition and view it as a tool for reinforcement rather than a redundant exercise. (You may even notice in this article the constant reinforcement of these concepts.) Another challenge is the tendency to get caught up in strategic planning and neglect the day-to-day communication tasks. Leaders must balance their visionary roles with the practical aspects of daily reminders. Lencioni suggests setting aside specific times for regular communication and sticking to this schedule diligently. This helps in ensuring that the critical messages are consistently reinforced. ### Conclusion The concept of the Chief Reminding Officer is more than just a title; it’s a crucial aspect of leadership that involves the continuous reinforcement of the organization's core values and objectives. By adopting the practices of a CRO, leaders can ensure that their teams remain focused, motivated, and aligned with their church’s mission. This approach not only enhances organizational clarity but also builds a resilient and cohesive team. For more detailed insights on this topic, you can explore Patrick Lencioni’s discussions on the Table Group’s website. By embracing the role of a CRO, leaders can drive their organizations towards greater success and create a work environment where everyone is clear on their purpose and motivated to contribute to the collective goals. ### Resources: A Leader Must Be A CRO Don't Make Me Repeat Myself One Question Every Company Must Answer Be Your Own Chief Reminding Officer Losing the Fear of Overcommunicating and Becoming the Best CRO (Chief Reminding Officer) Michael Visser --- ## Embracing Online Discipleship: What is an LMS and is it Right for Your Church? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/embracing-online-discipleship-what-is-an-lms-and-is-it-right-for-your-church Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2024-08-02 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Discover how Learning Management Systems (LMS) can revolutionize your church's online discipleship and spiritual growth programs. I remember March 2020 as if it were yesterday. I specifically recall the day leadership sent everyone in the office home because of COVID-19, and that's when the lockdown began to spread across the country. Little did we know that we would spend most of the following year hunkering down in our homes, working remotely, and attending church online. If your church wasn't already streaming its services online, the pandemic made it a necessity. Streaming tools like Facebook Live or YouTube live streaming became the norm for hosting a virtual service. The church had to shift quickly, without warning, and potentially without solutions already in place. ### The Shift to Online Discipleship The global pandemic forced churches worldwide to rethink how they would conduct services and facilitate discipleship. Physical gatherings were no longer possible, and the traditional Sunday school or classroom model was disrupted. Yet, this challenge presented an opportunity for innovation. Online attendance soared as churches live-streamed services and hosted virtual small groups. Amid this digital revolution, Learning Management Systems emerged as a vital resource for equipping discipleship. The church I worked for at the time had already started exploring ways to offer discipleship and equipping classes online before the pandemic. We had no idea how important this decision would turn out to be. At the time, the thought was to allow congregants the convenience of attending a virtual class on-demand rather than attending sessions physically at a specific time and place. These virtual classes were for new visitors who wanted to learn more about the church's foundations, and for members who were looking to continue their spiritual journey. We found the solution to offering these virtual classes in an online Learning Management System. ### What is a Learning Management System? A Learning Management System (LMS) is a software application that enables the creation, delivery, and management of educational courses and training programs. It provides a centralized platform where learners can access content, participate in interactive activities, and track their progress. For churches, an LMS offers a way to extend discipleship beyond the physical walls of the church and provides flexible and accessible learning opportunities for all congregants. ### Benefits of LMS for Church Discipleship - Flexibility and Accessibility: LMS platforms allow church members to participate in discipleship programs at their convenience. Whether they are at home, traveling, or have busy schedules, they can access the materials anytime, anywhere. This flexibility is especially beneficial for those who may find it challenging to attend physical classes regularly. - Interactive and Engaging Content: Modern LMS platforms support various multimedia formats, including videos, quizzes, discussion boards, and live webinars. These interactive elements make learning more engaging and can enhance the overall discipleship experience. - Tracking and Reporting: LMS systems provide tools to track progress and performance for each learner. Church leaders can monitor participation, completion rates, and individual achievements or milestones. - Community Building: Despite being online, LMS platforms can foster a sense of community through discussion forums and group activities. Members can share insights, ask questions, and support each other, much like they would in a physical classroom. ### Popular LMS Platforms for Online Learning - LearnWorlds: is a versatile LMS that offers interactive video content, quizzes, and eBooks, making it ideal for creating comprehensive discipleship programs. Its intuitive design and extensive customization options help churches deliver engaging learning experiences. - Blackboard Learn: Known for its robust and user-friendly interface, Blackboard Learn offers a range of tools for content creation, virtual classrooms, and assessment. It's ideal for churches looking to provide a structured and professional online learning environment. - Teachable: Teachable is popular for its simplicity and ease of use. It allows churches to create courses, making it suitable for offering specialized discipleship programs or training modules. - Thinkific: Thinkific provides an all-in-one platform for creating and delivering online courses. Its strong community features and customizable options make it an excellent choice for churches aiming to build an interactive online discipleship program. - Pathwright: Pathwright stands out for its elegant design and user-friendly interface. It's particularly well suited for churches that want to create beautiful, engaging online courses with interactive elements and seamless navigation. ### Implementing an LMS at Your Church - Identify Needs and Goals: Start by identifying your congregation's specific needs and the goals of your discipleship programs. This will help you select the right LMS platform and design the content accordingly. - Create Engaging Content: Develop content that is informative and engaging. Use a mix of videos, readings, quizzes, and discussions to cater to different learning styles. - Train Your Leaders: Ensure your church leaders are equipped and prepared to lead. Provide training sessions and resources to help leaders grow and lead teams effectively. - Promote Participation: Encourage your congregation to take advantage of the online discipleship programs. Highlight the benefits of flexible learning and the opportunity to stay connected with the church community. - Monitor and Adapt: Review progress and feedback from participants regularly. Use this data to make necessary adjustments and improvements to your classes and programs. ### Conclusion If your church offers discipleship classes, Sunday School, equipping for leaders, staff, and volunteers, or other spiritual growth opportunities, you may want to consider a virtual or online version. The COVID-19 pandemic has undeniably changed the landscape of the church. However, by embracing Learning Management Systems, churches can continue to equip and disciple their members effectively. These platforms offer a flexible, engaging, and accessible learning method, ensuring the congregation's spiritual growth is nurtured in this digital age. As our church discovered, the future of discipleship lies not just within the physical walls of the church but also in the possibilities of an online community participating in online learning. Jason Silbernagel --- ## Who’s in charge here? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/whos-in-charge-here Author: Alicia Osgood Published: 2024-07-26 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People Optimize church management with a Planning Center Champion. Learn key strategies at threefold.solutions. Several years ago, I was on a flight from Mumbai, India to New York City. On the flight, there was a very animated (albeit, quite inebriated) man who kept getting up and wandering around the cabin despite being asked to take his seat. The flight attendant would patiently ask him to return to his assigned row, and then he would insist that he needed to speak to the person in charge. He kept loudly asking, “Who’s in charge here?!? Who’s in charge here?!?” The flight crew eventually got him settled into his seat, but for the remainder of the flight he would still periodically ask, “Who’s in charge here?!?” This story still makes me laugh and throughout the years, in moments of organizational chaos, I’ve quoted the tipsy passenger many times. ### The Extremes When it comes to organizational empowerment there are two extremes. There are teams where one person holds all the decision-making power, while on other teams everyone has equal input regarding decisions. I’ve worked on both types of teams and, to be honest, I am not sure which causes more frustration. In a single decision-maker system, progress hinges on whether (or not) that person is available when an answer is needed. This often leads to a bottleneck and progress stalls out while the team is waiting around for a green light. In an equal-input system, there tends to be a lot of discussion regarding what needs to be done, but you often leave meetings without direction or clarity. Both systems fail to truly empower team members because individuals are unsure of what they’re allowed to do and supposed to do. Many organizations have a natural bend toward one direction or the other. Healthy organizations learn to manage the tension of living in the middle. Regardless of the size of your church, your team is likely using a Church Management System like Planning Center. Even with a great software tool like Planning Center, there is a tendency to fall into one of the extremes. Some churches designate one person to do everything in the database while other churches want everyone on the team to have full access. Both models have their strengths and their weaknesses, but there are some practical things you can do to keep from falling into these two ditches. ### Decide who is in charge. I recently started working with a local church to help them clean up their church database. The lead pastor called and said, “Our database is really inaccurate. Can you help us?” He told me that their staff was struggling to pull accurate reports from their system to do even basic things like send an email to all their volunteers. One of the first steps in a clean-up project is to discover how the mess came to exist in the first place. It didn’t take long to figure out why their database was such a mess. “Who is your system administrator?” I asked. “Oh, we have a bunch of those,” he said, “When someone needs access, we usually just make them an admin so they can do whatever they need to do.” Mystery solved. The truth is, not everyone should have all access to do everything. This leads to messy and unreliable data. If the entire church staff (and sometimes volunteers) can manage, tag, move, or delete data from your system, then it’s only a matter of time before you have a mess on your hands. This is why we highly recommend one or two people on your staff become your Planning Center Champion(s). ### Appoint a Champion The job of a Planning Center Champion is to maintain a 30,000-foot view of what’s happening in the system and of who has access to your data. This person has the “master key” to the database and they’re responsible for overseeing any major changes to be made in the system. While it may not be necessary for them to become an expert in everything Planning Center can do, they should be an expert in the way their church is using the platform. Not only does this help keep the system secure and the data accurate, but it takes the pressure off the rest of the team to feel like they need to become experts in Planning Center. ### Understand Permissions Once you’ve found your Planning Center Champion, give them permission to set up Permissions. Planning Center Permissions are designed to empower your team members to safely manage only the things in their sphere. Through the various Permission settings available in Planning Center, you can give access to individuals on your team on an as-needed basis, allowing them to perform actions and make changes to their lists, teams, groups, etc. When properly set up, Permissions will ensure that team members don’t wander off into a part of the system that they shouldn’t have access to and empower them to confidently use the tools available to them. > Note: If you’re not using Permissions yet, a great place to get started is in the People product. You can learn more about Permissions in People by reading our past blog post here: Understanding and Assigning Permissions in Planning Center People ### Empower your team When it comes to Planning Center, answering the “Who’s in charge here?” question not only provides clarity of responsibilities, but it empowers team members to work confidently in their roles. Don’t let Planning Center intimidate you! If your team is struggling to understand Planning Center Permissions or you need help equipping a Planning Center Champion on your staff, we would love to help! Contact us at info@threefold.solutions to see how we can partner with you. Alicia Osgood --- ## One Lesson I Learned Working for a Mega-Church URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/one-lesson-i-learned-working-for-a-mega-church Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-07-19 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Discover the transformative power of playbooks in mega-church management for streamlined operations. What do the greatest teams in sports all have in common? They all have playbooks. At first glance, you may ask how this sports concept applies to church life. Simply put, a playbook (i.e., a collection of ‘plays’; step-by-step instructions) is just your daily tasks, the things you do consistently, documented for anyone to see. If they are not documented, no one can step in and cover your responsibilities in your absence. This can lead you to become a single point of failure for your organization. Meaning that your church slows to a halt if you take any time off. By documenting all the pieces of your role, anyone can be empowered to help, preventing lapses in work. While overseeing member data at a mega-church, I learned an invaluable lesson: the importance of playbooks. Whether you’re running a small ministry or managing a large congregation, having well-documented processes can make a world of difference. ### Playbooks Ensure Defined Processes When I first took on my role, one of the main challenges I faced was keeping track of all the activities at the church and providing accurate metrics to leadership. Building playbooks became essential in keeping the data flowing if I was out sick or on vacation. Since my role was more technical, I needed to ensure anyone on my team could assist in my absence. Once created, they provided clear, step-by-step instructions for every task, ensuring consistency and accuracy. This meant that anyone could seamlessly step in and keep things running smoothly. Dan Martell, in his book Buy Back Your Time, emphasizes that a well-documented process turns chaos into clarity. This insight resonated deeply with me. By having our procedures documented, we eliminated ambiguity and created a reliable reference for everyone involved. Across the organization, playbooks also prevented gaps in productivity when people changed jobs and allowed for faster onboarding of new employees or volunteers. ### Reduced Stress and Empowerment By implementing playbooks, we reduced stress significantly. Team members felt empowered because they had the guidance they needed right at their fingertips. This eliminated the single point of failure scenario, where one person’s absence could halt progress. Everyone knew what to do, and the risk of something slipping through the cracks was minimized. Martell also highlights that empowering your team with documented processes builds a culture of independence and responsibility. This shift created truly created a culture of independence and empowerment at our church. As everyone became more familiar with the playbooks, they better understood their responsibility, and it reduced the hands-on support needed to complete recurring tasks. Our team members could be set loose to tackle these documented tasks independently, and upon their return, we would know they had completed them with excellence. ### Creating Effective Playbooks Creating playbooks doesn’t have to be a daunting task. We used simple tools like Word documents, screenshots, and videos. Loom videos were particularly effective in capturing detailed instructions. Martell advises you to record your processes and get them out of your head. It’s the first step towards freedom. It’s crucial to document everything, including those tasks we often perform instinctually. This ensures that no vital information is lost and that the playbook remains comprehensive and useful. ### The Practical Steps to Creating Playbooks Identify Key Processes. Start by listing all the essential tasks and processes that need documentation. This includes everything from daily routines to complex procedures. Record Detailed Instructions. Use a mix of written documents, screenshots, and videos. Tools like Loom can help create clear and concise instructional videos. Use Checklists: Think about pilots. Though they might have thousands of hours of flight time, they still use checklists to ensure they follow the necessary procedures. Checklists are a great start in building out playbooks. Not only are they great for those that do not have a deep understanding of the needed items for a particular task, but they also become a tool to hold ourselves accountable to do our tasks at the highest level. Review and Update Regularly: Playbooks should be living documents. Regularly review and update them to reflect any changes in processes or improvements. Train Your Team: Ensure everyone knows where to find the playbooks and how to use them. Provide training sessions if necessary to familiarize them with the content. Martell suggests that a playbook is only as good as its implementation. It’s a requirement to check for adherence and provide feedback regularly. By following these steps, we ensured our playbooks remained relevant and practical. ### The Impact on Our Church The impact of having playbooks in our church was profound. It streamlined our operations, improved communication, and fostered a culture of accountability and efficiency. It allowed volunteers to participate in helping to support our weekly tasks. It also gave our staff the time to focus on new initiatives, allowing them to improve things across the organization that had not been given attention. The number of things we could get done became almost exponential when we could empower volunteers to participate in supporting our church via the use of playbooks. ### The Future of Playbooks in Ministry Looking forward, the potential of playbooks in ministry is immense. As Martell puts it, “Playbooks are the blueprint for scaling your impact.” By documenting and refining our processes, we can ensure that our ministries continue to grow and adapt to new challenges. Moreover, playbooks provide a legacy. They capture the collective knowledge and experience of our team, preserving it for future generations. This is particularly important in a ministry setting, where continuity and stability are crucial. ### Final Thoughts In conclusion, whether you’re managing a mega-church or a small community group, the power of playbooks cannot be overstated. They provide structure, reduce stress, and empower your team, ensuring that your ministry can thrive no matter who is at the helm. By embracing the concept of playbooks, we can all work more efficiently and effectively, building stronger, more resilient teams. Remember Martell’s wise words, “Your time is your most valuable asset.” Reclaim it by creating playbooks*.* Let’s invest the time to document our processes now so that we can reap the benefits for years to come. With playbooks, we can achieve greater efficiency, build stronger teams, and ensure the sustainability of our ministries. Start small. Just document one thing you do consistently. Look to share that playbook with a coworker to ensure they could step and take over, then look to empower a volunteer to run the play. With these simple steps, you will witness the transformative impact playbooks can have on your church. Start small and see just how impactful playbooks can be. Michael Visser --- ## Know this one thing before migrating to Planning Center. URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/know-this-one-thing-before-migrating-to-planning-center Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-07-15 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Ensure a seamless migration to Planning Center by understanding the vital role of the Remote ID in maintaining data integrity. Migrating your church management system (ChMS) to Planning Center can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and knowledge, it can be a seamless process. There are a lot of pieces to a ChMS migration. Still, there is one CRITICAL element in ensuring a successful migration, especially if you are taking on this migration by yourself. It all comes down to understanding the Remote ID. ### What is the Remote ID? Planning Center created a special field for the import process—the Remote ID. This unique identifier is crucial for importing person records into Planning Center. Think of it as your safety net. If something goes wrong during the import, the Remote ID helps ensure that your data remains intact and can be corrected without starting from scratch. The Remote ID is Planning Center’s way of uniquely identifying a record (a person) in your CSV files. You might see this in your current ChMS export files as Individual ID, Person ID, ID, or some variant. It’s the key that ensures your system recognizes individuals consistently across all its parts. ### Why Does the Remote ID Matter? Even if you’re not a database expert, the Remote ID is essential because it acts as the glue during the import process. It allows for the stacking of imports, meaning you can import different chunks of data from multiple export files, and Planning Center will merge them into one complete profile. This flexibility is only possible with the Remote ID. > Practical Example: Imagine you export the basics from your ChMS—name, email, phone number, address, birthdate, anniversary—but you also need to import custom attributes like class attendance, membership status, campus, etc. If these aren't included in one giant CSV export, you'll have to do multiple imports. With the Remote ID, this isn't a problem. You just need the Remote ID, First Name, and Last Name to tie everything together, preventing duplicates and ensuring data accuracy. ### What Happens if You Don’t Use the Remote ID? Let’s consider the consequences of not using the Remote ID. Many ChMS export files might not include all necessary details for an import. If you skip the Remote ID, you may end up missing critical data needed to bring into Planning Center. You might think you can manually combine files using a spreadsheet, but this often leads to creating hundreds of new profiles, even for people already in the system. Planning Center’s matching algorithm is good, but it’s not foolproof. It defaults to creating duplicates rather than updating profiles with potentially inaccurate information. This is why the Remote ID is crucial. ### Steps to Ensure a Smooth Migration: - Identify the Remote ID in Your Current System: - Look for fields labeled Individual ID, Person ID, or similar in your export files. - Ensure this field is included in every export file you plan to import into Planning Center. - Prepare Your Data: - Clean your data to ensure there are no duplicates or errors in the fields. - Make sure the Remote ID, First Name, and Last Name are consistent across all files. - Stack Your Imports: - Begin with the basic data import (name, email, etc.). - Follow up with supplemental imports (custom attributes, membership data, etc.), ensuring the Remote ID is included each time. - Test Your Imports: - Before initiating a complete import, test the process with a small portion of your data. - Check for any discrepancies or duplicates and adjust your data as needed. - Utilize Resources and Support: - If you need assistance or additional training, consider reaching out to Threefold Solutions. Our team specializes in church management system migrations and can provide the support you need. - Planning Center’s documentation on the import is invaluable. Please take a few minutes to read over this entire article before starting your import. https://pcopeople.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/220345848-Import-a-CSV-File-in-People ### Additional Resources: To stay updated and gain more insights into church management and technology solutions, subscribe to our newsletter, The Fold. It’s a valuable resource for church staff and volunteers looking to enhance their technical know-how and streamline their operations. By understanding and utilizing the Remote ID, you’ll ensure a smoother, more efficient migration to Planning Center. Remember, if the process becomes overwhelming, Threefold Solutions is here to help every step of the way. --- ## Metrics: Beyond the Numbers URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/metrics-beyond-the-numbers Author: Alicia Osgood Published: 2024-07-12 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Explore the balance between measurable data and spiritual growth in church metrics. Yogi Berra was a well-known baseball player in the 20th century. Aside from being an All-Star player, he was also known for his pithy remarks. As a kid, I remember my dad quoting Yogi’s humorous one-liners which always made me laugh. Among my favorite “Yogi-ism” was the story of when Yogi was driving with some other baseball players. After passing the same landmark three times, one of his fellow players said, “Yogi, you’re lost,” and he replied, “Yeah, I know it. But we’re making good time, ain’t we?” There are times when this is what ministry feels like. We’re not 100% sure where we’re going, or even if we’re headed in the right direction, but we’re certainly keeping ourselves busy on the journey. “Success” in the church isn’t always measurable like it is in the business world. How do you measure someone’s spiritual growth? Can you assign a score to a person’s discipleship journey? Can you create a pie-chart to show how your congregation is doing in sharing their faith? Or forgiving one another? ### Measuring the Immeasurable Not every aspect of growth can be measured, but pastors often measure their success (and the success of others) on raw data. In this world of modern technology, it’s easy to slip into a simple “church as business” model of ministry. Social media makes it hard to miss what other churches and pastors are doing, and TikTok is full of influencers offering their “Five helpful tips” guaranteed to grow your church. Don’t get me wrong - I love helping churches plan and implement new strategies to help their ministries adapt and grow, but metrics and dashboards don’t always give the full picture of what is happening in our churches. So, before we add data to dashboards, we should remember first and foremost that making disciples is not a 12-step program that can be easily charted and graphed. Maybe your Sunday morning numbers haven’t changed, but your people are receiving a greater depth of teaching from the pulpit. Maybe you haven’t recruited any new small group leaders for the fall, but more prayer is happening in the groups currently meeting. Maybe you haven’t baptized more people this year, but the congregation is more engaged in worship and hungry for the presence of God. These are all areas of growth and discipleship, but it’s nearly impossible to distill these experiences into raw data. ### Measuring the Measurable So, if true spiritual growth is so hard to quantify, why bother focusing on numbers and metrics at all? Because data is a useful indicator letting you know if you’re close to being “on target.” Good data allows you to establish baselines and goals to keep moving forward in the direction you feel God is calling you. Tracking this information can help you respond well to the needs of your congregation and community and steward the resources (financial and personnel) that you have been entrusted to steward. What you choose to measure should align with your church’s priorities and Planning Center has some incredible features to help you track and view this data in a clear, easy-to-understand way. ### What’s Important to You Start by making a list of things that are significant to your church. Most churches already have processes in place to track weekend attendance and giving, but what other things are vital to the life of your church? Maybe it’s prayer ministry, or baptism, or evangelism. Maybe you put an emphasis on building community through small groups or serving. Clarify what things make your local church unique and decide how you’d like to measure involvement in those areas. Using Planning Center, you can then track participation and detect trends. By setting up your Metrics dashboard (found in Planning Center People), you can easily track attendance, group engagement, baptisms, new visitors, etc. By adding widgets, you can customize your dashboard – each widget represents a piece of data that you want to track. Widgets can be configured to show you the timeframe you are interested in seeing (30 days, 13 weeks, or 12 months), and you can also view year-over-year results. Widgets can be renamed, duplicated, and edited as needed. Once your dashboard is built you can share it with other Planning Center People users, so you all have the information at your fingertips. These dashboard metrics are a helpful tool to help leaders measure what can be measured in our churches, empowering teams to make strategic decisions, identify trends, and encourage teams. If you want to learn more about setting up your dashboard, check out this Planning Center article about custom dashboards or contact us at info@threefold.solutions to see how we can help your team maximize your Planning Center tools. Alicia Osgood --- ## Achieve More by Doing Less URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/achieve-more-by-doing-less Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-07-05 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) With insights from Cal Newport's productivity tips, discover ways to enhance ministry efficiency as a church leader. What if everything we believe about productivity is wrong? Most of us equate busyness with productivity... what if busyness is killing your productivity? Cal Newport, the author of Slow Productivity, thinks so. Cal points out that, for many of us, social media has forced us into a constant state of urgency. It forces us to play the dangerous game of comparison in what productivity looks like in the workplace AND in how we live our lives. It’s nearly impossible to scroll through social media without seeing someone whose social media followers are greater than ours or a church event that is more ‘epic’ than ours. So, we put in significant effort to live up to the standards of other churches and the ideals that the world encourages us to embrace as individuals. It’s super easy to start playing the comparison game. We get it from both sides, as church leaders and as humans living in the digital age. We have friends and neighbors finding great success in their lives, and at the same time, we see churches across social media doing amazing things in ministry. If you start down the road of comparison, it will always lead you to a path you were never meant to travel. If you are anything like me, comparison can become a dangerous fuel that often leads to doing more while not necessarily accomplishing more. Despite knowing that this "do more" kind of productivity isn't sustainable, we often feel like we should have done more, making us disappointed with our performance—and, at times, ourselves. I've been there, overloaded and burning out despite seeing our church growing week after week. Like many church staff members, I felt constant pressure to “do more”, only leading to more burnout and greater dissatisfaction. I was restless, but this book helped to highlight a more sustainable path forward. Since I know I'm not alone when it comes to feeling pressure to "hustle" more, I want to share 4 of the biggest takeaways I gleaned from Cal's book in today's edition of ‘The Fold.’ ### 4 Takeaways from Cal Newport's Slow Productivity 1. Do Fewer Things As church leaders, we often feel immense pressure to move fast and take on everything that comes our way, but this scattered focus is counterproductive. Here’s why: - Every task adds administrative overhead. - The more tasks you have, the more admin time you spend on task management. - The more time spent on managing tasks, the less time there is for working on the projects that matter—despite working more. Newport argues that the real drain isn't executing small tasks; it's the cognitive load required to keep everything organized. This load tends to carry over into other tasks, preventing you from staying focused on just one thing. So, he proposes you work only on one project per day. To begin adding structure to your week, simplify tasks down to one project per day and define daily practices. This is where you set aside regular times to work on specific tasks. When you set a proper routine, it helps to reduce your mental overhead. Here are some ideas you can steal to become more productive: - Schedule all your meetings on the same day each week. - Do your most important deep work at the same time each morning. - Reply to emails and messages during pre-set office hours. (I still have issues keeping myself accountable for this.) When activities become routines, you barely need to think about them. Your brain adapts, and things start to become frictionless. It’s easier to get into flow states, allowing for deep work. You likely will find you get more done in less time, with less stress. 2. Work at a Natural Pace In the race to get everything done, it's easy to treat ourselves like machines—to push relentlessly and ignore our human need for rest. But we aren't machines. We are more like athletes. Like athletes, we must treat rest and nutrition not as chores but as a part of our performance. Athletes also don’t train ‘all out’ all the time. It’s just not sustainable. They train hard, and then they rest hard. The best productivity hack is Sabbath (rest). Scripture focuses so much on this; in fact, it’s a commandment. The Lord knows we need rest. We must make time to focus on rest. Not just physical rest but rest for your mind as well. I know I struggle with resting my mind. I can put on Netflix and veg out, but my mind keeps working away. This isn’t Sabbath rest. We must also lay our task list before the Lord, knowing it’s His job to build the church, not ours. That being said, we must be good stewards of our time and resources. So, here’s the productivity hack. To work at your natural pace, implement a pull-based task management system: - Keep two lists—a "backlog" for all tasks and an "active" list limited to 3-5 items. - Only ‘pull’ new tasks into "active" as you complete the current ones. - Let go of the rest until you have the capacity. - Clean the list once a week. Focus is a key factor in this productivity hack. If you focus on the wrong or nonessential things, you will spend countless hours working with little impact to show for it. So, pushing harder won’t work either. You will eventually end up in a state of burnout. Look to embrace a healthy pace and rhythm. Pull tasks as you find more time in your day. Find a proper balance, and you will achieve more with less stress. 3. Obsess Over Quality In the world, the mantra is often "quantity over quality." Do more. One phrase I love is “Done is better than perfect." But while there's value to that approach, it's easy to forget that not all work is equal—you need more quality work. Newport makes a simple point: "Obsess over the quality of what you produce, even if this means missing opportunities in the short term. Leverage the value of these results to gain more and more freedom in your efforts over the long term." He says there's immense value in being in the top 0.1% at one thing. Quality takes time, and the process is slow, but the compounding benefits of becoming world-class at your craft are undeniable. Measure your productivity by quality instead of quantity. You're productive if you get just 1% better at what you do. There is a caveat to this. Quality is super important, but knowing when to be done and to move on to the next thing presents a challenge for us perfectionists. Craig Groeschel breaks it down like this. “As a leader, you want to find that sweet spot where you get the greatest level of return for the investment you make in time, money, and resources. The key is GETMO—Good Enough to Move On.” So, keep this thought in mind as you pursue creating world-class experiences, content, etc., for your congregants. For those perfectionists out there, it’s okay if it’s not perfect. You will need to release it to the world at a point in time. So, do your best to GETMO and move on to the next task. Remember, "Perfect is the enemy of good”—Voltaire. 4. Surround Yourself with the Best Newport said one of the best ways to elevate anything that you do is to be surrounded by like-minded people. As church leaders, we tend to insulate and not reach across our cities to connect with other church leaders. I think sometimes we worry about people leaving our communities and choosing to attend that new, up-and-coming church around the corner. Let’s not fall into the fear mindset. Iron sharpens Iron. We know that the body of Christ is not a zero-sum game. When you gather with like-minded individuals: - You are exposed to new perspectives and ideas. - Camaraderie pushes you to elevate your own ‘game’. - You learn you are not alone. If you need some community, contact the local churches around you. Find ways to impact the body of Christ outside the four walls of your church. If you are looking to connect with a broader community, reach out to us at info@threefold.solutions. We have a large community of churches that would love to connect with you to support and encourage you in everything you want to accomplish at your church. Michael Visser --- ## Streamline Your Church Check-In Process with a Planning Center Check-In Station URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/streamline-your-church-check-in-process-with-a-planning-center-check-in-station Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2024-07-01 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Planning Center apps: Check-ins Optimize your church's check-ins with Planning Center Stations for seamless, secure, and efficient attendance management. First impressions matter, especially when welcoming new visitors and existing members to your church. A chaotic check-in process for families can leave a negative lasting impression and set the wrong tone for their visit. Enter Planning Center Check-In Stations, a game-changer that can transform your church's check-in experience from stressful to seamless. ### Why Planning Center Check-In Stations? Planning Center Check-in stations offer a flexible and efficient solution for churches of all sizes. Here's why they're so popular: - Multiple Station Types: Choose from Manned Stations, Self Stations, and Roster Stations to tailor the experience to your needs. Manned Stations provide personalized interaction, Self Stations empower quick self-check-in, and Roster Stations simplify group management. - Enhanced Security: Generate unique security codes and labels for each child, ensuring safety and peace of mind for parents. - Simplified Volunteer Management: Train volunteers easily and assign them to manage stations with different user permissions. - Seamless Integration with Planning Center’s Church Center App: Allow members to pre-register and check in on the go, minimizing wait times. - Powerful Insights: Gain valuable data on attendance, check-in times, and demographics to understand your community better and inform future planning. How to Implement Planning Center Check-In Stations: Getting started with Planning Center Check-in Stations is easy: - Create an account: Sign up for Planning Center (free and paid plans available) and activate the Check-ins feature. The plans are flexible and allow you to grow as needed without rigid upgrade requirements. You can sign-up for Check-ins on Planning Center's Check-ins page. - Plan your stations: Decide on the type and number of stations based on your church's needs and layout. Check-ins offers three types of stations: Self, Manned, and Roster stations. For more information on stations, check out this video series from Planning Center on Stations, found in the Planning Center video channel. - Set up your tech: Use laptops, tablets, iPads, or even smartphones as station devices. Connect compatible label printers for added convenience. We recommend the Brother QL-820NWB printers for label printing. You can find these printers on Amazon, and the labels (Brother DK-2205 (2.4 in x 100 ft) we recommend on Amazon as well. - Configure settings: Customize your event, times, locations, labels, and procedures. - Train your volunteers: Provide basic training on using the stations and interacting with attendees. Beyond the Basics: - Go mobile: Download the Planning Center Check-Ins app for mobile check-in capabilities, eliminating the need for additional devices. The Check-ins station app can be installed on a phone for additional help during those one-off, busy check-in times. Click the Check-ins app download page to download the correct app for your device type. - Personalize the experience: Customize labels with logos, birthday greetings, or special messages for returning members. - Integrate with other tools: Connect Planning Center Check-ins with other Planning Center apps for metrics, automations and much more. ### Create a Game Plan Once you have tried out Planning Center Check-ins, you will want to develop a process and flow for your attendees. Whether this check-in is for a membership class or your kid’s ministry on Sunday morning, you will want to plan the steps the attendees will go through. With kids ministry, parents must check their children in at a check-in station and then drop them off. What labels will you require? Normally, this is a name tag and a security tag, but consider if any extra labels will be needed. How will you receive the kids at a room or location? Will you also institute a check-out procedure? These are all good questions to consider in developing your check-in process. ### Volunteer Attendance Tracking Planning Center Check-ins can also be utilized for tracking volunteer attendance. Setting up a separate event for volunteers to check into or having them check into the room or location they serve in is beneficial in multiple ways. For starters, it allows you to see the health of your teams. You can also compare who is scheduled verses who actually shows up. Another benefit is to know the frequency of serving in which locations for your volunteers. Volunteer attendance tracking brings clarity, and with the background check feature built into Check-ins, you can also see who isn’t current with their background check. ### Students and Youth Check-ins Sometimes, you don’t need to print labels, but you would like to take attendance and keep track of who is at your event. With Student and Youth events, verifying someone’s attendance is easy with a Self Check-in station. Attendance tracking helps you understand the growth of your ministry area and provides a level of security to verify check-in details later if needed. As mentioned previously, if you combine Check-ins with other Planning Center apps, such as People, you can automate communication with your attendees. ### Wrapping it up Planning Center Check-in Stations are the perfect solution for churches seeking to modernize their check-in process, enhance security, and create a welcoming environment for all. By embracing this technology, you can make a great first impression and leave a lasting positive impact on your church community. You will also gain insight into your attendance statistics across any area that uses a check-in. Measuring age groups in kids ministry allows forecasting and planning as class and age groups grow. It also provides plenty of automation opportunities when paired with other Planning Center apps and wanting to automate updating profile information. If you want to implement check-ins at your church, get in touch. Your feedback not only encourages us but also helps others in their journey. If you run into problems or need clarification, get in touch. We would love the opportunity to reply with some ideas or suggestions. If you are looking to implement Planning Center Check-ins at your church and could use some help with getting things set up and utilizing the software to its full potential, learn how Threefold Solutions can help contact us through our contact form or email us at info@threefold.solutions. --- ## Breaking the Burnout Cycle URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/breaking-the-burnout-cycle Author: Alicia Osgood Published: 2024-06-28 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Planning Center apps: Services Discover effective strategies to prevent volunteer burnout and maintain a vibrant church community. Imagine this. It’s Sunday morning at your church. The parking lot has an attendant in each row. There is a greeter at every door and an usher assigned to every aisle in the auditorium. The cafe team is happily brewing fresh pots of coffee and manning the coffee stations to ensure that not a single sugar packet is out of place. The nurseries and kid’s classrooms are fully staffed with experienced teachers and helpers. The worship team has a full band of talented musicians, and the tech team has more volunteers than they’re able to use in a single weekend. The small group ministry has an abundance of group leaders, and the youth ministry is stacked with high-caliber college-aged leaders who want to reach the next generation. Sounds lovely, right? Let’s take a look at what’s often the real world of the local church. Last week you had eight greeters, but this week you only have one and they have an attitude problem. The team lead for the cafe overslept so the coffee still isn’t ready, and the first service begins in seven minutes. The children’s pastor is on a never-ending quest for anyone who can pass a background check so this week he’s recruited all the pastor’s spouses to come and serve. Today’s camera operator is the pastor’s 12-year-old son with no formal training or experience, but he thinks the cameras are cool and is the only one who knows how to stream the service to YouTube. Does this sound more accurate? If your church is like mine, then it probably lies somewhere between these two extremes. The “volunteer gap” is a real issue and it often feels like we’re playing ministry “whack-a-mole”. I’ve spent about four decades in the local church, and I’ve never met a pastor who wasn’t looking for more volunteers. In fact, most church leaders will tell you that recruiting and maintaining volunteer teams is one of their top frustrations in ministry. There is always so much to be done and, as the saying goes, “Sunday comes with alarming regularity.” Volunteer engagement has become increasingly difficult in our post-pandemic world. Volunteerism had already been on the decline for nearly a decade, but there was a pronounced drop-off in 2020 - a whopping 28% decrease in volunteer involvement in the U.S (barrons.com). This has created a gaping hole in many churches whose systems depend on volunteers to achieve their mission. In a perfect world, new people would eagerly step up and serve when needed. Experience has taught me (and probably you too) that the 80/20 rule is pretty accurate. What’s the 80/20 rule you ask? The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, says that (generally speaking) 20% of your congregation will do about 80% of the work. If you work with volunteers, you probably don’t have to think too hard to come up with your list of twenty-percenters. They are the faithful few. Your dependable core. Your go-to volunteers. Here is the problem with the 20% - if you’re not careful you’ll burn them out. Volunteer burnout can be a real dynamic. It’s easy for the church staff to forget that most volunteers are balancing full-time jobs, family commitments, kid’s sports schedules, doctors’ appointments, etc. while also giving some of their precious free time to help build the Kingdom of God in their community. Healthy volunteer cultures don’t just happen – they’re built by intentionally stewarding the people God has put in our churches. ### How do we prevent Volunteer Burnout? - Look to the 80%. There is untapped potential sitting in our pews. A promotion from the pulpit, clever video announcement, or mass email can never replace a personal invitation. Forty-two percent of people who volunteer do so because they were personally asked to get involved (nonprofitssource.com). Take time to have some one-on-one conversations with your members and encourage your current volunteers to do the same. Get some fresh faces in the game! You might be surprised at how many positive responses you get. - Stop trying to do it all. This may be painful for a lot of pastors and leaders to hear, but you don’t have to do everything that you see other churches doing. If you don’t have the resources (either financial or personnel) to run programs or launch new initiatives take some time to ask yourself why you’re doing it in the first place. Vision is good. Daring to do great things for God is good. But don’t crush your staff and volunteers in the process. - Find a healthy rhythm. Implement and encourage the rhythm of Sabbath and rest for your volunteers. Your 20% might say “yes” when you ask but give them permission to say “no.” Ask them what a healthy serving schedule looks like for them and their families. Empower them to create boundaries around serving and then respect their limitations. ### Helpful Tools for You and Your Volunteers If you know where to find them, Planning Center Services has some built-in tools to help volunteers communicate a healthy rhythm that works for them, preventing burnout. Blockout Dates: Encourage your volunteers to utilize Services’ Blockout Dates feature to communicate when they’re unavailable to serve. These dates can be added via Services or in the Church Center app. Planning Center even has a built-in Blockout Request email template that you can send to your teams asking them to add their unavailable dates to the calendar. Once added, Services will prevent the volunteer from being scheduled on their blocked-out dates. Scheduling Preferences: Help your team members set up their scheduling preferences in Services. This often-underutilized Services feature is a powerful tool! Volunteers can determine how many times they want to serve each month, set up which weeks of the month they are available, and even facilitate household serving schedules making sure that family members are scheduled to serve at the same time even if they’re serving on different teams. These settings can be set up and managed by either the volunteer or the team leader. Tools like these help us break the burnout cycle of our volunteers and ministry teams so our churches remain healthy communities where members stay involved for the long haul. If you need help understanding, navigating, or implementing any of these features in Planning Center Services our team would love to help you! Reach out to us at info@threefold.solutions to start the conversation. Alicia Osgood --- ## Five Stats Every Pastor Needs to Know in 2024 URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/five-stats-every-pastor-needs-to-know-in-2024 Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-06-21 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Discover key 2024 church trends: Millennial engagement, digital worship, and leadership succession. ### Introduction: Navigating New Realities The landscape of church leadership and attendance is experiencing a pivotal transformation. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated several pre-existing trends, reshaping how congregations engage and how leaders must adapt in a rapidly evolving world. This article explores the significant shifts in church dynamics since the onset of the pandemic and outlines why embracing these changes is crucial for any church aiming to thrive in 2024 and beyond. ### Statistic 1: Generational Changes in Attendance: A New Guard Steps Up Historically, Baby Boomers have been stalwarts in church congregations, driving attendance, volunteering, and financial contributions. However, post-pandemic trends indicate a shift. According to recent research from Barna, while 31% of Boomers attended church regularly pre-2020, only 22% returned post-pandemic. This decline is juxtaposed by a surprising surge in Millennial engagement, with significant increases in attendance among non-white Millennials. This shift isn't just about numbers; it reflects a deeper cultural change. Millennials bring different expectations to their church experience, emphasizing community involvement, social justice reform, and digital integration. Churches that cater to these values are seeing not just a return but a revitalization of their congregations. ### Statistic 2: The Digital Pivot: From Optional to Essential The pandemic has indelibly marked church operations by making online services a new norm. Pew Research notes that 27% of churchgoers now rely on online services regularly. This isn’t a temporary adjustment but a fundamental shift in the worship experience. Churches that initially resisted, or slowly adopted, online platforms are finding themselves playing catch-up. For leaders, this means investing in digital infrastructure—not just streaming services but creating engaging online content, from sermons to Bible studies, that can be accessed at anytime from anywhere. This digital embrace helps maintain connection with existing members and reaches potential new members who start their church search online. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/06/02/online-religious-services-appeal-to-many-americans-but-going-in-person-remains-more-popular/ ### Statistic 3: Leadership and Succession Challenges: Preparing for Tomorrow The aging of church leadership poses a significant challenge. With the average senior pastor age nearing 60, and many congregants aging alongside their clergy, churches face a looming succession crisis. Younger leaders are essential for continuity, yet they often find themselves in secondary roles, with limited opportunities to lead. Churches must consciously develop paths for younger leaders to grow and eventually take over leadership roles. This involves not only recognizing the potential within but also providing mentorship, training, and real opportunities to lead at high levels. https://www.covidreligionresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Epic-4-2.pdf ### Statistic 4: The Changing Landscape of Church Stability In a landscape reshaped by the pandemic, church dynamics have undergone significant changes. According to recent data, one-third of church leaders report growth within their congregations, a promising sign amidst the turbulence. However, it's crucial to note that this growth isn't just about numbers increasing; it's about where these numbers are heading. A concerning 54% of churches are experiencing declines. This trend highlights a movement towards consolidation, where churchgoers are gravitating towards congregations that offer more than just traditional services—they seek churches that resonate deeply with their evolving spiritual needs and lifestyles. https://www.covidreligionresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Epic-4-2.pdf As we navigate this new normal, the key takeaway for church leaders is clear: growth is crucial, but so is outreach. While attracting fellow Christians is part of the journey, the true mission lies in reaching out to the unchurched, fulfilling the core purpose of spreading faith. ### Statistic 5: The Dual Impact of Online and In-Person Worship The shift to online worship isn't a temporary fix but a lasting feature of church life. Despite a decline in in-person median attendance from 137 individuals back in 2000 to 60 individuals today, the integration of online services has boosted overall participation, bringing the median attendance up to 75. This blend of physical and digital presence isn't just helping maintain numbers but is also expanding reach, allowing churches to connect with congregants beyond church walls. https://www.covidreligionresearch.org/report-churches-rebounding-after-pandemic-but-still-struggling-in-some-areas/ https://faithcommunitiestoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Faith-Communities-Today-2020-Summary-Report.pdf This evolving model suggests a future where churches thrive on both fronts: filled rooms and flourishing online communities. For church leaders pondering the direction of their ministry, embracing both in-person and online formats is essential to adapt and grow in today's digital age. ### The Need for a Digital Strategy: More Than Just Streaming Having a digital strategy extends beyond online services. It encompasses a full spectrum of engagement that meets congregants where they spend a significant amount of their time: online. - Social Media and Community Building: Effective use of social media platforms can enhance community engagement, allowing churches to share daily inspirations, communicate events, and even gather feedback from the congregation. Platforms like Instagram and Twitter offer avenues to connect with younger demographics, in particular. - Digital First Impressions: Your website often forms the first impression potential visitors have of your church. A modern, easy-to-navigate website with updated content, visitor information, sermon archives, and donation options is crucial. - Reviews and Visibility: Online reviews on platforms like Google can significantly influence newcomers. Encouraging your congregation to leave positive reviews can boost your church’s visibility and credibility. ### Translating Statistics and Where to Start Data isn’t everything. It’s just a signpost of what is happening in the greater culture. Churches every day are growing and thriving. Wayne Gretzky’s famous quote encourages us to skate to where the puck is heading. As we better understand the pressures the “Big C” church is under, we can look to reinforce the behaviors needed to keep our churches relevant. Here are a few simple takeaways. - Your digital (online) expression of your church must be as good as the in-person experience. - Building a multigenerational church is hard. We need to ensure that the baton is being passed to the next generation so that it doesn’t inadvertently skip a generation. (Think Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Not Abraham to Jacob.) - The church overall is on the decline, but a relevant church can see growth. Look to identify places where your church can show up within the community and make an impact. ### Conclusion: Embracing a Dynamic Future The church’s role within the community and the broader culture is as vital as ever. As America drifts towards a post-Christian culture, the churches that will flourish are those that embrace change, adapt proactively, and use every tool available to reach out and engage with people both locally and globally. The journey ahead requires bold steps and a willingness to reinvent traditional practices. By understanding and adapting to these changes, church leaders can ensure their congregations not only survive but thrive in the new realities of a post-pandemic world. Michael Visser --- ## The Bluetooth Solution: Brother Printers and Planning Center Check-ins URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-bluetooth-solution-brother-printers-and-planning-center-check-ins Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2024-06-17 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: Check-ins Enhance your church's Planning Center Check-ins process using Bluetooth with Brother Printers for reliable, seamless connectivity. In the digital age, seamless connectivity for all devices in your church’s Sunday morning check-in process is crucial. When using Planning Center Check-ins for your children’s check-ins, likely with incorporated iPads or Tablets alongside Brother Printers, you want the Check-in experience to be smooth and efficient for your congregants. It’s not just about having the right hardware but also having the best connectivity solution for your space and needs. Generally, using a Wi-fi connection is recommended, but that might not always be the best solution. So, the question becomes, when might you choose Bluetooth over Wi-Fi when using Brother Printers and Planning Center Check-ins? The Problem with Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is fantastic when it works flawlessly, but it's not uncommon to encounter connectivity issues in a bustling church environment. Depending on your network setup, Wi-Fi hardware, and other factors, you can experience frequent dropouts and disconnections, causing delays and frustration during busy check-in times. If you are experiencing these or similar issues, it may be time to explore an alternative. The Bluetooth Solution: It may be time to try Bluetooth to connect your Brother Printer QL820-NWB with your Planning Center Check-ins stations. Bluetooth offers a stable and reliable connection, especially in environments with a lot of wireless interference. If you have been fighting with your Wi-Fi connections, it’s time to make the move to Bluetooth. Here’s how to set it up easily. ### Step-by-Step Guide: Connecting Brother Printer QL820-NWB via Bluetooth #### Step 1: Prepare Your Brother Printer QL820-NWB 1. Power On the Printer - Ensure the printer is plugged in and press the power button to turn it on. 2. Navigate to the Wi-Fi settings - Navigate to ‘Wi-Fi’ settings and turn off the Wi-Fi options. 