Discipleship groups play an incredibly important role in creating accountability and building a sense of community within the church. They provide a space where individuals can dig deeper into God’s Word with brothers and sisters in Christ. When thoughtfully structured, these programs can provide a venue for profound life change.

One of the key benefits of a well-organized discipleship program is the opportunity for personal and spiritual development. In a smaller, more intimate setting, members feel more comfortable sharing their struggles, asking questions, and exploring their faith in depth. This environment helps to create genuine relationships, accountability, and a sense of belonging, each of which are essential for spiritual maturity.

A structured discipleship group program ensures that everyone, regardless of where they are in their faith in Jesus Christ, has access to consistent guidance and support. It helps create a cohesive community where members can learn from one another, celebrate milestones, and navigate challenges together. By investing time and resources into developing these groups, churches can cultivate a vibrant, spiritually healthy congregation equipped to impact their community for Christ.

Understanding Discipleship Groups

What is a Discipleship Group?

A discipleship group is a small, intentional gathering of individuals committed to growing in their faith and supporting one another on their spiritual journeys. These groups typically consist of 5-12 people who meet regularly to study the Bible, pray, and discuss life applications of Christian principles.

The primary purpose of a discipleship group is to encourage spiritual growth through practices like studying scripture, praying for one another, and holding each other accountable to living out Christian values. The focus is on glorifying Christ through personal transformation and community building.

Why Are Discipleship Groups Important?

Spiritual Benefits: Discipleship groups provide a structured environment for spiritual growth. By regularly engaging with scripture and sharing insights, members can deepen their understanding of their faith and develop a closer relationship with God.

Social Benefits: These groups also offer significant social benefits. They create a sense of belonging and provide a support network where members can share their joys, challenges, and experiences. According to a study by the Barna Group, individuals involved in small groups are more likely to report higher levels of satisfaction and connectedness within their church community.

Communal Benefits: On a broader scale, discipleship groups strengthen the entire church community. They build up unity and encourage members to serve together to support church initiatives. This communal aspect is crucial, as it helps the church function as a cohesive body, capable of making a greater impact both within and outside the church walls.

Steps to Develop a Discipleship Group Program

Step 1: Assess the Needs of Your Congregation

The first step in developing a discipleship group program is to understand the specific needs of your congregation. Conducting a needs assessment helps you identify areas where members may require additional support, resources, or opportunities for growth.

Tools and Methods for Gathering Information:

• Surveys: Distribute surveys to gather feedback from your congregation. These can be paper-based or digital, depending on your church’s resources. Include questions about spiritual needs, preferred meeting times, and topics of interest.
• Interviews: Conduct one-on-one or small group interviews with church members. This personal approach can provide deeper insights into individual needs and preferences.
• Focus Groups: Organize focus group discussions with members of your congregation. These sessions can reveal common themes and areas for improvement in your current programs.
• Observation: Attend various church activities and observe interactions and participation levels. This can help identify unspoken needs and areas of interest.

Step 2: Define Your Goals and Objectives

Once you’ve assessed the needs of your congregation, the next step is to set clear, achievable goals for your discipleship program. Having well-defined objectives ensures that your program is focused and effective.

Guide on Setting Clear, Achievable Goals:

• Be Specific: Clearly articulate what you want to achieve. For example, instead of saying “improve spiritual growth,” specify “increase Bible study participation by 20% in the next six months.”
• Be Measurable: Establish criteria to track progress. Use metrics such as attendance numbers, feedback surveys, and personal testimonies.
• Be Attainable: Set realistic goals that consider your church’s resources and capabilities.
• Be Relevant: Ensure that your goals align with the overall mission and vision of your church.
• Be Time-bound: Set deadlines to create a sense of urgency and motivation.

Step 3: Recruit and Train Leaders

The success of your discipleship groups largely depends on the quality of your leaders. Identifying and training capable leaders is essential for maintaining a vibrant and effective program.

Tips on Identifying and Recruiting Potential Leaders:

• Look for Passion: Seek individuals who are passionate about their faith and eager to help others grow spiritually.
• Assess Skills: Identify members with strong interpersonal skills, the ability to facilitate discussions, and a heart for service.
• Encourage Diversity: Aim for a diverse group of leaders to reflect the varied backgrounds and experiences within your congregation.
• Personal Invitations: Personally invite potential leaders to consider this role and communicate to them the impact they can make.

