Easter is an exciting time for churches, often bringing in larger-than-usual crowds of both members and first-time visitors. While this is a great opportunity for ministry, it can also create logistical challenges—especially when it comes to check-in for children’s ministry, classes, and small groups.

That’s where the Recommended Involvement feature in TouchPoint church check-in system can help. This tool streamlines the Check-In process by automatically suggesting the best class or group for each guest based on their age, grade, or family role.

By setting up Recommended Involvement ahead of time, churches can:

• Reduce wait times and Check-In confusion.
• Help returning guests find their place more easily.
• Keep children’s ministry organized and running smoothly.
• Ensure an efficient, stress-free Easter Sunday for both guests and volunteers.

What Is Recommended Involvement?

Recommended Involvement is a feature in TouchPoint that suggests the best class, small group, or ministry assignment for guests during Check-In. It helps churches guide attendees into the correct group without requiring manual input every time they check in.

This feature is especially useful for returning guests who are already in your database, as it helps them check in faster and find their place with ease.

Recommended Involvement assignments can be based on:

• Date of Birth – Automatically assigns guests to the correct age-based group.
• Grade – Places children and students in the appropriate grade-level class.
• Family Role – Groups family members together for easier management.

This automation eliminates confusion, reduces wait times, and ensures a smoother Easter experience for everyone.

Set Up Recommended Involvement for Easter

Preparing Recommended Involvement in advance ensures that Easter Sunday runs efficiently. Once groupings are set, you’ll need to activate them in the Check-In settings. To finalize your setup, confirm how guests will be added to their recommended groups. Most churches will use the Guest setting for Easter services, allowing first-time visitors to check in without automatically being enrolled in a group.

Why Recommended Involvement Makes Easter Check-In Easier

Using Recommended Involvement has several benefits:

• Faster Check-Ins – Returning guests can check in quickly without searching for their group.
• Less Volunteer Stress – Volunteers don’t have to manually direct every guest to the right place.
• Better Guest Experience – Families and children feel welcomed and placed in the right classes effortlessly.
• More Time for Ministry – Church staff can focus on connecting with guests rather than managing Check-In logistics.

For additional ways to enhance your Easter experience, check out our TouchPointer Guide on Engaging First-Time Guests Before They Arrive.

Final Easter Check-In Tips

• Test your Check-In system before Easter to avoid technical difficulties.
• Encourage families to pre-register so their information is already in the system.
• Train volunteers on using TouchPoint Check-In and assisting guests.
• Have extra Check-In stations or self-service kiosks to reduce wait times.

By implementing Recommended Involvement and planning ahead, your church can create a seamless, welcoming Easter Sunday experience for everyone.

TouchPoint Consulting Team

Need help setting up Recommended Involvement? Our TouchPoint Consulting Team is available to assist with church database configuration and Check-In setup. You can email our team: [email protected].

We’re just one week away from our next Engagement Insights webinar happening Thursday, February 27th at 2pm CST!

Our Head of Consulting, Andrew Triplett, will share the importance of knowing and understanding the power of Engagement Insights to support spiritual growth for the body of our churches and individuals. What does it look like to respond to engagement trends for celebration and outreach? If you’ve ever wondered how to identify early signs of disengagement where community is needed the most, and keep people connected to your church, this session is for you.

What we’ll cover:

• Measuring Engagement
• Monitoring Engagement Insights
• Creating A Support Team
• Actions Based On Informed Decisions

If you’re exploring better ways to manage church engagement, this will be a valuable session to see how TouchPoint’s tools can help you foster deeper connections.

Join us next Thursday, February 27th at 2pm CST. Register here.

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Catch Up On Last Month’s Webinar!

Introduction 

First Baptist Dallas, a historic and thriving church in the heart of Texas, has served its community for over a century. With a large congregation and diverse ministries, maintaining deep connections and fostering meaningful and personal engagement across their membership is no small feat. In spring 2023, the church transitioned to TouchPoint to help them achieve their goals of enhanced connections and streamlined ministry operations. 

In this case study, we explore how Justin Krieg, Director of IT, and his team, utilized TouchPoint to improve First Baptist Dallas’s engagement, empower lay leaders, and drive discipleship efforts. 

The Challenge: Managing Engagement In A Large Church 

After reaching the limits of their previous church management system, First Baptist Dallas decided to upgrade to TouchPoint. This required careful planning and adaptation. The size and complexity of First Baptist Dallas posed unique challenges, but the leadership team quickly recognized TouchPoint’s potential to streamline operations and elevate member engagement. While initial hurdles were natural, the church’s commitment to embracing the new platform set the stage for long-term success. They brought Justin on initially as the Engagement and Analytics Associate to help achieve transitional success.

The Solution: Leveraging TouchPoint To It’s Full Potential

Change can be difficult, but the responsiveness from TouchPoint when any speedbumps arose showed that they could be counted on. Justin reflected on his thankfulness for their partnership with TouchPoint: 

“The work that was put in, learning the system and working with TouchPoint’s Consulting Team to get good processes in place, deserves a ton of credit because they’ve invested a lot in spending time with First Dallas to get trained up and get our system in a good spot.”

