How to Choose Church Management Software

On 10.31.06, In Insights, by Bart

This is the first of a series of blog entries I want to write related to choosing church software. Whether your church is a small church with less than 100 members or a big church with over 1000 members selecting a data base is necessary and the right choice will bless your ministry in many [...]

This is the first of a series of blog entries I want to write related to choosing church software. Whether your church is a small church with less than 100 members or a big church with over 1000 members selecting a data base is necessary and the right choice will bless your ministry in many ways.

I recently spent time consulting with a large church in Texas struggling with church management software. Over the last several years they have spent thousands of dollars on their current system which they were not happy with. They really wanted a better solution.The time I spent with this church reinforced the idea of just how difficult it can be to choose a data base solution for ministry.

Let me warn you, there is no silver bullet for selecting a data base that will fit your church. Your options are staggering. There are over 40 companies that provide some form of CMS and this does not count broader secular data bases. Costs can range from a few hundred dollars to over ten thousand.

I think the key is to avoid purchasing mistakes early in the process. This will save money and more importantly the time lost trying to find, install, and implement a new CMS. Some of the things you need to consider are setting aside the time to get your ministry teams on the same page, answering some questions about your specific needs, and narrowing down your choice of vendor from the many available. Oh, and try to avoid some common mistakes along the way.

God bless.

Continue reading:

Part 2: Custom Software Development

Part 3: Custom Software Development – Things to Consider

- Learn more about Nspire church software by going to www.nspiresoftware.com -