Outline a Training Program for New Leaders:

• Initial Training: Provide an introductory training session covering the basics of discipleship, group dynamics, and facilitation skills.
• Ongoing Support: Offer regular training workshops, mentoring, and peer support groups to help leaders continue developing their skills.
• Resource Provision: Equip leaders with study materials, discussion guides, and access to additional resources.
• Feedback Mechanisms: Establish a system for leaders to share feedback and receive guidance, ensuring continuous improvement and support.

Step 4: Choose the Right Curriculum

Selecting the appropriate curriculum is crucial for the success of your discipleship groups. A well-chosen curriculum provides structure, direction, and depth to your group’s study sessions.

Criteria for Selecting a Discipleship Curriculum:

• Theological Soundness: Ensure the curriculum aligns with your church’s beliefs and doctrinal stance.
• Relevance: Choose materials that address the current needs and interests of your group members.
• Engagement: Select resources that are interactive and encourage active participation.
• Flexibility: Look for curricula that can be adapted to various group sizes and dynamics.
• Ease of Use: Ensure that leaders can easily understand and implement the materials.

Suggested Curricula:

• “The Master Plan of Evangelism” by Robert E. Coleman: This classic work focuses on Jesus’ method of discipleship and evangelism.
• “Discipleship Essentials” by Greg Ogden: A comprehensive guide designed for small group study, covering key aspects of Christian discipleship.
• “Rooted” by Mariners Church: A 10-week curriculum that integrates daily devotionals, group discussions, and service experiences.
• “Transformational Discipleship” by Eric Geiger, Michael Kelley, and Philip Nation: Offers a framework for understanding and guiding spiritual transformation.

Step 5: Organize and Launch Your Groups

Organizing and launching your discipleship groups effectively sets the stage for long-term success.

Steps for Organizing Groups:

• Group Size: Aim for groups of 5-12 members to ensure meaningful interaction and accountability.
• Meeting Frequency: Decide on a consistent meeting schedule, such as weekly or bi-weekly, that works for most members.
• Location: Choose convenient and comfortable meeting places, whether at the church, members’ homes, or online.

Tips for a Successful Launch Event:

• Promotion: Use church announcements, social media, and personal invitations to generate interest and excitement.
• Welcome Session: Host an initial meeting to introduce the program, outline expectations, and allow members to get to know each other.
• Icebreakers: Use fun and engaging icebreaker activities to help members feel comfortable and build rapport.
• Resource Distribution: Provide members with any necessary materials, such as study guides or reading plans.

Step 6: Promote Your Discipleship Program

Promoting your discipleship program effectively ensures that it reaches and resonates with your congregation.

Strategies for Promoting the Program Within Your Church Community:

• Announcements: Regularly share updates and invitations during church services and events.
• Testimonies: Highlight stories from current or past group members to illustrate the program’s impact.
• Bulletin and Newsletters: Include information about the program in church bulletins and newsletters.

Using Digital Tools and Platforms for Promotion:

• Social Media: Utilize platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to share engaging content and updates.
• Church Website: Dedicate a section of your church website to the discipleship program, including details and sign-up options.
• Email Campaigns: Send targeted emails to your congregation with information, testimonials, and registration links.
• Online Communities: Leverage online groups or forums where church members can discuss and promote the program.

Best Practices for Sustaining Discipleship Groups

Regular Check-ins and Support

The ongoing success of your discipleship groups relies heavily on the support and encouragement provided to group leaders.

Importance of Ongoing Support for Group Leaders:

• Consistency: Regular check-ins help maintain consistency and address any challenges leaders might face.
• Encouragement: Continuous support and encouragement can prevent burnout and keep leaders motivated.
• Accountability: Regular interactions provide accountability and ensure leaders are following the program’s guidelines and objectives.

Methods for Providing Support and Encouragement:

• Monthly Meetings: Host monthly meetings where leaders can share experiences, discuss challenges, and learn from one another.
• Mentorship Programs: Pair new leaders with experienced mentors who can offer guidance and support.
• Resource Sharing: Regularly provide leaders with new study materials, discussion guides, and other resources to keep their groups engaged.
• Personal Check-ins: Schedule one-on-one check-ins with leaders to offer personalized support and address specific concerns.

Celebrate Successes

Recognizing and celebrating successes within your discipleship groups fosters a positive atmosphere and encourages continued participation.

