Comments on: Search for the ideal church database (pt 1) http://www.communicatejesus.com/2009/07/searching-for-the-ideal-church-database/ Insights and inspiration to maximise your ministry Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:57:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: MurrayB http://www.communicatejesus.com/2009/07/searching-for-the-ideal-church-database/comment-page-1/#comment-4845 MurrayB Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:21:16 +0000 http://communicatejesus.com/?p=1825#comment-4845 We have just incorporated CCB. We are a church that launched in January and we around 250 since we launched. What I like about CCB, was that because we launched without really knowing what our database size was going to be, it gets reviewed on an annual basis. We are now getting our team to implement quite well. The after sales support is good too. They have a good section of help videos, blogs and forums for helping implementation. CCB is hosted in the USA somewhere and for an Australian church it was good to see that the date formatting was compatible. I am happy with it. We have also just incorporated a new rostering system that will eventually get intergrated with CCB hopefully through API programming and that is: http://elvanto.com . I know the developer personally and it currently serves a number of churches with broad sizes quite well. Great post. Murray We have just incorporated CCB. We are a church that launched in January and we around 250 since we launched. What I like about CCB, was that because we launched without really knowing what our database size was going to be, it gets reviewed on an annual basis. We are now getting our team to implement quite well. The after sales support is good too. They have a good section of help videos, blogs and forums for helping implementation.

CCB is hosted in the USA somewhere and for an Australian church it was good to see that the date formatting was compatible. I am happy with it.

We have also just incorporated a new rostering system that will eventually get intergrated with CCB hopefully through API programming and that is: http://elvanto.com . I know the developer personally and it currently serves a number of churches with broad sizes quite well.

Great post.

Murray

]]> By: Ken West http://www.communicatejesus.com/2009/07/searching-for-the-ideal-church-database/comment-page-1/#comment-4131 Ken West Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:18:43 +0000 http://communicatejesus.com/?p=1825#comment-4131 Folks, The church software I've seen is not very useful for non-church organisations like the City Bible Forum. We aren't a church, and we don't want to fit into church strictures. We use CiviCRM for managing contacts, communication, events, and contributions. See http://civicrm.org for details. Contact me at City Bible Forum if you want to chat, Ken Folks,

The church software I’ve seen is not very useful for non-church organisations like the City Bible Forum. We aren’t a church, and we don’t want to fit into church strictures.

We use CiviCRM for managing contacts, communication, events, and contributions.

See http://civicrm.org for details. Contact me at City Bible Forum if you want to chat,

Ken

]]> By: Wayne http://www.communicatejesus.com/2009/07/searching-for-the-ideal-church-database/comment-page-1/#comment-2811 Wayne Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:01:19 +0000 http://communicatejesus.com/?p=1825#comment-2811 Was there ever a part 2 to this article? If so, maybe you need a short link in the introduction of part one. I'm wondering which database you found to be the best one! Was there ever a part 2 to this article? If so, maybe you need a short link in the introduction of part one. I’m wondering which database you found to be the best one!

]]> By: Steve Caton http://www.communicatejesus.com/2009/07/searching-for-the-ideal-church-database/comment-page-1/#comment-1454 Steve Caton Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:09:39 +0000 http://communicatejesus.com/?p=1825#comment-1454 Here is a terrific article about choosing the "ideal" church database as dictated by YOUR unique needs. It was published by Church and Worship Technology and features Christ Community Church in the greater Chicago area. They are a multi-site ministry serving roughly 5,000 attenders each week. While CCB gets some nice promo out of this article, the larger theme is about how to find the solution that is RIGHT for how you do church and how you implement it successfully. Enjoy! http://www.churchandworship.com/database/dms/cwt0809w78.pdf Steve Here is a terrific article about choosing the “ideal” church database as dictated by YOUR unique needs. It was published by Church and Worship Technology and features Christ Community Church in the greater Chicago area. They are a multi-site ministry serving roughly 5,000 attenders each week. While CCB gets some nice promo out of this article, the larger theme is about how to find the solution that is RIGHT for how you do church and how you implement it successfully.

