Technology helps leaders overcome the hurdles of church planting

As the Exponential Conference kicks off, I can't help but think about how technology helps leaders overcome the hurdles of church planting. In fact, I had a great conversation with a few Stadia church planters about that very subject last night and I have to say it was really exciting to hear. I believe local communities of believers is exactly how God intended to spread the gospel. Church planting helps ensure new communities are emerging to reach even more people. Isn't that what it's all about, anyway?

I’ve been privileged to work with a number of church planters as well as leaders in that space. Church Community Builder works hard to make sure we can offer something beneficial to even the smallest of churches. We believe that if you can begin with great systems, you’ll not only grow faster but will also be able to sustain that growth over time.

Some of the biggest hurdles to church planting are:

  • Location
    You might not always meet in the same place, especially if you can’t find one location that offers all the needed space. How do you keep everyone in sync?
  • Communication
    Print is expensive and slow. How do you get the word out last minute? People are likely to interact with your church website even more than they will your physical location.
  • Staying Connected
    Meeting together in person is important, but it’s not always practical. How can you stay connected even when you can’t be physically present?
  • Follow up
    A few hundred people show up. If you’re at the beginning of the planting experience, chances are many of those faces are new. How do you capture their information and ensure you follow up before they slip through the cracks?
  • Generosity
    People are looking for a place to invest their financial resources. Why make it difficult when they can give to any cause or church by simply going online?
  • Messaging Options
    How do you deliver a personal touch point when communicating face-to-face just doesn’t make sense? Video? eNewsletter? Blog?
  • Volunteers
    Everyone is likely a volunteer when a church starts. If the church is lucky enough to have the resources up front to pay a staff member, it’s most likely the lead pastor. Recruiting and placing volunteers is vital to growing a healthy leadership base.
  • Small groups
    Getting people connected with a group of peers they can do life with will transform your church. How can you help make it easy for people to discover the groups available to join and get connected?

You don’t have to be an established church or even a big church to struggle with developing these different leadership areas. The right church management software coupled with mainstream social technology can move you forward faster than you might have first thought possible. Why wait until you are healthy and big to invest in technology to help you define and manage these processes when you’ll never get healthy or big without them?

How has technology accelerated the growth and success of your church plant?


Posted by Steve Caton on Apr 23, 2012 11:15:39 PM