Share Testimonials and Stories to Inspire Others:

• Personal Testimonies: Encourage members to share their personal stories and experiences with the wider church community.
• Video Highlights: Create short videos featuring testimonials and highlights from group activities to share on social media and during services.
• Written Stories: Include written testimonials and stories in church bulletins, newsletters, or on the church website.

By implementing these best practices, you can ensure the long-term success and sustainability of your discipleship groups, creating a thriving environment for spiritual growth and community building within your church.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the ideal size for a discipleship group?

The ideal size for a discipleship group is typically between 5 to 12 members. This size allows for meaningful interactions, personal sharing, and accountability while ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate and be heard. Groups that are too large can become unwieldy and less intimate, whereas groups that are too small may lack diverse perspectives and sufficient support.

How often should discipleship groups meet?

Discipleship groups should meet regularly, with weekly or bi-weekly meetings being the most effective. Consistent gatherings help build a routine, foster deeper relationships, and ensure steady progress in spiritual growth. The frequency of meetings can be adjusted based on the needs and schedules of the group members, but maintaining a regular rhythm is crucial for sustained engagement and growth.

What materials do we need to start a discipleship group?

To start a discipleship group, you’ll need several key materials:

• Bible: A reliable translation that all members can easily read and understand.
• Curriculum: A structured study guide or curriculum that aligns with your church’s theology and the group’s objectives. Examples include “Discipleship Essentials” by Greg Ogden or “Rooted” by Mariners Church.
• Discussion Guides: Questions and topics to facilitate discussion and ensure focused, meaningful conversations.
• Journals and Notebooks: For members to take notes, reflect on discussions, and record their spiritual growth.
• Additional Resources: Books, articles, or multimedia resources that complement the main curriculum and provide further insights.

How do we measure the success of our discipleship program?

Measuring the success of your discipleship program involves both quantitative and qualitative assessments:

• Attendance and Participation: Track attendance rates and participation levels to ensure members are engaged and committed.
• Spiritual Growth: Use surveys and personal testimonies to gauge members’ spiritual growth and transformation.
• Goal Achievement: Evaluate whether the group is meeting its predefined goals and objectives, such as increased Bible study participation or deeper relationships among members.
• Feedback: Regularly gather feedback from group members and leaders to understand what is working well and what needs improvement.
• Community Impact: Assess how the group is impacting the broader church community, including involvement in church activities and outreach efforts.

Conclusion

Developing a discipleship group program is a powerful way to foster spiritual growth, strengthen community bonds, and nurture a vibrant church environment. By carefully assessing the needs of your congregation, setting clear goals, recruiting and training capable leaders, selecting the right curriculum, and organizing and promoting your groups effectively, you can create a program that truly transforms lives.

Sustaining these groups requires regular check-ins and support for leaders, gathering feedback to make necessary adjustments, and celebrating the successes and milestones of the groups. These practices not only ensure the program’s longevity but also enhance its impact on the spiritual journeys of the participants.

Remember, the ultimate goal of discipleship groups is to help individuals grow closer to God and each other. As you implement and refine your discipleship group program, keep this mission at the forefront, and you’ll see your church community thrive in faith, unity, and purpose. Together, you can create a nurturing environment where everyone can experience the transformative power of discipleship and live out their faith in meaningful ways.

It ain’t easy being a pastor.

Facing a tension-filled political landscape, changing church attendance patterns, and a growing mental health epidemic, the dynamics of pastoring are increasing as quickly as they’re changing.

It’s as if being a pastor in the 21st century demands a combination of the preaching skills of Dwight Moody, the missional nature of Elisabeth Elliott, the creativity of Steve Jobs, the leadership of Abraham Lincoln, and the determination of Frederick Douglas.

With that kind of pressure, you don’t need anyone adding anything else to your already full plate. So it’s with as much empathy as I can muster that I bring up the topic of digital discipleship.

Hear me out—Digital discipleship isn’t something to add to your ever-growing list, but instead, a way to build a stronger community, deploy more resources, and enhance your church’s process of disciple-making.

Why Digital Discipleship Matters

Amid these challenges, the concept of digital discipleship emerges not as an additional burden but as a strategic opportunity. (Will you read that one more time to let it sink in?)

Digital discipleship is a pathway to strengthening community bonds, optimizing resource allocation, and enriching the journey of growth for both pastor and parishioner alike.