Enjoy!

http://www.churchandworship.com/database/dms/cwt0809w78.pdf

Steve

]]> By: Tom Magill http://www.communicatejesus.com/2009/07/searching-for-the-ideal-church-database/comment-page-1/#comment-1208 Tom Magill Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:15:31 +0000 http://communicatejesus.com/?p=1825#comment-1208 Truth be told, I've felt a little swamp with the number of offerings on the market! And, like you, I've been trying to work my way through some (of the better presented ones) via tours and demos and such. Some things make me discount systems out of hand, however, no matter how good they might otherwise appear to be. So, while Shelby Systems 'Arena' looks pretty cool (and includes a website CMS - another system we're in the process of investigating) - it runs 'inhouse' on a Windows Server/SQL program, which we don't have and would have difficulty maintaining. Church Community Builder appears to have some very powerful functionality but my fear is that it will be too 'technical' for my Rector and our (more senior) lay leadership to use. Therefore the burden will fall on me for implementation, use and so on. I sat in on a webinar for The City - which was pretty basic - but it's been hard to get more details or a hands-on with their system to see if it will do what we want. Fellowship One is the system I am currently playing with. So, no firm recommendation yet ... but I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. It might really help my search! You can message me at tom@hoxtonparkanglican.com if you'd rather not provide spoilers for your next blog !! Truth be told, I’ve felt a little swamp with the number of offerings on the market! And, like you, I’ve been trying to work my way through some (of the better presented ones) via tours and demos and such. Some things make me discount systems out of hand, however, no matter how good they might otherwise appear to be.

So, while Shelby Systems ‘Arena’ looks pretty cool (and includes a website CMS – another system we’re in the process of investigating) – it runs ‘inhouse’ on a Windows Server/SQL program, which we don’t have and would have difficulty maintaining.

Church Community Builder appears to have some very powerful functionality but my fear is that it will be too ‘technical’ for my Rector and our (more senior) lay leadership to use. Therefore the burden will fall on me for implementation, use and so on.

I sat in on a webinar for The City – which was pretty basic – but it’s been hard to get more details or a hands-on with their system to see if it will do what we want. Fellowship One is the system I am currently playing with.

So, no firm recommendation yet … but I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. It might really help my search!

You can message me at tom@hoxtonparkanglican.com if you’d rather not provide spoilers for your next blog !!

]]> By: Steven Kryger http://www.communicatejesus.com/2009/07/searching-for-the-ideal-church-database/comment-page-1/#comment-1206 Steven Kryger Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:24:48 +0000 http://communicatejesus.com/?p=1825#comment-1206 Hi Tom, this is still on the table - narrowed it down to two, with a preferred, but more expensive option at number one. I'm currently reviewing some answers to questions I've posed, and will be providing an update shortly. What databases have you come across that you've been impressed with? Hi Tom, this is still on the table – narrowed it down to two, with a preferred, but more expensive option at number one. I’m currently reviewing some answers to questions I’ve posed, and will be providing an update shortly.

What databases have you come across that you’ve been impressed with?

]]> By: Tom Magill http://www.communicatejesus.com/2009/07/searching-for-the-ideal-church-database/comment-page-1/#comment-1205 Tom Magill Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:50:17 +0000 http://communicatejesus.com/?p=1825#comment-1205 Steve wrote: "I’m actually reviewing three of these databases at the moment (the three I think have the most potential), and will then share what I like and dislike about them, and what I’d recommend for different churches." So, you've had a month (!) - what conclusions have you come to? (For me the search goes on ...) Steve wrote: “I’m actually reviewing three of these databases at the moment (the three I think have the most potential), and will then share what I like and dislike about them, and what I’d recommend for different churches.”

So, you’ve had a month (!) – what conclusions have you come to?