3. Enable Bluetooth on the Printer - Press the “Menu” button on the printer. - Navigate to Bluetooth settings using the arrow keys and press “OK”. - Select Bluetooth (On/Off) and press “OK”. - Choose On and press “OK” to enable Bluetooth. #### Step 2: Pairing the Printer with Your iOS/Android Device 1. Open Bluetooth Settings on Your Device - On your iOS or Android device, go to Settings > Bluetooth. - Ensure Bluetooth is turned on. 2. Pair the Printer - Your Brother Printer QL820-NWB should appear in the list of available devices. It may show up as “Brother QL-820NWB” or similar. - Tap on the printer name to pair it with your device. - If prompted for a PIN, enter 0000. #### Step 3: Set Up Planning Center Check-ins App 1. Open the Planning Center Check-ins App - Launch the Check-ins app on your iOS or Android device. 2. Access Station Settings - Tap on the sprocket icon (in the lower right-hand corner of the screen) to open the settings. Look for the ‘printer settings’ listed at the bottom in the lower right-hand corner again. - Select Printer Settings from the menu. 3. Add Printer - If you have paired the printer, your printer should already be listed at the top under ‘PRINTER SELECTION’. If it’s not listed, click on the circle with arrow icon on the right. It will force the app to look for the printer again. If it’s not found, you may have to pair the printer again or verify that it’s still connected in the iOS/Android Bluetooth settings. #### Step 4: Test the Connection 1. Print a Test Label - Print a test label from the ‘Printer Settings’ menu or by doing a test check-in within the Planning Center Check-ins app. - Print a test label to ensure the printer is properly connected and configured. - Verify that the label prints correctly and that you get the total number of labels expected. #### Troubleshooting Tips: 1. Consider Environmental Factors If you are having trouble with the printer not showing up, consider the following factors that could affect your Bluetooth pairing. You may need to adjust your setup based on these: - Are any walls or equipment situated between your station device and printer? - Are other stations paired to Bluetooth printers within 10 feet? Keeping stations further apart will reduce connectivity issues. 2. Check Other Connections Have you paired your Bluetooth printer with another device? Even if that device is off, the printer needs to be forgotten on that device to pair with your station. 3. Confirm Device Settings Your device settings could be obstructing communication with your printer. In your device's settings, verify that the Check-Ins app has permission to access: - Bluetooth for Bluetooth setups - Camera for all setups Your iOS settings should look like this: Your Android settings should look like this: In summary, switching to Bluetooth is a simple yet effective solution that can save you from the constant headache of Wi-Fi dropouts. If your church is facing similar issues, give Bluetooth a try – it might just be the stable connection you need. #### FAQ’s: We often get questions about what setup we would recommend using with Planning Center Check-ins. Here’s our recommended hardware solution: - Apple iPad - Brother 820NWB and 820NWBc with Wireless Networking or Bluetooth - Labels for the Brother 820 Printer: DK-2205 (2.4 in x 100 ft) The following other Brother printers also work with Check-ins. Based on Planning Center’s recommendations, here are details and insights for each model: - Brother 810W and 810Wc with Wireless Networking Only (This model is supported but limited to only Wi-Fi, the weakest connection type.) *These printers have been known to have frequent Wi-Fi disconnect issues. - Brother 1110NWB and 1110NWBc with Wireless Networking or Bluetooth - Brother 710W and 720NW (This model is discontinued and unsupported but still works with Check-Ins.) **The Brother QL-800 model is not compatible with Check-Ins. --- ## Why Church Center should not be your Church's Website URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/why-church-center-should-not-be-your-churchs-website Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-06-14 Category: Web & Digital (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/web-digital) Planning Center apps: Publishing Discover why Church Center isn't ideal for your church's website and explore better options for SEO and design. > “Can we use Church Center as our church’s website?” I get this question all the time. The technical answer is “Yes,” but should you? Absolutely not! Let’s discuss why churches ask this question and what we should do about it. First off, we get a ton of feedback from churches about the complexities of owning and maintaining a website. People are concerned about monthly expenses, upkeep, the challenges of keeping up with modern design trends, etc. Websites are hard. They require intentional love and care to remain an effective tool for your church's ministry and outreach. I want to take a second and paint a different picture. Having a website to host guests is like owning a building to host congregants. It is the digital representation of your church’s building, the place where people first connect with your church community, often long before they attend in person. Most churches don’t question the need for a building in which to run services, but many question the need for a website. Why is this? I think it comes down to a lack of understanding of the need for and purpose of a website. Let’s take a step back for a minute and ask ourselves, “what is the purpose of our church's website?” Many of us see our church's website as a place to help support the needs of our congregation: watching the latest sermon, finding upcoming events, joining a group, etc. These are all super important things to include on your site, but I might suggest your church's website is more important than just those things. It’s the first impression your church gives when new people come looking. That first impression determines if people want to make an effort to come to visit your church for the first time, or if they see your church as a place where they can get help for their physical and spiritual needs. If we pivot the perspective we have about the site from the position of congregants to the position of guests, the priorities change. People who are already actively involved in your church are less likely to be deterred by the limitations of your website, while a new guest might find those limitations to be a reason not to get involved. So, let’s talk about what it might take to make this more of a signpost for new participants versus a destination for current congregants. There are over 350,000 churches in America alone. As I drive around my city, I see churches all around me. There are so many options to choose from. People choose the church they attend for varying reasons, but when they are looking for a new church, they head to Google in droves. Collectively, people are searching for ‘churches near me’ over 500,000 times per month. So, if people are searching for the church, can we be found? The first and most important aspect of your church's website is discoverability. We want our church to be found when people come looking. There are only a few places that people tend to go to find a church, such as Google and social media. Both of these channels, under the hood, use SEO (search engine optimization) to help present you with relevant information. ### Limited SEO Optimization Understanding the pivotal role of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial in ensuring your church's website garners the visibility it deserves. SEO is the backbone of digital discoverability, directly influencing how prominently your church appears in search engine results, thus attracting new guests and community members. However, the Church Center platform falls short in this crucial aspect. Unlike a traditional website platform, Church Center lacks essential SEO optimization features, meaning you cannot influence your ability to be found on Google. One of the most critical limitations is the nature of the Church Center URL. It's not just about limited SEO tools; the URL itself is not crawlable by search engines. This massive shortfall means that, regardless of the quality and relevance of your content, your church's online presence is virtually invisible to someone searching through a search engine. In contrast, platforms like Squarespace, Wix, Webflow, The Church Co, WordPress, and most website builders present a stark difference. Low and no-code website builders offer a rich suite of SEO tools and customizable options, allowing for fine-tuning of content, metadata, and site structure. These features are vital for improving your church's search visibility. Through tailored SEO strategies, such as optimizing keywords relevant to your church and community, enhancing your website's mobile responsiveness, and regularly updating with fresh, engaging content, you can significantly boost your online presence. The choice of using Church Center as the face of your church online can have far-reaching implications. It's not just about missing out on advanced features; it's about hindering your church's ability to connect with individuals actively searching for spiritual guidance or community involvement. In the digital era, where online searchability often dictates visibility and reach, this limitation cannot be overlooked. ### Design Limitations When it comes to portraying the unique identity of your church, the design of your website plays a pivotal role. It's more than just a digital space; it's an extension of your church's brand. This is where Church Center's design limitations become evident. Its standardized templates, while user-friendly, offer limited opportunities for customization. This one-size-fits-all approach can stifle your church's individuality, failing to capture the essence of your unique community and values. The flexibility available in most website platforms stands in stark contrast. These platforms empower you with the tools to create a website that truly reflects the look and feel of your church. With a semi-custom site (a website built on a template), every aspect – from color schemes and fonts to layout and imagery – can be tailored to resonate with your church's style and feel. This customized approach enables you to craft a digital environment where potential visitors can instantly get a sense of what your church stands for and, more importantly, if they can see themselves becoming a part of your community. Moreover, the significance of design goes beyond aesthetics. It's about creating a user experience that is engaging, intuitive, and reflective of your church's mission. Well-designed websites facilitate smoother navigation and more effective content presentation, which are essential in capturing and retaining the interest of your visitors. This is especially crucial in a world where digital impressions are often the first touchpoint for new members. In essence, the design of your website is a crucial factor in helping people determine whether they wish to participate in your church in person. Good design, coupled with seamless searchability and engaging content, not only tells the story of your church but also invites individuals into it. By choosing a semi-custom solution over the restricted design capabilities of Church Center, you are not just building a website; you are crafting an online destination that wholistically represents your church. ### The Hybrid Model: Blending Planning Center with a Full-Featured Website The Concept: The hybrid model is an innovative approach that merges the functionality and integration of Planning Center with the branding and advanced features of a full-scale website. This model leverages the best of both worlds - the robust management tools of Planning Center and the customizable, SEO-rich environment and custom branding of a dedicated website. Deep Integration with Planning Center: At the core of the hybrid model lies a deep integration with Planning Center. By utilizing Planning Center’s embeddable elements such as Giving, Calendar, Forms, etc., your church can create a seamless connection between your website and your management tools. This integration allows congregants and new visitors to directly interact with various church activities and resources through your church’s website. Maintaining Brand and Searchability: While leveraging Planning Center’s tools, the hybrid model ensures that your church’s unique brand identity is not lost. The website remains a distinct, search engine optimized (SEO) platform that is easily discoverable by new and existing members. This setup supports your church’s branding efforts and enhances online visibility, ensuring that your church’s digital presence aligns with your mission and values. Balancing Functionality and Aesthetics: This model represents a strategic balance between functionality and aesthetics. By embedding Planning Center’s functional elements into a custom-designed website, your church can offer a user-friendly experience without compromising on design and user engagement. It allows for a cohesive, branded user experience that facilitates interaction while maintaining your church's unique digital identity. Advantages: The hybrid model offers numerous advantages: - Enhanced User Experience: A seamless blend of Planning Center's functionality with an engaging website design. - Increased Engagement: Direct interaction with Planning Center elements like giving and event registrations through the website. - Strong Online Presence: Customized design and SEO features of a dedicated website enhance your church's visibility online. - Brand Consistency: Maintains your church's unique brand identity while utilizing robust management tools. In essence, the hybrid model is a comprehensive solution for churches looking to optimize their online presence. It effectively bridges the gap between management efficiency and digital engagement, catering to both operational needs and community outreach. ### Conclusion: Charting a Path Forward for Your Church's Digital Presence In an era where digital interaction often precedes physical engagement, the choice of a website platform for your church is more than a technical decision—it's a strategic one. The exploration through this article illustrates that while Church Center may offer simplicity, it falls short in areas critical to a church's online success—SEO optimization, design flexibility, and comprehensive brand representation. Adopting a hybrid model, which marries the operational efficiency of Planning Center with the expansive capabilities of a full-fledged website, presents a forward-thinking solution. This approach not only addresses the immediate needs of your congregation but also casts a wider net to engage potential new members actively seeking spiritual guidance or community connection online. Embracing a platform that aligns with your church’s unique identity and mission is imperative. The digital front of your church is not just a convenience; it’s a virtual extension of your church's ethos and a beacon for community engagement. By choosing a solution that offers robust SEO, customizable design, and seamless integration with essential management tools like Planning Center, your church positions itself not just to be found, but to truly connect and resonate with its digital audience. As you contemplate the future of your church's digital presence, consider it an investment akin to maintaining a physical building. It's an opportunity to create a welcoming, accessible, and engaging online space that reflects the heart and soul of your community. Your church’s website is more than just a digital destination; it’s a dynamic gateway to spiritual growth, community building, and meaningful engagement in an increasingly digital world. Michael Visser --- ## Unlocking Growth: Harnessing the Four Disciplines of Execution in Your Church URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/unlocking-growth-harnessing-the-four-disciplines-of-execution-in-your-church Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-06-07 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Explore "Unlocking Church Growth", detailing how the Four Disciplines of Execution can transform church management. Learn to set impactful goals, use visible scoreboards for tracking, and hold regular accountability meetings to drive church growth and effectiveness. Start small and expand Back when I was leading worship for our student's ministry, one of my favorite pastors would say to our students, “Readers are leaders, and note-takers are history makers.” I don’t know about you, but I love non-fiction. I’m always looking for a way to optimize and improve, to grow in my understanding. My wife reminds me that listening to audiobooks (my preferred way to read books) isn’t reading, but semantics aside, there is something so needed about learning from and applying ideas found in great books. As we work with churches, we have found that many desire to see change but are already feeling overwhelmed by the day-to-day. This is one of the biggest challenges for church leaders. We get it. Ministry can pull you in all sorts of directions. Like Texas weather, you can have all four seasons in one day. So, what can we do to achieve the goals and dreams the Lord has placed on our hearts for our church, for our teams, and for our families? One of my favorite recently read books had this memorable quote: > “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” —James Clear, Atomic Habits We need to build systems. Today, we are going to discuss a powerful strategy that can dramatically shift how we achieve our church's most critical goals. Inspired by the transformative insights of **"The Four Disciplines of Execution"**by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling, this newsletter offers a framework to help you not just set goals but actually see them come to life in your ministry. ### 1. Focus on the Wildly Important The essence of this discipline is simplicity. Amid the management of daily operations, it's crucial to distinguish between merely being busy and being effective. Identify one or two wildly important goals (WIGs) that will make all the difference. Ask yourself, what is the one goal that, if achieved, would have the most significant impact on my church? Is it increasing membership, enhancing community engagement, or perhaps expanding your outreach programs? By narrowing your focus, you create a clear and compelling target for your team. This goal is not team-specific; it’s for the whole church. This is a top-down approach. To achieve your goal, you need to have a unified vision and all teams contributing their support. > “People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I'm actually as proud of the things we haven't done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.” – Steve Jobs The goal-setting frameworks look like this: establish a starting line, a finish line, and a deadline. If your goal is to reach new families, your goal might be: "Increase new families from 5 per month to 15 per month by July 1st." Eventually, you can look to expand to individual or team specific goals, but first, start by seeing the benefits of getting your whole staff and volunteer team onboard. Once your goal is set, share it with anyone involved in its achievement and break it down into smaller, actionable steps. ### 2. Act on Lead Measures While lag measures (metrics of past outcomes - think attendance, forms submissions) track the success of your WIGs, lead measures (metrics of action that can be influenced - things we can do in the present to drive future outcomes) tell you how likely you are to reach your goals. Lead measures are predictive and influenceable. For instance, if your goal is to enhance engagement, a lead measure might be the number of personal follow-ups your team makes weekly. Unlike attendance numbers, which you can't influence directly, you can increase your number of follow-ups and directly impact engagement. Attendance numbers are fixed. Once your event is done, the numbers will be set. Focusing on what happened will not help drive the outcome. Rather, focusing your efforts on what you can control in the present, you have the potential to drive engagement. If you generate enough momentum on the front end, you won't have any issue hitting the attendance goals you are looking to achieve. ### 3. Keep a Compelling Scoreboard People play differently when they are keeping score. However, the score can't be an unintelligible collection of numbers. The scoreboard must be simple, visible to all, and show immediately if you are winning or losing. This can be as straightforward as a chart in your office tracking weekly follow-ups against weekly targets. When your team can see progress, their motivation to succeed increases. Scoreboards that are focused on the right things help motivate your team to greater success. Not only do they provide you with an understanding of how you are doing at the moment, but like many teams, at halftime, you can look to adjust your strategy if something is not working. Practically, it could look like this. You have a team of three staff members and volunteers who are focused on connecting with people after they first attend on the weekend. You track how many calls and how many people showed up the following week. You can see that one of your team members has made all their calls. As a result of their efforts, you end up seeing families returning 55% of the time. On the other hand, you have another team member who’s balancing too much. This week, they were unable to make all their calls. Not only did this show up in the total number of calls made, but it was also reflected in the percentage of returning families. Data like this allows you, as a leader, to make strategic changes to help improve the team’s results. ### 4. Create a Cadence of Accountability Regular and frequent team meetings ensure that the lead measures are being pushed forward. In these meetings, each team member answers a simple question: "What are the one or two most important things I can do in the next week to impact the lead measures?" This practice of commitment and accountability clearly distinguishes what is important from what is urgent. When people speak about what they are looking to accomplish this week, a social contract is formed. People remain committed to the goals that they speak out loud and write down. Use this same technique to help keep your teams motivated to complete their tasks related to the WIG. ### As a Note: Implementing the Disciplines I know I talked about whole team goals, because that’s where you want to get to in the long run. However, most can’t start there, and we find teams need small wins to get and keep them motivated. That’s why we encourage you to start small. Choose a single department or ministry area to apply these principles and observe the changes. Once your team sees the results, the excitement and learning will spread to other teams. ### Your Role as a Leader As a church leader, your role is to keep the goal clear, the measures accurate, and the scoreboard updated. Celebrate wins, analyze failures, and constantly encourage your team to keep improving. Your belief in their ability to achieve is as crucial as any strategy. Help people stay motivated. Become a resource to help people get unstuck and see the vision that you are pursuing. As a leader, you become the CRO (Chief Reminding Officer), reminding people of their purpose and the impact that their work has on the church and the people you serve. As we harness these disciplines, we not only achieve our goals but also empower our church community to rise to new heights. Let's bring these practices into our daily ministry and watch how they transform our collective effort into extraordinary results. Michael Visser Here’s how we can further assist you: --- ## Embed a Planning Center form on your Squarespace website. URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/embed-a-planning-center-form-on-your-squarespace-website Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-06-04 Category: Web & Digital (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/web-digital) Learn simple steps to embed a Planning Center form into your Squarespace website with our visual, easy-to-follow guide—no coding required! Are you struggling to embed a Planning Center Form in your Squarespace website? Things have come a long way since the early days of the internet when you had to write out all the code yourself. Thankfully, you are just a few clicks away from accomplishing this task. I love a good how-to guide. So, for those of you who love a simple walkthrough, I will show you (with pictures - for those of us who are more visual learners) how to embed a Planning Center form into your church's Squarespace website. The Planning Center documentation for how to do this is complex for those who do not write software for a living. So, if you are reading this article, you are likely in that boat. The good news for you is that I do write software vocationally. We will make this as simple as possible. For all those non-techy people out there, I ran this article past a few of my analog friends, and they felt confident they could do this for their church. Here are the seven simple steps to embedding a Planning Center form on your Squarespace website. Let’s get started! 1. Login into your Squarespace website. 2. Navigate to the “Pages” section on the sidebar. 3. Under the ‘Utilities’ section click on the ‘Website Tools’ option. 4. Paste this code snippet into the “Header:” text box. 5. Create a section on the website where you want to place the button or the link. Add your text or a button. Then select the “Attach Link” option. 6. Paste in your church's embed URL and add “?open-in-church-center-modal=true” to the end of your embed URL. The final URL should look like: https://yourChurchesName.churchcenter.com/people/forms/123456?open-in-church-center-modal=true > Notes: ·Turn off the option to “open link in new tab.” This will open the modal versus opening a new page. · Keep in mind that if you are visiting this page on a mobile device, you will always be redirected to a new page. 7. Make sure to click “Save,” and you are done! And there you have it — your Planning Center form is now a seamless part of your church's Squarespace website! We hope this guide has made the process straightforward and that you feel a sense of accomplishment. If you've tried this method, we'd love to hear how it went. Your feedback not only encourages us but also helps others in their journey. If you run into problems or need clarification, get in touch. --- ## Add-ons and Integrations: Enhancing your Experience URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/add-ons-and-integrations-enhancing-your-planning-center-experience Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2024-05-31 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: People, Calendar Enhance Planning Center with integrations like MailChimp, Checkr, and Clearstream. Streamline church management, improve communication, ensure security. Integrations are deeply built into the fabric of Planning Center. You have probably recognized and utilized the benefits of some of these necessary integrations, like using MailChimp when emailing a large list of people or leveraging Checkr to run background checks on potential volunteers. Because Planning Center has partnered with these software companies to expand the user experience in Planning Center, there is an increased functionality and simplicity to the software platform. In this week’s newsletter, I want to expand on the benefits of MailChimp and Checkr and highlight a few additional integrations and add-ons you may not be familiar with, explaining the potential benefits for you and your team when they are used alongside of Planning Center. ### Streamline Communication with MailChimp Planning Center People lists have a limit of 500 people you can email when using the standard email feature. Using the MailChimp integration enables users to sync lists greater than 500 people from Planning Center People to MailChimp and allows for the design and distribution of custom, stylized email campaigns. Automatic resynchronization of these lists ensures that communication efforts are always based on the latest data, making it seamless to reach out to various groups within your congregation with relevant messages and opportunities. The ability to create customized email and marketing journeys for your congregation brings a whole other level to your communication strategy. There is even a free-tier option with MailChimp, which makes this integration a no-brainer to start using now. One of the most important things to keep in mind when using the MailChimp integration is the naming of your lists. When you sync your lists, the list name becomes a tag inside of MailChimp. These tags are what you will be to segment your audience within MailChimp. Your list names should be concise and specific. Find out more about MailChimp on the Mailchimp website. ### Background Checks and Enhanced Security with Checkr Keeping our volunteer teams safe and secure is a priority within church operations. Having a built-in integration for running background checks in Planning Center makes this effort seamless and easy. Planning Center has partnered with Checkr to do just that. Checkr’s background check integration provides a reliable method for conducting background checks directly through the Planning Center People app. This service screens candidates by accessing various databases and delivering comprehensive reports, thus ensuring that volunteers and staff are properly vetted. Churches can choose from different levels of background check detail, depending on their specific needs, ensuring compliance and safety. These features are deeply integrated within the People app and can be accessed through Automations or Actions found in Lists, Workflows, and other areas. There’s even a dashboard that allows you to keep up with your volunteer’s background check statuses. One of our favorite Background check processes utilizes the built-in feature with Checkr in People, which allows you to order a background check directly from an action when working on a workflow card. This allows for simple ordering, updating statuses, and more in your Volunteer Onboarding workflow process. > Note: Checkr is not the only background check integration that works with Planning Center. There are many others, but they do not offer the same ease of use. You can find out more about all the background check integrations on Planning Center's integrations page. ### Engage Your Congregation with a Better Texting Experience Using Clearstream While the texting option available within Planning Center People is certainly capable, allowing you to send a text to a list using the built-in tool, this is a one-way communication tool, and many times, you want more flexibility than just a text-send option. This is where Clearstream comes in. The Clearstream integration supports sending multimedia messages, scheduling communications, and engaging with new visitors via text-to-join keywords. The integration keeps People lists in sync with Clearstream, ensuring up-to-date communication paths without creating duplicate entries, thus streamlining the communication process significantly. These features are just some of the reasons we love Clearstream, and with the newly added email features, Clearstream is a great choice for text and email communication. Click through our Clearstream link to find out more and get started with Clearstream for free. If you are new to two-way texting journeys, consider starting with these keywords: - CONNECT: Used by new visitors to connect with the church and receive introductory information. - JOIN: Allow people to sign up to receive regular updates and announcements from your church. - EASTER (or any Special Event Name): This keyword could be used to volunteer for specific events, like an Easter egg hunt. - REGISTER: Useful for signing up for events or conferences. - PRAYER: Great for starting a conversation dedicated to prayer requests and future ministry or discipleship moments. ### Automate Tasks with Zapier There are times when you need to connect Planning Center with other software applications. That’s where Zapier comes in. Zapier's integration with Planning Center introduces powerful automation capabilities that streamline various administrative tasks. By setting up "zaps," users can automate actions like sending Slack notifications or email alerts whenever specific events occur within Planning Center, such as new form submissions or donations. This reduces manual effort and increases efficiency, allowing staff to focus more on ministry and less on administrative tasks. If you would like more information on Zapier, check it out on Zapier's website. The first few “zaps” I would recommend integrating are: - Planning Center to Google Calendar: Sync Planning Center events to a Google Calendar. This can help ensure that your church calendar is always up to date, providing easy access to event schedules for your staff and volunteers. - Planning Center to Trello: Create Trello cards from new Planning Center activities or tasks. This can help in managing church projects or events, assigning tasks, and tracking progress within your teams. - Planning Center to Twilio: Send SMS messages via Twilio to a list of profiles in Planning Center. This can be used for reminders, event notifications, or urgent announcements to your congregation. ### Clean and Manage Data with Clean My PCO Maintaining your People database is essential and keeping it up to date can be a chore. The Clean My PCO integration updates and cleans data within Planning Center by verifying and correcting details such as emails, phone numbers, and addresses whenever a profile is updated or created. This automation ensures that all member information is accurate and up to date without needing manual oversight, thus saving significant administrative time, and reducing errors. If you are serious about keeping your database clean and up to date, check out Clean My PCO at cleanmypco.com. ### Present with Precision Using the ProPresenter Integration If your church uses ProPresenter for pre-roll slides or live production, you need to know about their Planning Center integration. ProPresenter integrates seamlessly with Planning Center Services, enhancing service planning and execution. This integration allows users to automatically update and synchronize service plans and media elements between both platforms. Users can link existing presentations or create new ones directly within ProPresenter based on the Planning Center schedules. This feature streamlines the preparation process, ensuring that all visual and audio elements align perfectly with the planned service activities, thus enhancing the overall worship experience. For more detailed steps on utilizing this integration, visit the ProPresenter website at renewedvision.com. ### Conclusion Each of these integrations offers unique benefits that can significantly enhance church management and your Planning Center experience. By leveraging these tools, you can implement more effective and robust communication, maintain secure teams, and manage administrative tasks more efficiently, allowing you to focus more on your core mission of ministering to your congregations. Planning Center integrations add another level to how you use Planning Center, and those mentioned in this article are just a few of the integrations you will find on the Planning Center integrations page. You can find out more about Planning Center integrations on their integrations page. Jason Silbernagel --- ## Workflows You Probably Aren’t Using but Should Be URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/workflows-you-probably-arent-using-but-should-be Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2024-05-25 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People Discover essential church workflows to boost efficiency and engagement using Planning Center. Learn about Donation Tracking, Membership Processes, and Volunteer Onboarding to ensure no inquiry goes unanswered and every interaction is meaningful. Perfect for church administrators. Have you ever contacted someone for information about an item for sale or a service you were interested in and then never received a reply or call back? I recently reached out to someone about an item for sale on Facebook Marketplace and got no reply at all. Nothing, just Crickets. I figured they were either no longer interested in selling the item or they had already sold it and just hadn’t taken down the listing. Either way, I felt like I had wasted my time. I was ignored, leaving me with a negative feeling about the experience. When it comes to the Church, this is something we should never let happen. If a visitor or congregant requests information by filling out a form or sending an email, we need to have a process in place to not only answer questions but also lead them to any necessary next steps. If we don’t want people falling through the cracks, we must have established systems for follow-up and communication. This is where Planning Center Workflows can be leveraged. Workflows in Planning Center can be created to streamline people-centric procedures, including follow-up communication, welcoming new volunteers, integrating members, and even internal staff-facing procedures. Workflows are generally created in one of two ways: using a single step where a reminder is sent to follow up with someone or using multiple steps to walk alongside someone in a ministry process. Whether you are already using Workflows or are new to them, I would like to introduce you to a couple of workflows you may not have thought about before now. ### Workflow 1: Donation Tracking Workflow A donation tracking workflow could be set up for donors who contribute to specific causes, or it could track the donation process, issue acknowledgments, manage thank-you notes, and ensure proper follow-up for future fundraising initiatives. The idea is to automate first-time givers into your workflow (using a List coupled with an Automation) and then use a series of steps set up to do these scheduled follow-ups. Utilize the reminder feature and set up time intervals for when you want to follow up on step 2 or step 3 of this process. ### Workflow 2: Membership Process Workflow This workflow is set up with the intention of tracking a person’s progress in joining your church and becoming a member. This is an internal process-oriented workflow, and its steps could include verification of class attendance or progress in the membership cycle. You may also have steps for people to meet with leadership or you may need to track membership agreements. The membership process workflow allows you to keep track of all these items with either a single person assigned to manage the overall process or several people who manage different steps in the workflow. ### Workflow 3: Volunteer Onboarding Workflow This workflow can include steps for managing applications, background checks, training sessions, and assignments to specific roles for recruiting and integrating new volunteers. Each step should ensure volunteers are properly vetted and prepared for their serving position. You may find that different ministry areas or departments have different processes for onboarding volunteers. If that’s the case, set up more than one workflow and customize the steps in the other workflows to the needs of the ministry area. Worship team onboarding might look a lot different than serving in hospitality. Have a workflow that accommodates each area and customize the steps as needed. > Note: Using reminders and expected response times in any of your workflows allows you to keep processes moving and prevent people from falling through the cracks. Take advantage of these features to maximize your team’s ability to stay organized. Whether you implement these suggested workflows or develop something original, remember that at the heart of every interaction is the opportunity to make someone feel seen and heard—something that aligns perfectly with the Church's mission. With Planning Center Workflows, you can ensure that no call or message goes unanswered and that every individual's experience with your church is a positive reflection of your values. Jason Silbernagel --- ## Community Engagement: Making a Better Newsletter URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/community-engagement-making-a-better-newsletter Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-05-21 Category: Web & Digital (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/web-digital) Transform your church newsletter with 5 key strategies. Enhance impact using Mailchimp, audience segmentation, and personalized content. Three years ago, our church’s newsletter was just a weekly email. But today, it's become a vibrant community hub, connecting with people all over the world. Back then, I wouldn't have imagined our humble newsletter could make such an impact. How did we go from a few hundred readers to an engaged community? Today, I'm sharing this incredible journey — the things we learned and the best practices that we curated through the process — and how your church can do the same. Perhaps right now, maintaining your weekly newsletter already feels challenging, and the potential of doing more seems daunting... Maybe it feels like your newsletter will never matter to your church. I used to think the same. Even with a decent-sized congregation, our newsletter felt... underwhelming. We wanted something more than just “here’s what’s happening this week”. We made five transformative changes that deeply connected us with our community, and I want to share these exact changes with you. ### We embraced Mailchimp. Using the right tools for your newsletter can be a game-changer. Think of it as a craftsman selecting the right tools for a project. Mailchimp has been our “go-to” tool, offering flexibility and ease of use. If you are using Planning Center, it is likely something you already have integrated. We shifted away from basic text-only email templates (which limited our ability to truly connect) to dynamic content. The result? A noticeable increase in engagement and positive feedback from our congregation. How did we achieve this? Utilizing Mailchimp and really learning its features has allowed us to create more interactive and personalized email experiences. Remember, your newsletter is your bridge to the congregation. Learning how to use the tools already at your disposal will not only make your life easier but will also allow your congregation to get more from your church. > Here’s a tip: Learn one new thing about Mailchimp per month. Maybe the feature is filters, segments, journeys, etc. Use it each week for several weeks before adding a new feature. Giving space to learn the feature will give you time to practice what you’ve learned. ### We started segmenting our congregation. We have a diverse community, and one message doesn’t always fit all. Here’s how we approached it: We first considered our audience. In marketing, these are called personas. It’s the demographic of people that you want to read your content. We thought about it this way: Some members are new to the faith and seeking basic guidance, others are long-term members looking to get involved, some have kids, some don’t, Etc. The list of potential segments is endless. Start with six segments and write specific content for them. Write what you think would be valuable to them. Here are a six segments you can use yourself: - Men - Women - Has kids - Not in a group - Not a member - New to the church Segmenting people in Mailchimp allowed us to address these needs and provide a personalized experience. In addition, new subscribers to our newsletter were invited to complete a short survey. The survey helped us understand their spiritual journey and needs. We took those survey results and reimported them as tags. We later used those tags as additional segments to help provide personalized content. Here’s our advice for implementing surveys: - Make the survey’s purpose clear (“help us serve you better”) - Keep it short and straightforward (under 20 seconds to complete) - Use easy-to-answer questions to encourage completion ### We focused on engagement levels. Effective ministry through newsletters is about providing value by tailoring your message to meet specific needs. By segmenting our congregation based on engagement, we’ve been able to: - Identify members who frequently interact with our content or events - Customize our messages for different levels of faith and engagement. Combining Planning Center lists and Mailchimp segmentation has allowed us to do this seamlessly. Here’s a tip: Use tags for members who show interest in specific ministries or events. You can use these for upcoming promotions. ### **We personalized our communication.** Our goal - make every member feel seen and heard. With Mailchimp, we: - Send welcoming emails to new subscribers, fostering a sense of belonging. - Offer personalized content based on their interests and survey responses. - Adjust our messages to reflect the diverse needs of our congregation. - Incorporate highlights and sermon quotes from the previous week. - Provide encouragement for the struggles of life. - Refrain from making a newsletter solely about events. - Use “Dynamic Content” to build a custom newsletter for each congregant. Mailchimp makes setting up these personalized emails easy. We have email sequences in place for follow-up for all types of things: first-time guests, decisions for Christ, membership class attendance, you name it. This allows us to get the right message to the right person at the right time. We have found that this approach has deepened our connection with the congregation and has easily doubled our open rates. ### We reinvested in our community. To extend our reach and impact, we’ve reinvested in: - Developing more engaging online content. - Testing emails in an A/B format to discover what congregants found most interesting. - Including video and audio resources for people who don’t like reading. - Enhancing our website for easier access to resources and information. - Growing our ministry team to better support our congregation when they reach out for assistance. ### **Key Takeaways.** View your newsletter as a cornerstone of your ministry. Shift to a tool designed for community engagement. Deliver the right message to the right person at the right time. Segment your congregation based on the following: - Engagement levels - Spiritual journey stages - Survey responses Our newsletter has helped our members engage with our church as a whole. Readers are encouraged, discipled, and given ways to connect with the church and each other. We have built a church community around our newsletter and empowered people to find their place within the church. I hope these five tips help you do the same. Michael Visser --- ## Harnessing the Power of Text Messaging URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-power-of-texting Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-05-17 Category: Leadership (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/leadership) Planning Center apps: People Explore how texting in ministry can deepen connections and support congregants. Learn strategies for heartfelt messages and consistent communication. I would put 100 dollars on the fact that your congregation spent more time on their phone on Sunday alone than they did in church over the weekend. According to a recent report from Statista, people, on average, spend 4.5 hours a day on their phones. That’s absolutely astonishing, if you ask me. When we think about the families that come to church, there is a massive opportunity to connect with people before, during, and after service. That opportunity extends well beyond the four walls of the church on Sunday. ### The Opportunity of Texting in Ministry We can all admit that we use our smartphones a lot! According to my screen time statistics, I averaged 112 pickups last week. If we assume I’m up for 16 hours each day, that means I looked at my phone every 9 minutes on average. Take a second to look at that number for yourself. What’s even crazier is that most of my pickups were because of messages. We get messages all the time. It could be DM’s on your favorite social media platforms or text messages from friends and family. People are sending messages like crazy. Just the other day, the Lord put a name on my heart. I took just a moment to write a thoughtful message and send it off. It led to a really great conversation. All because I took just a moment of my time to send a text message. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has sent or received encouragement through text, but I wonder if we have ever taken this one step further and used it as a ministry moment. ### When does a text message become spam? When I think of text messages, I usually divide them into two categories: friends and spam. What’s the difference between these two categories? For me, the difference is whether the message is wanted or not. So, what makes a message valuable? I think that comes down to the sender and the message. I may not always appreciate the memes or videos that my friends send over, but I don’t think those messages are spam. It may turn into complete chaos when I’m in a group message, but I still don’t think of it as spam. However, when I get a message about a local election in Texas (I live in Florida now), that text is immediately spam. Now, if my favorite ice cream place sends me a coupon, I go ask my wife when she's free (not spam). It’s all a matter of who sent the message and what it said. ### From Transactional to Transformational In 2020, before the lockdowns, our church had been experimenting with text messaging. We set up keywords and autoresponders to send information to people when they reached out. Our messages had no soul. Their purpose was to push content and invite people to events—that spammy sort of marketing I outlined above. However, one day, that whole philosophy turned on a dime. Once we got word that Dallas was shut down due to COVID. Our team, like yours, was in full-on problem-solving mode. We had limited ways to connect to our staff and congregation. At that time, as a part of the Digital Engagement team, I supported our team’s push to pivot our church to leveraging text messaging as ministry. During the first week of the lockdowns, we sent over 150,000 texts covering our entire church database. The message was simple: > “Hi {{ First Name }}, This is Ps {{ Campus Pastor’s Name }} at the {{ Campus Name}}. We just wanted to let you know we are praying for you and your family during this time. If you have any physical needs or prayer requests, please text them back. Let us know how {{ Church Name }} can support you during this time. Blessings, Ps {{ Campus Pastor’s Name }} The response was incredible. People responded with both their physical and spiritual needs. Our staff responded by providing aid where we were able and sent back messages praying over people and encouraging them. Within the first week, we sent about 500,000 texts, and while that eventually slowed down. The influx of questions, prayer requests, and conversations never stopped. Years later, text messaging has become one of our primary means of helping people stay connected to the church. ### Strategic Approach to Texting Just start small You may be wondering how we did it. While we had the unfair advantage of having the whole church staff involved at the start to support this change in strategy, all you need to do is start small. Just turn on text messaging in your ChMS or use a third party. You want to ensure your platform can both send and receive messages. That bi-directionality is key. Feel free to reach out to us for recommendations at info@threefold.solutions. We recommend that you start by sending a simple “How can we pray for you?” message and see what happens. Message things of value The biggest thing we learned after making the pivot was to send messages that help people by writing genuine content and questions and looking to have message(s) start a conversation. When considering what to send, think of ways to provide encouragement, ask for prayer requests, and follow up with people to check in on the classes they attended or even check in on their lives. Be consistent Just like any relationship, it’s about consistency. We found that people continued the conversation once they knew they could text our church for questions. That means you will need to ensure that people receive the needed follow-up. This is your opportunity as a staff member to ensure that people do not slip through the cracks. It’s okay to ask At some point, you will have an event to invite people to attend. It’s okay to ask people to come if you have nurtured them along the way. We have an internal rule: nurture, nurture, nurture, nurture, nurture, nurture, ask. For every one message where we ask someone to do something or attend something; we have a goal to have cared for them six times as much. It’s not a rule; it’s just something we aim to achieve. Automations and human conversations Once you start to see the impact text messages can have on your congregation, it’s time to take it up a notch. Using most texting platforms, you can build automations and workflows to help support your congregation on autopilot. Workflows and automations can be used as a follow-up to help your congregation navigate your processes. You can build text workflows to remind people about upcoming classes or forms they must fill out (parental release, membership, etc.). You can use keywords and forms to drop people into these processes. Tactically, these sorts of workflows feel way more transactional, and that’s okay; you generally only want to leverage automation when someone has opted into a process. Don’t look to automate too fast and only automate things that have clearly defined outcomes; otherwise, it just feels like you are talking to a robot. > As a note: One text workflow we love is a post-salvation follow-up devotional. When people text in to share their salvation decision, they can add themselves to a 7-day follow-up. In our messaging, we clearly state the duration and purpose of these messages. From there, we send daily encouragement messages (accompanied by a link to a short video) to help them on their walk with Christ. If they have any questions, they can text back, and our team will be able to step in and answer them. This is an incredible way to leverage automation while Ensuring the communication feels personal. Using both video and text also makes this content more engaging. These types of workflows allow for an impactful experience for your congregation. Embracing Texting as a Ministry Tool As we have explored, the potential of texting in ministry extends far beyond simple announcements and event promotions. It's about using a primary means of communication to build meaningful connections that nurture our community. By starting small, messaging with genuine intent, and maintaining consistency, we create a foundation of trust and engagement. Text messaging has proven to be a powerful tool for our church, enabling us to reach out and provide support exactly when it's needed. As we continue to refine our approach and integrate thoughtful automations, we enhance our ability to minister effectively, even from a distance. Let's embrace the power of texting not just as a means of communication but as a ministry that brings us closer, no matter where we are. Together, we're not just sending messages—we're reminding people of their value and that there is a God who loves them, one text at a time. Michael Visser --- ## The Ultimate Guide to Streamlining Your Planning Center People Database URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-streamlining-your-planning-center-people-database Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2024-05-13 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Planning Center apps: People Explore the essentials of maintaining an efficient Planning Center People database. Learn about regular maintenance routines, benefits of a clean database, and how streamlined data management enhances church operations, communication, and growth. This week, we're diving into the world of database maintenance. Yes, I know it might not sound like the most thrilling adventure, but stick with me – a well-organized Planning Center People database is like a well-oiled machine, making your life and your team's work a whole lot smoother. In my past life, I oversaw a very large People database with over 250k profiles. Trying to find people going through the membership process or looking for current stats on how many people fit a category would not have been possible if we didn’t consistently run maintenance routines. Whether it’s cleaning up duplicate profiles or finding profiles with missing information, it’s all crucial to decision-making. Let’s face it, bad data affects all areas of your church and it can stop you in your tracks. ### Why a Clean Database Matters More Than Your Morning Coffee First things first, let’s discuss why keeping your Planning Center People database clean is crucial. Imagine trying to find that one coffee mug with the blue handle and polka dots in a cluttered kitchen—frustrating, right? The same goes for your database. A clean database means easier access to accurate information, leading to better decision-making and more effective ministry. When running lists to find segments of people or parents using kid’s check-ins or congregants signing up for events, having accurate profiles for your congregants matters. It determines if you are finding everyone in that list or if your parents see more than one profile for their household members when they go to check in. Keeping your database up-to-date and free from duplicates is essential. ### The Art of Regular Maintenance: Your New Routine Now, onto the fun part – setting up a regular maintenance routine. This isn't just about dusting off the cobwebs; it's about making sure everything is where it should be. - Weekly Maintenance: Start off Monday morning with a weekly run-through. Look for duplicates, new profiles that have been created, and incomplete information. Think of it as a weekly meeting with your database. It’s a chance to catch up and see how things are going. - Monthly Deep Dives: Once a month, take a deeper dive. This is where you look at engagement levels and activity, track attendance patterns, and ensure that all member information is up to date. It’s like a monthly check-up for your database’s health. - Quarterly Clean-Ups: It's time for a big clean-up every three months. Archive old sign-ups, update group information, and review your lists for relevance. It's a bit like spring cleaning, but you get to do it four times a year! Many tools are available within Planning Center People to help with these maintenance routines. Let’s take a look at some of tools below. ### Lists: Your Secret Weapon Lists in Planning Center People are like magic wands; they can do wonders for your organization. Use them to filter your database in order to find missing or incomplete profile data, attendance and activity, or event planning. Regularly updating these lists keeps you from sending the youth group info to the senior's tea party group (awkward, right?). Some of my favorite maintenance lists in People are: - Profiles with missing information. Look for things like missing gender, marital status, age and email or phone numbers. - Email addresses that are blocked. - Children who are marked as the Primary within the household. - Background checks that are about to expire in the next 30 days. - Profiles with no activity over a period of time. - Volunteers within Services who haven’t served in over 3 months. - Profiles with no membership type set. - If a multi-campus church, profiles without a campus set. ### Automation: Let the Tech Do the Work Embrace automation wherever possible. Using lists with automations gives you the power to update profile information without having to manually visit each profile and make the update. As an example, for teens that have just turned 18, create a list to watch for people who are “at least 18 years of age” and set up an automation to change their Child/Adult status to “Adult”. Through a list for newly created profiles, you can find new visitors and add them to a Connect or New Visitor follow-up process. It's like having an assistant who works 24/7, without the coffee breaks. ### Training: Knowledge is Power Don’t go at it alone! Train others on your team on how to use Planning Center effectively. Regular training sessions ensure everyone is on the same page and using the database to its full potential. Create stakeholders who oversee certain areas of your database and help you keep things in check. Think about who can help manage the duplicate profiles each Monday morning or designate someone to review new profiles created over the past week to verify membership types or campus designation is set. Avoid having only one person in charge of database maintenance, which is what we call a “single point of failure.” If your database manager goes on vacation or the Lord calls them into another season somewhere else, you may be stuck with a large gap of time when no maintenance is being done. Create redundancy in your database maintenance routines by training additional “Planning Center Champions” on your team. > This is also a great time to mention that we offer support and coaching for setting up data maintenance routines or ministry process strategy sessions. If you need help navigating your database or setting up automations across your lists, forms, and workflows, we’re always here to help. Check out our services at https://www.threefold.solutions or email us at info@threefold.solutions and let’s talk about how we can help. ### Final Thoughts: The Payoff of a Pristine Database Keep at it; soon, maintaining a clean database will be second nature. You’ll see improved communication, better planning, and a smoother overall running of your church's operations. Your attendance numbers will be more accurate and effective, enabling better decisions in your ministry's growth and outreach efforts. Regular maintenance, although initially time-consuming, will save you time and headaches in the long run, letting you focus more on your church's mission than on backend tasks. Remember, your Planning Center People database is more than just a collection of names and numbers; it's a dynamic tool that supports the heart of your church. By dedicating a bit of time and effort to its upkeep, you are, in essence, nurturing your congregation’s growth and ensuring that every individual feels seen and cared for. As we wrap up, keep in mind that a well-maintained database isn't just a destination; it's a continuous journey of improvement. With each update, each list refined, and every duplicate removed, you are paving the way for a more connected and efficient ministry. So embrace this process, involve your team, and watch as your streamlined database transforms the way you serve your congregation. Remember, at Threefold Solutions, we are always here to support you in this journey, ensuring your database remains not just fresh and updated but is also flourishing. --- ## Forget about First Time Guests URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/forget-about-first-time-guests Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-05-09 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Discover a unique church growth strategy focusing on life-stage groups over first-time guests, where community and personal connections drive engagement. > “Yeah, we don’t really care about first-time guests…” “Am I actually hearing this correctly?” I thought to myself as I dialogued with a pastor of a thriving church. This comment had me stunned and confused. Unlike the traditional focus on first-time guests, this church's unique approach prioritizes life-stage groups, a strategy that has been the cornerstone of their growth. Since writing The Fold, the focus has been on helping churches convert people from first-time guests to faithful participants. So, what have I been missing? How can a church maintain consistent growth when new families and guests are not the main priority? Let’s delve into what sets this church apart from most churches and how we can incorporate their innovative philosophies into our ministries. As it turns out, they have a process for first-time guests; it’s just not their focus. Instead, this church focuses on groups, which are at the center of their growth strategy. For most of us, groups are activity-based; they’re a weekly event we go to, something we do, a place we show up to, like a Bible study, basketball, etc. However, this church’s strategy revolves around what they call 'life-stage groups.’ Life-stage groups are not defined by specific activities. Rather, they are grouped by age or stage of life. At this church, you are assigned to a life-stage group, and this group becomes your lifelong community. Think of it more like a graduating class. I will always be in the class of 2007. The older I get, my graduation year does not change. The same people I graduated with will always be my classmates. Life stage groups are the same. It’s a community of people that live life together — each group having an independent identity and defined purpose. As they do life together (bible studies, outings, community service, etc.), they connect with friends and neighbors. First-time guests find the church via a personal connection from a member of the church. It’s not the traditional guest who was driven to service by a social media marketing campaign. As a result, new families and individuals are invited to church by word of mouth. They are already connected to someone, allowing them to get plugged in a bit faster. As these new guests are plugged into their respective groups, the cycle continues. In addition to this group’s driven church growth strategy, the church grows because of its ministry initiatives, such as pastoral care and counseling ministries. As people seek help from the church, they are invited to come and participate in the weekly services. The combination of groups and ministry means people build a connection to the church through relationships, a key factor in their decision to stay and contribute to the church's growth. While this church’s growth strategy may be countercultural to the modern church’s digital strategies, it’s working. When we peel back the curtains and look at why it’s successful, it comes down to impact. The church, through its congregation, shows up for people — creating a place of belonging where discipleship is a primary focus. The church community has a presence in the area, and that presence alone is turning heads and bringing people to Christ. It’s pretty incredible. This strategy not only fosters a sense of belonging and discipleship but also attracts new members through its community presence. It's a testament to the power of group ministry in church growth. This same group's driven growth strategy isn’t just a fluke. It can be found at the church out of which Jason and I launched Threefold, Gateway Church. Early in the church’s history, groups were everything. You could not leave a church service without someone asking you which group you were in and, if you said none, being asked to join their group. There is something really sticky about creating a culture where groups are at the center. Take a few moments this week to think over what's working in your group's ministry and if it’s having the impact you envision. We have seen firsthand the power of groups and how group ministry is a pillar of engagement for churches. If you have any questions about groups, group strategy, or anything in general, please shoot us an email at info@threefold.solutions. Not only will we look to answer your questions, but, who knows, your question may become the topic of the next newsletter. --- ## Maximize Volunteer Engagement with Planning Center Check-ins URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/maximizing-volunteer-engagement-harnessing-the-power-of-check-ins-in-planning-center Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2024-05-05 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Planning Center apps: Check-ins This guide offers practical tips for managing attendance, setting up stations, and using single-event check-ins with Planning Center's check-in solutions. I frequently get asked about how to set up volunteer check-ins in Planning Center. In this week’s article, I want to give you some tips and tricks on how to do this, and also explain the “why” behind having your volunteers check-in. As someone who has managed, scheduled, and maintained check-ins as a leader, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to keep up with the attendance and participation of your volunteers. Without a process in place, it can be difficult to keep up with your volunteer teams. Are they on vacation or are they declining each invite they receive due to a life change? Are they serving in multiple areas and experiencing conflicts in their volunteer schedule? With a volunteer check-in process, you can start to answer some of these questions and have a clearer understanding of who consistently serves and who doesn’t. Volunteer check-ins allow you to watch over your teams with an eye on volunteer participation. Your volunteer whose missed serving the past three weeks may just need a change in their scheduled rotation, or there could be an opportunity for care and a ministry moment. Logistically, there are several ways to set up a check-in process for tracking volunteer attendance and participation. Your church likely has multiple volunteer positions, and often, one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to volunteer check-ins. So, volunteers checking in to serve in kid’s ministry areas will look different than volunteers checking in to serve in the hospitality or parking lot teams. Because I have personally experienced both of these scenarios, I have put together some best practices and recommendations for how to set up and maintain your volunteer checkin processes. ### Manned Check-in Stations with Kid’s Team Volunteers Are Easier My tip for the kid’s ministry areas is always to use “Manned” stations for checking in your volunteers. This allows flexibility for volunteers who are parents and want to check their own kids into their respective rooms/locations while also checking themselves in to serve. Using manned stations allows the volunteer to choose which location or room they are serving in, regardless of the filters or settings that are set up in these locations. While self-check is possible for volunteer check-ins, it is not ideal. Self-check stations must be set up very specifically when using the “Services Integration” (which is found in your check-ins event settings). The room/location names must match character for character with the Services team/position names in order for your volunteers to be checked in and shown as “attended.” Due to the rigid setup requirement for self-check-in stations, I would recommend using the “Manned” stations; it’ll be easier for both volunteers and schedulers. ### Volunteer Check-ins For the Rest of the Teams Now, when it comes to volunteer areas outside of the Kid’s ministry, here’s a great tip: use only one check-in event and location for all volunteers. Seriously, use one single location and title it “I'm here to volunteer” or “Volunteer Check-In” or something similar. Keep it super simple, and don’t try to list out all the areas or positions you might have for your volunteer teams. The best part of using this single-location check-in event is that Services doesn’t care where your scheduled volunteers check in; it just watches for a check-in. So, when the Services integration is enabled in your check-in event, the check-in is synced with Services. As long as your volunteer is scheduled somewhere in Services for the same time on the same day, it will mark them as “Attended”. Now you can see when someone confirms AND attends on your Service Type reports, and you can also run a People List on the check-in event whenever needed. This single check-in location will work for most volunteer areas and provide a simple, easy method for those volunteers to let you know that they served on the day they were scheduled. > Note: This may not work for everyone. Sometimes worship teams like to have a separate check-in, and that’s great. If a specific team needs something more detailed (like Kid’s Ministry teams or Worship teams) set those check-ins events up separately. ### What Are Services Type Reports I mentioned Service Type Reports above, and to be clear, these are the reports found in the Services app on the tab right next to your templates. See the image below. These reports not only show you who has confirmed, is still unconfirmed, or who has declined, but also who has “attended” (using a black check mark next to the status icon). When a volunteer confirms and checks in to a volunteer check-in, they show as attended. Here’s what that looks like in the report: Notice the check mark next to the status icon? That is the check-in or attendance confirmation of the volunteer. This report tells you who is serving regularly regardless of their status. Sometimes volunteers who don’t confirm still show up to serve and the check mark lets you see this. Ideally, you want to see all green icons with check marks next to them, but if you are seeing a different pattern within this data, you can better manage your team(s) using these reports. > Here’s another tip: You can also add a Services Widget to the Metrics dashboard in People to see how many volunteers are scheduled and another widget to show how many have attended. This is how you measure healthy teams. You have a healthy team if things are consistent or trending up and to the right in your “attended” widget. If the chart shows something else, maybe it’s time to talk with some volunteers or leaders and see how things are going. This is why the data matters. It points us to ministry moments with our volunteers, staff, congregation, etc. ### Conclusion - If you’re not doing volunteer check-ins, you might want to start. It’s easy to put in place, and if you don’t currently have a spare check-in station to use for your volunteers, you can always use an inexpensive tablet. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just easy to access. - Introduce this easy-to-do concept of checking in and cultivate a culture around it. Explain the benefits to leaders and schedulers on your teams and let volunteers know that it’s a way for the organization to know if serving is still motivational and inspiring. - Keep it simple and easy for volunteers to check in and participation will go up — so will your statistics. The numbers will tell the story and if you see a trend moving in the wrong direction, you can look into it and explore the reasons behind it. - Check-ins for volunteers can be easily implemented by using only a single check-in event and location. This makes the process simple for volunteers to check in and easy for leaders to see who is volunteering consistently. If you want to measure your volunteer engagement and the health of your teams, volunteer check-ins are the way to go. By understanding our volunteers' engagement, we can jump into conversations to support them when needed and ensure that ministry functions smoothly in our volunteer areas. Jason Silbernagel --- ## Streamline Volunteer Onboarding with Forms & Workflows URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/streamline-volunteer-onboarding-optimize-with-planning-center-people-forms-amp-workflows Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2024-05-01 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People Efficiently onboard volunteers with Planning Center tools. Streamline processes with forms and workflows for better management and improved engagement. I don’t know about you, but I have been a part of churches where people have fallen through the cracks. I have fallen through the cracks. Nothing is worse than wanting to serve on a team at your church and not hearing back regarding the next steps. Today, you will learn the perfect framework for onboarding volunteers to your church. Whether you have a process for recruiting your volunteer teams or not, I will share some handy tools in Planning Center People that you can use to standardize this process, making it easy and efficient. After implementing these tips and tricks, you will be equipped to engage each congregant more intentionally, ensuring that no one falls through the cracks. So let’s get started. ### Crafting your onboarding process One of my favorite techniques for ensuring the success of a project or initiative is to start with the end in mind. Once you know the desired outcome, you can reverse engineer the steps you need to take to get the desired result. Please take a second and think about your desired outcome in building out this process. Do you want this process to be fast or slow? Are you looking to vet people or equip people? Do you want people to have the church's culture instilled in them before they serve? Etc. Once you know the desired outcome, you can build the perfect process. ### Walking in your gifting(s) produces fruit Now that we have an idea of the desired outcome, we can dive head first into building out the perfect process, right? Not quite! Before discussing the tools available to streamline your volunteer onboarding process, let’s examine the heart behind your process. Although this is not the primary focus of this article, there is much to say about providing your congregation with an opportunity to discover their God-given gifts and talents, develop them, and then apply them in serving the church. When people are allowed to serve and walk in their gifts, it produces fruit, and the church and the body are direct beneficiaries. If someone is consistently serving outside of their gifts and strengths, over time, this can lead to volunteer burnout. This is often the result of not being intentional with whom we schedule to fill an urgent volunteer need. I highly suggest developing a “Strength finder” or “Spiritual Gifts Test” approach to your membership classes and incorporating individual strength discovery into the preliminary steps to serving in your church. ### Step-by-step creating your volunteer onboarding process #### Forms: Intake and Gathering Volunteer Interest Now, let’s talk about the tools available in Planning Center from a high level. The first tool we will discuss is a People form. Forms are a great way to offer potential volunteers a way to express interest in serving. First off, forms provide fields that you can use to gather information about potential volunteers, such as selecting a ministry area of interest. > As a note: rather than listing all possible serve roles, it may be more efficient and practical to list the Ministry Departments or areas. In a later step, when speaking with the potential volunteer, you can discuss the specific roles available in more detail. The best way to list all available ministry areas in the form is found under “Workflow Fields.” You can use checkboxes or a drop-down field to list your areas and then tie those directly to a Workflow in People. When a congregant selects their area of interest, their profile card will be sent directly into this Workflow, notifying staff or volunteers to follow up and walk them through a series of steps. (More on setting up that Workflow below.) Remember to ask questions on your form using fields that gather your requirements to serve. Here are a few examples we have used as required fields: membership class completion, signed membership agreement, personal story or testimony, etc. These fields become the foundation for additional follow-up and ensure that all necessary steps are taken before a person begins to serve. In addition to workflow fields, you can also implement automation on your form. Automations allow actions to happen when someone fills out the form. > Workflow tip: One particular automation that would benefit this form would be the People action of sending to a workflow. If this automation is used, anyone filling out the form will be sent to a designated onboarding workflow. Automations are more “all or nothing,” whereas using the Workflow fields will allow you to automate the process, allowing the form submission to add people to multiple workflows based on the selections made. #### Workflows are where the work is done Before creating your Volunteer Interest Form or before utilizing the “Workflow Fields” on the forms mentioned above, you will need to complete this step. The “Volunteer Onboarding Workflow,” as we call it, is a series of steps that help a staff member walk a potential volunteer through onboarding into a position or role on a team. These steps range from verifying information on the potential volunteer’s profile, connecting and having a larger conversation about the area(s) of interest, ordering a background check, and placing them on a team (hopefully in Planning Center Services). Each step should have a descriptive title and a detailed description of the actions to be taken. Detailed descriptions allow others to partner with us in completing these workflows while following the same standards or procedures. Make sure to have a final workflow step that you snooze for 30 days. This is an excellent way to follow up after the person has been serving and find out how it’s been going for them. Are they enjoying the role? How many times have they participated? If, for some reason, the fit isn’t right, you can send them back to the first step and start down a new path of finding their perfect place to serve. #### Building Relationships is Key Both forms and workflows allow staff members to communicate directly with congregants. Engaging with the potential volunteer builds a relationship that strengthens their sense of belonging within the body of your church and transfers ownership of the serving opportunity to the volunteer. It’s also essential to have a structured follow-up cadence with active volunteers (30 days, 90 days, six months, etc.) to ensure they feel fulfilled and are growing relationally and spiritually. #### Using the tools in Planning Center People forms and workflows help you manage the onboarding process more efficiently. If you are assigned to manage the workflow or have the workflow card pinned to your profile, you will receive updates on your People dashboard. These notifications are a great way to ensure you remain engaged in the onboarding process. Additionally, these notifications help keep things organized and allow your leadership team to ensure no one is slipping through the cracks. We also recommend pulling a few lists based on these forms and workflows so that your leadership can also keep an eye on the process. Between creating a great process and using the fantastic tools Planning Center provides, we know your volunteer onboarding will become a well-oiled machine. I hope you have found this article helpful. If you aren’t already using a form and workflow combination to manage your volunteer onboarding, you will soon. Check out our YouTube channel for more details about setting up workflows and forms in People. If you have any questions or need help building this out for your church, please email us at info@threefold.solutions. --- ## From Attenders to Members: Tracking Milestones URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/from-attenders-to-members-tracking-membership-milestones-in-planning-center-people Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2024-04-28 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People Manage membership with Planning Center People. Efficiently track church growth and milestones using Custom Fields, Check-ins, Lists, and Automations. As your church grows, so does membership, and each congregant has a unique journey within your membership process. Maintaining records of where individuals are in their membership journey can feel complex (and almost impossible) — even with numerous lists, spreadsheets, and notes. Let’s take a moment to discuss ways to maximize ease and efficiency when it comes to recording these milestones. Planning Center provides multiple tools to accomplish updates, record dates, and track attendance, all in one place, the person's profile. You can streamline a process to track membership progress using Custom Fields, Check-ins, Lists, and Automation. Let’s dive into the details. ### Building the foundation: Start with Custom Fields First, you will need a place to record or track the congregant’s membership progress on their profile. That’s where custom fields can be leveraged. New custom fields can be created under a Custom Tab in Planning Center People. In this example, we have three classes that a congregant will attend to complete their membership journey. We will use a custom tab called “Membership” and add several fields: Growth Track Class One, Growth Track Class Two, and Growth Track Class Three. These should all be Date fields. In addition, we will also need a Yes/No field titled “Growth Track Class Complete”. Note: Custom Tab groupings have the option of adding permissions and restricting who can view the information stored within the fields. You can set up Collaborators for those situations where the information stored in the fields is sensitive or confidential. Now that we have the fields created, we can look at the other tools available within Planning Center to begin tracking someone’s progress through these classes. ### Taking Attendance: Check-in and Events The next step is to create a Check-in event for each of the classes. The check-in event is essential to this process. When you use a check-in, you benefit from the ability to take attendance and can utilize an automation to update your newly established custom fields. By setting up separate events, you can confirm congregant attendance for each class. Note: You may also use a Registration Sign-Up for your Growth Track classes to track how many are attending, etc. ### Where the Magic Happens: Lists and Automations Planning Center People allows us to use a list to filter congregants who have attended/checked into a specific check-in event, so we can now create a list that shows who has attended Growth Track Class One. That list rule would look like the example below. Once the list is set up, we can now add an automation to this list. Automations allow us to apply an action to all profiles we have pulled in this list. We will use this automation to update the custom date field for Growth Track Class One. The image below shows the settings when creating this automation. You will need to have this list auto-refresh nightly in order for the automation to continue updating dates on Growth Track Class One attendees’ profiles for future classes. This can be found and added under the settings tab of your list. Note: The date supplied into the custom field will use the date the automation runs. Automations run at 2 AM, meaning the date marked on the profile will be the next day. Now that your list is automatically looking for Growth Track Class One attendees and updating their profiles, you can apply these same steps to classes two and three. Repeat the previous steps outlined for each check-in, list, and automation. Next, let’s go ahead and automate the Growth Track Complete field. In order to update that field, we need to create a list that looks at who has attended all three classes. We want to automate the field to be updated to “Yes” when someone has completed all three courses. The next image shows what the automation settings would look like when updating the Yes/No field to “Yes”. At this point, we need to create one last automation. This final automation updates the congregant’s “Membership Type” to “Member”. Check out the settings shown below for reference. Using these steps, you now have an automated process for updating the membership statuses of your congregants as well as tracking their progress in your Growth Track Classes. *Note: using the processes outlined above, you can create additional lists to identify those who have only partially completed the classes and target email them with encouragement to complete their membership journey.* In similar instances where you may want to update information on a congregant’s profile, this example of how to automate a ministry process can be applied. Planning Center has many opportunities to utilize lists and automations, and I encourage you to look for ways to improve your administrative efficiency by tracking your data automatically. Your reporting and lists will become tools to get to know your congregation better and start to identify new areas for ministry opportunities. If you have questions or want to share how you have implemented these strategies in your church, drop us a line at info@threefold.solutions or reply to this email. --- ## The Power of Celebrating Moments URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-power-of-moments Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-04-24 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People Discover the 'Power of Moments' in celebrating church milestones. Learn strategies using Elevation, Insight, Pride, Connection, and Planning Center People. Do you remember a time when someone celebrated a key moment in your life? Maybe your friends prepared a surprise party, gave a heartfelt gift on your anniversary, or even acknowledged a job well done with a simple, well-timed word of encouragement. These moments stick with us, don't they? I recall a time when my team surprised me with a celebration for a small achievement I thought went unnoticed. It wasn't the fanfare that mattered; instead, it was the realization that my peers saw me and cared enough to celebrate me, even in the small things. I remember that moment even to this day. This is the power of moments – they transform our ordinary days into milestones of progress and belonging. ### Remembering a Defining Moment Celebrating moments can extend beyond just the simple recognition of key life events (a student's graduation from High School, a young couple's engagement, or a firstborn child). It also includes the recognition of hard times people walk through. We as the church have the ability to connect with people across all areas of their lives. Moments profoundly impact our lives, shape our present, and, in some cases, define our future. Today, we dive into the heart of honoring and recognizing these milestones and honoring and loving people in their highest highs and their lowest lows. For many of us, our best memories are these profound moments, but what makes a moment? Like a good story, key moments in our lives have a structure; and just like a good story, a moment can be crafted with the right set of ingredients. One of my favorite books I have recently read is “The Power of Moments” by Chip and Dan Heath. “The Power of Moments” isn’t about manipulation, but rather its about breaking the status quo and every so slightly doing the unexpected. So, think back to a great moment from your past. A school dance, an award ceremony, a grand event. Think about how that moment made you feel. Now that you have that moment in the back of your mind, let’s break apart why it was so impactful. ### A Defining Moment: the Four-Part Recipe - Elevation: Elevate ordinary events into extraordinary experiences. - Insight: Moments of insight provide transformative realizations. - Pride: Recognize and celebrate moments of achievement and courage. - Connection: Deepen bonds within the community by creating shared experiences. These four pieces work in concert to change things from the ordinary into small moments of the extraordinary. In the book the authors share a story of a popsicle hotline — a special phone by the pool of an average hotel (with incredible reviews). The phone's sole purpose is to allow people to order popsicles. Within moments of the request a tray of popsicles is brought out to patrons looking for a sweet and cold treat as they enjoy the summer heat. Free popsicles on a hot day by itself isn’t that memorable, but a popsicle hotline with fanfare, music, and a cold tray of popsicles on demand is an experience. This breaks the script of a free dessert into an experience that is unique, talked about amongst the patrons and families, brings joy to the kids who made the call, and includes the entire pool area. All four parts of a powerful moment in application. How could we this week make a small change to our current experiences—think kids ministry or how we recognize first time guests. How much effort would it really take? It doesn’t have to be extra or over the top for it to be out of the ordinary. These moments can be fostered through group activities, shared traditions, or support groups that intentionally bring people together. By incorporating these elements, we can design moments that stand out and profoundly impact our congregational family, turning ordinary days into milestones of belonging and healing. ### The Power of Recognition in Our Communities These types of moments are not about creating bigger events, doing more, or always trying to one-up the last thing. It’s about presence. Celebrating milestones like baptisms, anniversaries, and personal achievements fosters joy and unity. The acknowledgment of these moments can mean a ton. How many of us have experienced a friend forgetting our birthday? It can be really disappointing. But at the same time, having a new friend show up for us in an unexpected way can make us feel seen. We as the church get to do this for our people. We can show up in the good times and the bad. It’s about ensuring that people know they are loved and seen. The truth is it’s really easy for us as the church to show up in the simple moments. It can be much harder to show up for people in their darkest moments. Being consistently present in both the best and worst times knit us closer — building a strong, empathetic community. ### Using Planning Center People to Track Milestones and Moments I know we have talked a lot of theory; you may be asking, what do I need to do? Glad you asked. Here is your step-by-step guide. First off, your ChMS offers an excellent tool to track these moments. Using custom fields, lists, and automations, we can record joyful events and memorialize those we have lost, ensuring no moment or milestone is overlooked. We can also use these same tools to remind us proactively of these moments so we can look to reach out and be present. (Think of sending off a birthday card or flowers.) In order to recognize those moments, we first need to define them. ### Creating Impactful Moments: A Step-by-Step Guide Identify Key Moments: Regularly check in with your congregation to stay updated on significant life events. Capture dates in custom fields, and if you have more details, capture that information in pastoral or general notes. Plan Your Response: Look to remind yourself of these days with lists or workflows to ensure you remember to reach out. Plan an appropriate, heartfelt response, whether a celebration or a memorial. Look to provide multiple levels of follow-up. We want people to know that we care. Personalize Your Approach: Tailor your response to reflect the individual's journey and their meaning within the community. Not all two people need the same level of connection or support. Look to tailor the message and the method to the person. Involve the Community: Encourage communal participation to enhance the sense of belonging and support. Connect people to the greater congregation by working on their behalf to connect them with like-minded individuals. ### Creating Amazing Events I know we have talked about moments being more than just events, but who doesn't love a good event? We get so excited when different seasons come around because of the events we can participate in, such as fall festivals, summer block parties, etc. One thing you can do to supercharge the power of these events is to add anticipation. There is something special when an event only happens once a year (Conferences, Daddy Daughter dances, etc). You can even take it one step further and and look to limit the attendance to a particular group (High School Winter Camp) or required qualification (Volunteer Appreciation Dinner) so that people anticipate their ability to participate. It will drive the anticipation and deepen the impact of the event. Invest in making these events memorable, and the effort you put into them will be cherished for a lifetime. > “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou ### Building a Culture of Appreciation, Belonging, and Healing Cultivating a culture that celebrates and mourns together is essential. Integrating these practices into our regular activities, like services, group meetings, and social events, ensures everyone feels seen and supported. I think there is something really beautiful when the church proactively reaches out to people during these times. I don’t believe we should always wait until a form is filled in to provide support. In addition to your current processes, it is essential to have ways to have your ChMS prompt you or have others reach out on behalf of someone. Think of the testimonies people would have if the church were there in support without someone needing to ask. How would it make you feel to know your church was thinking of you, praying for you, standing in agreement with you, grieving with you, or just being present with you? What a moment that would be. ### Sharing Success and Support Stories Moments like these are powerful. Not only are they something we cherish, but they become part of our testimony. And as my pastor would say, there is nothing more powerful than a testimony (Praise break—Queue someone taking a lap 🏃♂️). As you create these moments for your church, capture them. Then, share these testimonies with the rest of your church. You never know who is watching. You never know who needs that bit of encouragement. Whether it is a blog post or a short video, get the message out. In reflecting on these stories of celebration and support, we recognize their profound effect on our lives and how they make us feel. They are not just events or anecdotes; they are the very pillars that connect us community in our church and the Church. As we continue fostering these moments, we build a history of shared experiences, creating a culture and anchoring people back to the church. Our ongoing commitment to being present in the highs and lows is what makes being in a church community so unique. As we do life together, let’s remember the power of transforming ordinary days into milestones of belonging. Doing so honors the parts of people's lives that may go unseen. I know I want to be part of a church filled with encouragement and support. Let’s go build that church together. If you have found this newsletter helpful, please share this with other churches, church staff, leaders or volunteers. We desire to help grow the Church by sharing actionable information to make church growth easy. Thanks for your help in getting the word out. --- ## Prevent Data Disasters: Your Permissions Blueprint URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/prevent-data-disasters-your-blueprint-for-planning-center-permissions Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-04-20 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Planning Center apps: People Protect your church's data with our Planning Center permissions guide. Create and implement a robust policy and request workflow for secure access. Imagine this: you get to church on Monday morning only to see your Planning Center account is empty! Something happened over the weekend, and now all your data is gone. That’s not just a story; we’ve seen it happen. How can you ensure this never happens to you? Data mismanagement can happen when a user has too much access to your Planning Center account. Profiles can get updated unexpectedly, leading to data loss. Without taking the necessary steps, your church's data could be lost forever. In this week’s edition of The Fold, we're diving into the world of Planning Center permissions, offering our insights into navigating these digital waters with ease and confidence. Before diving into the practicalities of setting permissions in Planning Center, let me take you down memory lane. In the past, I worked for a large church (10 campuses), and we had a huge Planning Center user base (over 600 users, and that was just staff). Keeping track of permissions and permissions requests was a chore. It required more than one person to manage all of the user requests that came in on a weekly basis. It also required standardizing procedures and processes that the team could follow as a guide when assigning (and removing) permissions. I was so thankful for the prior thought that was given to user permissions within each app; without a plan, it could have been a management and security nightmare. It took time to establish the rules, but once the foundation had been laid, it was just a matter of following the plan. That plan took the form of a “permissions policy,” a structured document we put in place as a reference of who got what role or permission in Planning Center. It covered required access for staff roles and their respective functions and also guided the provision of additional access when necessary. Without this document, things could have easily gone off the rails. So, you may be thinking, that seems like a lot of effort, or why does it even matter? ### Why Do Permissions Even Matter? Think of permission levels in Planning Center like keys to different rooms in your church. Just as you wouldn't give every key to every staff member in your building, it's vital to assign access carefully in this digital space. This isn't just about security; it's about empowering each staff member (or volunteer) with the right access and tools to fulfill their roles effectively. A Quick Note on Account Safety Now, before we jump in, let's talk security. Proverbs 27:12 says, "The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty." In line with this wisdom, here are some initial best practices to help your Planning Center account remain a safe haven: - Personal Login Management: Require every team member to manage their login information directly. - Two-Step Verification (2SV): You might have heard of this referred to as “Two Factor authentication,” and this extra layer of security should be non-negotiable for Admins, Managers, and Editors. You can learn more about how to enable two-step verification in Planning Center in their support documentation. - Limit Access Wisely: Regularly audit who can access your data and ensure only those who need it have it. - Timely Permission Removal: When someone leaves your staff or team, remove their permissions promptly to safeguard your church's digital space. We also suggest taking these general policies and extending them to every application your staff and volunteers use to run your church. The tips outlined are not just Planning Center-centric, but rather, they are universal safeguards to protect your church and your congregation’s data. ### Crafting a Permissions Policy: Your Digital Blueprint Creating a "Permissions Policy" is like drafting a blueprint for your church's digital house. It should outline the roles in your ministry and the corresponding Planning Center permissions. Take the time to build this foundational piece first. This policy will act as the standard that your Database Manager and staff will follow. Remember, the golden rule here is to assign the minimum level of permission necessary for each role and only add more when absolutely necessary. Step 1: Write out your Permissions Policy. Your Database Manager, one of the primary leaders using Planning Center, should be the one to implement the process for assigning permissions. Have them review the Planning Center Documentation and build out a template you can refer to going forward. If you need help with creating a template, email us at info@threefold.solutions, and we will send you an example. ### The Request Process: Streamlining Digital Access Step 2: Create a Permissions Request Workflow. This workflow should have several steps that allow the Database Manager to review the request(s) and assign the permissions. The request mechanism can be as simple as an email request, or you can use the built-in tools within Planning Center (such as a People Form and Workflow) to manage the request process. Using a form allows you to ask questions and utilize the form fields to gather information about which apps a user wants and needs to access. Using automation on your form will automatically send these requests into a custom workflow, allowing you to manage and keep track of user requests. If you would like to learn more about implementing a People form and workflow, check out this video we created on the topic on our YouTube channel. Workflow Template: Here’s a breakdown of the basic permissions request process: - Request Submission: Staff or volunteers can submit requests via email (simple) or through a custom Planning Center form (more advanced). - Review and Evaluation: Consult with leaders and use your permissions policy to approve the right access levels. - Assigning Permissions: Once approved, the Database Manager will grant access within the Planning Center apps. - Record Keeping: If you choose the email route, maintain a log of all permissions for easy reference and future adjustments. The form and workflow will automatically do this for you if you choose the more advanced route. ### Conclusion: Sailing into Secure Digital Waters Step 3: Assign permission on an ongoing basis. Effectively managing permissions in Planning Center isn't just an administrative task; it's a vital part of your ministry's digital stewardship. By understanding the different permission levels and implementing a thoughtful request process, you're not just organizing data; you're safeguarding your church's digital presence and ensuring every team member can contribute effectively to the Kingdom's work. As you embark on this journey, remember that we're here to help. For more detailed guides on individual apps and permissions, check out the links provided in each app's documentation (search the keyword “permissions” under the question mark) or visit the links below. > "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety" - Proverbs 11:14 If you have questions or want to share how you've implemented these strategies in your church, drop us a line at info@threefold.solutions. Resources: Calendar | Check-ins | Giving | Groups People | Publishing | Registrations | Services --- ## Improve Church Attendance: the 'Plan Your Visit' Framework URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/improve-your-churches-attendance-mastering-the-plan-your-visit-framework Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-02-06 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Grow church attendance with the 'Plan Your Visit' framework. Embrace digital outreach and personalized communication to build and foster community. ### Outreach and The Great Commission Are you struggling to attract new people to your church? Has your attendance plateaued or not returned to its previous highs since 2020? If that sounds like you, with this one simple change, you can get back on track. If your church is anything like ours, the pandemic made things different. We, as church leaders, have to start playing a different game. The world has changed, and it’s time we move from playing checkers to chess. We need new and innovative strategies to help us connect with the unchurched, those far from Christ, and those looking for a new church home. The church has, for much of my lifetime, been reactionary. We wait for people to show up to attend a service; we wait for requests to provide assistance and support for those who have a need. For many who are a part of the church, we do not fully participate in the great commission by “going.” Instead, we stay inside the church walls and, to the farthest extent, potentially serve the people in our community. So much ministry happens within the walls of our churches, but I feel we can find a way to “go” without leaving our congregation behind. What if we changed our processes a bit this year? What would it look like for your church to go on the offensive this year? > Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” The church is responsible for caring and loving people when requested and even more so when they do not even realize they need it. Some of us are called as missionaries to the far ends of the world to seek out the lost and hurting proactively, but for most church leaders, we are called to minister to our congregation and the larger community in which we are rooted. The plan your visit framework is a simple way to grow your church engagement and connect people to Christ. The Plan Your Visit framework isn't just a strategy; it's a journey into creating a more personal, welcoming experience for those seeking a church home. This approach is tailored explicitly for church staff, administrators, and pastors looking to innovate and expand their outreach efforts. ### Back to the basics If you are like most churches, you have a welcome area where you can connect with people before and after service. Having a welcome area is essential for welcoming new people and connecting them with your church, but people need to know about your church long before you encounter them in your welcome area. So, let’s zoom out and start from the beginning. How do we get people to come to church? In business, there are only four ways people hear about a company. Alex Hormozi, in $100M Leads, calls these the core four: warm outreach, cold outreach, posting free content, and running paid ads. The same applies to your church. Your church or your congregation can reach out to people they know (warm outreach) and people they don't know (cold outreach); they can post on social and the web about the church and church events (post free content) and can run paid advertisements. The fastest way to get people to connect with your church is to market to them directly. In 2024, you only need one thing to connect to thousands of people around you. Are you ready to learn what that is? ### The new mission field If you haven’t seen any recent statistics about smartphone usage, the numbers are crazy. On average, people are on their phones 4 hours a day (https://explodingtopics.com/blog/smartphone-usage-stats#smartphone-use-in-us). What’s even crazier is that in this interconnected world, where we can strike up a connection with people in a split second, we are getting statistically lonelier and lonelier (https://fortune.com/well/2023/08/11/loneliness-study-digital-social-media/). Can you believe that?! I don’t know about you, but I have experienced this in my own life: the need for genuine friendship, the desire to feel connected and loved by people for who I am, intrinsically, not just superficial things. Because of this shift, we have a new mission field via the smartphone. Almost everyone in your church has one. It doesn’t matter the age, gender, ethnicity, or social or economic status; we all have smartphones. When put into perspective, people spend about 1 hour in church with us on Sunday and 28+ hours on TikTok, YouTube, Social Media, etc. This plan-your-visit framework is intended for your church to meet people where they are and remind them throughout the week about the one thing that can change lives: the Gospel. ### Start here If your church does not advertise on social media, start! This is where people are. They are all over social media. Many of you look into advertising on Google, especially Google Search. For most churches, tens of thousands of dollars in free advertising is available from Google (https://www.google.com/grants/). You may be asking yourself what you need to get started. All you need is a smartphone and a video of your pastor personally inviting people to church. Create a simple short-form vertical video and post it on social media. (If you are still trying to figure out the best way to create short-form videos, ask your nearest millennial or download TikTok for reference). Once you have that quick invite from your Pastor posted on social, with a link to your church’s “plan a visit” landing page (we will talk about how to craft this in a bit), throw some advertising dollars behind it to boost it beyond your congregation. Narrow the recipients down to your local zip code and see what happens. ### The landing page This is at the heart of the Plan Your Visit framework. The landing page is the core summary of your church's mission. It helps people understand your church's vision and core values and identify whether they can see themselves as part of your congregation. It is the digital counterpart to your in-person first-time guest experience. Imagine a prospective churchgoer landing on a vibrant, engaging landing page highlighting your church’s vision: worship, teachings, kids' ministry, community groups, and more. This is the second step of the 'Plan Your Visit' funnel, a process akin to a sales funnel but deeply rooted in creating personal connections. We use the term sales funnel not because we want the landing page to feel staged but because these principles cause people to take action. The action we want people to take is to plan their visit this coming weekend. We encourage all the details on the page to point towards that single call to action. Visitors are encouraged to complete a form, capturing essential details like names, emails, phone numbers, and children's information. This allows their accompanying in-person experience to feel effortless and personalized. ### Pre and post-attendance follow-up This data is then integrated into a workflow in your ChMS, ensuring a seamless communication channel. The attendees receive a 'What to Expect This Weekend' email, followed by a personal touch - a video message, text, or phone call from a volunteer or staff member, providing a warm welcome before their visit. These two pieces don't have to be super complicated. Start with an introductory email and text follow-up system, and as you grow, incorporate more personalized elements like welcome videos. Training a small team of dedicated volunteers can make the process more manageable and sustainable. Our workflow looks like this: Step 1: Send a “What to expect this weekend” email follow-up. Step 2: Send an “Excited to see you this weekend” (text or video message) Step 3: Verify Attendance Step 4: Follow up with an invitation back (text or video message) Once the weekend happens, we have a bit of work to do. We hope we connected with them and that they had a great time. If we didn’t see them this weekend, we now have an opportunity to follow up. Either way, the follow-up includes personalized communication based on their visit experience or nonattendance, inviting them to return and engage further with the church. ### So why all the hassle? This framework is not just about increasing numbers; it's about building relationships and community. It allows for a more personalized approach compared to the traditional 'sit-and-wait' strategy. By engaging with potential attendees before they even step foot in the church, you demonstrate care and attention to detail that can significantly impact their experience and perception of your church. It's natural to feel overwhelmed by the thought of implementing a new system, especially for churches with limited staff or volunteers. The key is to start small and scale gradually. Utilize the tools and resources available, like Planning Center, to automate and streamline the process. Remember, the quality of engagement is far more critical than the quantity. The basics of this framework are getting people to your website, having them fill out a form, and following up with them before and after they attend. It’s that simple. The 'Plan Your Visit' framework is adaptable and scalable, suitable for churches of all sizes and demographics. It's not just a strategy for now; it's an investment in the future of your church's community engagement. For churches looking for comprehensive solutions, our team is ready to assist in setting up and optimizing this funnel to suit your needs. Feel free to reach out to us at info@threefold.solutions. The 'Plan Your Visit' framework represents an approach to church engagement, blending traditional values with modern outreach techniques. It's more than a strategy; it's a commitment to making every individual feel seen, heard, and valued from their very first interaction with your church. If you found this article helpful or have questions, get in touch. --- ## Church Data Security: Protecting Your Congregation URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/church-data-security-email-scams-protection Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2024-01-20 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Planning Center apps: People Secure your church and congregant information to protect against email scams and data breaches. Learn how now. ### The Problem: Scams Targeting Churches Have you ever heard about a church falling prey to an email scam? It's a story that's becoming all too common. Imagine this: a scammer gets access to a church's data and starts sending emails as the pastor, asking congregants to buy and donate gift cards. I've seen this happen myself at a large church where I used to work. It's a serious reminder that no church is safe unless they secure their data. They also need to control access to their congregation's contact information. ### The Growing Threat to Church Data Security There's been a worrying trend of bad actors and scammers gaining access to churches in the most unsuspecting way. They do this through the church directory. These imposters pose as church staff. They go to great lengths to get emails, phone numbers, and other information from church databases. Once they're in, the situation quickly escalates from bad to worse. ### Protecting Your Church’s Database: Where to Start? So, what can you do? Let's dive into some strategies to protect your church’s database and directory. It all begins with a permissions policy for your staff. Without this policy, it's like navigating a maze blindfolded. Every time someone needs access to your Church Management System (ChMS) or data management system. A clear policy spells out who gets what permissions. It supports your database manager or the person in charge, making them the guardian of your church's digital gate. ### Customizing Permission Levels Permissions aren't one-size-fits-all. You need to tailor them. Sit down with