Tools for Facilitating Digital Discipleship

Digital discipleship tools often include the following:

1. Online Giving: Embrace the simplicity and accessibility of online giving as a means of cultivating generosity and fostering spiritual transformation. Increase your cadence of how much you’re talking about it on stage. I love the language, “Giving online is the easiest and best way to give.” Why not say that every time you’re in front of your church?
2. Apps: Embrace the potential of digital apps to extend the reach of ministry beyond the church walls. With features like daily devotionals, prayer forums, and event registrations, apps provide a platform for ongoing engagement and growth. Great churches are leveraging their church app to allow parishioners to pray for each other more consistently, empowering congregants to integrate faith into every aspect of their lives. Don’t just have an app. Go all in on it!
3. Livestreaming: Define the purpose of your livestream. Too many churches have adopted livestreaming practices without thinking through why they’re doing it. Once you’ve done that, let the strategy follow the purpose. If you allow it to be, and it fits your purpose for it, livestreaming can be a means of reaching seekers and believers alike.
4. Church Management Software (ChMS): Harness the power of ChMS to streamline administrative tasks and deepen pastoral care. By centralizing vital information and insights, ChMS ensures that no individual falls through the cracks on their journey of discipleship. It’s a tool for fostering connection and accountability within the church body.

Embracing Digital Discipleship

In the face of mounting pressures and expectations, the call to embrace digital discipleship isn’t a burden but a beacon of hope. It’s an invitation to leverage technology as a tool for building stronger communities, deploying resources more effectively, and enhancing the process of disciple-building within the church.

As pastors in the 21st century, we’re called to navigate the complexities of ministry with wisdom, courage, and innovation. Digital discipleship isn’t a distraction from our calling—it’s an opportunity to amplify our impact and extend the reach of the Gospel in an increasingly digital world. Let’s embrace this challenge with empathy, creativity, and a steadfast commitment to leading our congregations closer to Christ.

Join me in embracing digital discipleship as a strategic imperative for ministry in the 21st century. Together, let’s leverage the power of technology to strengthen our communities, deepen our discipleship, and advance God’s kingdom here on earth.

Disasters are all around—tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, tragedies in local communities. But some among your congregation are first on the scene, boldly looking at those dangers daily and reaching out a helping hand. First responders—firefighters, paramedics, dispatch, police officers, and medical staff—are an integral part of your local community. And when it comes to disaster prevention and relief, they’re the people you’ll want to turn to.

First responders have the courage, skills, and experience to help others when they need it most. And with proper training and collaboration, they can help your local church do the same. Here, we’re sharing how to connect and integrate first responders in your congregation so that you can create a stronger church disaster relief plan.

Identify First Responders in Your Congregation

You and fellow church staff members likely take time to get to know members of the congregation: greeting them on Sundays, shaking hands after the service ends, or connecting with them over email or text throughout the week.

Some members are likely first responders, and others may have family or close friends in those roles. These are crisis relief experts in your midst! But how can you easily and efficiently identify them?

Start by asking. Create a survey for your congregation to fill out, expressing your intention to form a crisis team and asking for involvement. The form could include questions like:

• Are you a first responder?
• Do you have special certifications (like CPR, EMT, nursing)?
• Would you be interested in joining our disaster response team?

If you send your questions through a form in Pushpay’s ChMS or an in-app poll, those who respond positively or provide their certifications can be automatically added to a group focused on disaster relief planning. Now, you’ve streamlined the administrative part of this process and ensured everyone who wants to contribute can do so efficiently.

You may need to send out your forms or interactive polls more than once. As you continue to ask for help from your congregation members, it’s important to give, not just receive. Create an environment where they feel recognized and appreciated by acknowledging and honoring first responders during a church service or hosting an appreciation event for them. You could even introduce a “First Responders Feature” in your weekly newsletter or social media, showcasing the brave men and women who protect and support your local community. Whatever avenue you choose, the heart should be to show your gratitude and make space for connection.

4 Steps to Integrate First Responders for Church Crisis Management

1. Begin the Conversation: Once you’ve identified your first responders, it’s time to start talking. Discuss their potential involvement in the disaster relief plan and how their skills and experiences can help to serve the community during times of crisis.
2. Collaboration Opportunities: Explore various options for collaboration. Your first responders could directly join your church’s disaster relief team, provide training to staff members, or share insights to improve your existing disaster plan.
3. Clarify Expectations: Have first responders clearly outline what their involvement would look like, including roles, tasks, and time commitments. Transparency and clarity at this stage ensure everyone is on the same page.
4. Consider Availability: First responders often have demanding, unpredictable schedules. Be aware of the potential availability constraints of first responders and try to accommodate these as best as you can.

