Does Your Church Really Need an Online Member Directory?
Moving your church towards success in the future means adapting new techniques and tools. One of these is the online church directory. It is a central place to keep track of members, donors, and project management.
In the Scriptures, we are always encouraged to stay open to change, and embrace new ways of operating, even if those new ways might be a bit out of our comfort zone.
We read about this in Isaiah 43:19
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
If you already have a traditional online directory, you may be wondering if it is really necessary to move to the online option. Wouldn’t it serve the same purpose? Is it necessary? Is it, in the end, worth all the time and effort spent on going digital?
In this article, we list a few reasons why moving your directory to an online platform will, in fact, benefit your church.
1. Convenience
This is the most obvious of the list, and who doesn’t want more convenience and more time? Think of the transitions your church made from regular mail to email. Long gone are the days of waiting in line at the post office, when you can just send an email. Email solutions are now even easier with smartphone email apps. Transitioning to an online directory cuts time and costs. It’s simply more efficient.
2. Ease of Access
Those who may be in quarantine restrictions are not able to attend regular services or church meetings, due to the pandemic, will appreciate access to church announcements and group messages. Church members who live in far-flung mission fields can still access other members online. They might also want to organize their own activities, and finding members in the online directory makes this easier.
3. A Clean & Secure Database
An online directory allows your members to all have secure online profiles, which they can then update. They choose their own profile picture, have options to link to their businesses or other websites, and everyone has a clear, clean, professionally displayed persona.
4. You Become Searchable
One of the best things you can do for your church is help potential new members find you. Invest in building a good website and online directory, so that you stand out among thousands of churches. Don’t risk losing out on donors, and potential sponsorship.
5. Ideal Admin Solutions
One of the most common problems churches face is bad management. An online directory will give your administrators an easy solution for dealing with all the data and information they need to stay on top of.
6. Track tithes and sponsorship
There are other apps for tithing, but the online directory acts as a center-point for reference. Donors who have special interests in particular projects or fundraisers can also stay updated on the directory with progress reports.
7. Youth Appeal
Many churches struggle to inspire young people, and need more solutions to combat loneliness. A directory can be a way to locate the youth in your area and encourage them to watch your livestreamed videos, join activities, and make new friends. It can be a social network of sorts for them.
8. A Self-Managed Solution
Members can update their own information, addresses, photos and profiles. This gives them more personal control on their data and which information is being shared. Personal security and trust is essential for every church, no matter where in the world you are.
9. An Eco-Friendly Solution
In the past, churches had to rely on paperwork, signup sheets, and lots of documentation. Today, dealing in this way is unnecessary. Travelling pastors and admins will also appreciate having info and data they need at their fingertips, without carrying around heavy binders.
10. More Website Traffic
Your online directory links everyone to your main website, and also makes incoming traffic soar. For more information on getting setup with digital solutions that make church marketing easy, see our resources and tools pages.
A Final Note on Security
It is important to keep security a high priority when transitioning to any digital communications. This is especially vital when handling tithes, finances, and personal information of donors and sponsors. Each admin on your online member directory should have adequate knowledge of setting passwords, keeping files secure, and sharing only information that they have permission to.
You might feel you are ready to move your church member directory online, but you still have plenty of questions.
Don’t forget Jeremiah 29:11: ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
Contact us to arrange a Discovery Call, and we will be here to answer any questions you may have. We have worked with churches all over the world, and guarantee that as you move into a new way of doing things, your ministry will grow and thrive.
For more information on digital tools for your church, call us at Donorwerx. We also offer church leaders online coaching for digital skills. Don’t wait to set up your member directory today.