your ministry and department leaders to figure out the necessary permissions for each role. This applies to both staff and volunteers. Think about what each role needs to do their job effectively. Once you have this policy in place, stick to it religiously. ### Streamlining Permission Requests How about the process of requesting permissions? Use a form in your ChMS or a third-party form software. Detail the apps and permissions so that your team can request exactly what they need. Add a section where they explain why they need these permissions. Another good practice is to filter all requests through a leader before submission. For instance, if you're using Planning Center, a People Form could be your go-to for these requests. You can couple it with an automation to send them to a People Workflow. This helps your database manager track everything neatly. Whether it's CCB or another system, the goal is to make managing these requests as smooth as possible for your team. ### Managing Directory Access Then there's the question of your online directory. Who gets to see the congregants' contact details? It's vital to have tight security here too. You could set up a request process for accessing the directory, using something like a Planning Center People form. Think carefully about your questions to effectively vet those asking for access. Do they have a known relationship with your church? Alternatively, you could handle requests via email. For instance, here's a template from Hans R. at Denver Church of Christ: Dear [Name], Thank you for wanting to join our church directory. We're thrilled to welcome new faces. To maintain our directory's integrity and privacy, please call us at [Church Office Phone Number]. This way, we can get to know you and explain how you can become part of our directory. Our office hours are [mention office hours]. We're here to help and can't wait to chat with you. Blessings, [Your Name] [Your Position] [Church Name] If your church is on the larger side, handling these requests through email might be overwhelming. In that case, a form could be a more manageable option. Whatever method you choose, the key is to have a solid system in place. ### Conclusion: Protecting Your Congregants’ Information is Crucial In today’s world, securing your church's data isn't just advisable; it's essential. Even if you don't use a directory, think about how to safeguard your data and who has access to it. Limit high-level permissions to those who truly need them. Set up your permission policy and, if available, use two-factor authentication for your ChMS users. It's about making your church a safe haven, not just in the physical world, but in the digital one too. Have you dealt with security issues at your church or have you had a similar incident? If so, how did you handle the situation? We would love to hear your thoughts about other steps a church can take to improve data security. --- ## Using Wix Studio? Here’s how to embed a Planning Center Form. URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/using-wix-studio-heres-how-to-embed-a-planning-center-form Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-01-08 Category: Web & Digital (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/web-digital) Struggling to embed a Planning Center Form in your Wix website? I don’t know about you, but reading documentation or how-to guides can be almost as frustrating as the problem itself. If so, I will show you, with pictures (for those of us who are more visual learners), how to embed a Planning Center Struggling to embed a Planning Center Form in your Wix website? I don’t know about you, but reading documentation or how-to guides can be almost as frustrating as the problem itself. If so, I will show you, with pictures (for those of us who are more visual learners), how to embed a Planning Center form into your church's Wix website. The Planning Center documentation for how to do this is complex for those who do not write software for a living. So, if you are reading this article, you are likely in the same boat. The good news is that I do. So, I will be your software sherpa on this journey. We will make this as simple as possible. For all those non-techy people out there, I ran this article past a few of my analog friends, and they felt confident they could do this for their church. So, let’s get started. Here are the nine simple steps to embedding a Planning Center form on your Wix website. This works the same whether you are on Wix Studio or the classic Wix editor — custom code lives in your site dashboard, not in the editor, and Wix documents one panel for all of its editors. From Wix Studio, hover the Wix logo at the top left and click Go to Dashboard to get there. Note that Wix requires your site to be published with a connected domain before it will let you add custom code. Let’s go! ### 1. Login into your Wix dashboard. ### 2. Navigate to the “Settings” button on the sidebar. ### 3. Scroll to the “Development & integrations” section and click “Custom Code”. ### 4. Click the “Add Custom Code” Button in the upper right-hand corner of the page. ### 5. Paste this code snippet into the “Paste the code snippet here:” text box. a. b. Provide a Name. I used “Church Center Modal.” c. Select the “All pages” option under the Add Code to Pages section. Look to select the “Load code on each new page” option from the dropdown. d. Select the “Head” option from the ‘Place code in’ section. e. Click “Apply.” ### 6. Create a section on the website where you want to place the button or the link. ### 7. Add your text or a button. Then select the link option. ### 8. Select “Web Address” from the sidebar. Paste in your church's embed URL. This can be found in the form, under the settings tab, then click the copy it button. Make sure to add ?open-in-church-center-modal=true to the end of your URL. The final URL should look like https://yourChurchesName.churchcenter.com/people/forms/123456?open-in-church-center-modal=true a. Click the option to open in the current window. Then click the done button. ### 9. Make sure to hit publish, and you are done! And there you have it — your Planning Center form is now a seamless part of your church's Wix website! We hope this guide has made the process straightforward and that you feel a sense of accomplishment. If you've tried this method, we'd love to hear how it went. Your feedback not only encourages us but also helps others in their journey. If you run into problems or need clarification, get in touch. --- ## A Comprehensive Setup Guide for Brother 820 Printers URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/how-to-connect-the-brother-ql-820-printer-to-planning-center-check-ins Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2024-01-07 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: Check-ins The ultimate guide to wirelessly connect your Brother QL-820 printer to Planning Center Check-Ins. Follow our step-by-step tutorial for a seamless setup. Are you looking to streamline your check-in process with the Brother QL820NWB printer? This video details the setup process, making it a breeze for anyone using Planning Center Check-Ins. Whether for your Kids check-in or an event, this guide will help you connect your Brother Printer quickly. Watch the step-by-step video here: ### Tutorial Video Recap: Setting Up Your Brother QL820NWB: - Unpacking and Powering Up: Begin by unboxing the Brother QL820NWB. Once powered on, set the language, date, and time. - Wi-Fi Over Bluetooth: We emphasize using Wi-Fi for its reliability compared to Bluetooth, especially in areas with many devices. But sometimes, Bluetooth can be your best option. Trial and testing will reveal which is best for your environment. - Configuring Wi-Fi Settings: Navigate through the printer's WLAN settings to connect it to your Wi-Fi network. Select your network, enter the password, and confirm the connection. Optimizing Your Check-In Station: - Separate Network SSID: To reduce connectivity issues, use a separate network or “SSID” dedicated to your printers and stations. Ideally, you will want an entirely separate network (VLANs are ideal) for your printers and stations. - Downloading Check-Ins App: Install the Planning Center Check-Ins app on your iOS or Android device. - Creating a Station: Use the app to scan a QR code or enter a manual code, creating a new check-in station on the Planning Center website. Pairing Printer with Check-In Station: - Selecting the Printer: In the app, choose your Brother printer, ensuring it's correctly paired with your check-in station. - Label Selection and Test: Pick the appropriate label size and print a test label to verify the setup. Final Touches: - Adjusting Printer Settings: Explore additional settings like label cutting preferences. - Testing the Complete Setup: Perform a final test by printing a label from the check-in station. Conclusion: Our tutorial demystifies the setup process of Brother QL820NWB with Planning Center Check-Ins. By following these steps, you can ensure a hassle-free and efficient check-in experience when you are printing labels for your events or gatherings. Here's a quick link to the Brother 820-NWB printers, Labels and iPads we recommend for a standard Check-ins station set up: - Apple iPad - Brother 820NWB and 820NWBc with Wireless Networking or Bluetooth - Labels for the Brother 820 Printer: DK-2205 (2.4 in x 100 ft) --- ## Planning Center Churches: Swap Mailchimp for Clearstream? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/planning-center-churches-is-it-time-to-swap-mailchimp-for-clearstream Author: Michael Visser Published: 2024-01-03 Category: Web & Digital (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/web-digital) Compare platforms for church email marketing. Get insights on user experience, integration, cost, and automation to make an informed decision. Well, maybe not. Here’s why. ### The History: How did we get here? Let’s take a second to remind ourselves of how we got here. When Planning Center People came onto the scene, there was only one standout Email Service Provider (ESP)—Mailchimp. At the time, Mailchimp was simple to use, cost-effective, and the right fit for many small businesses, churches, and non-profits. For most, it was a breath of fresh air from the alternatives on the market. It became baked in as the de facto choice, and currently still is, the easiest way to send emails. It’s even required by Planning Center if you want to send to a list of five hundred or more. Partner that with additional tools like landing pages, email journeys, etc., you have a powerful tool. However, as we know with many businesses, in the attempt to extract more value from higher paying customers, Mailchimp raised prices and added ‘Enterprise’ features, adding complexity and slowly making the tool harder for those of us who are not full-time marketers. Queue the entrance of Clearstream. Over the last ten years, Clearstream has become the preferred choice for churches looking to communicate via text message. Year after year, Clearstream has built out more and more marketing automation features and tools, allowing churches and non-profits to message at scale with minimal effort. Simplicity and an intense focus on building church-centered tools are at the core of what Clearstream looks to provide. At the end of 2023, they released a massive update allowing churches and non-profits to leverage omnichannel marketing (a marketing term for delivering a seamless experience between email, text, in-person, etc.) via email and text messaging. ### Navigating the Email Marketing Landscape So, you may be thinking to yourself. Why not just go all in on Clearstream? We could save money, become more efficient, and keep all communication in one tool. These are all great things to consider, especially with Mailchimp's recent price increases; many are eyeing alternatives like Clearstream Email. If you're contemplating this switch, you're not alone. Let's explore the practicalities and potential trade-offs to see if Clearstream could be your next email marketing platform. ### Mailchimp vs. Clearstream: A Comparative Overview #### User Experience: Simplicity vs. Design Flexibility Clearstream boasts a straightforward email builder. This builder is much easier to use by most standards. It removes the overhead of content blocks, complex styling choices, and advanced customization. It relies on a simple WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) email template interface. And for the most part, this is more than what most churches will ever need. It allows people of all technical competencies to build out most of the emails your church or non-profit will send. However, if your campaigns rely heavily on intricate designs, this simplicity might come with limitations. Larger organizations with creative teams looking to go all in on creating a brand identity may need more advanced features. This will require designers to build elements in other platforms like Canva or Photoshop to get the aesthetic they imagine. For most, Clearstream is all that you will need. #### Integration and Automation: The Technical Side Mailchimp is the only product of the two that allows you to create an automated email. So, if you want a tool to help you drip content to your people, you only have one option. > FYI, you are missing out if your church is not leveraging an email journey for things like first-time guest follow-up. Please feel free to contact us if you'd like inspiration on how to digitally disciple your congregants or need help getting started with an email drip campaign. Clearstream will likely add this feature in the future, but the option does not exist right now. #### The Cost Factor: Free vs. Paid Services Understandably, the appeal of Clearstream's free service is strong, especially when faced with rising costs from Mailchimp. However, it's essential to consider if you can really escape the costs. Mailchimp is still the incumbent when it comes to Planning Center. It’s highly integrated into the Planning Center and allows for automatic syncing via lists. Clearstream’s integrations are almost as simple, but you need to set it up from the Clearstream side versus just pushing a list from Planning Center into Mailchimp. This may or may not be something that matters, but it does make it feel less integrated. However, it’s hard to beat free if you are already a subscriber—a huge win for Clearstream. #### Switching Costs It’s likely that many of you already have templates set up in Mailchimp that you would need to recreate in Clearstream. In addition, time will be required to understand how to leverage all the features in the new Clearstream email tool. All these things should be considered when considering the cost of conversion. Finding ways to reduce the cost of Mailchimp should be heavily weighed. Think about how much more your church could be doing if you could save hundreds or thousands each year by changing your email provider. #### Strategic Moves: Optimizing Your Email List Before leaping into a new platform, consider refining your current Mailchimp strategy. Implementing a 'sunset policy' to archive inactive subscribers can significantly reduce costs while maintaining a focused, engaged audience. We recommend looking at archiving people who have not opened an email in the last six months. This is a good baseline. Before you go and bulk archive this segment, we recommend a three-email campaign to reengage them. That way, you ensure you are not archiving people genuinely interested in what is happening in your church. #### Testing the Waters: A Cautious Approach Rather than a complete migration, why not test a segment of your email marketing on Clearstream? This approach allows you to gauge effectiveness without fully committing. Send a few emails using this new platform and see how you like it if you have any issues creating the standard emails you send. If all is well, then consider going all in. My church has a ton of automated emails. So, Clearstream is a non-starter for us, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be great for your church. Assess your needs and how much you could save if you switched. For some of you, the cost savings alone will be worth the switching cost. #### Conclusion: Your Next Steps in Email Marketing Deciding whether to switch to Clearstream from Mailchimp might be more complicated than first imagined. It requires balancing cost, design needs, integration capabilities, and your unique marketing strategy. If you decide to try Clearstream, share your experiences. Your insights could be invaluable to many in the same boat, seeking the best path in their email marketing journey. Have you used Clearstream Email? If you have made this switch yourself, we would like to hear how it went. --- ## Brother Printers and Planning Center Check-ins: Your Complete Implementation Guide URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/brother-printers-and-planning-center-check-ins Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2023-12-22 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: Check-ins Brother Printers are now the Ministry Standard for Planning Center Check-ins. This guide walks you through how to choose the right printer, strategy for setting up your check-in, and best practices across Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android platforms. ### Transforming Your Check-in Experience with Universal Printing Solutions In the ever-evolving landscape of church technology, one breakthrough stands above the rest: Brother printers have become the only label printers that work seamlessly across every platform your ministry uses. Whether your volunteers prefer iPads, your staff uses Windows laptops, or you're running Android tablets at self-check stations, Brother printers now connect to them all. This isn't just about technology – it's about removing barriers to ministry and creating smooth, welcoming experiences for families from the moment they walk through your doors. ### Why Brother Printers Have Become the Ministry Standard #### The Game-Changing Update You Need to Know About Planning Center recently revolutionized Brother printer support with major updates that address the connectivity challenges many churches have faced. The latest Check-ins mobile app (version 3.0 for iOS) and desktop applications now feature completely overhauled printer connection processes, making Brother printers the first and only label printers to work across Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android platforms. Key Strategic Advantages: - Universal compatibility across all device types - USB connection support – the stability game-changer for desktop stations - Enhanced wireless reliability with new connection protocols - Flexible deployment options to match your unique ministry setup - Battery-powered options for true mobile check-in stations ### Supported Models and Smart Selection Strategy #### Choosing the Right Printer for Your Ministry Context Not all Brother printers are created equal. Here's our strategic breakdown based on extensive ministry implementation experience: Recommended Models (Listed by Versatility): - Brother QL-820NWB/820NWBc – The gold standard with USB, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connectivity - Brother QL-810W/810Wc – Excellent USB and Wi-Fi support (no Bluetooth) - Brother QL-1110NWB/1110NWBc – Wide-format option with USB, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi - Brother QL-800 – Budget-friendly USB-only option for dedicated desktop stations Older but Still Functional Models: - Brother QL-710W and QL-720NW (consider upgrading for better reliability) #### Label Selection That Makes Sense Primary Recommendation for All Models: - 62mm Continuous (DK-2205) – The ministry standard for name tags and security labels Additional Options by Use Case: - 60mm x 86mm (DK-1234) – Visitor badges - 62mm x 100mm (DK-1202) – Detailed allergy/medical information tags - Large formats (DK-1247, DK-1241, DK-1240) – Special events, VBS, camps (1110NWB models only) Pro Tip: Avoid the 62mm Black/Red Continuous (DK-2251) labels. Check-ins doesn't print in red, and these labels significantly slow down printing speed. ### The Connection Hierarchy: Choosing Stability Over Convenience #### Understanding Your Connection Options After implementing dozens of check-in set ups, we've learned that connection method can make or break your Sunday morning experience. Here's what Planning Center's latest updates have taught us: 1. USB Connection (Strongest & Fastest) - When to use: Desktop or laptop stations with consistent placement - Why it matters: Zero network dependency means zero wireless dropouts or Bluetooth disconnections - Implementation insight: If your network is unpredictable, USB eliminates that variable entirely 2. Bluetooth Connection (Reliable Mobile Option) - When to use: Using mobile devices and Wi-Fi is unreliable or unstable - Why it matters: More stable than Wi-Fi but with slower print speeds - Implementation insight: Perfect for roaming check-in teams at large events or when using the battery option on the printer, and no Wi-Fi is available 3. Wi-Fi Connection (Maximum Flexibility) - When to use: Multiple stations sharing printers - Why it matters: Allows any device to print to any printer - Implementation insight: Requires solid network infrastructure and 2.4GHz support. Ideally, placing the stations and printers on their own VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) within your current network provides the most stability when using Wi-Fi connections. ### Platform-Specific Setup Strategies #### Desktop/Laptop Implementation (Windows & Mac) The addition of desktop support transforms Brother printers into truly universal solutions. Here's your implementation roadmap: USB Setup (Recommended for Desktop): - Connect Brother printer via USB cable - Launch Planning Center Check-ins desktop app - The app automatically detects your printer - Hover over the printer icon to verify the connection - Use keyboard shortcuts for quick access: - Windows: Ctrl + 2 - Mac: Cmd + 2 Wireless Setup for Desktop: - Ensure the printer and computer are on the same network - The Check-ins app will automatically discover wireless printers - Select your printer from the available options (you may need to identify your printers by their IP addresses found under the Wi-Fi settings (WLAN) on the printer). Keep this in mind, and when your printer has been assigned an IP address, add this information to a label on the bottom of the printer along with its name. This will help identify your printers when choosing from several at once. Try to keep your stations and printers attached to their original setup devices if ever moved to new locations. Remember to label and clearly identify with standard naming. For example, Check-in Station 1 and Printer Station 1 or similar. - Test print to confirm connection #### Mobile Device Implementation (iOS & Android) Mobile implementation has been completely transformed with the iOS 3.0 App update, addressing previous connectivity issues with robust new features: iOS Setup (Version 3.0 Features): - Automatic printer discovery with manual pairing option - Default printer assignment per device - Real-time printer status indicator showing connection health - Automatic settings optimization for Check-ins compatibility Setup Process: - Access settings via gear icon → Printer Settings - Select the printer from automatic discovery or enter the IP address manually - Choose the appropriate label type/size - Apply recommended Wi-Fi settings (iOS feature) - Send test print to verify Android Setup: Similar process with full feature parity to iOS, including support for both Brother and Citizen mobile printers. ### Network Configuration for Ministry Success #### Critical Network Considerations Wi-Fi Requirements: - Brother printers require 2.4GHz network channels - Separate your 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands with different SSIDs - Disable "Block LAN to WLAN Multicast and Broadcast Data" in router settings - Ensure the printer and devices are on the same network subnet - *Pro-tip: If you set up a VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) and keep only your printers and devices on this VLAN, you will experience the best stability with very few dropped connections. Printer Configuration Best Practices: - Disable Direct Mode: Set to "Infrastructure Mode" only - Disable Sleep Mode: Prevents connection drops during service - Disable Template Mode: Ensures Check-ins formatting works correctly - Name Your Printers: Use location-based names (e.g., "Lobby-Printer-1") - Identify Your Printers: Add the IP address to a label on the bottom of your printer. This will help identify the printer that goes with a specific station if ever moved to a new location. ### Troubleshooting Strategy and Resources #### When Things Don't Go as Planned Planning Center has significantly improved their Brother printer support documentation. Here's your troubleshooting hierarchy: Quick Fixes for Common Issues: - Connection drops: Switch to USB for immediate stability - Slow printing: Check you're using DK-2205 labels (not DK-2251) - Printer not found: Verify 2.4GHz network and infrastructure mode - iOS specific issues: Ensure you're running Check-ins app version 3.0+ Support Escalation Path: - Check Planning Center's dedicated Brother troubleshooting guide - Review their refined Brother printer article - Contact support@planningcenter.com with specific details ### Implementation Best Practices from the Field #### Creating a Bulletproof Check-in System Multi-Station Strategy: - Pair USB-connected desktop stations with wireless mobile devices - Keep one USB-connected backup station for network failures - Label printers and stations with matching numbers for easy troubleshooting Volunteer Training Focus: - Train on switching between USB and wireless if network issues arise - Show how to check printer status indicators - Create simple troubleshooting cards for common issues Testing Timeline: - Set up printers at least one week before implementation - Run full-scale tests during mid-week activities - Have backup labels and manual check-in procedures ready ### Looking Forward: The Future of Check-in Technology Brother's universal platform support represents a significant shift in church technology strategy. By eliminating the platform restrictions that previously limited printer choices, ministries can now: - Mix and match devices based on volunteer preferences - Quickly pivot between connection methods when issues arise - Scale check-in systems without replacing existing hardware - Provide consistent experiences across all check-in points ### Your Next Steps - Assess your current setup: Which connection method best fits your infrastructure? - Update your software: Ensure iOS devices run Check-ins 3.0+ - Test USB connections: If you haven't tried USB with desktop stations, start here - Document your configuration: Create a one-page setup guide for your team - Share your success: Help other ministries learn from your implementation ### Conclusion: Technology Serving Ministry Purpose The latest Brother printer updates with Planning Center Check-ins exemplify how technology should serve ministry: removing barriers, increasing reliability, and creating welcoming experiences for families. With universal platform support and multiple connection options, you're no longer limited by technical constraints but empowered to design check-in experiences that truly serve your congregation. Whether you're troubleshooting connection issues on a Sunday morning or planning a complete check-in system overhaul, remember: the goal isn't perfect technology – it's removing obstacles between families and meaningful ministry moments. If you're ready to optimize your Planning Center setup or need guidance navigating these new features, Threefold Solutions specializes in helping churches maximize their technology investments. We provide implementation support, staff training, and ongoing optimization to ensure your systems serve your ministry vision. Contact us at info@threefold.solutions to explore how we can help transform your check-in experience. About the Author Jason Silbernagel Co-founder, Threefold Solutions Helping churches bridge the gap between technology and ministry impact --- ## Planning Center Background Checks: A Guide for Churches URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/streamlining-church-management-a-guide-to-planning-center-background-checks Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2023-12-15 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: Services Streamline church management with Planning Center background checks. Ensure safety, compliance, and efficiency with easy integration and management tips. ### Hey There, Church Leaders! Let’s talk about something super important but not always fun - background checks. Yep, whether it's for that superstar volunteer who always shows up early or the behind-the-scenes crew that keeps things running, knowing who’s on your team is key. And let’s face it, paperwork isn’t exactly anyone’s idea of a good time. That's where Planning Center comes in. Think of it as your go-to buddy for all things church management, making those necessary checks a breeze. And with Checkr in the mix, you’re clicking a few buttons instead of drowning in forms. But hey, we get it, sometimes you have to go old school with third-party checks. No sweat—Planning Center has room for that, too. You can punch in that info and keep everything tidy in one spot. In this chat, we're gonna dive into how you can get all this done within Planning Center without pulling your hair out. I’ll throw in some pro tips from my playbook—I’m the guy who helps churches get their heads around Planning Center, after all. Ready to make background checks a piece of cake? Let’s get rolling! ### Why Background Checks are a Must-Do for Your Church Alright, team, let's cut to the chase. Background checks? Non-negotiable. And it's not just about ticking off a checklist. It's about keeping your congregation safe and sound, from the kiddos in the nursery to the seniors at Bible study. No Compromises on Safety First up, safety is the name of the game. You wouldn't hand over the keys to your car without knowing if the person can drive, right? Same deal here. Knowing who's hanging around your church folks, especially the little ones, is just smart. It's the Law, Folks (And About Covering Your Back) Also, let’s talk about the legal side. Depending on your location, the law might require background checks. But even if it doesn’t, doing them is a solid way to protect your church from some serious liability headaches. Because let's face it, no one wants to deal with the mess of legal issues, and it's way better to be safe than sorry. Peace of Mind for Everyone And here’s the kicker - everyone sleeps better at night knowing that the community is in good hands. Volunteers know they're part of a safe squad; parents breathe easier, and you? You get to lead a community that trusts each other. Win-win. Keeping it Real We've all heard those horror stories, right? One bad apple can cause a whole lot of trouble. Regular checks help you spot any potential issues before they become headlines. So, What’s Next? We're gonna walk through how Planning Center can make this whole process smoother than your morning latte. Plus, we'll talk about how to add those checks into the system, even if you’re using a different service. Stay tuned! ### Planning Center: Your Background Check Sidekick Picture this You've got a ton of folks to manage at church. Volunteers, staff, the works. Now, you could go old-school with spreadsheets or level up with the tools already available within Planning Center. Here's why it's a game-changer. Easy-Peasy Process Firstly, Planning Center turns what used to be a headache into a few clicks. Seriously, it's that easy. No more piles of paper or manual entries unless you want to (we'll get to that). This is all about streamlining, folks. Who's In? Who's Out? Keeping track of who’s cleared and who’s not is a cinch. Planning Center lets you see who’s good to go and who’s still waiting for the green light or green shield, actually. Plus, you can set reminders (with the help of a list) so no one's background check goes out of date. This is a great place for a 30-day background refresh Workflow. More on that in an upcoming article. Checkr Now, let's chat about Checkr. It's like the peanut butter to Planning Center’s jelly. With Checkr, background checks are not just thorough but also quick. We're talking accuracy and efficiency that could make your finance team jealous. For the DIYers Got your own way of doing things? Cool. Planning Center won’t cramp your style. You can input data from other background check services, no sweat. It’s all about options and keeping you in the driver’s seat. There are plenty of background check services that work with Planning Center as well. You can find a list of those other services on Planning Center's background check integrations page. Firing Up Checkr with Planning Center Here’s a step-by-step guide for setting up Checkr within your Planning Center account. Switching On Checkr in Planning Center Log into Planning Center and click on 'Account Settings.' This is where all of your integrations and now Add-ons (more about those in an upcoming article) will be found. You can use this shortcut link: Account Settings Page to jump to your Account Settings page immediately. It’s like the control room for your entire Planning Center universe. When looking at the Account Settings page, you'll see a tab labeled 'Integrations.' That's your destination. Click it to find all the potential partner integrations the Planning Center offers. Sign Up with Checkr Before you can take advantage of this dynamic duo, you'll need an account with Checkr Don't have one yet? No sweat. Signing up is easy, and you'll be walking through their digital doors in no time. You can find out more about Checkr on Planning Center's Checkr page. Better Pricing? Yes, Please! Here's a sweetener. By using Checkr through Planning Center, you're getting a better deal—think of it as the friends and family discount. Planning Center has haggled some sweet rates on your behalf because, well, you're worth it. You can read about that pricing in Planning Center's background check pricing guide Seal the Deal Once your Checkr account is ready to go, it's just a matter of connecting the dots. Follow the prompts in the 'Integrations' tab to link your Checkr account to Planning Center. It's like setting up a coffee date between two friends. Navigating Third-Party Background Checks in Planning Center Got your own trusted background check provider? No problem. Planning Center is all about flexibility. Here’s how you can keep everything in line, even if you’re taking the third-party route. Gather your info before anything else, make sure you have all the details from your third-party background check. You want the full picture: who, what, when, and the results. Head to the Right Spot in Planning Center Find the person who you need the background check for. A quick search, a click, and you're in their profile. Now all you have to do is click on the shield icon and choose “add background check”. Follow the prompts and choose one of the three packages that Checkr offers. Manually Enter the Details While viewing a profile, you'll find a section for background checks under the Shield Icon. This is where you get to play data entry hero. Enter all the details of the manual entry background check – the date, the results, any notes you need to remember. You might want to add your name in the notes section as well incase someone Step 1 for entering a manual background check Step 2 for entering a manual background check Step 3 for entering a manual background check Keep It Up-to-Date Remember, this isn’t a ‘set it and forget it’ thing. Keep an eye on when these checks need to be renewed and update them as necessary. Think of it as part of your routine garden care – it needs regular attention. And for a sneak peek into how to make this process even smoother, check out our Background Refresh Workflow coming in a follow-up article. Background Check Dashboard Got more people? Just rinse and repeat. But take advantage of the Background Check Dashboard, where you will find details about whose background check is about to expire or has already expired. You can also check on all of those invitations sent out or any background checks that might need some research because they came back with a consider designation. Wrapping It Up So, there you have it – everything you need to know about running background checks with Planning Center. Whether integrating the slick Checkr system or going the manual route with third-party checks, you've got options that keep your church safe without the headache. Keep It Simple, Keep It Safe Remember, the goal here is to make sure your church is a safe space for everyone. Planning Center is here to help you do just that, in a way that’s as painless as possible. And hey, things change, right? New volunteers come in, laws get updated, and technology gets smarter. Keep up with it all by making background checks a regular part of your church management routine. Need a Hand? If all this talk about background checks and Planning Center has your head spinning, don’t sweat it. We’re here to help. At Threefold Solutions, we’re all about making church management easy. We've got the experience and know-how to help you navigate these waters as well as some new ways to use Planning Center. Let's Chat Ready to dive deeper or need a hand getting things set up? Drop by our website at Threefold Solutions and let’s talk about how we can help you get more out of Planning Center. We’re talking about custom solutions, training, and all the support you need to make your church the best it can be. --- ## The Ultimate Guide to Migrating Away from Blackbaud Church Management URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-migrating-away-from-blackbaud-church-management Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2023-04-21 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) With the announced shutdown of Blackbaud Church Management software in January 2024, many churches are left searching for an alternative solution to manage their data. In this guide, we'll discuss the importance of choosing the right church management system and provide a step-by-step guide to migra Blackbaud shut down its Church Management software in January 2024, and churches still running it had to find somewhere else to keep their data. In this guide, we'll discuss the importance of choosing the right church management system and provide a step-by-step guide to migrating your data from Blackbaud Church Management to a new platform, such as Planning Center. ### Why Migrate Your Data? As Blackbaud Church Management users, you've relied on the platform to manage crucial data such as member information, donations, and event scheduling. Once the software is shut down, your data will no longer be accessible, and you won't receive support from Blackbaud. The steps below are the ones that mattered for getting off Blackbaud, and they are the same steps for moving off any church management system you have outgrown. You may want to seek the help of a migration consulting company to assist with this transition. ### Choosing the Right Church Management System When selecting a new church management system, consider the following factors: - Features: Look for a platform that offers essential features such as member management, event scheduling, donation and attendance tracking, and communication tools. Evaluate how well the system meets the unique needs of your church. - Ease of use: User-friendly platforms are crucial to ensure your staff and volunteers can adapt quickly and efficiently. - Integration: Consider whether the new system integrates with your current tools and software to avoid any disruptions in your church's workflows. - Scalability: Choose a system that can grow with your church, offering flexibility to add new features or accommodate more members as needed. - Support: Opt for a platform with excellent customer support and a robust user community to help you navigate any challenges during and after migration. ### Step-by-Step Guide to Migrating from Blackbaud Church Management Step 1: Prepare for migration Before initiating the migration process, inform your staff and volunteers about the upcoming changes. Create a timeline for the migration and establish a clear communication plan to keep everyone informed throughout the process. Step 2: Export your data Export all your data from Blackbaud Church Management, including member information, donations, and event details. Ensure that you save the exported files in a format compatible with your new church management system. Step 3: Clean and organize your data Take this opportunity to review and clean your data. Remove any duplicates, correct inconsistencies, and update outdated information. Step 4: Import your data into the new system Follow the guidelines provided by the new church management system to import your data. Ensure that you map the data fields correctly to maintain the integrity of your information. Step 5: Verify your data Once the migration is complete, verify that all your data has been successfully imported into the new system. Cross-check the data with your original exported files to confirm accuracy. Step 6: Train your staff and volunteers Provide comprehensive training to your staff and volunteers on using the new church management system. Offer ongoing support and resources to ensure a smooth transition. Step 7: Optimize your new system Customize the new platform to suit your church's specific needs. Configure settings, create templates and set up automations to maximize the system's efficiency. ### Conclusion Migrating from Blackbaud Church Management to a new ChMS (Church Management System) platform doesn't have to be daunting. By following this guide and partnering with a trusted data migration partner like Threefold Solutions, you will ensure a smooth and successful transition. Take the first step towards safeguarding your church's valuable data by exploring new church management system options today. If you would like to discuss how Threefold Solutions can help with a migration like this one, get in touch. You can also email us directly at info@threefold.solutions or call us at (682) 514-9154‬. --- ## Understanding and Assigning Permissions in Planning Center People URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/understanding-and-assigning-permissions-in-planning-center-people Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2023-04-04 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People Planning Center Online is an essential tool for managing church operations, and one of the crucial aspects of using it effectively is understanding and assigning the right permissions to different users based on their roles within the organization. In this article, we will provide you with an overvi Planning Center Online is an essential tool for managing church operations, and one of the crucial aspects of using it effectively is understanding and assigning the right permissions to different users based on their roles within the organization. In this article, we will provide you with an overview of the various permission levels in Planning Center People and guide you in assigning them to the appropriate individuals. ### Permission Levels in Planning Center People - Organization Administrator: The Organization Administrator is the highest permission level in Planning Center People. This user has access to all features and settings across the entire system, including billing and subscription details. Typically, this role is assigned to senior staff members or lead administrators who oversee the entire church operation. - Manager: A Manager can view and edit permissions on a person's profile by choosing Permissions from the Actions dropdown. Managers can access forms, import CSV files, promote grades, and customize fields. This permission level is well-suited for individuals who lead specific ministries or departments within the church, such as a worship leader, children's ministry director, or small group coordinator. - Editor: An Editor can create and edit profiles within People but cannot modify settings or access sensitive information. This permission level is appropriate for staff members or volunteers responsible for maintaining and updating content for specific ministries or events but does not require access to change existing items within People. - Viewer: A Viewer has the most limited access, only allowing them to view content within a specific application. This permission level is ideal for general volunteers or congregation members who need to access schedules, event details, or other non-sensitive information. ### Additional Permissions in People Planning Center People has some additional permissions that can be set, such as Background Checks, Note Categories, Lists, Workflows, Forms, and Custom Field Tabs. Each of these categories has its own permissions, which can be set according to permission or person. You will need to consider who needs to have these permissions when assigning them. Sometimes sensitive information can be found within special Notes categories and Background checks. ### Develop a Policy and Procedure for Assigning Permissions Create a simple policy for who gets which permission. This will not only help your Database Manager assign the permissions but will also let the whole team know what the expectations are for requesting permissions. ### Assigning Permissions: An Email Request Process A Database Manager should implement an email request process to streamline the process of assigning permissions to your church staff and volunteers. This will help ensure that each individual receives the appropriate permission level based on their role within the organization. - Request Submission Ask staff members or volunteers to submit a permission request via email to the Database Manager. The request should include their name, role in the organization, and the specific application(s) they request access to. - Review and Evaluation The Database Manager will review each request and evaluate the appropriate permission level based on the individual's role within the church. The Database Manager can consult with ministry leaders or the Organization Administrator to determine the necessary permission level. - Assigning Permissions Once the appropriate permission level is determined, the Database Manager will assign the permissions to Planning Center People. Planning Center will notify the requester by email that they have been granted permission after the permissions have been enabled. - Keeping Track of Permissions The Database Manager should maintain a record of all permission requests and assignments for reference and to facilitate any future changes or updates. There are also some helpful People lists you can use to determine who has which permission level within your account. In addition to the list options, there is also a helpful permissions overview of all users and which apps they have access to found in the Account Settings area under the People menu and Product Users tab. You can click Product Users to view your product users. (See image below) ### Conclusion Effectively managing permissions in Planning Center is crucial for maintaining a secure and organized church management system. By understanding the different permission levels and implementing an email request process, your church can ensure that each individual has the appropriate access based on their role within the organization. This will help streamline your ministry operations, improve communication, and maintain a secure environment for sensitive information. ### Threefold Solutions Can Help You With Planning Center and Permissions Want to know more about Planning Center permissions? Threefold Solutions can assist churches in implementing Planning Center and it’s permissions. Planning Center is a comprehensive church management system designed to manage a church's scheduling and communication needs. With features such as volunteer scheduling, check-ins, and resource management, it can help churches keep track of their events, services, and people more effectively. Threefold Solutions can help churches with the implementation, training, and ongoing support to ensure the successful use of these tools. If you are ready to get started or need help mastering Planning Center, reach out to info@threefold.solutions. --- ## Effective Ways to Use Church Data for Your Ministry URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/how-to-use-church-data-effectively-for-your-church-or-ministry Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2023-02-24 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Unlock the power of church data to enhance your ministry. Learn benefits, tools, best practices, and success stories of effective data use. Church data is a valuable resource that can help you enhance your ministry and achieve your goals. But how can you use church data effectively for your ministry? In this blog article, I will share with you the benefits, tools, and best practices of church data and how to use it effectively for your ministry. I will also share some success stories and testimonials of churches that have used church data effectively for their ministry. ### What is Church Data? Church data is any information that relates to your church and its ministry. Church data can include: - Demographic data, such as the age, gender, marital status, and location of your church members and visitors. - Behavioral data, such as the attendance, giving, participation, and engagement of your church members and visitors. - Spiritual data, such as the salvation, baptism, discipleship, and growth of your church members and visitors. - Operational data, such as the budget, expenses, resources, and staff of your church and its ministry. - Outreach data, such as the contacts, responses, and impact of your church and its ministry. Church data can help you understand your church and its ministry better, and to make informed decisions and actions that can improve your ministry and achieve your goals. ### Why is Church Data Important? Church data is important because it can help you: - Monitor the health and growth of your church and its ministry. You can use church data to measure and evaluate the performance and progress of your church and its ministry, and to identify areas of strength and weakness. You can also use church data to set and track goals and objectives, and to celebrate wins and achievements. - Understand and serve your church and its ministry better. You can use church data to understand the needs, preferences, interests, and feedback of your church members and visitors, and to tailor your services and programs to meet their needs and expectations. You can also use church data to communicate and connect with your church members and visitors better, and to foster a sense of community and belonging. - Improve and grow your church and its ministry. You can use church data to inform your decisions and actions, and to implement changes and improvements that can enhance your ministry and achieve your goals. You can also use church data to discover and explore new opportunities and possibilities, and to expand your reach and impact. Church data can help you enhance your ministry and achieve your goals. But how can you use church data effectively for your ministry? ### What are Some Tools and Platforms for Church Data Management? There are many tools and platforms available in the market that can help you manage and use church data effectively for your ministry. But here are some of the most popular and widely used ones: - Church Metrics: Church Metrics is a free web-based tool that helps you track and analyze church data, such as attendance, salvations, baptisms, giving, and more. You can create custom reports, set goals, and share data with your team. Church Metrics also integrates with other platforms, such as Church Online Platform, Planning Center, and Mailchimp. - Planning Center Online: Planning Center Online is a cloud-based platform that helps you plan and manage your church services and events. You can collect and organize church data, such as service orders, songs, media, volunteers, and check-ins. You can also communicate with your team, schedule reminders, and access resources, such as song lyrics, chord charts, and videos. Planning Center Online also integrates with other platforms, such as ProPresenter, Spotify, and Mailchimp. - Faithlife Equip: Faithlife Equip is an all-in-one platform that helps you run and grow your church. You can manage and use church data, such as membership, discipleship, worship, giving, and outreach. You can also access a suite of resources, such as Logos Bible Software, Faithlife TV, Faithlife Sermons, and Faithlife Study Bible. Faithlife Equip also integrates with other platforms, such as Proclaim, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp. These are just some of the examples of tools and platforms that you can use for church data management. There are many other options available, depending on your needs and preferences. The important thing is to choose a tool or platform that works for you and your church. ### How to Use Church Data Effectively for Your Ministry? Once you have chosen a tool or platform for church data management, how can you use church data effectively for your ministry? Here are some tips and best practices on how to use church data effectively: - Define your goals and metrics: Before you collect and analyze church data, you need to define your goals and metrics. What are you trying to achieve with your ministry? How will you measure your progress and success? For example, if your goal is to increase your church attendance, you might want to track metrics such as the number of visitors, the retention rate, and the conversion rate. - Collect relevant and accurate data: Once you have defined your goals and metrics, you need to collect relevant and accurate data. You need to make sure that the data you collect is aligned with your goals and metrics, and that the data is reliable and valid. For example, if you want to measure the engagement of your church members, you might want to collect data such as the frequency of attendance, the participation in groups and events, and the feedback and satisfaction of the members. - Analyze and visualize data: After you have collected relevant and accurate data, you need to analyze and visualize data. You need to make sense of the data and find patterns, trends, and insights. You also need to present the data in a clear and compelling way, such as using charts, graphs, and dashboards. For example, if you want to evaluate the effectiveness of your outreach program, you might want to analyze and visualize data such as the number of contacts, the response rate, and the impact of the program. - Act on data: Finally, you need to act on data. You need to use the data to inform your decisions and actions, and to improve your ministry. You also need to monitor and evaluate the results of your actions, and to adjust your strategy and tactics accordingly. For example, if you want to improve your church communication, you might want to act on data such as the preferences and interests of your audience, the open and click rates of your emails, and the feedback and comments of your followers. ### Real World Examples Using church data effectively can help you enhance your ministry and achieve your goals. But don't just take my word for it. Here are some success stories and testimonials of churches that have used church data effectively for their ministry: - Grace Church: Grace Church is a multisite church in Indiana that uses Church Metrics to track and analyze church data, such as attendance, giving, and baptisms. By using Church Metrics, Grace Church has been able to monitor the health and growth of their church, identify areas of improvement, and celebrate wins. Grace Church has also been able to share their data and insights with their staff and leaders, and to align their vision and goals. - New Life Church: New Life Church is a megachurch in Colorado that uses Planning Center Online to plan and manage their church services and events. By using Planning Center Online, New Life Church has been able to streamline their workflow and communication, save time and resources, and enhance their worship experience. New Life Church has also been able to connect and engage with their congregation, volunteers, and leaders, and to foster a culture of excellence and service. - Faith Church: Faith Church is a growing church in Missouri that uses Faithlife Equip to run and grow their church. By using Faithlife Equip, Faith Church has been able to access and use church data, such as membership, discipleship, worship, giving, and outreach. Faith Church has also been able to access a suite of resources, such as Logos Bible Software, Faithlife TV, Faithlife Sermons, and Faithlife Study Bible. Faith Church has also been able to integrate and automate their systems and applications, and to simplify their church management. These are just some of the examples of churches that have used church data effectively for their ministry. There are many other churches that have experienced the benefits and impact of church data. If you want to learn more about church data and how to use it effectively for your ministry, feel free to contact me (Jason Silbernagel) at https://threefold.solutions/contact to discuss if you need help with your data or attendance or ChMS. I would love to hear from you and help you with your church data journey. Thank you for reading this blog article. I hope you have found it helpful and informative. If you are interested in learning more about your data, need help with data strategy, or are planning a move to a new ChMS, reach out through our contact form or email us at info@threefold.solutions. --- ## The Importance of a Solid Data Security Process for Churches URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-importance-of-a-solid-data-security-process-for-churches Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2023-02-09 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Ensure your congregation's information is secure with a solid security process for when a team member exits the organization. As a church leader, it is important to ensure that your congregation's information is secure and protected. One of the ways you can do this is by having a solid security process in place for when a team member exits the organization. Unfortunately, many churches have neglected this aspect of data management, leaving themselves open to all kinds of trouble. ### When Staff Members Leave The exit of a staff member, whether it is voluntary or not, is a critical time for the security of your data. Without proper procedures in place, former team members can continue to access sensitive information, potentially putting your congregation at risk. This is why it is crucial to have a staff member exit plan or process for your data and software. ### Steps You Can Take Here are some steps that you can take to ensure that your data is secure during the exit process: - Notify the Managers of the Data: The first step in securing your data during a staff exit is to notify the managers of the data. This will give them the opportunity to review and assess any potential risks and take necessary action to protect the data. - Incorporate a Permissions and Access Audit: The next step is to conduct a permissions and access audit. This will help you to identify any areas where former team members still have access to sensitive information and take steps to remove their access. - Email and Account Removals: After conducting the permissions and access audit, you should then proceed to remove any email and account access for the former team member. This will ensure that they can no longer access any sensitive information. These are just a few steps that you can take to ensure the security of your data during a staff exit. Of course, every church has its unique situation, and you may need to make adjustments based on your specific needs. But by taking these steps, you will be well on your way to developing a secure and effective staff member exit process. ### Get Your Team Involved in Developing a Process Finally, it is important to involve your team members in the development of this process. Your team members will have valuable insights and ideas that can help you refine and improve your data security processes. By working together, you can create a secure and effective plan