Maintaining an Ongoing Relationship with First Responders

As you ask for insight and support from your first responders, it’s important to think about their perspective during a disaster as well. First responders never know what a day on the job will look like. Their work can mean close encounters with danger, chaos, and tragedy daily. Their duties, although essential to the entire community, are strenuous and, over time, put them at an increased risk of trauma.

These helpers need help, encouragement, and assistance, too. A 2017 study by the University of Phoenix found that:

• 51% of first responders report participating in pre-trauma mental health training
• 80% of firefighters report being exposed to a traumatic event
• Over 90% of police and EMTs report exposure to trauma
• 49% of first responders were offered “Psychological First Aid” after traumatic events
• 85% of first responders experienced symptoms related to mental health issues

As a church, it’s important to not only support first responders while you plan and implement your disaster relief efforts. They deserve an ongoing relationship with your church. One that pours into them, supports them, connects them to the community, and regularly checks on their well-being.

But the relationship and ongoing care for first responders doesn’t end with them. Their families also face significant challenges, with long shifts, odd hours, and an ever-present concern about their loved ones being in danger. These pressures can take a toll on each member of the family and the family as a whole, straining marriages and parent-child relationships alike.

For your church, an ongoing relationship with first responders could include support like counseling services or family events for them to connect with others who understand their unique situations.

Overall, engaging and continuing your relationship with first responders is crucial to your church. Their insights and connection to the community can help you better serve your entire city, and they can benefit from the support from the Church.

Getting Crisis Ready

Community engagement and disaster response are a collective effort, and first responders play a vital role in both. By providing the resources, support, and recognition they deserve, churches can effectively utilize their skills and experience to serve their local communities during times of crisis. Although they may not be able to anticipate when or which disaster will strike, everyone can take manageable steps to be prepared for those moments of crisis.

Explore more resources, strategies, and inspiration that can guide you and your church members through troubled times with our Pastor’s Guide: How To Lead Through Crisis.

Crises have a way of revealing strengths and exposing weaknesses. They test resilience and push our communities to the edge. The situations you face, whether a global pandemic or a local disaster, often expose vulnerabilities that you might not have been aware of. For many churches, the vulnerabilities emerge in three major areas: communication, funding, and time management.

How often have you found yourself scrambling to communicate critical information to your congregation in times of crisis? Or perhaps you’ve struggled with budget difficulties when the usual routine of collecting tithes is disrupted. Then there’s the ever-present issue of time—with so much to do and so little time, it’s easy for important tasks to fall by the wayside.

If these challenges sound all too familiar, you’re not alone. Many churches grapple with these issues, especially during a crisis. But there’s a way to navigate these challenges effectively, and technology can help.

Church management software is a powerful tool for churches looking to better manage their resources in times of crisis. This tech can streamline and automate administrative tasks, foster better communication, and ensure no one in your community gets left behind.

How Church Management Software Helps In A Crisis

In a crisis, things are moving fast, and it’s all too easy for something or someone to fall through the cracks. A ChMS can help your entire staff work together to meet needs. It empowers you to meet challenges head-on, ensuring no one in your congregation is overlooked. It streamlines communication, making it easy to mobilize your community, foster cooperation, and promote mutual support. It also simplifies event creation, keeping your congregation informed and engaged.

Organize Response Efforts

A crisis becomes an opportunity for churches to provide comfort and support to their communities. You can serve as the hands and feet of Jesus, responding quickly and compassionately to the needs of those around you. But your response efforts need to be well organized to make a powerful impact.

That’s where church management software like Pushpay can help. With its range of features designed to help your church stay organized and responsive, your community will be better equipped to weather any crisis with grace and resilience.

For instance, the ‘Needs’ feature provides an overview of the requirements within your congregation, helping you prioritize and assign resources where they are most needed. This feature also promotes transparency, enabling your community members to see where help is needed and step in to fill those gaps. Whether rallying volunteers for a neighborhood cleanup, coordinating a food drive, or gathering items for a special event, the Needs feature transforms your congregation’s good intentions into tangible action.