(For me the search goes on …)

]]> By: Daniel Wennblom http://www.communicatejesus.com/2009/07/searching-for-the-ideal-church-database/comment-page-1/#comment-1133 Daniel Wennblom Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:06:58 +0000 http://communicatejesus.com/?p=1825#comment-1133 In consideration of the pricing discussion, we've decided to lower our prices. SeekerWorks(TM) is now priced at $99 for the first year (per computer), with a renewal of $50 each year thereafter (per computer). That’s $8.25 per month for the first year and $4.17 per month for subsequent years (per computer). A church can purchase a site license instead if they want an unlimited number of computers running on a network, which only makes sense if you want to use more than 7 computers ($699 for the first year and $499 for subsequent years). That's a maximum of $58.25 per month for the first year and a maximum of $41.58 per month for subsequent years. Those prices are all inclusive (support and updates for no additional charge during the support period). While SeekerWorks(TM) may not be web-based, it is network based and there is a ton of features it can do, including gifts/pledges, a follow up/tickler system to make sure no one falls through the cracks, and a picture-based check-in/check-out system to keep attendance and make sure only the right person can pick up the kids after the service is done. That's in addition to managing volunteers, small groups, classes/seminars, etc. Your feedback, if you choose to download it from our website and try it free for 30 days, is greatly appreciated. Thanks. In consideration of the pricing discussion, we’ve decided to lower our prices. SeekerWorks(TM) is now priced at $99 for the first year (per computer), with a renewal of $50 each year thereafter (per computer). That’s $8.25 per month for the first year and $4.17 per month for subsequent years (per computer). A church can purchase a site license instead if they want an unlimited number of computers running on a network, which only makes sense if you want to use more than 7 computers ($699 for the first year and $499 for subsequent years). That’s a maximum of $58.25 per month for the first year and a maximum of $41.58 per month for subsequent years. Those prices are all inclusive (support and updates for no additional charge during the support period).

While SeekerWorks(TM) may not be web-based, it is network based and there is a ton of features it can do, including gifts/pledges, a follow up/tickler system to make sure no one falls through the cracks, and a picture-based check-in/check-out system to keep attendance and make sure only the right person can pick up the kids after the service is done. That’s in addition to managing volunteers, small groups, classes/seminars, etc.

Your feedback, if you choose to download it from our website and try it free for 30 days, is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

]]> By: Charles Dale http://www.communicatejesus.com/2009/07/searching-for-the-ideal-church-database/comment-page-1/#comment-1125 Charles Dale Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:00:07 +0000 http://communicatejesus.com/?p=1825#comment-1125 Nice work Toby, it's a good direction to go in. Soon you'll have a full-blown CMS I guess? Any thought of releasing source or at least a paid host-it-yourself option? Nice work Toby, it’s a good direction to go in. Soon you’ll have a full-blown CMS I guess?

Any thought of releasing source or at least a paid host-it-yourself option?

]]> By: Toby Sterrett http://www.communicatejesus.com/2009/07/searching-for-the-ideal-church-database/comment-page-1/#comment-1120 Toby Sterrett Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:04:58 +0000 http://communicatejesus.com/?p=1825#comment-1120 Charlie, hehe good point. In fact, the next major version of the app is actually based around that whole observation which we had ourselves :) it's going to have a lot more focus on the community aspect of having everyone in the congregation use it and contribute, and a new name and site to reflect that. In fact, a lot of those features are there, but when I started the app it was just that - a tool for the staff to use. That's why I asked Steve about those types of features in the third installment. I'll be sure to let Steve know when the new version is out! Charlie, hehe good point. In fact, the next major version of the app is actually based around that whole observation which we had ourselves :) it’s going to have a lot more focus on the community aspect of having everyone in the congregation use it and contribute, and a new name and site to reflect that. In fact, a lot of those features are there, but when I started the app it was just that – a tool for the staff to use. That’s why I asked Steve about those types of features in the third installment. I’ll be sure to let Steve know when the new version is out!

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