that will protect your congregation's information for years to come. If you need help developing a security process or auditing your current process, Threefold Solutions can help. We provide digital strategy, coaching, and training to churches and church leaders. If you are ready to start, contact info@threefold.solutions. We can help you develop a better data security process and plan! --- ## Empowering Church Leaders: How Planning Center Helps us Make Data-Driven Decisions URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/empowering-church-leaders-how-planning-center-helps-us-make-data-driven-decisions Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2023-01-28 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Planning Center apps: Giving As a church leader, one of the most important tasks is to make decisions that will benefit the congregation and further the mission of the church. As a church leader, one of the most important tasks is to make decisions that will benefit the congregation and further the mission of the church. However, making decisions based on gut feelings or anecdotal evidence can be risky and may not always lead to the best outcome. This is where data-driven decision making comes in. By using data to inform decisions, church leaders can make more informed and effective choices. One tool that can help church leaders make data-driven decisions is Planning Center, a comprehensive data management system for churches. Planning Center allows church leaders to easily access, organize, and analyze data on everything from attendance and contributions to volunteer schedules and member information. This data can then be used to make decisions that will improve the overall effectiveness of the church. ### Attendance Tracking One of the key features of Planning Center Check-ins is its attendance tracking capabilities. By keeping track of attendance data, church leaders can see trends in attendance and identify areas that need improvement. For example, if attendance is consistently low on a certain day of the week, leaders can investigate the cause and make changes to increase attendance. This can be as simple as changing the day of the week or time of a certain event. ### Donation and Giving Tracking Another important feature of Planning Center is its ability to track contributions and donations in it’s Giving app. This allows church leaders to see where the majority of the donations are coming from and make decisions about how to allocate resources. For example, if the majority of donations are coming from a certain age group or geographic area, leaders can focus on reaching out to that group or area to increase donations. ### Volunteer Engagement In addition to attendance and contributions, Planning Center also allows leaders to track volunteer schedules and member information through the Services and People apps. This data can be used to identify areas where more volunteers are needed and also to ensure that volunteers are properly trained and equipped to perform their tasks. Additionally, member information can be used to identify areas where additional support is needed and to communicate with members more effectively. Overall, Planning Center is a powerful tool for church leaders that can help them make data-driven decisions. By providing easy access to data and powerful analytics tools, Planning Center empowers leaders to make informed and effective decisions that will benefit the congregation and further the mission of the church. In conclusion, data-driven decision making is essential for church leaders to make the best choices for their congregation. Planning Center, as a data management system, enables church leaders to easily access, organize and analyze data which allows them to make data-driven decisions that will improve the overall effectiveness of their church. ### Threefold Solutions Can Help You With Planning Center and Analytics Threefold Solutions can assist churches in implementing Planning Center and Analytics tools to streamline their operations and gain valuable insights into their congregations. Planning Center is a comprehensive church management system designed to manage the scheduling and communication needs of churches. With features such as volunteer scheduling, check-in, and resource management, it can help churches keep track of their events, services, and people more effectively. Planning Center Metrics, on the other hand, can help churches gain valuable insights into their congregations, such as attendance trends, demographics, and engagement. Threefold Solutions can help churches with the implementation, training, and ongoing support to ensure the successful use of these tools. If you are ready to get started, reach out to info@threefold.solutions. --- ## Streamline Church Volunteer Onboarding with Workflows URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/streamlining-church-volunteer-onboarding-with-planning-center-people-workflows Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2023-01-24 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People Streamline church volunteer onboarding with Planning Center Workflows. Ensure all volunteers are properly trained and equipped to serve efficiently. Onboarding volunteers for churches can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. By using Planning Center People Workflows, churches can streamline the process and ensure that all volunteers are properly trained and equipped to serve. ### Create Steps in Your Workflow First, when creating steps in a workflow, you should create a clear and detailed description of each step. Your steps might include a background check verification, a membership or commitment verification, and communicating with the prospective volunteer to set up a walk-through with others who are already serving in similar positions just to name a few. ### Volunteer Applications using Planning Center Forms Next, churches should create a simple and user-friendly application process for potential volunteers. This can be done using Planning Center People's online forms feature. By using this feature, churches can easily collect all the necessary information from potential volunteers, such as contact information, background checks, and references. Additionally, individuals can select a specific area of interest in which they would like to serve, and the staff can then match them to specific areas where assistance is needed. Once the form application is received, churches can use the Workflow steps to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to properly onboard the volunteer. This can include sending out an automated email to schedule a meeting, sending out a background check authorization form, and scheduling training sessions. ### Keeping Track of the Process One of the best things about Planning Center People Workflows is the ability to assign tasks to specific team members on different steps. Workflows also offer automated reminders which ensure that each step of the onboarding process is being handled by the right person and that nothing falls through the cracks. ### Health Check For Your Teams Churches should have a system in place to evaluate the performance of their volunteers. This can be done by setting up regular check-ins with volunteers and having a process in place for addressing any issues that may arise. One way to accomplish this, is by creating a final step in the Workflow where you snooze the reminder for 30 or 60 days to follow up with the volunteer. In conclusion, onboarding volunteers for churches doesn't have to be a difficult task. By using Planning Center People Workflows, churches can streamline the process, ensure that all volunteers are properly trained and equipped to serve, and have a system in place for evaluating their performance. This will ultimately lead to a more successful and effective volunteer program for the church. ### Threefold Solutions Can Help You with Planning Center Training and Strategy If it's time to start using Planning Center at a higher level with Workflows or Forms and automations, Threefold Solutions can help. We provide strategy, coaching and training to maximize and streamline your Planning Center processes. If you are ready to get started, reach out to info@threefold.solutions. We would love to help you become Planning Center experts! --- ## Maximizing Efficiency with Church Management URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/maximizing-efficiency-how-a-modern-church-management-system-can-streamline-operations Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2023-01-22 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Streamline church operations with a modern management system like Planning Center Online. Centralize contact info, scheduling, and financials securely. As churches continue to grow and evolve, so do their needs for effective and efficient management. In today's fast-paced world, it is more important than ever for churches to have a streamlined and organized system in place to manage their operations. One way to achieve this is by upgrading to a modern church management system. ### Streamline for Efficiency A modern church management system, such as Planning Center Online, can help churches streamline their operations in several ways. One of the most significant benefits is the ability to centralize all of a church's data, such as contact information, scheduling, and financials, into one secure platform. This eliminates the need for multiple systems and manual processes, reducing errors and increasing efficiency. Another way that a modern church management system can streamline operations is through automation. Planning Center Online, for example, allows churches to automate tasks such as scheduling, sending reminders, and sending out mass emails. This can save hours of time and reduce the chance of mistakes. ### Statistics and Analytics Help with Decision-Making Furthermore, a modern church management system can help churches better track and analyze their data. Planning Center Online provides in-depth reporting and analytics, allowing churches to see trends and make data-driven decisions. This can lead to better stewardship of resources and improved decision-making. ### Communication is Essential In addition, a modern church management system can provide churches with a more efficient way to communicate with their members. Planning Center Online allows churches to create and manage groups and schedules, making it easy to communicate with specific groups of people. This can be particularly helpful for volunteer coordination and outreach efforts. ### Accessibility and Mobility Finally, a modern church management system such as Planning Center Online, can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, allowing churches to manage their operations from anywhere. This can be especially useful for churches that have multiple locations or a mobile staff. In conclusion, a modern church management system can greatly improve a church's efficiency and streamline operations. By centralizing data, automating tasks, providing in-depth reporting and analytics, facilitating communication and allowing access from anywhere, a modern church management system can help churches achieve their mission in the most effective way. ### Get Help with Migrating to a New Church Management System If you are currently using a legacy system or are interested in using Planning Center as your church management system (ChMS) and need assistance with migration or best practices, Threefold Solutions can help. We have years of experience with Planning Center and can help you make the transition easily and successfully. Your team could be using Planning Center sooner than you think! Get in touch to set up a free consultation and find out how we can help you and your team. --- ## Why Database Hygiene Matters for Churches: The Importance of Accurate Information URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/why-database-hygiene-matters-for-churches-the-importance-of-accurate-information Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2023-01-14 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People Database hygiene is important for churches because it ensures that their information is accurate and up-to-date. This is critical for a number of reasons. Database hygiene is important for churches because it ensures that their information is accurate and up-to-date. This is critical for a number of reasons. First, churches rely on their databases to communicate with their members and donors. Inaccurate information can lead to missed opportunities for engagement and fundraising. For example, if a church has outdated contact information for a member, they may not be able to invite them to events or ask for donations. Second, churches use their databases to track attendance and participation in various programs. If the information in the database is inaccurate, the church may not have a clear picture of who is engaged and how they participate. This can lead to poor decision-making and a lack of understanding of the needs of the congregation. Third, accurate databases are necessary for compliance with legal and financial regulations. For example, churches are required to keep accurate records of donations for tax purposes. Inaccurate information can lead to errors in financial reporting and potential legal issues. To maintain database hygiene, churches should regularly review and update their information. This can include things like removing duplicate records, updating contact information, and removing inactive members. It may also involve implementing data entry protocols and training staff and volunteers on how to properly input and maintain data. In summary, database hygiene is important for churches because it ensures that they have accurate information to communicate with members, track participation, and comply with regulations. Regularly reviewing and updating information can help maintain the database and ensure the church is able to effectively serve its congregation. ### Threefold Solutions Can Help You with Planning Center People Data Maintenance If it's time to start using Planning Center at a higher level, Threefold Solutions can help get you there. We provide coaching and training to maximize and streamline your Planning Center processes. If you need help getting your database cleaned up, reach out to info@threefold.solutions. We would love to help you become Planning Center experts! --- ## Quick Tips: Planning Center List Idea - Finding New Families URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/quick-tips-planning-center-list-idea-finding-new-families Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2023-01-07 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: People Here’s a quick Planning Center People list tip about how to identify new families checking children in at your church. Here’s a quick Planning Center People list tip about how to identify new families checking children in at your church. Create a new list, click the “Add rule” button and select “Check-Ins” as your first criteria from the dropdown list. Next, choose “attendance” as your second criteria and the remaining criteria will show up with default options. Now change the next criteria from “attended” to “first attended”. Next you will want to choose your Kid’s Check-in event and choose the location if necessary, otherwise just keep “any location” as the criteria. You will also want to choose the criteria for the “ever” dropdown. You can choose “since” and set 1 week, or 7 days or whatever time period you would like to look backwards with. You also may want to keep the “Guests” and “Regulars” check boxes checked as people tend to not always identify themselves as guests when checking in. The criteria we selected previously for “first attended” will matter more in helping to identify these new families. Don’t forget to set the criteria for the very bottom drop-down item called “My list should include:”. This should be set to “primary contacts of matches”. Otherwise, you will get results for only exact matches, and in this case that will be the children only. Run your list by clicking the green “Submit” button and you should be looking at only the new families or first time check-ins for your weekly children’s check-in class or services. ### Threefold Solutions Can Help You with Planning Center Training and Strategy If it's time to start using Planning Center at a higher level, Threefold Solutions can help get you there. We provide coaching and training to maximize and streamline your Planning Center process. If you are ready to get started, reach out to info@threefold.solutions. We would love to help you become Planning Center experts! --- ## How to Use Planning Center Workflows URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/maximizing-planning-center-workflows Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2023-01-05 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: People Planning Center’s People app helps churches track member info and manage communication. Use custom workflows to streamline tasks for individuals or groups. Planning Center’s People app is a powerful tool for church and ministry organizations to keep track of member information and manage communication. One of the key features of the app is the ability to create workflows, which are essentially customized lists of tasks that need to be completed for a particular person or group. These workflows can be used for internal processes or external ministry processes. As a tool, they help keep track of people in a process or where a request or task falls in its current timeline. Workflows have features such as reminders and overdue notifications that assist staff members with staying on top of priorities. Some other great features include adding notes, sending emails, and performing actions from the workflow that cross over to other Planning Center apps. One example is performing a background check directly from the workflow itself and not having to visit another section of the app to perform this function. Workflows can be a destination from other areas of the People app. This is done through an automation on a Form or a List in the People app (as well as other apps). This allows all kinds of possibilities. Some great use cases are Volunteer onboarding, Prayer requests and follow-up, Permission requests, New Visitor Processes, and those are just a few examples. Sky’s the limit with workflows. ### How to Add People Into Workflows You can manually add people to workflows and start a ministry journey with them or you can use automations as mentioned previously. Forms in Planning Center People have 2 ways to move submissions into a workflow. One is with an automation and the other is a type of field set called “Workflow Fields”. These fields allow someone filling out a form to make a selection in a field and then have their information sent to a workflow. Whether you use the special “workflow” form fields directly within your form or you use the background Automations, both offer a way to automatically add people to your workflow. The best part is, you will get a notification that someone has been placed into your workflow if you set it up properly in the workflow settings. ### Different Types of Workflows There are many ways to use workflows in Planning Center People, but here are a few suggestions for getting the most out of this feature: - Onboard new members: When a new member joins your organization, there are likely a number of tasks that need to be completed to get them integrated into the community. A workflow can help you keep track of these tasks, such as completing a membership application, setting up a new member orientation, and assigning a mentor or small group leader. - Manage volunteer teams: If you have volunteers who serve in different capacities within your organization, workflows can help you keep track of the tasks that need to be completed to keep your teams running smoothly. This might include scheduling training sessions, reminding team members of upcoming events, and following up with volunteers who haven't served in a while. - Track follow-up tasks: If you have a large number of people to follow up with, a workflow can help you keep track of who needs a phone call, email, or in-person meeting. You can use this feature to schedule follow-up tasks for yourself or delegate them to other team members. - Stay organized: Workflows are a great way to stay organized and make sure that nothing falls through the cracks. You can use this feature to create checklists for events, projects, or other tasks that need to be completed. - Customize your workflows: Planning Center People allows you to customize your workflows to fit your specific needs. You can add or remove tasks, set deadlines, and assign tasks to different people. This flexibility makes it easy to tailor your workflows to fit the unique needs of your organization. ### Pro Tip for Customizing Steps in Workflows When you create a workflow step, make sure to use a specific title that clearly explains the reason or function of the step. Then add an extremely detailed description. Explain exactly what is to be done on the step. For example, if you want to email a person who has entered the workflow, you will want to detail how to email directly from the workflow card within the workflow. You may want to even add some email copy for those other than yourself, who will be participating in using the workflows (see the image below). This is great for volunteers or staff members that help with managing the workflow and will also keep you from having to constantly re-train how to email new members in this step of the workflow. Workflow step with the email copy included in the step description ### Workflows are a Powerful Tool Overall, Planning Center People's workflow feature is a powerful tool for helping your organization stay organized, get things done, and walk alongside people through a ministry process. Whether you're onboarding new members, managing volunteer teams, mentoring, or caring for people, this feature can help you streamline your processes, get more done in less time and focus on the ministry, not the software. ### If You Need Help getting more out of Planning Center If you need help setting up powerful workflows and automations to streamline your church’s processes within Planning Center, Threefold Solutions can help. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you customize and streamline Planning Center to fit your unique needs. Send us a message through our contact form and we’ll reply immediately. We’re excited to help you get more out of Planning Center! --- ## Top 5 Event Registration Tools - A Church Event Coordinator’s Guide URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/top-5-event-registration-tools-a-church-event-coordinators-guide Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2022-12-28 Category: Church Operations (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/church-operations) Planning Center apps: Registrations As a church event coordinator, finding the right tools to manage event registration can be a daunting task. As a church event coordinator, finding the right tools to manage event registration can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it can be difficult to determine which ones will work best for your specific needs. To help make the decision easier, here are the top 5 event registration tools that we recommend for churches: - Eventbrite - Eventbrite is a comprehensive event management platform that allows you to easily create and promote events, sell tickets, and manage attendee registration. It offers a wide range of features, including customizable registration forms, promotional tools, and integrations with social media platforms. - ChurchStaq (formerly Church Community Builder) - Pushpay has retired the Church Community Builder name and folded its church management tools into ChurchStaq, its all-in-one giving, management and engagement suite. It still includes event registration: create and manage events, track attendance, and collect payment for event tickets, alongside membership and communication tools in the same platform. - Planning Center - Planning Center is another church management software that includes an event registration tool. It allows you to create and manage events, track attendance, and collect payment for tickets. It also offers a variety of other features, such as volunteer management and scheduling tools. - SignUpGenius - SignUpGenius is a versatile event registration and scheduling tool that is popular among churches. It allows you to create and manage events, as well as assign tasks, and schedule volunteers. It also offers integration with Google Calendar and email marketing tools. - Ticketleap - Ticketleap is a simple and easy-to-use event registration platform that allows you to create and sell tickets for your events. It offers a variety of features, including customizable registration forms and promotional tools, as well as integration with social media platforms and email marketing tools. Overall, these are our top recommendations for event registration tools for churches. Each one offers a variety of features and integrations to help you manage your events effectively and efficiently. Ultimately, the best tool for your church will depend on your specific needs and budget, so be sure to carefully consider your options before making a decision. Our favorite event management tool is Planning Center Registrations. It’s a simple and flexible tool that works well with Planning Center’s Check-ins product for tracking attendance. Registrations is what we consider “Best in class” when it comes to features and ease of use. ### Threefold Solutions Can Help You Implement a Better Event and Registration Strategy If it's time to streamline your check-in process at your church, we can help. Threefold Solutions specializes in using Planning Center and can help you get Registrations set up and implemented across all of your events or classes. We can also provide you with coaching or training to simplify or streamline your existing process. If you are ready to get started, reach out to info@threefold.solutions. --- ## Thinking About Switching your Church Management System to Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/thinking-about-switching-your-church-management-system-to-planning-center Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2022-12-21 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Switching to a new church management system (ChMS) or customer relationship management (CRM) platform can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be scary. Switching to a new church management system (ChMS) or customer relationship management (CRM) platform can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be scary. Making the switch to Planning Center can bring numerous benefits to your church, including increased efficiency, better organization, and improved communication. One of the main reasons that churches might be hesitant to switch to Planning Center is the fear of the unknown. They worry about the learning curve, the potential for data loss, and the time and effort it will take to make the switch. However, these fears can be largely mitigated by working with a team of experienced professionals who can guide you through the process. Threefold Solutions is a company that specializes in helping churches transition to Planning Center. We have years of experience working with Planning Center and can help you set up your account, migrate your data, and train your team on how to use each product effectively. We'll be there every step of the way to ensure a smooth and successful transition. So why should you consider switching to Planning Center? Here are just a few of the benefits: - Customizable features: Planning Center offers a wide range of features, including People Lists and automations, that can be tailored to meet your church's unique needs. Other products within the suite offer attendance tracking, worship, and volunteer team scheduling, small group management, giving and donation management, resource tracking, and more. This means you can set up the system to work exactly how you want it to rather than trying to fit your processes into a one-size-fits-all solution. - Streamlined communication: Planning Center's messaging and communication tools make it easy for your team to stay in touch and stay organized. You can send messages, create events, and manage schedules all in one place, which can significantly improve communication and collaboration. - Improved efficiency: With Planning Center, you can automate many tasks that used to be done manually, such as sending emails and reminders or tracking attendance. This can save your team time and energy, allowing them to focus more on ministry tasks. - Comprehensive data management: Planning Center offers a range of tools for managing data and ministry processes, including People Lists, Forms, and Workflows. This allows you to organize and segment your data in a way that makes sense for your church, making it easier to find and use the information you need. Overall, switching to Planning Center doesn't have to be intimidating. With the help of a team of experienced professionals like Threefold Solutions, you can make the transition smoothly and enjoy this powerful platform's benefits. Don't let fear hold you back from making a change that can benefit your church and staff significantly. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you make the switch to Planning Center. Get in touch, or use our contact form, and we’ll reply immediately. We’re excited to help you make the switch! --- ## Tracking Attendance for Churches: How to Get Started with Planning Center Check-ins URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/tracking-attendance-for-churches-how-to-get-started Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2022-12-09 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) Planning Center apps: Check-ins How to use Planning Center Check-ins for a better kids and volunteer check-in experience Improve your church's attendance tracking with innovative technology solutions. Discover how in our comprehensive guide. Church attendance management is a vital aspect of running a successful congregation. It provides valuable insights into participation trends, volunteer engagement, and the effectiveness of children's ministries. In this era of technological advancement, streamlining attendance tracking has become not just a possibility but a necessity. ### The Power of Check-in Systems in Church Management Introducing a check-in system in your church is a game-changer. It's an efficient way to track various aspects of church life, including volunteer participation, children's ministry involvement, and event attendance. The beauty of these systems lies in their simplicity. They're designed to be user-friendly, ensuring a smooth experience for everyone involved – from parents and volunteers to event attendees and team members. ### Key Benefits of Simplified Attendance Processes By simplifying the attendance process, churches can reap numerous benefits. For parents, it means a hassle-free experience when dropping off and picking up their kids. For volunteers, it provides a quick and easy way to log their participation. Overall, it enhances the operational efficiency of the church, allowing staff to focus on more important tasks. ### Strategies for Child and Volunteer Attendance Monitoring The health of your volunteer teams and the safety of the children in your care are top priorities. Accurate attendance tracking helps you identify patterns and address issues such as inconsistent attendance or volunteer burnout. Moreover, it allows you to maintain a safe environment for everyone, especially the children. ### Ensuring Safety and Security in Children's Ministries The safety of children is paramount in any church setting. Implementing a robust check-in system not only ensures that all children are accounted for but also provides a secure way for parents to drop off and pick up their children. These systems often include security measures like printed labels and security tags, adding an extra layer of safety. ### Exploring Planning Center Check-ins as a Solution Many churches turn to Planning Center Check-ins for a reliable and effective attendance tracking solution. This system is known for its ease of use, offering features like printed labels and security tags for children and parents, ensuring a smooth and secure check-in process. ### Unique Features of Planning Center Check-ins One standout feature of Planning Center Check-ins is its quick and easy check-in process for both parents and volunteers. Users can check in through a mobile device or a computer-based station using just a phone number or email address. This streamlined approach is particularly beneficial during high-traffic times, avoiding delays and long lines. ### The Efficiency of Pre-Check-ins in Managing Attendance Planning Center Check-ins goes a step further with its pre-check-in feature. Attendees can use the Planning Center Church Center app to check in their kids before they even arrive at church. Upon arrival, a quick scan of a QR code at a Check-ins Station immediately triggers the printing of labels and security tags. ### Comprehensive Advantages of Planning Center Check-ins The benefits of using Planning Center Check-ins extend far beyond its primary features. It offers a comprehensive solution for attendance tracking, enhancing the overall efficiency and security of church operations. Its user-friendly design and versatile features make it an ideal choice for churches of all sizes. ### Partnering with Threefold Solutions for Optimal Check-in Strategies If you're looking to implement or improve your church's check-in process, Threefold Solutions is here to help. Specializing in Planning Center, we can assist in setting up and implementing check-ins across all attendance-taking areas. Our team is dedicated to providing strategies that simplify and streamline your process. ### Contacting Threefold Solutions for Your Church's Needs Ready to take the next step in optimizing your church's attendance tracking? Reach out to Threefold Solutions at info@threefold.solutions. Our team is ready to assist you in enhancing your church's operational efficiency and security. ### Streamlining Your Church Attendance Tracking In conclusion, streamlining your church attendance tracking is essential in today's fast-paced, technology-driven world. By embracing effective check-in systems like Planning Center Check-ins and partnering with experts like Threefold Solutions, you can significantly improve the efficiency, security, and overall management of your church. ### FAQs about Church Attendance Tracking and Technology Solutions - What are the key benefits of using a check-in system for church attendance tracking? Check-in systems offer numerous benefits, including improved operational efficiency, enhanced safety and security for children, and simplified processes for parents and volunteers. - How does Planning Center Check-ins enhance church attendance tracking? Planning Center Check-ins simplifies the check-in process, provides security features like printed labels and tags, and offers a pre-check-in option to streamline the arrival experience. - Can Planning Center Check-ins handle large volumes of attendees efficiently? Yes, Planning Center Check-ins is designed to manage high volumes of attendees smoothly, reducing wait times and improving the overall check-in experience. - What role does Threefold Solutions play in implementing check-in systems? Threefold Solutions specializes in customizing and implementing Planning Center Check-ins to meet the unique needs of your church. Our team provides comprehensive support, from initial setup to ongoing maintenance, ensuring your check-in system runs smoothly and efficiently. - Are there safety and security features included in Planning Center Check-ins? Absolutely! Safety and security are central to Planning Center Check-ins, which includes features like secure printed labels for children and corresponding security tags for parents, ensuring a safe environment for the church's youngest members. - How user-friendly is the Planning Center Check-ins system for first-time users? Planning Center Check-ins is designed with simplicity in mind, making it extremely user-friendly for first-time users. Its intuitive interface allows for quick adaptation, even for those who are not tech-savvy. The role of technology in church management, particularly in attendance tracking, is indisputable. Embracing systems like Planning Center Check-ins, supported by the expertise of organizations like Threefold Solutions, can revolutionize the way your church operates. From ensuring the safety of children to simplifying the workload of volunteers, the benefits are far-reaching. If you're ready to take your church’s attendance tracking to the next level, reach out to Threefold Solutions at info@threefold.solutions. --- ## Online Church Calendar Solutions: Planning Center Calendar URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/online-church-calendars Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2022-12-03 Category: Planning Center (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/planning-center) Planning Center apps: Calendar Streamline your operations with Planning Center Calendar, an easy-to-use tool for scheduling and managing your organization's day-to-day activities. The most useful tool in a church's existence may be calendars. Church life consists of many events from recurring activities such as the Sunday morning service of the church, to the more regular and local events such as Bible school vacation missions. Church teams, members, and visitors need reliable and highly-visible calendars. A well-planned church calendar with accurate church events is a requirement for all churches. ### Planning Center Calendar Planning Center Calendar (Calendar) is a powerful and easy-to-use calendar and scheduling tool that helps organizations streamline their day-to-day operations. Calendar makes it easy to keep track of events, meetings, and deadlines as well as manage assets and resources. It also integrates with other Planning Center products to keep everyone on the same page. ### One Calendar to See Everything A master calendar allows you to see everything across your organization and useful tools like tags make finding events and resources easy. Calendar also offers reporting for tracking resource utilization as well as event details. The Master Calendar allows you to view the entire church schedule and individual event details. While tags organize events with a descriptive label so that events can be easily found in an organized calendar. You also have a reporting option to get an overview of event details, such as timescale and approval status for assets and resources used for your events. ### Calendar is Flexible and Customizable Calendar is designed to be flexible and customizable. It allows users to create events and assign them to specific people or groups. All events can be tracked in real-time, and users can receive notifications when events are updated or changed. The calendar also has a wide range of features to help users manage their events, classes and resources more efficiently. ### Key Features of Calendar Calendar’s key features include the ability to manage and track events, projects, and resources. It also provides users with the ability to view and access event and resource information from anywhere. The software also allows users to assign tasks to team members and manage resource availability. It also allows users to customize their event and resource management processes to fit their organization’s specific needs. ### Additional Features in Calendar The resource tracking features of Calendar allow you to keep track of all the resources needed for each event. You can create resource requests and assign them to different teams and individuals. You can also manage inventory and track the availability of resources, as well as set up automatic notifications to keep everyone informed. Here’s a breakdown of some of the additional features: - Resource Tracking: See exactly who used what resource and where for an event. - Inventory Tracking: Know when resources need to be serviced by tracking expiration dates and serial numbers. - Room Setups: Create multiple setup layouts for each room, so it can autosuggest commonly used resources for each setup. - Notifications: Enable email notifications to keep people informed of key changes made to events. - Permission Levels: Assign permission levels allowing people to view or edit events, rooms, resources, and people. - Reports: Print a list of all rooms and resources booked by events, or a custom report sortable by tags, date, and more. ### Collaboration Features Calendar also makes it easy to collaborate with your team and manage tasks. You can create tasks, assign them to team members, and set due dates and priorities. You can also set up checklists and track progress, so everyone is on the same page. - Requests: Book rooms and resources from the Events page and check back for approval status. - Approvals: Give specific staff, like your facilities manager, permission to approve or deny requests and mediate conflicts. - Custom Questions: Ask event planners for setup requests, like the layout for chairs and tables. - Communicate: Track and discuss changes with other planners in event activity threads. ### Keep your Congregation Informed about Everything you Plan. Calendar tools like Kiosks - Display live data on your smartphone or TV to show current events. Calendar feeds: Using a personal Google Calendar, users are entitled to subscribe to the Events Calendar. Calendar Widget: Embed an event calendar for your congregation with time and place details. Calendar also integrates with other popular services, such as Google Calendar, Outlook, and Apple Calendar. This makes it easier for users to sync their events and tasks with other services and stay organized. It also allows users to access their calendar from any device, including their phone, tablet, or laptop. ### Planning Center Calendar is Best in Class With its intuitive features and powerful resource management capabilities, Calendar is an essential tool for any church looking to streamline its event scheduling and resource management. Planning Center offers a suite of apps in addition to Calendar that helps churches plan, schedule, track donations, manage events, and more. ### Need Assistance with Planning Center Calendar? If you are currently using or interested in using Planning Center as your church management system (ChMS) and need training or assistance with setting up Calendar properly, Threefold Solutions can help. We have years of experience with Planning Center and can set you up and have you using Calendar immediately. If your church needs to move quickly or you want to start with best practices and not figure it out as you go, let Threefold Solutions help you with your Planning Center needs. Your team could be using Calendar successfully within days! Get in touch to set up a free consultation and find out how we can help you and your team. --- ## Best CRM for Churches: 5 Church Management Systems URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/top-5-church-crm-systems-2022 Author: Jason Silbernagel Published: 2022-05-28 Category: Data & Analytics (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/category/data-analytics) A church management system is a software that helps your church manage data and increase engagement. It is an all-in-one solution for managing members, tracking donations, helping teams stay in communication and more . Key takeaways: - Planning Center prices each product separately against its own limit, so a growing church crosses several thresholds rather than one, and its People database is free with no cap on records. - Breeze charges one flat rate with no per-person tiers, and publishes its own ceiling: it slows past 8,000 records and is built for under 2,000 weekend attendance. - Rock RMS is free software but not a free system, because the project sells no support at all and partner-managed hosting starts around $405 a month at 1,000 attendees. - Church Community Builder is now Pushpay ChMS, sold alone or inside the ChurchStaq bundle, and check-in and volunteer scheduling sit above its entry tier. - Four of these five systems have changed owners since 2019, three of them to private equity, and Planning Center is the exception. Finding the right church management system (ChMS) or CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool to help manage your congregation can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it can be hard to determine which system is the best for your church. Thankfully, there are now more church ChMS tools than ever before, offering a wide range of features and benefits. Below are five church CRM systems worth knowing, what each one is best suited to, and what a church management system does for you in the first place. With the right CRM system in place, your congregation will be able to better manage data, track donations and engage with members in an efficient and effective manner. ### What is a Church Management (ChMS) System? A church management system is a software that helps your church manage data and increase engagement. It is an all-in-one solution for managing members, tracking donations, helping teams stay in communication and more. It can also be used to host events and provide online services. While many church management systems provide similar functionality, the big difference with a ChMS is that it is built specifically for churches. This means it comes with features and functionality that is catered to your unique needs. Because using a ChMS helps to better organize and manage data, it is easier to create reports, conduct outreach, and track key metrics like attendance. It also makes it much easier for your church to scale as your congregation grows. ### What actually decides it Every system here manages people, groups, giving and attendance. Choosing between them is not a feature comparison, because the features overlap almost completely. Four things decide it. One of the biggest benefits of using a ChMS is that it helps to improve engagement. With the ChMS, your team can better organize and track data, donations and attendance. This makes it much easier to identify and help areas that need more attention and resources. Size, and where the ceiling sits. Breeze publishes its limits outright and they are the lowest here. Planning Center meters each product separately, so growth arrives as several small increases rather than one jump. Rock and Pushpay are both built for the large end, and the economics only work there. Another advantage of using a ChMS system is better data management. This means it is much easier to organize and keep track of information such as member data, event information, and donations. Whether giving and the database have to be one system. Planning Center will not act as your general ledger and pays out to a single bank account, and Breeze cannot separate giving by campus or bank it separately. If your finance process needs fund-level separation, that rules out more of this list than any feature does. With better communication, team members can easily stay in touch and collaborate within the ChMS system. This can be a huge boost for teams that need to stay in contact, such as volunteer teams, outreach teams, and serving teams. What you have technically. Rock rewards a church with SQL and .NET skills on hand and punishes one without, because there is no support line to escalate to. Everything else here expects an administrator but not an engineer. Because the ChMS system makes it easier to manage data, it also makes it easier to analyze that data. This allows your church to better understand engagement, attendance, and donations, so you can make decisions accordingly. Who owns it, which is the one nobody checks. Four of these five have changed hands since 2019 and three are now private-equity backed. Breeze is the worked example: acquired in 2021 with an explicit statement that there were no plans to change the price, and 44% more expensive four years later. Finally, one of the biggest benefits of using a ChMS system is that it makes it easier to scale your church. This is because the ChMS system makes it easier to manage and track data, so you can better plan for future events, attendances and growth. ### Five Church CRM Systems Worth Knowing #### Planning Center Planning Center is what we migrate churches onto, so weigh this accordingly. It is eight products bought separately, each metered on its own limit, which is why a growing church crosses several thresholds rather than one. People is free permanently with no cap on records, which nothing else here matches. The limits worth knowing before you commit are its own: it will not replace your general ledger, payouts go to a single bank account, and emailing a list of more than 500 people needs a Mailchimp integration. Best for churches that want the strongest volunteer scheduling in the category and are content to run finance elsewhere. #### Breeze Breeze built its reputation on one flat price with phone support included, and structurally that still holds: one rate, no per-person tiers, unlimited users. Two things have changed since Tithe.ly bought it in 2021 and Accel-KKR took a position in Tithe.ly the year after. The price is up 44%, and the product is being rebranded as Tithely Church Management and moved onto a new platform on a schedule churches cannot choose. Breeze publishes its own ceilings, which is unusually honest of it: performance drops past 8,000 records, and it is built for under 2,000 weekend attendance. #### Rock RMS Rock RMS is free software, but it is not a free system. The application costs nothing and Spark Development Network, the non-profit behind it, has no owner who could sell it or raise your price. It also sells no support at all, so a church either supplies its own SQL and .NET skills or buys them from one of five partners, whose managed hosting starts around $405 a month at 1,000 attendees. Its workflow engine and data model genuinely go beyond the commercial products here. It only repays the cost if you use them. #### Church Community Builder (now Pushpay ChMS) Church Community Builder is now Pushpay ChMS. Pushpay bought CCB in 2019 and retired the name in 2022, so you now buy it either on its own or inside ChurchStaq, which bundles it with giving and apps. It suits large and multi-site churches, and the follow-up process queues are what CCB was always known for. Two things to check before you commit: it expects a dedicated administrator, and check-in and volunteer scheduling are not in the entry tier. #### Subsplash Subsplash is best known for church apps, media and giving, and it now has a church management system too, built on Fluro, an Australian ChMS it acquired. People, groups, check-in, volunteer scheduling and workflows are all there, but only inside the Subsplash One bundle and never standalone. Worth knowing before you commit: church management and check-in are separate databases, and Subsplash documents moving households between them by export and import. It fits churches leading with an app and digital giving, where the database follows rather than drives. ### Before you choose, check how you would leave Every vendor documents how to move in. Almost none document how to move out, and that asymmetry is worth a few minutes before you sign anything. Breeze imports your data free and publishes export guides for two dozen competing systems. Its own API, though, can write giving but not read it: there is one giving endpoint and it only adds records. Contribution history has to come out through the interface. The API is also rate-limited to 20 requests a minute and has been officially unsupported since 2020. Rock RMS is the opposite case. You hold the database, so nothing about leaving depends on the vendor agreeing to help. Church Community Builder exports still come out of a CCB-shaped system, on ccbchurch.com hosts, whatever the product is called this year. Planning Center can import donation history now, though not in-kind gifts, non-deductible gifts or refunds. None of this decides which system to pick. It decides how much a mistake will cost to undo. ### Conclusion There is no best church management system, only the one whose ceiling you will not hit and whose limits you can live with. Work out your record count, decide whether finance has to live in the same system, be honest about your technical capacity, and look at who owns each option. That narrows five to one or two faster than any feature list will. ### Threefold Solutions offers help for churches looking to change If you have chosen Planning Center, or you are weighing it against one of the others, we move churches onto it for a living: people, giving history, groups and check-in data, then training for the team who will run it. Get in touch and we will tell you honestly whether it is the right fit. --- # Planning Center Question Bank ## 2 stickers vs 3 stickers for children's check-in — how do you track who's in the room and handle pickup without a room sheet sticker? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/2-stickers-vs-3-stickers-for-childrens-check-in-how-do-you-track-whos Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/create-custom-labels), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/check-ins), Planning Center documentation (http://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/security) Planning Center's digital roster replaces the physical room sheet; two stickers (child name tag + parent security label) is fully supported and the software records attendance and checkout automatically. --- ## Are Planning Center list emails a blind send, or can recipients see other recipients? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/are-planning-center-list-emails-a-blind-send-or-can-recipients-see Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139176-send-an-email-to-a-list.html) List emails in Planning Center are a blind send — each person receives their own individual email sent to their primary address, with no visibility into other recipients. --- ## Are custom reports created in People automatically available to other admins? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/are-custom-reports-created-in-people-automatically-available-to-other Category: Permissions Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139201-create-a-report-from-a-list.html) Custom report templates in People are org-wide and visible to anyone with Can export CSVs and reports permission — no sharing needed. But they still need access to a shared List to run the report against. --- ## Are there automatic notifications when a plan is updated (e.g. song changed)? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/are-there-automatic-notifications-when-a-plan-is-updated-e-g-song Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcoservices.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360025912914-Track-plan-changes), Planning Center documentation (https://pcoservices.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/31548947668379-Planning-Center-chat), apps.apple.com (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/planning-center-services/id327370808) No automatic notifications exist for plan changes; workaround is to manually email the team from the plan's Teams tab, or use Planning Center Chat for real-time messaging. --- ## Best practice for Calendar tags (Campus/Department) vs. multiple calendars for public visibility and Venue Rentals/Facilities scoping URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/best-practice-for-calendar-tags-campus-department-vs-multiple-calendars Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Church Center visibility (Published/Featured/Unpublished) is a per-event setting independent of tags, so Campus+Department tags can stay simple while individual events (e.g. VBS vs. internal Kids meeting) are controlled separately; Church Center filtering runs on tags not calendars, and multiple calendars only offer internal quick-view convenience since all Calendar users can see all calendars regardless of assignment. --- ## Best practices for Check-Ins when kids attend both class and children's worship — do they need to check in twice? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/best-practices-for-check-ins-when-kids-attend-both-class-and-childrens Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138197-add-times-to-an-event.html) Use one Check-Ins event with two times; set both to show early and add a Hide Event At on the first time. Both times are visible simultaneously, so families check into both in a single interaction and labels for each location print at once. --- ## Best practices for keeping a ChMS updated across multiple giving sources, attendance, and discipleship pathways URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/best-practices-for-keeping-a-chms-updated-across-multiple-giving Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Giving, Groups, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138359-giving-reports.html), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138384-contact-donors.html), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139197-lists-overview.html) Planning Center consolidates all giving sources (checks, online, ACH); People Lists auto-segment donors by giving criteria and auto-refresh; Workflows automate follow-up without manual checks; Parable aggregates cross-product data. --- ## Best practices for using volunteers as Team Leaders in Services — training, setup, and lessons learned URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/best-practices-for-using-volunteers-as-team-leaders-in-services Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Assign volunteer as team leader (grants scheduler permissions scoped to their team), build team structure/rotations/templates first, train with PCU Scheduler intro video + help articles, use scheduling gap alerts and auto-schedule to simplify their workflow. --- ## Best way to clean up a large People database full of former/inactive attendees without doing a clean wipe URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/best-way-to-clean-up-a-large-people-database-full-of-former-inactive Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138580-inactivate-or-delete-a-profile.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138568-update-people-with-bulk-actions.html) Build a list using attendance/giving conditions to surface inactive profiles, then use bulk actions to set them inactive rather than delete — this preserves giving history and auto-reactivates if they donate or take action in Church Center. --- ## Best way to pre-assign kids to specific Check-Ins rooms when migrating from Shelby (no waterfalls or randomizing) URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/best-way-to-pre-assign-kids-to-specific-check-ins-rooms-when-migrating Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Seed last check-in data by using the admin-side Add check-ins feature to manually assign each child to their room before go-live; optionally enable Ignore age and grade filters per child profile so their last location is always suggested. --- ## Best way to publicize groups and events on church website with analytics URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/best-way-to-publicize-groups-and-events-on-church-website-with-analytics Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Calendar, Church Center, Groups, Publishing Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139241), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/blog/2025/06) Planning Center now has built-in Church Center Analytics in Publishing (visitors and page views for Groups, Calendar, Registrations, and custom pages). No custom API needed. Calendar embed and third-party tools like http://Display.Church are also solid options. --- ## Best way to publicize groups and events on church website — embed vs. link vs. custom integration? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/best-way-to-publicize-groups-and-events-on-church-website-embed-vs-link Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Publishing Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Recommend linking/embedding Church Center pages directly on their website using native Planning Center tools rather than a custom integration; the calendar can be embedded with an iframe/script, and groups/events can be deep-linked. --- ## Brother QL-820NWB vs 820NWBc for Check-Ins with USB printing URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/brother-ql-820nwb-vs-820nwbc-for-check-ins-with-usb-printing Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Both models work for USB printing; the only difference is the NWBc has an automatic label cutter. Choose NWBc for high-volume convenience, NWB to save money. --- ## Brother QL-820NWB vs 820NWBc for Check-Ins — what is the actual difference? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/brother-ql-820nwb-vs-820nwbc-for-check-ins-what-is-the-actual-difference Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: brother-usa.com (http://brother-usa.com/products/ql820nwbc) Both models have an automatic cutter. The key difference is the NWB has a Host USB interface (for peripherals like barcode scanners); the NWBc does not. Both support standard USB connection to a computer for Planning Center Check-Ins printing. --- ## Can Check-Ins assign different security codes to each child in a household? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-check-ins-assign-different-security-codes-to-each-child-in-a Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138206-create-custom-labels.html), Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/blog/2023/09/introducing-newer-and-faster-check-in-stations) By design, one security code is shared per household when kids check in together. Separate codes only generate if kids check in at different times. No setting exists to force unique codes per child per session; workarounds include staggered check-ins or using the roster to text parents by child name. --- ## Can Check-Ins automatically print one guardian label per child checked in, based on household size? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-check-ins-automatically-print-one-guardian-label-per-child-checked Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Check-Ins can’t scale label printing to household size — the number of security labels is a fixed setting, not one that adjusts to how many children a family checks in. Common workarounds: use the tear-able 2 Codes label template, raise the fixed security-label quantity, make the security label optional so families choose at check-in, or handle pickup with a manned checkout station that verifies security codes. --- ## Can First Impressions volunteers check in via Church Center app and have it update the Services plan? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-first-impressions-volunteers-check-in-via-church-center-app-and Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins, Church Center, Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138314-check-ins-and-services-integration.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138323-check-in-a-volunteer.html) Enable Services integration and either match location names exactly to Services teams, or (Threefold's recommended approach) use one generic 'I'm Here to Serve' location - volunteers check in manually at a manned station the first time, then Check-Ins remembers and auto-checks them in as Volunteer (including via Church Center app) on subsequent check-ins to that event; manual manned-station check-in still works alongside it. --- ## Can Group Type Manager permissions work for volunteer coaches who oversee a subset of groups within a group type? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-group-type-manager-permissions-work-for-volunteer-coaches-who Category: Permissions Planning Center products: Groups Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) No. GTM is all-or-nothing per group type and gives write access plus contact info visibility across all groups in that type — too broad for volunteer coaches overseeing only 3-5 groups out of many. Shared Home dashboard scoped by tags is the correct approach. --- ## Can Headcounts be used to track small group and off-campus event attendance, and what access do leaders need? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-headcounts-be-used-to-track-small-group-and-off-campus-event Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/215644868-Track-attendance-with-Headcounts), Planning Center documentation (https://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204262744-Permissions-in-Check-Ins) Yes -- give leaders 'headcounter' permission (lowest level) in Check-Ins so they can use the Headcounts mobile app to self-report attendance numbers without accessing any individual check-in data. --- ## Can I add a QR code to an event I already created in Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-i-add-a-qr-code-to-an-event-i-already-created-in-planning-center Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139321-share-your-public-page.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138194-enable-the-church-center-app-for-an-event.html) No separate QR code creation step needed. For Registrations signups, click 'View on Church Center,' scroll to the bottom, and click 'Shareable Code' to download. For Check-Ins, enable Church Center from the event's Settings tab. --- ## Can I add a redirect or custom link when a People form is closed? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-i-add-a-redirect-or-custom-link-when-a-people-form-is-closed Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcopeople.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360041239154-Forms-settings), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139191-forms-overview.html) No redirect option exists for closed People forms. Closed forms are simply inaccessible. Workaround: use a URL shortener or link management tool to intercept the old link and point it to a new destination. --- ## Can I create a dashboard widget showing attendance for each individual life group instead of the whole group type? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-i-create-a-dashboard-widget-showing-attendance-for-each-individual Category: How-To Planning Center products: Groups Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcogroups.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360016079194-Reports), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138463-attendance.html) The attendance widget can't show a bar per individual group in a single widget; workaround is one widget per group, or use the Groups Reports page (Attendance tab) which has an Attendance by Group section. Parable mentioned as a richer option. --- ## Can I create a single form automation that fires for all dropdown options except one (i.e., an 'is not' condition)? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-i-create-a-single-form-automation-that-fires-for-all-dropdown Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/changelog/people/trigger-automations-based-on-form-responses) No 'is not' condition exists, but as of June 2 2026 update, you can create one conditional automation per dropdown option (all living on the same form), each firing only when a specific response is selected. --- ## Can I create a single form automation that triggers for all dropdown options except one, or do I need a separate automation per option? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-i-create-a-single-form-automation-that-triggers-for-all-dropdown Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/changelog/people/trigger-automations-based-on-form-responses) No 'is not' condition exists. Use the June 2, 2026 response-scoped automations feature — set up one automation per dropdown option, each scoped to trigger only on that specific answer. --- ## Can I hide a group from its own members in Church Center while still tracking attendance in Groups? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-i-hide-a-group-from-its-own-members-in-church-center-while-still Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center, Groups Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://pcogroups.zendesk.com/) Unlisted only hides a group from search/discovery — members already in the group still see it and its events on Church Center. No native setting fully hides group membership from members. Use Check-Ins for invisible attendance tracking instead. --- ## Can I safely deactivate inactive profiles (about 2,002 with no involvement in the past year)? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-i-safely-deactivate-inactive-profiles-about-2-002-with-no Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138580-inactivate-or-delete-a-profile.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/142863-bulk-edit-people.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/142860-archive) Yes — setting profiles to Inactive (not deleting) is safe and reversible; they auto-reactivate on any future giving, check-in, registration, or login, and you can do it as a bulk action. --- ## Can I switch between two churches on one login? (Church replant) URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-i-switch-between-two-churches-on-one-login-church-replant Category: How-To Planning Center products: Accounts Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/140718-link-accounts-from-multiple-churches.html) Yes — link the two accounts (same name, login method, password) to switch between churches from the org dropdown with a single login. --- ## Can I turn off the Registrations feed that auto-creates Calendar events? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-i-turn-off-the-registrations-feed-that-auto-creates-calendar-events Category: How-To Planning Center products: Calendar, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/137803-use-feeds-to-sync-events.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/137800-connect-other-items-to-calendar.html) The Registrations feed is intentionally a one-way sync; turn it off via Calendar > Settings > Feeds (warning: deletes all feed events), or switch to Connections for per-event control. --- ## Can Music Stand send MIDI output to Antares Auto-Tune (or any external plugin) when a song changes? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-music-stand-send-midi-output-to-antares-auto-tune-or-any-external Category: How-To Planning Center products: Music Stand Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcomusicstand.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360006014674), Planning Center documentation (https://pcomusicstand.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000266408) Music Stand supports MIDI as input only (for page turns and navigation); it does not send MIDI output to external software or plugins, so the requested workflow is not currently possible. --- ## Can Planning Center Giving accept non-deductible payments for group trips and tours? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-planning-center-giving-accept-non-deductible-payments-for-group Category: How-To Planning Center products: Giving, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138351-giving-overview.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139297-create-a-signup.html) Giving is for tax-deductible donations only; use Registrations to collect non-deductible payments for trips, tours, and events. --- ## Can Planning Center Groups be used as an internal staff communication tool? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-planning-center-groups-be-used-as-an-internal-staff-communication Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Groups Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcogroups.zendesk.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/) Groups can serve as a basic staff communication tool (hidden from Church Center, shared chat/events/resources) but lacks integrations and project management features that dedicated tools like Slack provide. --- ## Can Planning Center Groups filter membership requests by age, or do you need a form + workflow to gate a 60+ women's group? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-planning-center-groups-filter-membership-requests-by-age-or-do-you Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Groups Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Groups has no built-in age filter for join requests. Use a People form with a birthdate field + workflow field to route submissions into a review workflow, keep the group closed on Church Center, and manually add approved members. --- ## Can Planning Center bulk move students to the next grade level each year? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-planning-center-bulk-move-students-to-the-next-grade-level-each-year Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins, Groups, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcopeople.zendesk.com/) Yes — People has a built-in Promote Grades feature (gear icon) that moves everyone up one grade in a couple clicks; Check-Ins grade-filtered locations update automatically; Groups require a manual rename or new-group-plus-archive workflow. --- ## Can Planning Center create a church directory or allow people to directly contact each other? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-planning-center-create-a-church-directory-or-allow-people-to Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Church Center has a built-in opt-in directory; admins enable it in People settings, invite members, and privacy mode provides person-to-person contact via a Contact button without exposing email addresses. --- ## Can Planning Center replace SignupGenius for recurring worship assistant volunteer scheduling? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-planning-center-replace-signupgenius-for-recurring-worship Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcoservices.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204262234) Yes — use Planning Center Services (not Registrations) with Teams, Positions, and Signup Sheets enabled on the service type template. --- ## Can Registrations exclude community events from a church's membership-status rules? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-registrations-exclude-community-events-from-a-churchs-membership Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Planning Center Registrations does not have a 'Counts toward status' tag. Use Registrations categories and People list rules with include and exclude conditions to keep community events out of membership-status logic. --- ## Can Registrations income be integrated into Giving so monthly ministry budget reports include both? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-registrations-income-be-integrated-into-giving-so-monthly-ministry Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Giving, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138351-giving-overview.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139362-collect-payments-in-registrations.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139363-view-and-reconcile-payouts.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138347-introduction-for-bookkeepers.html) Registrations payments do not appear in Giving by design. Closest native option is the payout report which breaks out each deposit by Giving fund and Registrations signup. Per Planning Center's own Giving overview, event/registration income should NOT be added to Giving (even as non-receiptable) since the registrant received a good or service. Instead, export Registrations payments monthly and merge with Giving fund totals in the general ledger or accounting software. Threefold tip: bake the ledger code into the signup name (e.g. 'Event Name - 4200') since Registrations has no ledger code field. Parable is built for this exact unified reporting workflow. --- ## Can a Church Center navigation item (external URL) be set to visible only for signed-in users? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-a-church-center-navigation-item-external-url-be-set-to-visible-only Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center, Publishing Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139218-create-and-edit-a-custom-page.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139238-edit-church-center-navigation.html) Navigation items (including external URLs) are always visible to everyone; the workaround is to create an intermediate custom page, put the external link there, and enable limited access by membership type so only signed-in members with the right membership type can view the link. --- ## Can a People Form checkbox automatically add someone to a group? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-a-people-form-checkbox-automatically-add-someone-to-a-group Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcopeople.zendesk.com/Automations), Planning Center documentation (http://pcopeople.zendesk.com/Common-uses-for-custom-fields), Planning Center documentation (http://pcogroups.zendesk.com/Common-Groups-lists) No direct checkbox-to-group trigger exists; use a custom field on the form as a profile field, then build a People list filtered on that field with a nightly auto-refresh and Add to Group list automation. --- ## Can a People form set the primary campus for all household members, not just the submitter? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-a-people-form-set-the-primary-campus-for-all-household-members-not Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Campus is a per-person field, not a household setting; workaround is a list scoped to form submitters + all household members, with a campus-assignment automation. --- ## Can a Services template have a generic 'song placeholder' instead of linking a specific song? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-a-services-template-have-a-generic-song-placeholder-instead-of Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) No — a Song item in a template must link to an actual song from the library; there's no generic song slot, so the worship director will need to replace it with the correct song each week (a plain Item can be used as a text-only placeholder instead if preferred). --- ## Can a brand-new, unassigned volunteer see currently-needed positions on a template (before a plan exists) and self-select one to be placed on a team? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-a-brand-new-unassigned-volunteer-see-currently-needed-positions-on Category: How-To Planning Center products: People, Registrations, Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Confirmed: build a Registrations signup with a selection type per open position/time, set each selection type's capacity to match open spots, and build an automation directly from the selection type to add registrants to the matching Services team/position (no separate People list needed). Capacity isn't live-synced with Services Needed Positions, and placement isn't instant. --- ## Can a church make manual ACH entry the default bank option (and bank login the secondary option) on the giving form? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-a-church-make-manual-ach-entry-the-default-bank-option-and-bank Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center, Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) No church-side setting controls the bank verification order; Planning Center shows instant bank login first with 'Manually verify instead' always available, and admins can only nudge donors or submit the request to Planning Center. --- ## Can a deleted Planning Center profile be recovered, and what happens to the associated giving history? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-a-deleted-planning-center-profile-be-recovered-and-what-happens-to Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Giving, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcopeople.zendesk.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://pcogiving.zendesk.com/) Profile deletion is permanent; only Admins can delete profiles; giving donations become orphaned (not deleted) and can be reassigned to a new profile; use Set Inactive instead going forward. --- ## Can a self station show a name search field like a manned station? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-a-self-station-show-a-name-search-field-like-a-manned-station Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Self stations only support phone number or barcode/scanner input; name search is exclusive to manned stations by design for privacy reasons. --- ## Can a shared People list or a Home dashboard widget give someone visibility into Registrations data without granting them Registrations access? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-a-shared-people-list-or-a-home-dashboard-widget-give-someone Category: Permissions Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/blog) Both a shared list (via list-collaboration) and a shared Home dashboard widget can let a person without Registrations access see registration data, since collaborators on a shared list or dashboard can view results regardless of their own product permissions — but lists only cover the specific condition built in, and Registrations widgets only show recent/aggregate activity, not a person-specific on-demand lookup. --- ## Can admins unlock locked fields (like last name) so congregants can edit them in Church Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-admins-unlock-locked-fields-like-last-name-so-congregants-can-edit Category: Permissions Planning Center products: Church Center, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Name fields are permanently locked for congregants regardless of settings; admins can toggle other built-in fields to editable via People > Configuration > Church Center settings, but must update names themselves on the admin side. --- ## Can an Attendee Information question in Registrations autofill a custom field on a People profile? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-an-attendee-information-question-in-registrations-autofill-a-custom Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Attendee Information questions never update profile fields; switch the question to a People (attendee) form with a Profile field mapped to the Voice Details custom field so it auto-updates the profile on submission. --- ## Can approval groups be scoped to a specific sub-calendar in Planning Center Calendar? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-approval-groups-be-scoped-to-a-specific-sub-calendar-in-planning Category: How-To Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/137770-create-approval-groups.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/137813-create-and-edit-event-request-forms.html) Approval groups attach to rooms, resources, or event request forms — not calendars. The closest workaround is a form with the PCS calendar set as default and a school-specific approval group, but only works if school staff lack direct editor access. --- ## Can attendees upload a file (like a photo) during registration? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-attendees-upload-a-file-like-a-photo-during-registration Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcoregistrations.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/7994508910491), Planning Center documentation (https://pcopeople.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/8356716619291-Forms-overview) No native file upload in Registrations questions; attach a People form with a file field to the signup — link is sent in confirmation email automatically. --- ## Can automatic Service reminder emails include plan notes? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-automatic-service-reminder-emails-include-plan-notes Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Yes — automatic reminders already include plan notes as long as the notes are assigned to the recipient's team. --- ## Can chat in Services be scoped to specific positions so teams don't see each other's chats? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-chat-in-services-be-scoped-to-specific-positions-so-teams-dont-see Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Chat is scoped to teams, not positions — separate teams are required to keep chats siloed. Decline notifications already surface position-specific replacement suggestions. --- ## Can donors edit their own pledge, and can you generate a pledge-progress-only statement? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-donors-edit-their-own-pledge-and-can-you-generate-a-pledge-progress Category: How-To Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138392-pledge-campaigns.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138407-create-and-share-donor-statements.html) Donors cannot edit pledges themselves (admin-only); pledge progress can be included on statements but not as a standalone pledge-only document. --- ## Can existing Text In Church groups be synced/connected to Planning Center groups? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-existing-text-in-church-groups-be-synced-connected-to-planning Category: Integration Planning Center products: Groups Sources: help.textinchurch.com (http://help.textinchurch.com/) Yes — when setting up the Planning Center integration, you can set the Sync Destination to an existing TIC Group instead of creating a new one. Planning Center is still master; it's a one-to-one relationship only. --- ## Can giving statements show only the surviving spouse's name when two profiles are joined in Giving? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-giving-statements-show-only-the-surviving-spouses-name-when-two Category: How-To Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138369-donor-profiles.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138371-joint-donors.html) No setting exists to filter joint statement names. Solution is the Deceased joint donor workflow: mark as inactive/deceased in People, disjoin from deceased donor's profile (no notification sent), then optionally reassign donations one by one to surviving spouse. --- ## Can kids be added to Planning Center Check-Ins for attendance tracking if they are registered in a different system, not Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-kids-be-added-to-planning-center-check-ins-for-attendance-tracking Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/) Add kids at a manned or roster station on the spot; use Label Only mode for one-time visitors with no database record; or CSV-import kids registered in another system ahead of time. --- ## Can names be shown on the Check-Ins security label for child pickup? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-names-be-shown-on-the-check-ins-security-label-for-child-pickup Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138206-create-custom-labels.html) Default security label has no names; create a custom security label and add Person details (child name) and Check-in details (checked-in-by) blocks. --- ## Can potential duplicate profiles be used as a condition in People Lists? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-potential-duplicate-profiles-be-used-as-a-condition-in-people-lists Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139197-lists-overview.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138581-merge-duplicate-profiles.html) No — the potential duplicate flag is not available as a List condition. The only access is through the dedicated Potential Duplicates view in People overview. Workaround is exporting both lists and cross-referencing in a spreadsheet. --- ## Can publishing to Church Center be restricted by permission, or can admins be notified when events are published? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-publishing-to-church-center-be-restricted-by-permission-or-can Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) No native notification or permission restriction for publishing. Best workarounds: policy/process (default unpublished), bulk editing via Table view, or a Make/API automation that polls for newly published events. --- ## Can someone share a Planning Center childcare reimbursement form (with policy)? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-someone-share-a-planning-center-childcare-reimbursement-form-with Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Planning Center forms can't be exported between orgs; recommend building a People Form with standard reimbursement fields, and optionally attaching a policy PDF in Registrations. --- ## Can staff send emails as a ministry instead of as themselves in Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-staff-send-emails-as-a-ministry-instead-of-as-themselves-in Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/changelog/people/37413408358299-new-custom-email-senders) Planning Center People has a Custom Email Senders feature (accessible to People Managers and above) allowing staff to send on behalf of a ministry name/email without separate profiles or logins. --- ## Can the song history in Planning Center Services be automatically filtered to show only one service type's usage? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-the-song-history-in-planning-center-services-be-automatically Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcoservices.zendesk.com/) No setting auto-filters a song's history to one service type; use the Service Type Reports > Songs report for a pre-filtered view, or create a tag to filter the main Songs page. --- ## Can volunteers access plan files through Church Center, or do they need the Services app? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-volunteers-access-plan-files-through-church-center-or-do-they-need Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Church Center, Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcoservices.zendesk.com/) Plan files, order of service, and the media player are not available in Church Center; Planning Center has stated no plans to add them; volunteers who need files must use the Services app. --- ## Can walk-in attendees check into a class at a Self Check-In station, and can brand-new people (not in Planning Center) check in? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-walk-in-attendees-check-into-a-class-at-a-self-check-in-station-and Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Self stations require existing Planning Center profiles; walk-ins and new people need a manned station where staff can add a guest profile and print a nametag. --- ## Can we change the label size on our Brother printer in Check-Ins? Can we use continuous labels and cut them shorter, or tell Planning Center what size we're using? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-we-change-the-label-size-on-our-brother-printer-in-check-ins-can-we Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138278-set-up-a-brother-printer.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138206-create-custom-labels.html) Planning Center supports specific Brother label sizes; continuous labels (DK-2205 recommended) are cut based on label design height, and custom dimensions are set at the label editor level via the Custom checkbox. --- ## Can we reprint a security tag in Check-Ins if a parent loses it? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-we-reprint-a-security-tag-in-check-ins-if-a-parent-loses-it Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138190-security.html#UUID-81fba344-1786-319e-e56b-ef33d0b6c485_id_360017769394_id_labels-security-labels) Security labels cannot be reprinted; churches should establish a lost-tag protocol and can configure locations to print 2 security labels per check-in as a preventive measure. --- ## Can we send church announcements to a specific list from Church Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-we-send-church-announcements-to-a-specific-list-from-church-center Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139188-send-a-church-center-announcement.html), Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/blog/2024/09/schedule-church-center-announcements) Yes — build a People List, then use the message dropdown to Send Church Center announcement (push notification), with the option to schedule it. --- ## Can we use the Church Center app through Publishing without having a PC website? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-we-use-the-church-center-app-through-publishing-without-having-a-pc Category: How-To Planning Center products: Publishing Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Yes — only the free Essential level of Publishing is required, plus at least one campus. No paid plan or custom website needed to enable the Church Center mobile app. --- ## Can workflow step assignees receive text/SMS notifications instead of email in Planning Center People? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-workflow-step-assignees-receive-text-sms-notifications-instead-of Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcopeople.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000151368-Manage-notifications), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/144875-texting-in-planning-center.html) No native SMS option for workflow assignee notifications — options are email, in-app bell, and push notifications via the Planning Center mobile app. --- ## Can you add a health screening yes/no question in Planning Center Check-Ins that gates check-in based on the answer? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-add-a-health-screening-yes-no-question-in-planning-center-check Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/blog/2020/09/announcements-in-check-ins-stations) No native yes/no gate exists. The Announcements feature displays a message all attendees must acknowledge before check-in completes, but it is informational only and not tracked per person. For tracked responses, use Registrations forms. --- ## Can you add the child's age to the default name tag in Check-Ins? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-add-the-childs-age-to-the-default-name-tag-in-check-ins Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Default label is locked; create a custom Name Label using the Default template and add a Person details block with the Age field. Note: age won't update mid-day so labels may show the wrong age on birthdays. --- ## Can you automate a Checkr background check to trigger when a minor volunteer turns 18? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-automate-a-checkr-background-check-to-trigger-when-a-minor Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Set minor's manual bg check to expire on 18th birthday; create an expired bg check list with a Checkr automation — when the list refreshes and the check is expired, Checkr sends the invite automatically. --- ## Can you build a report in Planning Center Calendar to show recently updated events? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-build-a-report-in-planning-center-calendar-to-show-recently Category: How-To Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) No native way to filter by last-updated date; Calendar reports filter by event occurrence date only, and Liquid variables don't expose updated_at. Workaround: use Table view or the Planning Center API. --- ## Can you create a Check-Ins event that doesn't show up on a check-in station (headcount only)? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-create-a-check-ins-event-that-doesnt-show-up-on-a-check-in Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138332-track-attendance-with-headcounts.html) Events only appear on stations you explicitly create for them. For headcount-only tracking, use the Headcounts tab on the event or the free Headcounts mobile app — no station needed. --- ## Can you create a Planning Center Group that members can't see they belong to in the Church Center app? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-create-a-planning-center-group-that-members-cant-see-they Category: How-To Planning Center products: Groups Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138451-manage-group-settings.html), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/blog/2025/02/expand-your-care-through-confidential-member-groups) No — unlisted/unpublished only hides a group from public discovery; members added to the group still see it in Church Center. For a fully invisible pastoral care list, use People Lists (admin-only, no attendance) or People Workflows (admin-only, supports snooze/follow-up tracking). --- ## Can you create private Calendar events visible only to management staff and not volunteer schedulers? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-create-private-calendar-events-visible-only-to-management-staff Category: How-To Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Calendar has no per-event visibility controls — all Calendar users see all events; workarounds include keeping internal events in a separate tool or using Event Request Forms to avoid giving schedulers full Calendar access. --- ## Can you delete a block of events for a group? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-delete-a-block-of-events-for-a-group Category: How-To Planning Center products: Groups Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138461-cancel-or-delete-an-event.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138454-bulk-update-groups.html) No bulk delete exists for group events; for repeating series, open the first unwanted event and choose 'Delete this event and all occurrences after it'; for seasonal breaks, archiving the group is the recommended approach. --- ## Can you delete an event request in Calendar without triggering a rejection notification to the requester? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-delete-an-event-request-in-calendar-without-triggering-a Category: How-To Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/137817-approve-or-reject-requests.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/137771-email-notifications.html) No silent delete option exists — rejecting an event request always notifies the requester by email. Workaround: leave the request unactioned and it falls off the Approvals tab once the date passes, without notifying the requester. --- ## Can you disable or close an add-on option in Registrations after a pre-order window ends? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-disable-or-close-an-add-on-option-in-registrations-after-a-pre Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139334-use-add-ons.html) No auto-close by date for individual add-ons; hide the add-on from its edit page (Config > Add-on options > Options > hide) or set total quantity to current orders so it shows as sold out. --- ## Can you email giving statements to donors of a specific fund only? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-email-giving-statements-to-donors-of-a-specific-fund-only Category: How-To Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138407-create-and-share-donor-statements.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138384-contact-donors.html) Statements don't filter by fund — they cover all donors in a date range. To email fund-specific donors, use the By Donor report in Giving filtered by fund and hit Email Donors (sends a custom email, not a statement PDF). --- ## Can you enter anonymous or no-receipt in-kind donations in Planning Center Giving? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-enter-anonymous-or-no-receipt-in-kind-donations-in-planning Category: How-To Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138390-in-kind-donations.html), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138373-anonymous-donors-and-loose-cash.html) The anonymous donor feature (type 'anonymous' in batch) only applies to cash/check, not in-kind. In-kind requires a named donor profile. For known donors who don't want a receipt, enter the in-kind donation and simply skip sending the acknowledgment email. --- ## Can you link a Registrations signup to an existing Check-Ins event instead of creating a new one? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-link-a-registrations-signup-to-an-existing-check-ins-event Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139344-take-attendance-for-registrations-signups.html) The Registrations-to-Check-Ins integration always creates a new Check-Ins event via a wizard — there is no option to link to a pre-existing Check-Ins event. --- ## Can you mass change the Received Date on donations in a Giving batch? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-mass-change-the-received-date-on-donations-in-a-giving-batch Category: How-To Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcogiving.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/1260804867970-Bulk-editing) Use Giving > Manage > Bulk Edit Donations tab, select the batch, choose Received Date as the field to change, pick the correct date, review the list, and click Edit donations now. Note: bulk edits cannot be undone. --- ## Can you print a blank copy of a Registrations or People form to use as a paper sign-up? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-print-a-blank-copy-of-a-registrations-or-people-form-to-use-as Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) No native print-to-blank-form option exists in either Registrations or People. Workaround is to manually recreate in Word/Google Docs, then enter responses via admin-side manual registration or People form submission. --- ## Can you restrict a Registrations signup to only people with a specific membership type (e.g., 'Member')? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-restrict-a-registrations-signup-to-only-people-with-a-specific Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations No native membership-type gate in Registrations; workarounds are (1) hide signup and share direct link only with a People list filtered by membership type, or (2) put the link behind a member-only Church Center page via Publishing. --- ## Can you set up multiple reminder emails in Registrations for a multi-day event like VBS? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-set-up-multiple-reminder-emails-in-registrations-for-a-multi Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://pcoregistrations.zendesk.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/) Built-in reminders are limited to one per selection type; use General Email manually or People scheduled emails to send a multi-email sequence. --- ## Can you take attendance on a Calendar event that has been promoted to a group? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-take-attendance-on-a-calendar-event-that-has-been-promoted-to-a Category: How-To Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) No — promoted Calendar events are view-only in Groups and do not support attendance. The event must be created natively in Groups for attendance tracking. --- ## Can you text Registrations attendees a reminder instead of emailing? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-text-registrations-attendees-a-reminder-instead-of-emailing Category: How-To Planning Center products: People, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/144875-texting-in-planning-center.html), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/common-registration-lists.html) No native text button in Registrations; build a People List of registrants, then send a text from that list using Twilio, Clearstream, or Text in Church (SMS consent required). --- ## Can you text a keyword to be automatically checked in to a Planning Center service? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-text-a-keyword-to-be-automatically-checked-in-to-a-planning Category: Integration Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: help.textinchurch.com (http://help.textinchurch.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Planning Center Check-Ins has no native text-keyword check-in; Text In Church's keyword feature adds people to a group synced to Planning Center People, not a Check-Ins event — true check-in requires the Church Center app, phone number lookup, or a barcode scan. --- ## Can you track how many times a QR code is scanned or NFC tap tag is tapped in Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-track-how-many-times-a-qr-code-is-scanned-or-nfc-tap-tag-is Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins, Church Center, Publishing Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/changelog/publishing) Links redirects (used to generate QR codes/NFC tags) show a running click count in both the Links app and Publishing; native Check-Ins QR codes have no separate scan counter but the underlying check-in data serves the same purpose. --- ## Can you track weekly attendance for Alpha without using Check-Ins? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-track-weekly-attendance-for-alpha-without-using-check-ins Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins, Groups, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139344-take-attendance-for-registrations-signups.html) Registrations has built-in attendance, but only reports event-wide; for per-week tracking, syncing to Check-Ins or using Groups with reg automation is recommended. --- ## Can you use AI to build or customize Church Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-use-ai-to-build-or-customize-church-center Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center, Publishing Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/136797-set-up-church-center.html), Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/publishing) Church Center is Planning Center's shared app and can't be rebuilt or rebranded; AI can help write content for custom pages built via Publishing's drag-and-drop editor. --- ## Can you use a list with auto-refresh to delay a follow-up email by one day after a form submission? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-use-a-list-with-auto-refresh-to-delay-a-follow-up-email-by-one Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139198-list-settings.html), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139179-automate-emails.html) Yes: create a list filtered by form submission in the last 1 day, enable daily auto-refresh, and attach an email automation to fire when people are added. --- ## Can you view the Services master calendar on mobile (app or phone browser)? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/can-you-view-the-services-master-calendar-on-mobile-app-or-phone-browser Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Master calendar is desktop-only; workaround is to load http://services.planningcenter.com in a mobile browser and request the desktop site. --- ## Check-Ins stations showing all events and labels printing medical notes unexpectedly URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/check-ins-stations-showing-all-events-and-labels-printing-medical-notes Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138221-lock-a-station.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138206-create-custom-labels.html) Lock the station to a specific event to stop it showing all active events; build a custom label without the medical notes block to stop notes from printing. --- ## Confusion about switching from 'the app' to Publishing/Church Center — what app are they coming from? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/confusion-about-switching-from-the-app-to-publishing-church-center-what Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center, Publishing Church Center IS the app; Publishing is just the admin tool to customize it. Asked a clarifying question to find out what app they were previously using before answering further. --- ## Did a new Check-Ins design or pickup code update roll out today? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/did-a-new-check-ins-design-or-pickup-code-update-roll-out-today Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/changelog/check-ins/29463297234075) No Check-Ins update shipped today. Last entry was Feb 17 2026 (printer troubleshooting). The cross-device pickup code feature went out in Sep 2024, not today. --- ## Do Services plans need to be in the same folder for the Check-Ins integration to work across teams at a special event? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/do-services-plans-need-to-be-in-the-same-folder-for-the-check-ins Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138314-check-ins-and-services-integration.html) Folders are for organization/permissions only — the Check-Ins/Services integration works across folders as long as event session times and location names match the plan times and team names. --- ## Do any texting integrations show conversation history chronologically (like the Communication tab) rather than as Notes, and can platforms like Clearstream or Gloo tie texting to Planning Center Workflows? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/do-any-texting-integrations-show-conversation-history-chronologically Category: Integration Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/integrations) Native Planning Center texts appear on the Communication tab (not just Notes). Third-party platforms keep threads in their own inbox. Clearstream and Text In Church can push people into Planning Center Workflows; Gloo cannot. --- ## Do kids need to be checked out in Check-Ins, and should Sunday vs. Wednesday kids ministry use separate Check-Ins events? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/do-kids-need-to-be-checked-out-in-check-ins-and-should-sunday-vs Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138335-check-ins-data.html), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138339-use-reports-to-track-trends.html) Checkout is optional and security-driven, not required. Sunday and Wednesday kids programs should be separate Check-Ins events so attendance data stays distinct and reportable. --- ## Do new volunteers need to be added through Services team templates for automations to run? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/do-new-volunteers-need-to-be-added-through-services-team-templates-for Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Groups, Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Yes. Services automations trigger when someone is added to or removed from a Services team, not when they join a Church Center group. Add volunteers through the Services team template when that automation is required. --- ## Do pledge campaigns apply a donation to multiple open campaigns simultaneously? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/do-pledge-campaigns-apply-a-donation-to-multiple-open-campaigns Category: How-To Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138392-pledge-campaigns.html) Yes, Planning Center applies a donation to all open campaigns that share the same target fund. Year-specific funds (separate fund per year) prevent double-application by giving each campaign its own distinct target fund. --- ## Do volunteers still receive text or email reminders when they serve without installing the Planning Center app? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/do-volunteers-still-receive-text-or-email-reminders-when-they-serve Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://support.planningcenteronline.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://pcoservices.zendesk.com/) Email is always reliable without the app; SMS works only if the carrier supports the gateway — Verizon and AT&T have dropped support, making texts unreliable for many volunteers. --- ## Do we have to sign up for a Checkr plan or just create an account and choose background check type per individual? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/do-we-have-to-sign-up-for-a-checkr-plan-or-just-create-an-account-and Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) No subscription plan — create a free Checkr account, then choose the package (Basic/Standard/Pro) per individual when ordering. --- ## Does Church Center chat have read receipts, and can leaders see if members have notifications disabled? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/does-church-center-chat-have-read-receipts-and-can-leaders-see-if Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Planning Center chat DOES support read receipts. Desktop: single check = sent, double check = read (click checkmarks to view details). Mobile: long press message > View Read Receipts. Leaders still cannot see if members have notifications disabled. --- ## Does Church Center chat support read receipts, and how do you access them? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/does-church-center-chat-support-read-receipts-and-how-do-you-access-them Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/140944-chat-in-church-center.html) Yes. Mobile: press and hold your own message > View Read Receipts. Desktop: single check = sent, double check = read; click the checkmarks for details. --- ## Does Planning Center Registrations have a waitlist? Can you register multiple kids (siblings) at once? Can volunteers mark themselves unavailable in advance? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/does-planning-center-registrations-have-a-waitlist-can-you-register Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations, Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Registrations has a built-in waitlist; Named Attendees signups support registering household members (siblings) in one go; Services volunteers can self-manage blockout dates from My Schedule or Church Center. --- ## Does Planning Center have a waitlist for Registrations, support registering siblings at once with per-attendee questions, replace Sign Up Genius, handle Check-Ins, and let volunteers block out unavailable dates? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/does-planning-center-have-a-waitlist-for-registrations-support Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins, Registrations, Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139349-waitlist.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139327-create-selection-types.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139333-add-attendee-forms.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/142872-manage-blockout-dates.html) Registrations has built-in waitlist, named attendees support sibling group registration with per-kid questions, Registrations replaces Sign Up Genius for events, Check-Ins integrates directly, and Services blockout dates let volunteers self-report unavailability. --- ## Does Planning Center offer a built-in member texting service for announcements and reminders? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/does-planning-center-offer-a-built-in-member-texting-service-for Category: How-To Planning Center products: General, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/144875-texting-in-planning-center.html), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/integrations/clearstream) Planning Center's native texting (via People/Twilio) is one-way only; for two-way texting, Clearstream is the recommended integration. --- ## Does Planning Center provide a QR code for the Giving form, or do I need an external tool? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/does-planning-center-provide-a-qr-code-for-the-giving-form-or-do-i-need Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center, Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138379-help-donors-give-online.html) Planning Center generates the QR code natively. Open the giving page in a browser, scroll to the bottom, and click Shareable Code to view and download. Works on any Church Center page. --- ## Does Planning Center support SSO for third-party in-app authentication (e.g. Subsplash)? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/does-planning-center-support-sso-for-third-party-in-app-authentication Category: Integration Planning Center products: Accounts No SAML/enterprise SSO, but Planning Center supports OAuth 2.0 and as of September 2025 OpenID Connect (OIDC) for identity-only auth — perfect for third-party in-app login. --- ## Does Text In Church message history sync back to Planning Center profiles? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/does-text-in-church-message-history-sync-back-to-planning-center Category: Integration Planning Center products: People TIC message history does NOT appear under the Planning Center Communication tab — that tab only shows messages sent through native Planning Center apps. TIC activity is NOT logged there at all from the standard integration. --- ## Does auto-schedule household preference match times for split teams, or just place in any time? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/does-auto-schedule-household-preference-match-times-for-split-teams-or Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) "Same plan" household preference only requires both people be in the same plan (any time on a split team); "concurrent plan" preference is needed to match them to the same specific service time. --- ## Does setting a Giving fund to Link Only stop existing recurring donations from processing? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/does-setting-a-giving-fund-to-link-only-stop-existing-recurring Category: How-To Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138385-create-and-manage-funds.html) Link only (Direct link) funds are still open funds — recurring donations continue processing on schedule. The docs confirm even more restrictive states (Unpublished, Closed) keep existing recurring donations running, so Link Only won't interrupt them. --- ## Does setting a profile as inactive affect giving history or donor statements? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/does-setting-a-profile-as-inactive-affect-giving-history-or-donor Category: How-To Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Inactive profiles retain full giving history, recurring donations continue, and statements are still issued for any year the person donated. --- ## Does submitting a People form without being logged into Church Center send a verification email before the profile update applies? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/does-submitting-a-people-form-without-being-logged-into-church-center Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Church Center, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcopeople.zendesk.com/) An existing draft answer was confirmed accurate; key nuance added: guests submitting without Church Center login receive a verification email before profile updates apply. --- ## Does the Activity tab show when an event is published? What does the Subscribe button do, and do you have to subscribe to each event individually? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/does-the-activity-tab-show-when-an-event-is-published-what-does-the Category: How-To Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcocalendar.zendesk.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) The Activity tab logs Settings changes including Church Center visibility. Anyone can subscribe via the Subscribe button, but it requires event manager role or manual subscription per event. Subscribed users get activity feed notifications. --- ## Does the volunteer replacement decline feature require volunteers to find their own replacement before declining? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/does-the-volunteer-replacement-decline-feature-require-volunteers-to Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Volunteer replacement requires volunteers to coordinate outside Planning Center first; the decline flow only records the result. No built-in tool to find or contact a replacement. --- ## Faster way to reorder fields in a People Custom Tab? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/faster-way-to-reorder-fields-in-a-people-custom-tab Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138571-manage-custom-fields.html) Drag and drop handles are the only documented way to reorder custom tab fields, there's no bulk reorder option, so suggested zooming the browser out and reordering top-down to cut down on drag glitchiness. --- ## Forms vs. Registrations vs. Groups for volunteer event RSVPs URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/forms-vs-registrations-vs-groups-for-volunteer-event-rsvps Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Groups, People, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Registrations is the best fit for dated volunteer events; People Forms lack event-specific features; Groups RSVP is a good option if volunteers are already organized in Groups. --- ## How can I get each Registrations add-on selection to appear in its own column in a CSV export? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-can-i-get-each-registrations-add-on-selection-to-appear-in-its-own Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Native CSV bundles all add-ons into one cell with no column-splitting option; workaround is filtering by add-on and exporting separate CSVs per session; Parable handles this natively. --- ## How can I run a report showing which volunteers were scheduled for a specific team (e.g., Greeters) over a date range in Planning Center Services? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-can-i-run-a-report-showing-which-volunteers-were-scheduled-for-a Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcoservices.zendesk.com/) Go to the Service Type > Reports tab > People report; set date range and filter by team to see scheduling history with response status; CSV and print available. --- ## How can Planning Center Calendar events be automatically pulled into a Mailerlite weekly newsletter email? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-can-planning-center-calendar-events-be-automatically-pulled-into-a Category: Integration Planning Center products: Calendar, General Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/integrations), flowforth.co (http://flowforth.co/) No native Calendar-to-Mailerlite integration exists; Zapier can connect the two with custom setup; Flowforth (http://flowforth.co) is the purpose-built option for pulling Planning Center Calendar events directly into emails. --- ## How can Planning Center be used to connect congregation members with financial/tangible needs to others who can help? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-can-planning-center-be-used-to-connect-congregation-members-with Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/blog/2020/03/coronavirus-connecting-with-the-needs-of-your-congregation) Use People Forms to intake needs and helper sign-ups, Lists to proactively find people who won't ask, and Workflows to route and assign follow-up tasks to care teams. --- ## How can a church manage and promote casual recurring community events (bike rides, bonfires) in Planning Center without annoying non-interested members? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-can-a-church-manage-and-promote-casual-recurring-community-events Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Calendar, Groups, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcogroups.zendesk.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://pcocalendar.zendesk.com/) Create a Group Type with open enrollment on Church Center so members self-opt-in; event organizers post events inside the group; feed can syndicate to main Calendar. --- ## How can a custom field like 'Photo Consent' be applied to all household members at once in Planning Center, rather than requiring individual form submissions? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-can-a-custom-field-like-photo-consent-be-applied-to-all-household Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcopeople.zendesk.com/) Custom fields are per-person and don't propagate to household members via forms; best option is enabling the custom field as editable in Church Center settings so household adults can update it for all family members at once. --- ## How can a scheduler find team members who haven't served in a position for the last two months, to invite them to sign up? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-can-a-scheduler-find-team-members-who-havent-served-in-a-position Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Use the Filter menu on the Services People page (Team + Last Scheduled Plan date filters) to pull a list directly, rather than cross-referencing People module lists. --- ## How can a scheduler invite just the people who haven't served as liturgist in 2 months to sign up, given signups are open to everyone in the position? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-can-a-scheduler-invite-just-the-people-who-havent-served-as Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Filter the Services People page by Team + Last Scheduled Plan to build the invite list; note signup sheets can't be restricted to a subset, so send the invite email to the filtered list while the signup sheet stays open to the whole team. --- ## How can coaches oversee specific community groups (view attendance trends, know their groups) without getting broad admin access or being added as leaders/members to every group? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-can-coaches-oversee-specific-community-groups-view-attendance Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Groups Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Use group tags to identify which coach owns which groups, then build a shared Home dashboard with Groups attendance widgets scoped to the tagged groups. Attendance by count/percentage widgets require admin-level access to create, but the dashboard can be shared with coaches as viewers. --- ## How can families self-register children on Sunday mornings using Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-can-families-self-register-children-on-sunday-mornings-using Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins, Church Center, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Use a People Form with Household Members field for first-timers; returning families use Church Center app pre-check feature. --- ## How can form submitters add information to a Planning Center People form after submission? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-can-form-submitters-add-information-to-a-planning-center-people Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Form submissions can't be edited. Pair a second 'Additional Info' form with the same notification list, and use a workflow card on the original form as the source of truth where an admin pastes addendum info as an internal note. --- ## How can group leaders request rooms through a form while still having attendance tracking in Groups, without creating duplicate events? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-can-group-leaders-request-rooms-through-a-form-while-still-having Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Share the existing room request form with the group type; leaders create the event in Groups first (enabling attendance), then submit the form via the calendar icon on the event page, which creates a connected Calendar event without duplicating data. Feeds not recommended here as they bypass the approval/form process. --- ## How can we reuse the same security labels across a week-long VBS/Kids Camp without breaking pickup security? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-can-we-reuse-the-same-security-labels-across-a-week-long-vbs-kids Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360017769394-Security) Security labels can't be reprinted; print 2 labels at Monday check-in so the parent keeps one copy all week. Staff can also look up the original security code in Monday's session history to verify without re-checking the child in. --- ## How can you view a person's group memberships from within their Planning Center People profile? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-can-you-view-a-persons-group-memberships-from-within-their-planning Category: How-To Planning Center products: Groups, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcopeople.zendesk.com/) Use the product switcher on the profile to jump to Groups; the Activity tab shows group attendance; or create a custom field with list automations to surface group membership directly on the People profile. --- ## How do 11-12 year old volunteers respond to scheduling requests in Services — can they, or does a parent have to do it? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-11-12-year-old-volunteers-respond-to-scheduling-requests-in Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Under-13s can't log into Church Center, so parents must respond via household scheduling or by having the parent's email on the child's profile. --- ## How do I add a 'no photos' option to kids registration check-in labels? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-add-a-no-photos-option-to-kids-registration-check-in-labels Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138206-create-custom-labels.html), Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/blog/2020/03/four-new-custom-label-options) Create a Yes/No custom field in People, then add a People block to a custom label with conditional formatting to print 'NO PHOTOS' when the field is Yes. --- ## How do I add a user to Text In Church? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-add-a-user-to-text-in-church Category: How-To Planning Center products: General Sources: help.textinchurch.com (http://help.textinchurch.com/) Settings > Users > Add New on desktop. Two levels: Admin (full access) and User (limited to assigned groups/numbers). Must use desktop version. --- ## How do I adjust the 'owed' amount in Registrations for partial refunds after an event was cut short? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-adjust-the-owed-amount-in-registrations-for-partial-refunds Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcoregistrations.zendesk.com/) Apply a discount equal to the refund amount to each registration to reduce the total, then issue the partial refund — the balance zeroes out. --- ## How do I allow multiple date selections for a recurring event? (class meets every other week, 13 meetings) URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-allow-multiple-date-selections-for-a-recurring-event-class Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139326-split-registrations.html) Use Split Registrations with a Simple Count signup so attendees can pick which of the series dates they'll attend. --- ## How do I attach collaborative Google Drive files to Calendar events as a workaround? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-attach-collaborative-google-drive-files-to-calendar-events-as Category: How-To Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcocalendar.zendesk.com/) Paste shareable Google Drive URLs into the event Notes field (internal only); when duplicating the event, all details including Notes carry over automatically. --- ## How do I bring prayer requests into Planning Center using a People form and workflow? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-bring-prayer-requests-into-planning-center-using-a-people-form Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139165-prayer-requests.html), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/blog/2019/10/make-sure-people-are-prayed-for-and-cared-for) Use a People form with a Notes field mapped to the Prayer Requests note category; set up daily email notifications to the prayer team and an optional follow-up workflow for care. --- ## How do I build a People list to find kids who used to attend children's ministry but have stopped? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-build-a-people-list-to-find-kids-who-used-to-attend-childrens Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138334-common-attendee-lists.html) Use two rules in People Lists: include kids who checked in X times in the past Y months, then exclude anyone who checked in within the last Z weeks. --- ## How do I build a first-time guest dashboard that tracks three categories weekly: connect card submissions (marked as new), kids church first check-ins, and new profile creations? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-build-a-first-time-guest-dashboard-that-tracks-three Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins, Home, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138487-add-and-manage-widgets.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138334-common-attendee-lists.html), Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/blog/2021/09/create-custom-dashboards) Funnel all three guest categories into one First Time Guest workflow via list automations; use the Home dashboard Added to Workflow widget (13-week view) for weekly trending. New profiles widget handles category 3 natively. --- ## How do I change a child's class assignment in Check-Ins (e.g., moving from Babies to Ones when they turn one, or to a potty-trained class)? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-change-a-childs-class-assignment-in-check-ins-e-g-moving-from Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Check-Ins uses birthdate and age filters to auto-route children; for age-based moves, ensure the birthdate is correct and location age filters are set (use months for under Pre-K); for potty-trained moves, use Manned Station overrides or location Options. --- ## How do I change a child's class assignment in Check-Ins based on age (e.g., Babies to Ones) or developmental milestone (e.g., potty trained)? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-change-a-childs-class-assignment-in-check-ins-based-on-age-e-g Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Use age filters (in months for under Pre-K) for birthday-based moves; use Milestone Distribution on a folder to prompt caregivers at check-in for developmental milestones like potty training. --- ## How do I check in volunteers who move between classrooms week to week? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-check-in-volunteers-who-move-between-classrooms-week-to-week Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138323-check-in-a-volunteer.html) Use manned stations so staff can manually select any location; enable Services integration to auto-assign Volunteer type and suggest matching rooms. --- ## How do I collect multiple forms of info (medical, code of conduct, etc.) for a missions trip, and can a parent register multiple students at once? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-collect-multiple-forms-of-info-medical-code-of-conduct-etc-for Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcoregistrations.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/7994508910491), Planning Center documentation (https://pcoregistrations.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4414934756123) Forms appearing after registration is by design (attendee info form, no 15-min timer). Build all the questions into the attendee information form per attendee. Parents can register multiple students in one flow with Named Attendees. Use registration questions only for group-wide info. --- ## How do I create a giving statement for an individual in Planning Center Giving? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-create-a-giving-statement-for-an-individual-in-planning-center Category: How-To Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138408-download-individual-statements.html) Go to Giving > People, find the donor, open their profile, set a date range on the Donations tab, and click Statement PDF to download. --- ## How do I create a list to email parents of kids in each program using a custom field? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-create-a-list-to-email-parents-of-kids-in-each-program-using-a Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139199-common-lists.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139197-lists-overview.html) Build a list with a Custom Fields rule matching the program value, then set 'My list should include' to 'household adults' to return parents instead of kids, then email from Results tab. --- ## How do I create a report in Groups showing member list with last attended date? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-create-a-report-in-groups-showing-member-list-with-last Category: How-To Planning Center products: Groups, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138482-common-groups-lists.html), Planning Center documentation (http://pcogroups.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360016079194-Reports) Use the attendance report inside Groups to export CSV with per-member attendance data; for a last-attended date column, build a People List filtered to the specific group and export. --- ## How do I create a survey in Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-create-a-survey-in-planning-center Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Use Forms in People — build Basic Fields for survey questions and share the link/embed in Church Center; add a Workflow Field to route interested responders to follow-up. --- ## How do I create and send signup sheets in Planning Center Services so worship volunteers can opt into specific dates? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-create-and-send-signup-sheets-in-planning-center-services-so Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/142882-schedule-with-signup-sheets.html) Enable signups per plan (or globally via team settings), add needed positions, then email the signup sheet from the plan's Teams tab. --- ## How do I download the Church Center app without using the App Store? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-download-the-church-center-app-without-using-the-app-store Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/136797-set-up-church-center.html) The native app only installs via the App Store/Google Play, but tech-challenged members can use the browser version at http://yourchurch.churchcenter.com with no app or App Store password needed. --- ## How do I duplicate a group event and handle non-patterned recurring events? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-duplicate-a-group-event-and-handle-non-patterned-recurring Category: How-To Planning Center products: Groups Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/137792-duplicate-an-event.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/137791-manage-event-details.html) Use the Duplicate button on an event to copy it for irregular dates instead of a recurrence pattern. --- ## How do I edit or add pre-written messages to parents in the check-in app? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-edit-or-add-pre-written-messages-to-parents-in-the-check-in-app Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138329-send-a-text-to-parents-or-trusted-adults.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138224-customize-success-messages.html) The pre-written parent text messages are fixed and cannot be customized; however, check-in success messages displayed on-screen can be customized in Station settings. --- ## How do I enable volunteers to swap service dates? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-enable-volunteers-to-swap-service-dates Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/142874-manage-your-schedule.html) Enable the volunteer replacement setting so team members can pick an available replacement when they decline a request; volunteers coordinate directly and the replacement is auto-confirmed. --- ## How do I export a CSV from Registrations with only specific columns? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-export-a-csv-from-registrations-with-only-specific-columns Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139346-create-reports-on-attendees.html), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138570-export-data.html) Registrations CSV includes all fields with no column picker; workaround is to build a People list filtered to signup registrants, select only desired columns, then export that CSV weekly. --- ## How do I filter attendee questions for VBS registrations? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-filter-attendee-questions-for-vbs-registrations Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139342-filter-attendees.html) From the Registrations tab, use Add filter to filter attendees by their question answers, including photo release responses. --- ## How do I find all mothers in Planning Center People using list filters? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-find-all-mothers-in-planning-center-people-using-list-filters Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139199-common-lists.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139197-lists-overview.html) No native 'mother' filter exists. Parent/guardian + female catches moms of minors but misses mothers of adult children. Long-term fix is a tag or Yes/No custom field to manually identify mothers. --- ## How do I find all profiles with blocked email addresses and fix them in bulk? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-find-all-profiles-with-blocked-email-addresses-and-fix-them-in Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138563-unblock-email-addresses.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139199-common-lists.html) Build a People list using the blocked email condition to identify all affected profiles; unblocking must be done one-by-one via each profile's contact info section — no bulk unblock option exists in the UI. --- ## How do I find what percentage of people in my church are serving? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-find-what-percentage-of-people-in-my-church-are-serving Category: How-To Planning Center products: People, Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), getparable.io (http://getparable.io/) Build two People lists (all active members + people scheduled in Services) and divide manually. For automated percentage tracking, Parable cross-references People and Services data. --- ## How do I gather inspiration and tips for launching Church Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-gather-inspiration-and-tips-for-launching-church-center Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Church Center Sources: Threefold Solutions guide (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/how-to-launch-church-center-in-your-church-a-complete-planning-center-setup-guide), Planning Center documentation (https://support.planningcenteronline.com/hc/en-us/articles/1260804626129-Rolling-Out-Planning-Center-Products), ChurchKit — real-church Church Center examples (https://churchkit.io/) Use a phased rollout starting with 3-4 core features, finish data migration first, brand the app, train staff, and pull layout ideas from the community Home Page Gallery. Real-church examples of finished setups are collected on ChurchKit (see sources). --- ## How do I get notified any time a new calendar event is added? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-get-notified-any-time-a-new-calendar-event-is-added Category: How-To Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/137771-email-notifications.html) No global new-event notification exists in Calendar; workaround is joining an approval group for a commonly-used room/resource to receive room-request notifications. --- ## How do I give volunteers access to rosters in Check-Ins without giving them admin access, especially when they rotate between classes each week? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-give-volunteers-access-to-rosters-in-check-ins-without-giving Category: Permissions Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360015617673-Training-volunteers), Planning Center documentation (https://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002238274-Create-and-use-station-keys), Planning Center documentation (https://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115014748527-Create-a-station) Use dedicated classroom tablets as roster stations locked to each location — no volunteer permissions needed. For rotating volunteers on personal devices, give Editor access (not admin) in Check-Ins so they can set up their own station for whatever room they're assigned to each week. --- ## How do I handle CCLI reporting for medleys where multiple songs are played as one item in Planning Center Services? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-handle-ccli-reporting-for-medleys-where-multiple-songs-are Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcoservices.zendesk.com/) No native medley feature exists; each song needs its own plan item for CCLI reporting; attach a combined medley chord sheet as a file to a header item so musicians have the full flow without breaking compliance. --- ## How do I import groups of people into Services teams using a CSV file? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-import-groups-of-people-into-services-teams-using-a-csv-file Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138558-import-a-csv-file-in-people.html) CSV import supports profile data only; workaround is adding a custom field for team name in CSV, importing via People, building a list filtered by that field, then bulk-adding to the Services team. --- ## How do I import groups of people into teams using a CSV file? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-import-groups-of-people-into-teams-using-a-csv-file Category: How-To Planning Center products: People, Services CSV import brings in profile info only (not team assignments); after importing, use People Lists plus a bulk action or automation to add each group to its Services Team in one step. --- ## How do I integrate Notebird with Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-integrate-notebird-with-planning-center Category: Integration Planning Center products: People Sources: guide.notebird.app (http://guide.notebird.app/) Notebird offers an official two-way People sync via OAuth that takes about 3 clicks to set up, syncing contact info while keeping care notes/tasks inside Notebird. --- ## How do I let registrants select a specific baptism month, and why are already-baptized people still showing on the registry? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-let-registrants-select-a-specific-baptism-month-and-why-are Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Registrations has no native recurring event or month-selection feature; best practice is a separate signup per month. Cancel the 4 baptized registrants manually via Registrations tab > Cancel attendee, or use Actions > Cancel all registrations. --- ## How do I limit the quantity to 1 per registration in Planning Center Registrations? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-limit-the-quantity-to-1-per-registration-in-planning-center Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139348-capacity-for-signups.html) Set 'Maximum Selections Per Registration' to 1 via Configuration > Selection Types > Options dropdown > Manage. --- ## How do I make my serving rota live for responses? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-make-my-serving-rota-live-for-responses Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcoservices.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204262254-Send-scheduling-emails), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/142893-respond-to-scheduling-emails.html) Send scheduling emails from the plan so team members get Accept/Decline requests in Church Center or email. --- ## How do I make my serving rota live so people can accept/decline? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-make-my-serving-rota-live-so-people-can-accept-decline Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/142892-send-scheduling-emails.html) Send scheduling emails from the plans — once sent, team members get requests they can accept or decline; nothing goes live until you send them. --- ## How do I manage check-ins for multiple volunteer teams using the Services integration? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-manage-check-ins-for-multiple-volunteer-teams-using-the Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138314-check-ins-and-services-integration.html), Threefold Solutions guide (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/maximizing-volunteer-engagement-harnessing-the-power-of-check-ins-in-planning-center) You do not need a Check-Ins location for every Services team — the integration just watches for a check-in at the matching time; matching location names only improve the volunteer pre-check experience. --- ## How do I manage medical release forms for youth ministry events? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-manage-medical-release-forms-for-youth-ministry-events Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcoregistrations.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4414934756123-Add-attendee-forms), Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/blog/forms-in-pco-registrations-html) Attach an attendee information form or PDF form to the signup on its Configuration tab to capture medical releases per attendee, then mark each as received and send form-due reminders from the Actions menu. --- ## How do I manually add pledges from email or paper to a campaign, and can I start the campaign at $0 then add existing amounts? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-manually-add-pledges-from-email-or-paper-to-a-campaign-and-can Category: How-To Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138392-pledge-campaigns.html) Pledges from paper/email are manually entered via Donations > Pledge Campaigns > Pledges tab > Enter Pledge. To start at $0, set the campaign start date to today so past donations don't auto-count, then manually enter existing pledges from the Pledges tab. --- ## How do I manually add pledges received via email or paper to a pledge campaign? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-manually-add-pledges-received-via-email-or-paper-to-a-pledge Category: How-To Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138392-pledge-campaigns.html) Administrators manually enter pledges from the campaign page (batch) or donor profile (individual); donations to the target fund then track automatically. --- ## How do I move Ignored Duplicates back to Potential Duplicates in Planning Center People? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-move-ignored-duplicates-back-to-potential-duplicates-in Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138581-merge-duplicate-profiles.html) Cannot move ignored duplicates back to potential duplicates queue; manually merge any ignored pair via Actions > Merge profile on the person's profile. --- ## How do I move or copy a team from one Planning Center Services service type to another? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-move-or-copy-a-team-from-one-planning-center-services-service Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/140130-create-or-edit-a-team.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139471-export-a-template-or-plan.html) Edit the team in People > Teams and add the additional service type, or use Actions > Export/Copy from a plan to copy scheduled team members to another service type. Create the destination service type first. --- ## How do I omit birthdates from the printed People directory (Household Report)? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-omit-birthdates-from-the-printed-people-directory-household Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139199-common-lists.html) The built-in Household Report always includes birthdates with no toggle to suppress them; a custom Liquid report is the only way to print household directory info without birthdates. --- ## How do I pre-populate children's profiles with a form before the first Check-Ins service? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-pre-populate-childrens-profiles-with-a-form-before-the-first Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139166-adding-family-information.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139191-forms-overview.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/136791-using-planning-center-for-children-s-ministry.html) Use a People form with a Household Members field to collect children's name, grade, school, and birthdate. Create custom fields for allergies and emergency contact info. Share via link or QR code before first check-in day. --- ## How do I print check-in rosters for each grade at VBS? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-print-check-in-rosters-for-each-grade-at-vbs Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138316-plan-your-vbs.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139347-attendance-reports.html) Use the Reports tab on the Check-Ins event with Layout set to organize pages by grade, or use a roster station to view/print classroom rosters. --- ## How do I pull a VBS attendee list that shows both medical/allergy notes and group assignment for crew leaders? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-pull-a-vbs-attendee-list-that-shows-both-medical-allergy-notes Category: How-To Planning Center products: People, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Build separate People lists per Registrations assignment area with medical notes checked, or use the Assignments tab CSV export which includes assignment and attendee question answers. --- ## How do I pull a mailing list, where are the Addressee/Salutation fields in People, and are addresses USPS standardized? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-pull-a-mailing-list-where-are-the-addressee-salutation-fields Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Build a list, print Avery labels or export CSV; name fields (Prefix, First, Given, Nickname) are on the profile; Planning Center does not auto-standardize addresses for USPS bulk mail. --- ## How do I rename Brother QL-820NWBc printers so they appear correctly in Check-Ins discovered printer list over WiFi/Infrastructure? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-rename-brother-ql-820nwbc-printers-so-they-appear-correctly-in Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Rename the printer via Brother Web Based Management (web browser interface using the printer's IP address) under Network > Node Name or mDNS name; Planning Center docs defer to Brother's manual for the rename step. --- ## How do I resend a Services invite to a restored user? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-resend-a-services-invite-to-a-restored-user Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/142859-add-or-import-people.html), Planning Center documentation (https://pcoservices.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204461040-Archive-remove-and-restore-people) Resend the login/welcome email by selecting the email address in the header of the person's profile, and confirm their permission level since restoring resets it to Scheduled Viewer. --- ## How do I resolve Church Center login issues — users stuck in password/code loop? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-resolve-church-center-login-issues-users-stuck-in-password Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Church Center Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/141275-log-in-to-church-center.html) Church Center is passwordless; code delivery issues resolved by saving Planning Center phone numbers to contacts, texting START, checking spam, waiting 5 min between requests, or switching to email login. --- ## How do I search by family last name and check in the whole household at once in Check-Ins for VBS, without selecting a grade group first? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-search-by-family-last-name-and-check-in-the-whole-household-at Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138320-check-in-a-person.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139353-plan-your-vbs.html) Use a manned station instead of roster — search by last name or phone number to pull up the whole household, then check off each kid; with Registrations synced, locations are suggested automatically. --- ## How do I see who is checked in to a specific location in Check-Ins? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-see-who-is-checked-in-to-a-specific-location-in-check-ins Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138331-use-event-tabs-during-an-event.html) From the event's Check-Ins tab, use the All Locations dropdown to filter by room and see names. The Overview tab shows headcounts by location without the full list. --- ## How do I send a form to parents before our first Check-Ins service to collect child info (allergies, emergency contacts, school, grade)? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-send-a-form-to-parents-before-our-first-check-ins-service-to Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins, People, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/136791-using-planning-center-for-children-s-ministry.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139191-forms-overview.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138575-help-people-update-their-profiles.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139327-create-selection-types.html) Two valid paths: (1) People Form with Household members field for grade, school, and medical notes (allergies); (2) Registrations Named Attendees signup for full per-child profile collection. Emergency contacts do not persist to the child's profile in either path — they're stored within the signup only. Use custom fields for permanent emergency contact storage. --- ## How do I send texts to specific ministry lists without messages crossing over to the wrong groups? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-send-texts-to-specific-ministry-lists-without-messages Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcopeople.zendesk.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/blog) Texting in Planning Center is always list-based; fix is scoped, ministry-specific list rules so lists don't overlap unintentionally. --- ## How do I set a maximum total registrations for an event in Registrations? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-set-a-maximum-total-registrations-for-an-event-in-registrations Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Set total capacity in the signup's Configuration tab; use add-ons with quantity limits for specific inventory like hotel rooms. --- ## How do I set up VBS in Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-set-up-vbs-in-planning-center Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins, Registrations, Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcoregistrations.zendesk.com/) Start with a Detailed Signup in Registrations; selections become Check-Ins locations; Services handles volunteer scheduling on the back end. --- ## How do I set up a Registration with a $25 family maximum while still seeing each family member individually? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-set-up-a-registration-with-a-25-family-maximum-while-still Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcoregistrations.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204923080-Discounts), Planning Center documentation (https://pcoregistrations.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115012876708-Discount-ideas) No native family price cap exists, but a group discount set to 100% off for all attendees after the first achieves a $25 family max when the whole family registers in one session. --- ## How do I set up a connection card workflow in Planning Center with data import and follow-up tracking? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-set-up-a-connection-card-workflow-in-planning-center-with-data Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Use custom fields to track card info, import Excel as CSV (with Remote IDs to prevent duplicates), create a follow-up workflow with defined steps, and set up automations to trigger entries. --- ## How do I set up a first-time guest experience for a youth ministry in Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-set-up-a-first-time-guest-experience-for-a-youth-ministry-in Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://pcopeople.zendesk.com/) Create guest profiles at a manned Check-Ins station with a scoped household form; guardian becomes a household contact for native texting; use a People Form with QR code for pre-arrival capture. --- ## How do I set up instant email notifications for prayer request form submissions instead of only getting the daily digest? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-set-up-instant-email-notifications-for-prayer-request-form Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcopeople.zendesk.com/) Instant notifications require adding people to the form's notification list in Settings; they must also be added as note category collaborators or the request content will appear hidden in the email. --- ## How do I set up the SongSelect integration in Planning Center Services, and can songs be transposed without re-downloading? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-set-up-the-songselect-integration-in-planning-center-services Category: Integration Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139448-songselect--by-ccli-integration.html) SongSelect integration is found under Songs > Actions > Song File Integrations. Importing via ChordPro (Editable) creates transposable charts in all keys inside the Lyrics & Chords editor. --- ## How do I set up workflows to follow up with first-time guests and first-time salvation decisions? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-set-up-workflows-to-follow-up-with-first-time-guests-and-first Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139207-common-workflows.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139199-common-lists.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139194-common-forms.html), Threefold Solutions guide (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/maximizing-planning-center-workflows) Use People forms with automations to feed people into separate guest follow-up and salvation decision workflows; workflow steps include welcome contact, resource delivery, class invitation, and a 30-day snoozed final step. --- ## How do I share the matrix view schedule with my team in a readable format? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-share-the-matrix-view-schedule-with-my-team-in-a-readable Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139388-create-matrix-reports.html) Use the matrix's built-in print icon to generate dedicated matrix reports (PDF or web page) — the People Calendar or Vertical Matrix report options produce properly formatted PDFs rather than a screenshot of the grid. --- ## How do I sort a People list by birthday month instead of year or age? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-sort-a-people-list-by-birthday-month-instead-of-year-or-age Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139199-common-lists.html) Sort the list results by 'Birthdate (Without Year)' — this sorts chronologically by month and day, not by birth year or age. --- ## How do I stop security labels from printing for volunteer check-in? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-stop-security-labels-from-printing-for-volunteer-check-in Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138208-add-labels-to-events-and-locations.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138206-create-custom-labels.html) Labels are assigned per event or location and per person type in the event’s Labels & Locations settings, so create a name-only label for volunteers and make sure the security label is not set to print for the Volunteer type on that event or location. --- ## How do I stop team members from getting flooded with signup sheet emails every time someone declines in Services? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-stop-team-members-from-getting-flooded-with-signup-sheet Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Change the team's Rescheduling Declines setting from Signup Sheets to Manually Reschedule, then use Scheduling Gap Alerts to notify leaders X days before the service instead. --- ## How do I streamline emailing attendees of past Registrations events without reactivating them? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-streamline-emailing-attendees-of-past-registrations-events Category: How-To Planning Center products: People, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139345-send-emails.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/common-registration-lists.html) Email attendees straight from the closed signup — no reactivation needed: open the signup’s attendee list, Add filter > Attendance > Attended, then Actions > Email. For styled emails, texts, or other bulk actions, build a People list with the ‘named attendee for [event]’ rule so every individual attendee is included. --- ## How do I successfully transition to Church Center and encourage congregation adoption? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-successfully-transition-to-church-center-and-encourage Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Church Center Sources: Threefold Solutions guide (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/how-to-launch-church-center-in-your-church-a-complete-planning-center-setup-guide) Make Church Center the only path (remove alternate links/routes), phase the feature rollout, soft-test with 10-20 staff/leaders before launch, station lobby helpers on launch weekends, keep QR codes visible 4-6 weeks post-launch, and use a Church Center Challenge to turn vague asks into concrete actions. --- ## How do I track background check renewals and non-Services leaders in Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-track-background-check-renewals-and-non-services-leaders-in Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcopeople.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003728248-Manually-track-background-checks), Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/blog/2021/03/new-background-check-dashboard), Threefold Solutions guide (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/streamlining-church-management-a-guide-to-planning-center-background-checks) Use the Background Check Dashboard plus expiration Lists with automations to flag renewals, including non-Services leaders. Add a list automation on background check expiration so the right pastor or ministry lead is notified before a check lapses. --- ## How do I track new group sign-ups across all groups without checking each one manually? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-track-new-group-sign-ups-across-all-groups-without-checking Category: How-To Planning Center products: Groups Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcogroups.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360016079194-Reports) Use the Newest Members widget on the Groups Reports page to see recent joiners across groups; also create a People list filtered by join date for cross-group visibility. --- ## How do I track user adoption and engagement in Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-track-user-adoption-and-engagement-in-planning-center Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center, Groups, People, Publishing Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139241-view-church-center-analytics.html), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138463-attendance.html) Publishing Analytics tab shows Church Center app/web visitors and page views; Groups Reports has cross-group attendance export; no native chat read rates; People lists for cross-product segmentation; Parable for aggregated reporting. --- ## How do I understand Planning Center pricing and get better at using the platform? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-understand-planning-center-pricing-and-get-better-at-using-the Category: How-To Planning Center products: General Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/136790-planning-center-pricing.html), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/university) Pricing is a la carte per product (People is free, others scale by usage); pointed to pricing calculator and Planning Center University for learning. --- ## How do I update to the newest version of Planning Center web? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-update-to-the-newest-version-of-planning-center-web Category: How-To Planning Center products: Accounts Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/blog/2025/07/the-new-planning-center-experience), Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/changelog/global/beta-release-of-the-new-planning-center-design) Planning Center is always up to date in the browser; the 'new look' is an opt-in personal setting you enable from your profile during the open beta. --- ## How do I use Planning Center workflows to track recurring pastoral care visits and death anniversaries? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-use-planning-center-workflows-to-track-recurring-pastoral-care Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcopeople.zendesk.com/) Use workflow auto-snooze for recurring pastoral care visit cadence; death anniversaries require a dedicated workflow with manual annual snooze since custom date fields lack the anniversary-style condition. --- ## How do I use a People form to automatically update profile fields (gender, marital status, birthdate, address, phone) based on what someone submits? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-use-a-people-form-to-automatically-update-profile-fields Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139191-forms-overview.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138575-help-people-update-their-profiles.html), Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/changelog/people/27462095012763-improved-require-login-for-form-submissions) Use Profile fields (not automations) in the form builder — they write directly to the person's profile on submit. Enable Require login in form Settings for existing-member forms to skip verification email and ensure instant profile updates. --- ## How do I view or export Registration Notes across all attendees at once? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-i-view-or-export-registration-notes-across-all-attendees-at-once Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/changelog/registrations/new-add-internal-notes-to-any-registration) Notes in Registrations are per-registration only (no bulk view or export yet). Feature launched March 24, 2026. Users should submit feedback to Planning Center requesting a bulk/aggregate notes view. --- ## How do Selections, Questions, and Assignments work in Registrations, and how do they connect to Services for volunteer scheduling? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-selections-questions-and-assignments-work-in-registrations-and Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations, Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcoregistrations.zendesk.com/) Selections = role choices visible to registrants; Questions = per-attendee follow-ups; Assignments = admin-only grouping tool. Bridge to Services via People Lists + automations, then use Matrix to auto-schedule. --- ## How do churches identify Plan a Visit registrants when they arrive on Sunday? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-churches-identify-plan-a-visit-registrants-when-they-arrive-on Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins, People, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139344-take-attendance-for-registrations-signups.html), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139207-common-workflows.html), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139346-create-reports-on-attendees.html) Pull up the Registrations attendee list on Sunday morning as your guest roster; set up a workflow automation in People so guest team is notified when someone registers; optionally connect Registrations to Check-Ins for real-time QR code check-in. --- ## How do churches share business info (committees, board members, reports) with their congregation? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-churches-share-business-info-committees-board-members-reports Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Publishing Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcopublishing.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360052458693), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/changelog/publishing/25149236642459) Annual meetings/reports for the general approach; Publishing custom pages support membership-type access control for member-only digital content (paid plan required). --- ## How do large churches (2,000+ attendance) handle quick team communication across staff and volunteers without relying on phones? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-large-churches-2-000-attendance-handle-quick-team-communication Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: General Relay Pro (PTT over WiFi/cellular, dedicated device, ~$9/mo) is the top pick; Zello works for phone-based teams; traditional radios with earpieces and a repeater cover large campuses but need FCC licensing. --- ## How do overlapping short-term and long-term pledge campaigns work in Planning Center Giving, and do non-pledged donations count toward campaign totals? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-overlapping-short-term-and-long-term-pledge-campaigns-work-in Category: How-To Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138392-pledge-campaigns.html), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/140951-manage-your-giving-information.html) Campaigns use fund + date range; any gift to the target fund counts toward all active campaigns covering that window. Non-pledged donations count toward campaign totals (labeled Non-pledged). Pledge progress tracker in Church Center only appears for donors with a pledge record entered. --- ## How do you correct a toddler room that uses the preschool age band in Check-Ins? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-you-correct-a-toddler-room-that-uses-the-preschool-age-band-in Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138203) Change the toddler location to the intended younger age range so it no longer overlaps the preschool location. Keep the cutoff and takes-effect dates only after confirming they describe the current promotion year. --- ## How do you delete a check-in for someone who was checked in by mistake? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-you-delete-a-check-in-for-someone-who-was-checked-in-by-mistake Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138331-use-event-tabs-during-an-event.html) Go to the event's Check-Ins tab on a browser, click the person's name, scroll to the bottom of their check-in page, and select Delete Check-In. Works during and after the event. --- ## How do you handle walk-in VBS registrations at drop-off using Planning Center Registrations? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-you-handle-walk-in-vbs-registrations-at-drop-off-using-planning Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://pcoregistrations.zendesk.com/) Admins can manually add walk-ins from the Registrations tab; QR code posted at drop-off lets families self-register on their phones; export CSV for a printed roster. --- ## How do you manage and organize a large People database with many unassigned profiles? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-you-manage-and-organize-a-large-people-database-with-many Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins, Giving, People, Registrations Use a structured membership type taxonomy (Visitor/Guest, Attender, Member, Event Participant, Contributor Only), build lists to surface unassigned/inactive profiles, mark inactive via bulk action, and set up automations to auto-assign types going forward. --- ## How do you replace special-event times with a regular weekly schedule in Planning Center Check-Ins? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-you-replace-special-event-times-with-a-regular-weekly-schedule Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Edit or delete the old times on the Check-Ins event's Times tab, add the regular weekly times, and set Show Event At early enough for volunteers. If the Services integration is enabled, make sure the Services plan times match exactly. --- ## How do you resolve overlapping toddler and preschool age filters in Planning Center Check-Ins? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-you-resolve-overlapping-toddler-and-preschool-age-filters-in Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Check-Ins Give the toddler and preschool locations distinct age ranges, then verify the cutoff year and location order. Overlapping filters send all matching children to the location that wins the tiebreak instead of distributing them by classroom. --- ## How do you segment new Planning Center profiles by source to route them into the right follow-up workflow? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-you-segment-new-planning-center-profiles-by-source-to-route-them Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins, Church Center, Groups, People, Registrations Use a 'Profile Source' custom field populated via form automations and per-pathway lists, then build separate source-specific workflows and exclude those people from the broad Sunday guest list using NOR conditions. --- ## How do you tell whether a cutoff year or an age band is causing duplicate Check-Ins routing? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-you-tell-whether-a-cutoff-year-or-an-age-band-is-causing Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Check-Ins Compare the age window, cutoff date, and takes-effect date for both locations. If the years are current but the birthdate windows are identical, correct the age band on the younger room; no other locations need to change. --- ## How do you use Planning Center as a borrow/checkout system for physical items like tables, chairs, and equipment? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-do-you-use-planning-center-as-a-borrow-checkout-system-for-physical Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Calendar Resources is the primary approach — add items as resources and attach them to events to prevent double-booking. Check-Ins can be used creatively as a manual check-in/out system for trackable items like translation packs. --- ## How does Church Center look and work for a multi-campus church, and how do you build out campus-specific pages? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-does-church-center-look-and-work-for-a-multi-campus-church-and-how Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center, Publishing Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Campuses are added in Account Settings; members pick their campus on login via the app's location search. Home page is shared by default; per-campus custom pages are available on the Publishing Plus plan. --- ## How does Pushpay compare to Planning Center Giving for a large church? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-does-pushpay-compare-to-planning-center-giving-for-a-large-church Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/pricing), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/compare-planning-center-vs-pushpay) Churches typically save tens of thousands in year one switching from Pushpay; Planning Center reporting is less built-out by default but third-party tools close the gap. --- ## How does mobile check-in print labels if parents use the Church Center app? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-does-mobile-check-in-print-labels-if-parents-use-the-church-center Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/check-ins) Church Center app handles pre-check-in only; labels print at the iPad station when the parent scans their QR code on arrival — no parent Bluetooth needed. --- ## How does moving from Subsplash to Planning Center Giving change batching and weekly reporting? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-does-moving-from-subsplash-to-planning-center-giving-change Category: Integration Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Planning Center Giving card and ACH gifts record directly to the donor through Planning Center Payments and are not batched. Uncommitted batches can be an artifact of an external giving source. Weekly reporting becomes date-based and is reconciled with Stripe payouts; only manual cash and check gifts use batches. --- ## How does the Advanced age filter's 'on or before' cutoff math work when shifting between age bands? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-does-the-advanced-age-filters-on-or-before-cutoff-math-work-when Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138203) Explains the mechanics of Check-Ins Advanced age filters: age range + 'on or before' date computes a birthdate window as of that future anchor date (not today). Shifting the Ages field down by one year/12 months shifts the computed birthdate window back exactly one year, since the anchor date stays fixed. Worked example: 36-47mo vs 24-35mo against Sept 1 2026 cutoff. --- ## How does the Subsplash Giving integration sync to Planning Center Giving, and why might a sync be missing? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-does-the-subsplash-giving-integration-sync-to-planning-center Category: Integration Planning Center products: Giving Sources: support.subsplash.com (http://support.subsplash.com/) Sync runs only when SSG transfers funds to the bank (ACH must be processed first); batches appear in Planning Center on transfer day. Common causes of missing sync: closed batches in Planning Center, unlinked donors/funds, mismatched fund names, or revoked/lapsed OAuth connection. --- ## How does the Text In Church integration with Planning Center Groups work? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-does-the-text-in-church-integration-with-planning-center-groups-work Category: Integration Planning Center products: Groups Sources: help.textinchurch.com (http://help.textinchurch.com/) TIC syncs Planning Center Lists and Groups into TIC Groups; Planning Center is the master database; sync can be nightly, weekly, monthly, or real-time instant sync. --- ## How have other churches used Planning Center for capital campaigns? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-have-other-churches-used-planning-center-for-capital-campaigns Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Giving Pledge tracking works well once loaded manually; deeper reporting like donation size segmentation requires Excel export or a third-party tool like Parable (http://getparable.io). --- ## How is Protect My Ministry priced? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-is-protect-my-ministry-priced Category: Integration Planning Center products: People Sources: protectmyministry.com (http://protectmyministry.com/pco) PMM has an annual subscription fee (Basic $140–$175, Essential $228–$325, Preferred $375–$625, Premier $513–$1025) plus per-check costs of $12–$39 depending on package tier. --- ## How should I set up Check-Ins locations by grade for both Sunday and mid-week services? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-should-i-set-up-check-ins-locations-by-grade-for-both-sunday-and Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138334-common-attendee-lists.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138335-check-ins-data.html) Grade-as-location is valid; grade on the People profile drives list-based communication. Keep grade-based locations for mid-week to capture grade data while profiles are still being built. Run the 'Children with no age or grade' list before go-live. --- ## How should I structure Funds for one-off or annual special collections in Giving, and how can I add context that shows on donor statements? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-should-i-structure-funds-for-one-off-or-annual-special-collections Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138385-create-and-manage-funds.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138382-monetary-donation-receipts-and-acknowledgments.html) Use descriptively named funds (close when not in season, reopen as needed) — the fund name is what shows on donor receipts and statements. Memos only work for online giving, not batch/cash/check entry; labels are admin-only and not donor-visible. --- ## How should a church build a medical release form for a child, parents, and emergency contact in Planning Center People? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-should-a-church-build-a-medical-release-form-for-a-child-parents Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Make the submitting parent the top-level Profile fields and the child a Household Members field entry (not the reverse); route the second parent as a second household adult, emergency contact and medical/insurance details as Basic fields or custom fields on the child, and use a required checkbox + typed name as the signature since Planning Center Forms has no native e-signature field. --- ## How should a form be set up to capture parent contact information for Check-Ins text notifications? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-should-a-form-be-set-up-to-capture-parent-contact-information-for Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://pcopeople.zendesk.com/) The form should capture the parent's name and mobile so they exist as a household adult, enabling native Check-Ins texting; students fill out the form and adults at manned stations cover any gaps. --- ## How should a multi-campus church set up year-round next-step signups and completion workflows? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-should-a-multi-campus-church-set-up-year-round-next-step-signups Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins, People, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Threefold Solutions guide (https://www.threefold.solutions/) Use Registrations with an ongoing signup, selection types per campus, a custom date question, and split registrations. For week-by-week completion, use a Check-Ins event with locations for each step, then lists and automations that write completion dates to custom fields and advance the workflow. --- ## How should a multi-campus church track giving with campuses and campus-specific funds? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-should-a-multi-campus-church-track-giving-with-campuses-and-campus Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Use official campuses in Account Settings for report filtering and campus-specific funds for tracking where donations are directed. Using both provides the clearest multi-campus giving reports. --- ## How should we handle 3,000 duplicate profiles in People, and what's the downside of not cleaning them up? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-should-we-handle-3-000-duplicate-profiles-in-people-and-whats-the Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) No bulk-merge tool exists, so triage via the duplicate detector, prioritize active givers/volunteers/current families, and build a recurring weekly cleanup habit; ignoring duplicates risks inaccurate giving statements, split background check/safety data, fragmented scheduling history, and skewed reporting. --- ## How should we handle People profiles flagged as inactive when those individuals still physically attend church? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-should-we-handle-people-profiles-flagged-as-inactive-when-those Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcopeople.zendesk.com/), Threefold Solutions guide (https://www.threefold.solutions/) Don't inactivate people who still attend physically; use household-level list rules and membership types for gray-area profiles; add a manual review workflow before bulk status changes. --- ## How should we organize channels, series, and episodes in Planning Center Sermons (Publishing)? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-should-we-organize-channels-series-and-episodes-in-planning-center Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Publishing Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://pcopublishing.zendesk.com/) Hierarchy (Channel > Series > Episode) is correct, but channels should be organized by audience/content type (e.g. Sunday Worship, Midweek, Kids), not by format — a single channel supports livestream, video, audio, and podcast formats simultaneously. --- ## How should we use Planning Center to pre-sell student ministry t-shirts on an ongoing basis, and how does Square POS fit in? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-should-we-use-planning-center-to-pre-sell-student-ministry-t-shirts Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Use ONE ongoing Simple Signup as a merch store. Each shirt size = its own Selection Type with capacity for inventory. Use Stripe (via Registrations) for online pre-sales; use Square separately for in-person walk-up sales — there is no native Planning Center↔Square integration. Reconcile via reports. --- ## How to get demographic info (like median age) broken down per campus URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-to-get-demographic-info-like-median-age-broken-down-per-campus Category: How-To Planning Center products: Home, People Recommended the Demographic Breakdown widget on a Home dashboard, segmenting a bar chart by campus to see age breakdown per location; export-and-pivot in Excel works too for exact median calculations. --- ## How to let volunteers check in to a Check-Ins event without printing a name tag, while still tracking child-to-volunteer ratios URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-to-let-volunteers-check-in-to-a-check-ins-event-without-printing-a Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) On the event's Labels & Locations tab, edit the name label and uncheck the Volunteer check-in type so no badge prints for volunteers. They still need to be checking in as Volunteer (first time at a manned station, or use the Services integration). The ratio filter she already set on the location handles the alerting — the location stops accepting more regular/guest check-ins once the threshold is hit. --- ## How to manage recurring Check-Ins linked to Registrations (naming & attendance records) URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-to-manage-recurring-check-ins-linked-to-registrations-naming Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Set up one synced Check-In event with a recurring frequency for the series; rename individual sessions using Edit title > For this date only. No way to transfer Check-Ins data into Registrations. --- ## How to prioritize 3,000 pre-filtered duplicate detector results when it only sorts alphabetically, includes inactives, and Lists can't filter on 'is duplicate'? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-to-prioritize-3-000-pre-filtered-duplicate-detector-results-when-it Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Use each pair's created-when/where info to separate migration debt from live duplicates, cross-reference the alphabetical detector against targeted Lists (active givers, background-checked volunteers, active check-in families) to triage, and build a post-migration-date List to quantify ongoing duplicate creation. --- ## How to use Planning Center as an LMS to track training completion and report on who is delinquent? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-to-use-planning-center-as-an-lms-to-track-training-completion-and Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Groups, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139191-forms-overview.html), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/changelog/people) Use People Forms with custom profile fields and require login enabled; build a People List filtered by that field being empty to identify delinquent people. Workflows optional for follow-up automation. --- ## How would someone use Form Forward, and can others share/use their own scripts? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/how-would-someone-use-form-forward-and-can-others-share-use-their-own Category: How-To Planning Center products: General Users sign up for Form Forward directly; for sharing scripts, GitHub is the standard practice in the community. --- ## In search of training for how to view and edit workflow cards URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/in-search-of-training-for-how-to-view-and-edit-workflow-cards Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139203-workflow-overview.html), Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/blog/2024/08/give-volunteers-access-to-workflow-cards), Threefold Solutions guide (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/maximizing-planning-center-workflows) Point the Connections team to Planning Center's Workflow overview docs and assign the correct workflow permission so volunteers can view, edit, and add notes to their cards. --- ## Is Registrations admin access the only way for a staff member to see a person's full registration activity? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/is-registrations-admin-access-the-only-way-for-a-staff-member-to-see-a Category: Permissions Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Confirmed: Registrations has only Administrator (full account-wide view/edit) and Manager (edit access limited to signups they're added to as contributor) tiers, with no read-only viewer role, so Administrator is the only way to get account-wide visibility into a person's registration activity. --- ## Is it a security concern to have unverified phone numbers in Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/is-it-a-security-concern-to-have-unverified-phone-numbers-in-planning Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/141275-log-in-to-church-center.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139323-change-signup-settings.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138581-merge-duplicate-profiles.html) Phone numbers can be OTP-verified when used as Church Center login credentials; the real gap is guest/no-login signups and secondary registrants. Duplicate detection uses name not phone, and no auth is granted via phone number alone — this is a data quality concern, not a security one. --- ## Is there a 12-week limit on how far ahead you can schedule plans in Planning Center Services? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/is-there-a-12-week-limit-on-how-far-ahead-you-can-schedule-plans-in Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/services), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) The Add Plans popup creates up to 12 plans per batch; it is not a scheduling limit. Run Add Plans multiple times and advance the Starting On date for each batch to build the full schedule. --- ## Is there a setting to show all instances of a recurring event in the calendar list, not just the next one? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/is-there-a-setting-to-show-all-instances-of-a-recurring-event-in-the Category: How-To Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/137799-customize-the-calendar-view.html), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/137811-show-events-on-church-center.html) No setting exists — both the admin table view and Church Center gallery view show only the next upcoming instance; month view is the only way to see all instances by date. --- ## Is there a tutorial video or support article to build a Facilities Manager dashboard in Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/is-there-a-tutorial-video-or-support-article-to-build-a-facilities Category: How-To Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/university), Planning Center on YouTube (http://youtube.com/planningcenter) Planning Center Calendar is the facilities management tool; PCU training videos and YouTube walkthroughs cover setup for rooms, resources, and approvals. --- ## Is there a way to create a survey in Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/is-there-a-way-to-create-a-survey-in-planning-center Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139191-forms-overview.html), Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/blog/2018/07/people-forms) Use Forms in Planning Center People to build and send a survey; share the public link and view responses on profiles. --- ## Is there a way to easily switch between two churches on a PC (replant)? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/is-there-a-way-to-easily-switch-between-two-churches-on-a-pc-replant Category: How-To Planning Center products: Accounts Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/141277-connect-your-churches.html), Planning Center documentation (https://pcopeople.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115012408307-Link-accounts-from-multiple-churches) Link the two accounts (same name, login method, and password) so you can switch churches from the org dropdown in the top-right without logging in again. --- ## Is there a way to enforce name capitalization in Planning Center forms? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/is-there-a-way-to-enforce-name-capitalization-in-planning-center-forms Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139191-forms-overview.html), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138573-profile-overview.html) No native capitalization enforcement exists; workaround is CSV export + PROPER() fix + re-import for existing records, and a People workflow review step for new submissions. --- ## Is there a way to get all attendance stats from Groups, Check-Ins, and Headcounts into one combined report? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/is-there-a-way-to-get-all-attendance-stats-from-groups-check-ins-and Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins, Groups Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/) No single cross-product attendance report exists in Planning Center; each app reports separately, but Groups has a CSV export and Check-Ins/Headcounts share one reporting area. Combining fully requires exporting CSVs from each app. --- ## Is there a way to map member addresses and show who lives within X miles of a specific person? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/is-there-a-way-to-map-member-addresses-and-show-who-lives-within-x Category: Integration Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcopeople.zendesk.com/) No native map/radius tool in Planning Center People. Official workaround is CSV export to Google My Maps for basic mapping; use BatchGeo or Maptive for radius/proximity filtering. --- ## Is there a way to print registration forms with answers besides using browser print? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/is-there-a-way-to-print-registration-forms-with-answers-besides-using Category: How-To Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcoregistrations.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360034134394-Create-reports-on-attendees) No native individual form print exists beyond browser print on the registrant record; bulk data available via CSV export (includes question answers) or built-in Guest List report. --- ## Is there a way to recover a deleted event in Planning Center Calendar? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/is-there-a-way-to-recover-a-deleted-event-in-planning-center-calendar Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcocalendar.zendesk.com/) Deleted Calendar events are permanent and cannot be recovered; no trash or restore feature exists. Recommendation: use Hide/Unpublish instead of Delete going forward, and contact Planning Center support as a last resort. --- ## Is there a way to search the text content inside documents stored as media items in Planning Center Services? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/is-there-a-way-to-search-the-text-content-inside-documents-stored-as Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcoservices.zendesk.com/) Planning Center Services media search indexes titles only, not document content; workarounds include a Description field for keywords on song items, rich tag/theme structure, or an external Google Sheet index. --- ## Is there a workflow for tracking when someone downloads the Church Center app and creates a profile? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/is-there-a-workflow-for-tracking-when-someone-downloads-the-church Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) No real-time download notification exists; use a People list filtered by Church Center usage, set to auto-refresh, with an automation to push new users into a workflow for follow-up. --- ## Is there an age limit for Checkr background checks? Does it block ordering for people under 18? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/is-there-an-age-limit-for-checkr-background-checks-does-it-block Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Checkr cannot run checks on minors; use manual background check for under-18 volunteers set to expire on their 18th birthday. --- ## Looking for examples of multicampus setup in Church Center (campuses for language congregations) URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/looking-for-examples-of-multicampus-setup-in-church-center-campuses-for Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Church Center Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/137764-multi-campus-setups.html), Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/use-cases/multicampus-churches), Planning Center documentation (https://support.planningcenteronline.com/hc/en-us/articles/36099397083291-Set-up-a-multi-campus-church) Add campuses in Account Settings; campus tags then let congregants filter events by campus in Church Center — a common pattern for separating language congregations. --- ## Pledge campaign start date: will past fund donations count, and is a joint donor checkbox needed on the commitment form? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/pledge-campaign-start-date-will-past-fund-donations-count-and-is-a Category: How-To Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcogiving.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360048744034-Pledge-campaigns), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138371-joint-donors.html) Campaign date range controls which donations count toward progress; backdating to 2023 will pull in past donations. Joint donors are linked at the admin level in Giving — no checkbox is required on the commitment form, but a 'gives jointly with' field on physical pledge cards helps admins know to set it up. --- ## Should I allow congregants to manage household members in Church Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/should-i-allow-congregants-to-manage-household-members-in-church-center Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/141285-manage-household-members.html), Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/blog/2024/01/admin-relief-let-congregants-manage-their-own-household-details) Yes for most churches — enabling the Households toggle in Church Center settings reduces admin work and keeps data current; weigh against your data-accuracy preferences. --- ## Should I use separate Check-Ins events for adults and kids, or one event with multiple locations? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/should-i-use-separate-check-ins-events-for-adults-and-kids-or-one-event Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138335-check-ins-data.html), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138339-use-reports-to-track-trends.html) Both approaches work; one event with location-based report grouping can clean up messy reports without rebuilding; separate events give cleaner top-level reporting but more admin overhead; headcounts won't work for connection card tracking since individual names are needed. --- ## Should room reservations be set up as a separate calendar or part of the main calendar in Planning Center, and should those events be published? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/should-room-reservations-be-set-up-as-a-separate-calendar-or-part-of Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/137778-add-rooms.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/143006-set-up-multiple-calendars.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/137811-show-events-on-church-center.html) Rooms are a separate section in Calendar (not calendars themselves); a dedicated Facilities calendar is optional but helpful for filtering; room reservation events should be left Unpublished so they don't appear in Church Center. --- ## Should we keep archived registration check-ins dating back to 2021? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/should-we-keep-archived-registration-check-ins-dating-back-to-2021 Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/) Archived events are hidden but data is safe; deleting is permanent and removes all attendance history from every person's record — only delete if you're sure you'll never need that data. --- ## Should we use a People form or Church Center to get attendees to update their profiles, and will a form create duplicates? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/should-we-use-a-people-form-or-church-center-to-get-attendees-to-update Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Use Church Center profile updates first (no duplicate risk), then a People form with 'Require login' enabled for collecting additional fields — duplicates are avoided when login is required or when submitters use their existing email. --- ## Staff member transitioning out of role but staying as attendee — will changing permissions and removing them from workflows break their automations? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/staff-member-transitioning-out-of-role-but-staying-as-attendee-will Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcopeople.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/1260803049869-Staff-transition) Yes — when a creator's permissions change, their automations stop running and they lose access to their workflows. Before changing permissions: reassign each automation (three-dot menu), add new collaborators/managers to workflows, lists, note categories, and custom field tabs, and ask them to reassign their workflow cards. Best practice going forward: use a service account to own automations. --- ## What Planning Center learning resources exist beyond Planning Center University and the Facebook community (webinars, in-person workshops)? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-planning-center-learning-resources-exist-beyond-planning-center Category: How-To Planning Center products: General Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/university), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/training) Beyond PCU and the Facebook group, the Planning Center YouTube channel has additional content and live PCU streams; the Customer Success team offers free walkthroughs; no regular in-person workshops from Planning Center; the Playbook is a structured third-party course option. --- ## What Planning Center tools work best for ongoing ministry signups that aren't traditional events (serving teams, interest forms, volunteer pipelines, next steps)? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-planning-center-tools-work-best-for-ongoing-ministry-signups-that Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Groups, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139191-forms-overview.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/142869-create-a-volunteer-pipeline-in-people.html), Threefold Solutions guide (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/streamline-volunteer-onboarding-optimize-with-planning-center-people-forms-amp-workflows) People Forms + Workflows handles intake and routing for most non-event signups; Groups handles ongoing community and communication lists; Registrations is not the right tool for this use case. --- ## What are Checkr nodes and how do they work with Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-are-checkr-nodes-and-how-do-they-work-with-planning-center Category: Integration Planning Center products: People Checkr nodes are part of Account Hierarchy — optional org segments (campuses, ministries, teams) used to control package access, restrict user visibility, and get invoice detail by group. --- ## What are creative uses for Planning Center forms beyond building use requests? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-are-creative-uses-for-planning-center-forms-beyond-building-use Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Calendar, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcopeople.zendesk.com/) People Forms support connection cards, prayer requests, volunteer interest, next steps, photo/video release with file upload, pastoral care requests, and background check consent; workflow field can route to different teams. --- ## What are creative ways to share a weekly announcements blog or update through Planning Center Church Center using external links like Dropbox or a website? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-are-creative-ways-to-share-a-weekly-announcements-blog-or-update Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center, People, Publishing Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcopublishing.zendesk.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/) Options include a custom page in Publishing, an external URL as a Church Center nav item (pointing to a website, Substack, Google Doc, Dropbox, etc.), or weekly push notifications with a link button. --- ## What are tap tags and where do they take people? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-are-tap-tags-and-where-do-they-take-people Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center, Publishing Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/blog/2025/07/nfc-tags-for-churches-3-easy-steps-to-tap-your-church-into-connection), Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/changelog/picolabs/new-introducing-planning-center-links-create-nfc-tags-for-church-center-for-free), Planning Center documentation (https://www.planningcenter.com/changelog/publishing/new-create-reusable-links-for-qr-codes-and-nfc-tags) Tap tags are NFC stickers/cards that work like a tap-friendly version of QR codes. You write any URL to them and people tap their phone to open it. Most churches point them at Church Center pages (giving form, connect card, event signup), which is why they look cleaner than a full website page. Planning Center Links is the free iOS app for programming them, and the new redirect feature lets you change destinations without reprogramming the tag. --- ## What are the differences between attendee fields, attendee questions, the attendee information form, and a People form in Planning Center Registrations, and when should each be used for VBS? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-are-the-differences-between-attendee-fields-attendee-questions-the Category: How-To Planning Center products: People, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcoregistrations.zendesk.com/) Use selection type attendee fields for profile-syncing core info, attendee questions for up to 5 event-specific items (with 15-minute timer caveat), attendee info form for more questions post-registration, and a People form for anything requiring profile sync or conditional logic. --- ## What are the steps to set up background checks in Planning Center during a CCB migration, with the goal of eventually requiring checks on service schedules? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-are-the-steps-to-set-up-background-checks-in-planning-center Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Phase 1: connect Checkr (or enter manual checks for existing cleared volunteers), grant bg check permissions to relevant staff. Phase 2: tag teams as Secure in Services. Background check data from CCB must be manually re-entered since it doesn't migrate. --- ## What are the top 10 database maintenance lists to set up in Planning Center People? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-are-the-top-10-database-maintenance-lists-to-set-up-in-planning Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Threefold Solutions guide (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog), Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139199-common-lists.html) Top 10 maintenance lists compiled from Threefold's own blog posts: missing profile data, blocked emails, children as primary, expiring background checks, no membership type, no campus, no activity, volunteers not serving, new profiles/new here nurture, and re-engagement radar. --- ## What can contributors do in a Registrations signup, and does it restrict their access to other signups? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-can-contributors-do-in-a-registrations-signup-and-does-it-restrict Category: Permissions Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Contributors get manager-level access (edit signup settings/payments for that event) scoped only to signups they're added to; they cannot see or manage other signups, create signups, or manage all payments/categories. --- ## What church texting platform is best for a 5k+ multi-ministry church — Gloo or alternatives? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-church-texting-platform-is-best-for-a-5k-multi-ministry-church Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: General Sources: clearstream.io (http://clearstream.io/), faith.tools (http://faith.tools/) Clearstream recommended over Gloo for large multi-ministry churches; credit-based pricing is more predictable than Gloo's per-ministry annual model. --- ## What devices are compatible with Planning Center Check-Ins, and what are the best budget hardware options? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-devices-are-compatible-with-planning-center-check-ins-and-what-are Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/) Used iPads (6th gen or newer) running iOS 15.6+ are the recommended budget option; Kindle Fire only works on the latest Fire HD model; off-brand Android tablets cause printer issues. --- ## What intake form or process should I use to collect all the configuration details from pastoral staff before setting up Planning Center events, classes, and signups? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-intake-form-or-process-should-i-use-to-collect-all-the Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Calendar, General, Groups, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/137813-create-and-edit-event-request-forms.html) Planning Center Calendar has a native Event Request Forms feature for Calendar events; Google Forms works well for Registrations, Groups, and Services. Include app-specific fields and a 'when do you need this live?' field. --- ## What is Services LIVE and how would it benefit a church with a separate tech booth? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-is-services-live-and-how-would-it-benefit-a-church-with-a-separate Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139479-what-is-services-live-.html) Services LIVE is a real-time service runner built into Planning Center Services that lets teams track the order of service, see countdowns, and chat — perfect for separated tech booths. --- ## What is the best Planning Center strategy to replace a website carousel/form for volunteer interest collection and route submissions to ministry leaders? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-is-the-best-planning-center-strategy-to-replace-a-website-carousel Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Use one People form per ministry area, each linked to a workflow, with the ministry leader on the form notification list; embed or link each form from the church website where the carousel was. --- ## What is the best use case for multiple calendars vs. tags in Planning Center Calendar? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-is-the-best-use-case-for-multiple-calendars-vs-tags-in-planning Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) One calendar + tag groups is best for most single-campus churches; multiple calendars are for distinct entities needing separate approval workflows or permission scopes. --- ## What is the best way to run reports of absentees for the week? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-is-the-best-way-to-run-reports-of-absentees-for-the-week Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins, People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Build a People list filtering for those who attended before but missed the last week(s); for scheduled volunteers, use the Services CHECK-INS: Absent People print report. --- ## What is the best workflow for a Groups event that needs both room/resource requests and group attendance tracking, without leaders requesting every event to the calendar? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-is-the-best-workflow-for-a-groups-event-that-needs-both-room Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Groups Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Enable a Groups feed so events auto-sync to Calendar for room/resource booking by admins; share the event request form with group types for special one-off events submitted from within Groups. --- ## What is the best workflow when a new guest family arrives 3 minutes before service? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-is-the-best-workflow-when-a-new-guest-family-arrives-3-minutes Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/) Check-Ins can create new household profiles on the spot at a manned station; Label Only mode handles one-time visitors who don't need a database record. --- ## What is the difference between files attached to an Arrangement vs. a Key in Planning Center Services, and why can't some team members see a linked file? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-is-the-difference-between-files-attached-to-an-arrangement-vs-a Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://pcoservices.zendesk.com/) Files in the Arrangement section are always visible; files in Key sections only appear when that key is selected; Limited File Visibility by position tag controls who sees what. --- ## What is the macOS minimum version for Check-Ins, and will iMacs stuck on 10.14 Mojave become fully unsupported? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-is-the-macos-minimum-version-for-check-ins-and-will-imacs-stuck-on Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/check-ins/download/mac), github.com (http://github.com/ministrycentered/check-ins-app/releases) macOS 10.15 is now the minimum; 10.14 machines were cut off at v2.0.0 and are pinned to 1.10.0 which still works but is unsupported. No published end date for 1.x. Workarounds: browser-based check-in or iOS/Android devices. --- ## What is the price difference between Checkr background check plans/packages? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-is-the-price-difference-between-checkr-background-check-plans Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Basic $12.99 (national only), Standard $24.99 (+ 1 county), Pro $34.99 (+ unlimited counties); MVR add-on $5 any package. --- ## What list conditions should I use to identify unassigned/inactive profiles for database cleanup across multiple campuses? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-list-conditions-should-i-use-to-identify-unassigned-inactive Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcopeople.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360013192194-Manage-membership), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139199-common-lists.html) Build a People list with no-activity conditions per product (Check-Ins, Giving, Groups, Services) over a chosen time window, plus a no-membership-type condition, then bulk-set results to inactive. --- ## What metrics can churches track and report on across Planning Center apps for an annual business meeting? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-metrics-can-churches-track-and-report-on-across-planning-center Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins, Giving, Groups, People, Services Sources: getparable.io (http://getparable.io/) Annual metrics can be pulled from Check-Ins (attendance trends, first-timers), Giving (donor growth, fund comparison), People (new profiles, life events via custom fields), Groups (engagement), and Services (volunteer metrics); Parable handles cross-app rollups. --- ## What month-end report shows Registrations payments paid out that month? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-month-end-report-shows-registrations-payments-paid-out-that-month Category: How-To Planning Center products: Giving, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139363-view-and-reconcile-payouts.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/142932-accept-online-donations-and-event-payments-with-planning-center-payments.html) Use Account Settings > Payments > Payouts tab; each payout report breaks down Registrations by signup and Giving by fund. Export CSV of individual payouts to track by deposit date for month-end reconciliation. --- ## What parts of a recurring Calendar event apply to every recurrence vs. a specific date? (Connections and signups) URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-parts-of-a-recurring-calendar-event-apply-to-every-recurrence-vs-a Category: How-To Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Event name, date/time, location, rooms/resources can all be edited per instance. Tags, Church Center settings, Registration URL, Connections, and task lists apply to the whole series. Task lists appear on every instance's Overview tab but are a single series-wide list. --- ## What printers work best with Planning Center Check-Ins for a mixed Windows and iPad setup, and how do I fix frequent printer connectivity issues? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-printers-work-best-with-planning-center-check-ins-for-a-mixed Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Threefold Solutions guide (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/brother-printers-and-planning-center-check-ins), Threefold Solutions guide (https://www.threefold.solutions/blog/the-bluetooth-solution-brother-printers-and-planning-center-check-ins) Brother QL-820NWB recommended for mixed Windows/iPad setups; use USB for Windows desktops and Bluetooth or Wi-Fi for iPads; fix flakiness by disabling sleep mode, template mode, ensuring 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and keeping the Check-Ins app updated to 3.0+. --- ## What should a church announcement say when switching donation platforms to Church Center, and how do donors close the old account and set up the new one? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-should-a-church-announcement-say-when-switching-donation-platforms Category: How-To Planning Center products: Church Center, Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Provided announcement title/description options plus two-step donor instructions: cancel recurring gift in the old platform, then set up a new recurring gift in Church Center (Give > amount > fund > frequency > payment method). --- ## What should a church know before using QR codes or NFC tap tags with Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-should-a-church-know-before-using-qr-codes-or-nfc-tap-tags-with Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins, Church Center, Publishing Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/apps/links), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/changelog) QR codes are mature native Check-Ins/Church Center functionality; NFC tap tags run through the separate free Planning Center Links app, a PicoLabs experiment with limited support, iPhone-only, and no included tag hardware. --- ## What should our policy be for joining donors in Planning Center Giving? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/what-should-our-policy-be-for-joining-donors-in-planning-center-giving Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Giving Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138371-joint-donors.html) Auto-joining household members is common; watch for separated/divorced couples and adult children. Both donors always receive notification email when joined. Easily unjoined if needed. --- ## What's the best philosophy for a church visitor form in Planning Center — how many questions, and what type? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/whats-the-best-philosophy-for-a-church-visitor-form-in-planning-center Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139194-common-forms.html) Keep visitor forms minimal (name, email, phone, household members); capture grade/age upfront to enable ministry workflow routing; save deeper profiling for later in the relationship. --- ## What's the best way to set up a single-entry volunteer journey that routes people into ministry-specific workflows? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/whats-the-best-way-to-set-up-a-single-entry-volunteer-journey-that Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Use a single People form with a Workflow field linked to ministry-specific workflows; the form routes each person into the right workflow based on their ministry selection. --- ## What's the best way to set up a visitor/connect card workflow using both physical and digital cards in Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/whats-the-best-way-to-set-up-a-visitor-connect-card-workflow-using-both Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Use both physical and digital cards with matching fields; have staff enter paper card data into the digital form on behalf of the visitor to keep all intake flowing through the same Planning Center workflow. --- ## What's the best way to track interpreter assignments in Planning Center so staff can see if an interpreter is already assigned? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/whats-the-best-way-to-track-interpreter-assignments-in-planning-center Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Use a dropdown custom field on person profiles (options: Needed–Unassigned, Assigned–[Name]) combined with a People List filtered by that field so all staff can see interpreter status at a glance. --- ## What's the process for getting AT&T and Verizon users to receive Planning Center notifications? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/whats-the-process-for-getting-at-t-and-verizon-users-to-receive Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/142891-set-up-and-respond-to-text-notifications.html) AT&T and Verizon no longer support the SMS gateway used by Services; the fix is switching those users to in-app push notifications via the Services mobile app. --- ## When is the best time to switch to the Canadian grade system in Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/when-is-the-best-time-to-switch-to-the-canadian-grade-system-in Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) The grade system switch (Accounts > Localization > Local Grades) is a display and naming change only — no data migrates. Make the switch during a quiet midweek before grade promotion so labels are correct when you promote: the week before Promotion Sunday, after the last children’s ministry event of the school year, and before VBS registrations open. Update any Check-Ins grade filters immediately after. --- ## When should I use a Registrations form vs. a People form vs. a Calendar event request form? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/when-should-i-use-a-registrations-form-vs-a-people-form-vs-a-calendar Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) People forms collect profile data and trigger workflows; Registrations is for event signups (paid/capacity/named attendees); Calendar event request forms are internal staff tools to request events on the church calendar. --- ## Where can I find YouTube videos to learn Planning Center as a new user transitioning from another system? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/where-can-i-find-youtube-videos-to-learn-planning-center-as-a-new-user Category: How-To Planning Center products: General Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/university), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/training), Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/getting-started) Pointed to Planning Center University (PCU) free video series and Getting Started guide for transitions; mentioned Threefold YouTube channel as bonus resource. --- ## Where can I find training on how to view and edit workflow cards for our Connections team? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/where-can-i-find-training-on-how-to-view-and-edit-workflow-cards-for Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Point the team to Planning Center's 'Follow a card through a workflow' docs — how to open cards, add notes, snooze, and reassign — plus the toolbar widget for quick access. --- ## Where can I store volunteer t-shirt sizes in Planning Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/where-can-i-store-volunteer-t-shirt-sizes-in-planning-center Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138571-manage-custom-fields.html) Use a custom field (dropdown) in People for persistent profile data, or a registration form question if it's event-specific. --- ## Where do I enter a call time when adding a new team to Services? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/where-do-i-enter-a-call-time-when-adding-a-new-team-to-services Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139401-add-and-assign-times.html) The Team Assignments 'Time Assignments' popup only lets you check boxes for existing rehearsal/other times already created in the plan; to get a new call time onto that list, you must first create it via Add Time > Other tab, name/schedule it, and assign the new team there. --- ## Where is the 'Update home phone/address for all household members' option? Is it a permissions issue? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/where-is-the-update-home-phone-address-for-all-household-members-option Category: How-To Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138577-households.html) The option only appears when the address field type is set to 'Home'. Not a permissions issue if the user can already edit the address. --- ## Which Brother printer setting controls the name shown in Planning Center Check-Ins? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/which-brother-printer-setting-controls-the-name-shown-in-planning Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins The displayed name comes from AirPrint > Advanced Settings > Location, not Printer Name or the mDNS Service Name. The printer appears as 'Brother QL-820NWB - [Location field value]'; testing confirmed the model prefix cannot be changed. --- ## Which barcode scanner should I use for Planning Center Check-Ins? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/which-barcode-scanner-should-i-use-for-planning-center-check-ins Category: Best Practice Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138283-software-and-hardware-for-check-ins.html) Any 2D scanner that sends an enter-key suffix works; 2D recommended for QR/mobile passes; iOS/Android can skip a scanner and use built-in camera. --- ## Who can see background checks in Planning Center? Is there a permission to only view status but not the reason/details? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/who-can-see-background-checks-in-planning-center-is-there-a-permission Category: Permissions Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Org admins see everything; background check admins see full details; People admins without BC permissions only see Clear badge; Check-Ins/Services users only see if BC is missing. --- ## Why are kids checking into the wrong class at self check-in stations when age/grade filters are set? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-are-kids-checking-into-the-wrong-class-at-self-check-in-stations Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/19675339843227-Filtering-people-into-locations), Planning Center documentation (https://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204461980-Location-Filters-Logic), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138338-track-a-person-s-activity.html) Self stations only show locations a child fits based on profile data (birthdate/grade). If multiple locations match or profile data is missing/incorrect, kids land in the wrong room. Fix: audit each child's Available Locations in their profile, ensure birthdates and grades are complete, and tighten location filters so only one location matches per child. --- ## Why are only some campuses showing up in Calendar's campus tags section? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-are-only-some-campuses-showing-up-in-calendars-campus-tags-section Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/137775-campus-tags.html) Campuses added to account settings after Calendar tags were already set up don't sync automatically — user must manually run 'Set up campus tags' in Calendar settings to add the missing ones. --- ## Why aren't blockout dates and scheduling conflicts being recognized when applying templates in Services? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-arent-blockout-dates-and-scheduling-conflicts-being-recognized-when Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/139401-add-and-assign-times.html) Teams must be assigned to a service time in each plan; without this, blockout dates, conflicts, and preferences are ignored by Planning Center. --- ## Why can overlapping toddler and preschool age filters route every child to one Check-Ins room? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-can-overlapping-toddler-and-preschool-age-filters-route-every-child Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138203-filter-people-into-locations.html) When two Check-Ins locations have the same age window and cutoff, every matching child can route to whichever location wins the ordering tiebreak. Give each room a distinct, non-overlapping age range and verify the cutoff year on both. --- ## Why can't Music Stand auto-import Lead Sheets from CCLI SongSelect like Worship Tools can? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-cant-music-stand-auto-import-lead-sheets-from-ccli-songselect-like Category: Integration Planning Center products: Music Stand CCLI doesn't make Lead Sheets available in their API to Planning Center. Worship Tools can do it because it's a CCLI product. Workaround is manual PDF upload; feature requires CCLI to open their API. --- ## Why can't parents update their child's grade in Planning Center, and how do we fix incorrect grades at scale? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-cant-parents-update-their-childs-grade-in-planning-center-and-how Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins, People Parents can only fill in an empty grade field; once populated, only admins can change it. Fix bad grade data first via List + Bulk Actions, then run Promote Grades. A Church Center setting now allows configuring whether grades are editable. --- ## Why do kids show as 'already checked in' on Day 2+ of multi-day VBS when using Registrations + Check-Ins? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-do-kids-show-as-already-checked-in-on-day-2-of-multi-day-vbs-when Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Check-Ins, Registrations Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Set the Check-Ins event frequency to Daily so each VBS night starts a fresh session; or manually start a new session each day from the event Settings tab. --- ## Why do some children get two tags printed during check-in? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-do-some-children-get-two-tags-printed-during-check-in Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138208-add-labels-to-events-and-locations.html) Labels set at both the event level and the location level stack and print both — remove the duplicate from whichever level is unintentional, and verify label quantity is not set to 2. --- ## Why does Planning Center Services list song creators as 'authors' instead of 'composers'? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-does-planning-center-services-list-song-creators-as-authors-instead Category: How-To Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/139428-add-a-song-to-the-library.html) Planning Center mirrors CCLI's terminology, which uses 'author' as a catch-all for all song creators (lyricists and composers). Songs imported from CCLI SongSelect carry that label, and manually added songs follow the same convention. --- ## Why does a child's check-in label show 1st grade when their profile says Kinder? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-does-a-childs-check-in-label-show-1st-grade-when-their-profile-says Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Check-Ins The check-in label reflects the location name, not the grade on the child's profile. If a location is named '1st Grade' and has a grade filter spanning K–1st, kids will check into it and get that label. Fix: rename the location to 'Kinder' and narrow the grade filter to K only. --- ## Why does merging duplicate profiles now show a long warning about payment methods and pending giving being deleted? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-does-merging-duplicate-profiles-now-show-a-long-warning-about Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: People Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/en/138581-merge-duplicate-profiles.html) Expected behavior — saved payment methods from the removed profile are not carried over on merge; active recurring donations move to primary profile but need a new payment method assigned by the donor in Church Center. --- ## Why does the monthly attendance view in Planning Center Check-Ins show a higher number than the weekly view for the same period? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-does-the-monthly-attendance-view-in-planning-center-check-ins-show Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/) Monthly view counts unique individuals across the whole month, not an average; weekly view counts unique individuals per week — irregular attenders inflate the monthly number. --- ## Why doesn't the Unique Groups type show up when assigning Group Type Manager permissions? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-doesnt-the-unique-groups-type-show-up-when-assigning-group-type Category: Permissions Planning Center products: Groups Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://pcogroups.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/218517558) Unique Groups is a built-in system type that cannot be edited, deleted, or have managers assigned to it. The fix is to create a new custom group type and move the relevant groups into it, then assign the manager to that type. --- ## Why don't new families appear on the classroom roster after checking in? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-dont-new-families-appear-on-the-classroom-roster-after-checking-in Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138213-create-a-station.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138214-manage-station-settings.html), Planning Center documentation (https://help.planningcenter.com/en/138321-checking-out.html) Roster Ready tab populates from past check-in history; new families have none, so they only appear on the Here tab after checking in. Teachers should use the Here tab to confirm arrivals and check out. --- ## Why has my default Calendar view added a filter for Approved and Pending? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-has-my-default-calendar-view-added-a-filter-for-approved-and-pending Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Calendar Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://planningcenter.com/changelog) Aug 11, 2026 update split the old approval status filter into Booking status and Event request status; every event now has a status under one, so unchecking both empties the calendar by design — this is the new default, not a stuck filter. --- ## Why is a Planning Center group not appearing in Church Center? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-is-a-planning-center-group-not-appearing-in-church-center Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Groups Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Publish the built-in Groups page in Publishing, then set the individual group to Listed in its own settings. Also check its tags, enrollment status, and confidentiality settings. --- ## Why isn't the Next Live Service banner showing on Church Center Sermons page? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-isnt-the-next-live-service-banner-showing-on-church-center-sermons Category: Planning Center Planning Center products: Church Center, Publishing The Next Live banner only replaces the most recent past episode once that episode is at least 14 days old; confirmed both by Planning Center support and by direct testing (13 days = past episode shown, 15 days = banner shown). --- ## Why isn't there a Services tab in Church Center for a volunteer's scheduling requests? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/why-isnt-there-a-services-tab-in-church-center-for-a-volunteers Category: Troubleshooting Planning Center products: Services Sources: Planning Center documentation (http://help.planningcenter.com/) Services doesn't have its own Church Center nav tab; scheduling requests and upcoming plans show under the profile icon on the Me page instead, so no setting needs to be turned on. --- ## Will a label only visitor show on the roster in future sessions and be suggested when the family checks in again? URL: https://www.threefold.solutions/planning-center-question-bank/will-a-label-only-visitor-show-on-the-roster-in-future-sessions-and-be Category: How-To Planning Center products: Check-Ins Sources: Planning Center documentation (https://pcocheck-ins.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204262814-Check-in-visitors) Label only visitors are not saved to the database — they won't appear on future rosters or be suggested at future check-ins. Use the full Add Person flow instead to persist them.