Forms are also a powerful way to collect important information without keeping track of email threads or piles of papers. From gathering contact information and registrations for an event, or gathering insights on how people feel emotionally during a crisis, forms make it easy to stay organized.

Ebenezer Baptist Church believes in being both hearers and doers of the Word. So when a natural disaster strikes, they see it as an opportunity to serve. They started distributing food during the COVID-19 pandemic, and registration forms in their ChMS helped ensure there was enough for everyone in need. Xzavier Curry, the Missions Coordinator, said,

Their distribution ultimately fed over 12,000 households in the Charlotte, NC community, proving that even in crisis, the Church’s doors never close.

And there are even resources that help your leadership team stay organized on the go—the LEAD app. With this app, church leaders have a mobile ChMS in the palm of their hands where they can manage their groups and volunteers, create events, and pull up a profile so they can make decisions on the go and respond swiftly when a crisis hits. No more scrambling to organize a response—with the LEAD app, you’ll have the tools at your fingertips to coordinate your efforts effectively.

Strengthen Communication

Effective communication is the backbone of crisis management. Delivering quick, clear, and consistent messages keeps your congregation well-informed and establishes a sense of connection and stability during uncertain times. However, effective communication during a crisis is not just about broadcasting messages; it’s about fostering dialogue, showing empathy, and maintaining transparency.

An all-in-one ChMS will help you organize your church’s information securely, as well as help you communicate with all the people who make up your church—staff, volunteers, and members.

One of the ways our church management software can help is with personalized messages with the Mail Merge feature. Barbara Utt, Administrator at Northwood Christian Church, shared,

Group messages also allow you to send updates or critical information to specific groups within your congregation. Whether it’s the Sunday school teachers, volunteers for a food drive, or the church board, having the ability to directly communicate with different groups is crucial for coordinating efforts and keeping everyone on the same page.

Push notifications are another powerful feature that ensures your congregation stays informed in real-time. In a rapidly evolving crisis, timely information can make a significant difference. Push notifications can alert your congregation about any immediate changes, urgent prayer requests, or last-minute events. They can also be used to send out daily words of encouragement, keeping your community uplifted and connected.

Centralize Information Storage

One of the key benefits of using church management software in your ministry is the centralization of your information. With all your crucial data stored within your ChMS, ready to access at a moment’s notice, your church can operate more efficiently, ensuring that every detail is at your fingertips.

A crisis may spike a demand in your community for pastoral care. If a church member is in the hospital, for example, how can you keep track of who visited them and when? With the right ChMS, your staff can view a member’s profile and history at any time, so they can be better equipped to address the needs of your members in a timely and effective manner.

Becky Grothe, the Membership Pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, shares the perfect example of how having centralized data makes a difference in pastoral care.

But in a crisis, beyond maintaining connections, your church is likely looking for ways to save time and keep things efficient. When all of your information is centralized in a single source of truth, there’s no need for endless emails, phone calls, or spreadsheets.

This comprehensive collection also allows staff to search and track information, and scheduled reports keep that information coming in on auto-pilot.

Automatic and scheduled reports can provide valuable insights into the health of your church. By accessing and analyzing attendance reports, trends, and patterns, you can understand better how your congregation engages with your services, events, and programs. By tracking congregant and donor engagement, you can ensure that your community is actively participating and that your church is meeting their needs. With all this information centralized within your ChMS, reviewing and analyzing your church’s data is easy, and informed decisions about programming, outreach, and resource allocation are easier to make.

Move Forward and Go Further with Pushpay

In a crisis, the role of the Church extends beyond opening your doors. It looks like stepping up, reaching out, and being the hands and feet of Jesus in your community. The right tools can make it easier for your church to do the work you’ve been called to do, whether you’re in a season of celebration or crisis.

At Pushpay, we believe that churches deserve powerful technology to fulfill their missions. If, in any small way, our ChMS or other tools help amplify all your great work, we’d love to discuss your church’s unique needs and explore how we might help you achieve your vision.

TOUR OUR ChMS PLATFORM

Change is difficult to accept in any aspect of our lives—and churches usually feel that doubt twice as strongly.

Morgan Teruel, online campus manager at Sandals Church in Riverside, California, is quick to admit her hesitancy when their ministry first leaned into hybrid worship services during the pandemic. But today, she’s part of a nimble digital team that’s created innovative methods for gauging online engagement, and their results in building discipleship have been nothing short of amazing.

Finding Sandals

Morgan’s journey began when moving to California in 2010 for her studies, where she first met her husband. She recalls, “My husband actually started going to Sandals before they even had their own building.” Morgan joined the church in 2014, initially getting involved through volunteer work before transitioning to a leadership role in 2018.

The COVID pandemic struck just two years later, testing him as he struggled to transition “over from the worship world into the digital world.”

Morgan describes that shift as a “mourning process,” but today acknowledges it’s been a blessing. “God’s been really good to me, because he’s given me the opportunity to still serve in a way in which I feel like I’m supposed to, while also [developing] digital strategies.”

Refining The Approach

Like many church leaders, Morgan was forced to grapple with the question, “Can discipleship happen digitally? And if so, how do we measure it?”

“We care about what’s behind the number,” she continues, “more than the number itself. I’m sure many churches can resonate with that.”

After years of experimentation and refinement, Sandals Church landed on a clever method for measuring digital discipleship in a way that truly informs their church. The team focused on a “funnel” concept, splitting their online audience into three categories: the crowd, the congregation, and the core.

The crowd are those who casually consume Sandals content. The congregation are committed enough to watch a full sermon online, and the core are those devoted members taking active steps to enrich their life within the church.

“We decided to be very strategic in the content that we released and the experiences we provided for each of [those segments],” shares Morgan. She also explains how they track activity in each of their categories and watch for change over time, so they can better understand how their content strategies are impacting each group.

Morgan says that their goal isn’t to grow just one segment of their church, but to grow connection and engagement across all sections. “If our congregation doesn’t move and our core doesn’t move, we are not discipling people.” In that spirit, their efforts to measure online discipleship are still evolving—highlighting the fluidity of their new hybrid model.

Content For Everyone

Sandals Church quickly realized the importance of an intentional strategy tailored to different content types; the medium must match the audience’s needs for it to be effective.

On one end of the spectrum, there are the simulated live services, which occur at the same time each weekend and provide a more traditional worship experience. “You know exactly what time you’re going,” Morgan explains, and points to the interactive possibilities with your peers. “You typically know a couple of people that are going to be there.”

On the other hand, some individuals may find their church’s content serendipitously. To accommodate those online viewers, Sandals’s YouTube sermons strip down the traditional format of a full worship service and focus on delivering a message in a compact format. The strategy has been a success–even leading to surprise connections Morgan could never have imagined. “One time we met somebody actually, he was in Italy… and popping up on the suggested videos was our pastor Matt Brown preaching. That was how he found Sandals.”

Thinking Outside The Box

During their early forays into digital content during the pandemic, Morgan and her team launched “Sandals Church Anywhere.” The initiative was developed to maintain connections and foster community while social distancing.

Their house church model—or “micro-gathering,” as Morgan describes it—was conceived out of necessity. “[People were] obviously lonely, didn’t have community, and most people couldn’t meet in a new church building.”

Today, Sandals Church Anywhere involves curating, interviewing, and aligning the right individuals to host church gatherings in their own homes. Morgan describes the program as reminiscent of, “going back to the basics of house church, like we read about in Acts.”

While each gathering follows the same spiritual roadmap, they’re inherently unique in their execution of discipleship. There’s a Sandals Church Anywhere in South Carolina, where the leaders have been performing baptisms and are raising their children within the life of their new church community. They’ve even sent individuals on mission trips.

“They’re doing it!” Morgan shares with enthusiasm. “We are honored to just support and resource them… they’re self starters, they are taking initiative, and they love the Lord and they are looking for any opportunity to lead other people to Him.”

Vigilant Tech Adoption

“The pace of change is accelerated,” Morgan points out regarding technology. “Even something like our Sandals Church Anywhere model over the last three years, we’re seeing the need for it to change even now… We’re realizing, okay, well, this isn’t 2020 anymore!”

To keep up with the times, Morgan and her team employ a variety of strategies. They actively immerse themselves in cultural trends; Morgan cites the 2022 YouTube Culture and Trends Report and the Google Year-End Summary. These insights actively affect their approach to online discipleship. “How can we capitalize on the things that are trendy? The methods that might work for other people, in other areas, [may have a place in] the Church.”

Morgan stresses the importance of a fluid mindset, of being willing to evolve and adapt—even if it means letting old methods fade away. “Every time we learn something new, we kind of look introspectively and go, might we need to change something?”.

And by being open to change, Morgan’s confident that Sandals will effectively lead and drive discipleship in the new, fast-paced era of hybrid church.

When gathering my thoughts for this article, I actually sat back and said “Oh wow!” out loud. Realizing I’ve worked for two decades in the same lane came as a bit of a shock.

But perhaps the surprise was because it’s a lane that I love, and it rarely feels like work. I intentionally grounded my career in customers, in fostering growth and developing digital solutions, and my trajectory has never wavered from bringing communities and humans together through connection. I truly believe the world needs more people coming together, aiding and encouraging one another, and taking a leading role in our society.

My role as Vice President of Product at Pushpay allows me to forward that vision, alongside a passionate team who feels just as strongly as I do that, above all else, our products should address and minimize the obstacles churches, their volunteers, and community members face in their mission of connection and spiritual growth.

Church Concerns Are Evolving

At Pushpay, we don’t just guess at what’s important to the 14,000 churches we serve. We constantly talk with those we work with, ideate with them—and sponsor an annual industry-leading study to identify the wants and needs of the leaders we aim to help.

The 2023 State of Church Tech report distilled several powerful insights, but in my eyes, some trends stood out above the rest:

When church leaders were asked what’s “extremely important” when considering new tech for adoption, “best software to solve the problem” ranked highly—as you’d expect. But conversely, a whopping 86% of respondents claimed they have no interest in increasing their number of digital tools.

In that same vein, when asked about the obstacles they face when adopting technology, leaders claimed implementation, onboarding and training, and time were among the most major hurdles.

Now, if you zoom out and look at the story told by those data points, you’re forced to conclude that everyone’s still looking for quality tools to advance their mission—but they have no interest in wasting time and increasing digital clutter.

Tech Rush vs. Tech Refinement

Stick with me through this metaphor:

Let’s say you’ve decided to learn to cook seriously for the first time. Out of necessity to kickstart your new hobby, and driven by giddy enthusiasm, you quickly acquire a wide array of pots and pans, utensils and aprons, spices and oils and all the rest.

A year later, you realize that you’ve not once used some of your pots. The drawer with the spatulas and ladles and whatnots is overstuffed, and constantly gets in the way of finding the few tools you regularly use. You’ve decided you can’t stand baking—the cookie sheets are gathering dust, the flour’s long forgotten—but you’ve discovered a love of Asian cuisine, and just know that a high-end wok could take your passion and skill to the next level.

Thousands and thousands of churches are living through that scenario with their tech right now. Driven by necessity and seeking quick results during the pandemic, leaders scooped up digital solutions like they were two-for-one oven mitts to keep their ministries afloat.

But now churches have a moment to breathe. They’ve identified what’s working, what’s not, what’s actually hampering their progress—and they’re actively working to hone in the tools and techniques that are working best.

And they’re telling us that, above all else, their priority is time.

Everyone Is Time Poor

One of the primary goals of all church technology solutions is to save leaders and congregations time, so that they can shift their focus away from administrative work and direct their energy toward building and supporting their community. The features and solutions my team prioritize are designed with this directive front-of-mind.

Pushpay’s technology solution, which consolidates ChMS, Apps, Giving, and now Resi Media, is a major part of that effort. Having these platforms integrated eliminates tedious manual tasks and paints a fuller picture of your congregation.

Over the year ahead, we’re focused on releasing the features we hear churches asking for. Whether it’s improvements to how you manage roles and volunteers, how congregants store and update their payment details, or how we integrate into other tools—in every case, we’re focused on simplicity, and that essential ingredient of time.

That said, we innovate with the understanding that not every church is looking to completely overhaul their digital toolkit. Most leadership teams already rely on software and platforms they’re satisfied with and—completely reasonably—have no inclination to move on from those tools.

No worries. Our software integrates with your favorite tools, too.

Pushpay partners with eighty (and counting!) common software solutions, allowing users of our tools to continue succeeding through their usual processes, while also seamlessly incorporating the features offered through our tech.

We’re driven by a never-ending process of development, of trial and error and good intentions, that revolves around this core idea of time. Whether our wide-ranging suite of tools is the best answer for a particular ministry, or if a few of our solutions can supplement and amplify your church’s current software kit, we want to give you time to support, build, and elevate the communities you so passionately lead.

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