1. Building a Culture of Adoption 

Recognizing the importance of widespread adoption, Justin’s early efforts focused on showcasing the value of TouchPoint to ministry departments. By demonstrating how the platform could enhance their workflows and engagement efforts, Justin and his team successfully fostered a culture of enthusiasm around the new system. Whether it was training on email communication features or utilizing their Powered By Text integration, they were able to get their congregants to engage with them and deepen discipleship efforts.

“We’ve been able to shift mindsets and win over ministry departments that weren’t initially trained very well on TouchPoint. Learning TouchPoint and implementing improved processes has yielded a lot of fruit.” 

2. Engagement Score: A Tool for Meaningful Discipleship 

A feature that Justin emphasized was TouchPoint’s Engagement Score. God put on his heart Hebrews 10:24 as the driving factor behind the engagement score. He shared how this tool allowed their team to track and analyze member involvement effectively: 

“We’re accomplishing exactly this verse with the engagement score by knowing how our people are engaged in the spiritual disciplines that we’re called to do. By knowing that, we can, in fact, encourage them on towards love and good deeds.” 

Justin saw Engagement Scores as a way to measure how members were participating in spiritual disciplines and discipleship opportunities. By generating monthly reports for their Executive Pastor, they could pinpoint individuals whose engagement had significantly increased or decreased. This data empowered their ministry leaders to: 

• Celebrate individuals growing in their faith. 

• Reach out to those who were disengaging. 

• Tailor discipleship efforts to meet the needs of their congregation. 

3. Empowering Lay Leaders 

First Baptist Dallas took a unique approach to engagement by extending TouchPoint access to their Sunday school care group leaders. Each Sunday school class is divided into care groups of 10-15 people, with lay leaders tasked with monitoring attendance, reaching out to absent members, and logging interactions in TouchPoint. 

Justin explained the importance of this system: 

“If you’re deemed as a leader in our Sunday school class, then we allow you to have access to TouchPoint. Primarily for the purpose of outreach and logging notes. That’s our accountability system to make sure that people are getting reached out to.” 

By equipping lay leaders with the needed tools, the church created a structure that made discipleship efforts more personal and effective, allowing deeper connections to flourish. This has kept people engaged and the church staff aware of what’s happening in their ministries on a personal level. 

Results: Engagement In Action 

Since implementing TouchPoint, First Baptist Dallas has seen meaningful improvements in their engagement efforts. Outcomes include: 

• Enhanced Member Tracking: Monthly reports on Engagement Scores have enabled targeted outreach, ensuring that individuals are not overlooked during critical times. For example, a drop in engagement score may prompt a check-in conversation, revealing underlying struggles, unexpected illnesses, or personal challenges. 

• Lay Leader Empowerment: Care group leaders now have the tools to monitor attendance, follow up with members, and log interactions, creating a transparent accountability system to aid in ministry. 

• Streamlined Ministry Processes: Departments across the church have embraced TouchPoint, leading to more efficient operations and better communication between staff and lay leaders. The Tasks & Notes feature has been able to keep all necessary staff and lay leaders in the know for intentional discipleship. 

Key Takeaways For Other Churches 

First Baptist Dallas’s experience offers valuable lessons for other churches: 

• Prioritize Training and Adoption: Overcoming initial resistance to change requires clear communication of the tool’s value and ongoing training for staff and lay leaders alike. 

• Utilize Tools that Measure Engagement: The Engagement Score is a powerful way to track spiritual growth and identify members who may need additional support. 

• Empower Lay Leaders: Extending access to tools like TouchPoint can amplify outreach efforts and ensure deeper connections across the congregation. 

Conclusion 

Through their partnership with TouchPoint Church Management Software, First Baptist Dallas has transformed the way they engage with their congregation. By leveraging data-driven tools and empowering lay leaders, they have created a culture of intentional discipleship and meaningful connection. Their story serves as a testament to the impact that innovative tools and a committed team can have on a church’s ministry. 

In today’s digital world, connecting with your congregation should be simple and seamless. This TouchPointer highlights how QR codes and text reply words can boost engagement and create easy and efficient ways for churchgoers to engage with your events, gatherings, and more.

The Power of QR Codes

QR codes provide a quick and direct path to essential resources such as registration forms, event details, giving pages, sermon notes, and more. Using your favorite QR code generator, take the link generated in TouchPoint from the blue toolbar and copy it to a QR code to share. Display these codes on printed materials, screens, or bulletins to make sign-ups and information access instant.

Encouraging Engagement with Text Reply Words

Text reply words offer another simple way to enhance connection points through your church software. By displaying a keyword alongside a designated short code or text number, churches can enable members to RSVP for events, post attendance, join mailing lists, or sign up for volunteer opportunities. Within your church database, this information is automatically recorded and organized, making it easy for pastors, administrators, leaders, and volunteers to track engagement and follow up effectively.

A Seamless Digital Experience

Together, QR codes and text reply words make engagement fast, easy, and accessible, placing vital church interactions right in the palm of your congregation’s hands and creating a more connected and organized experience for both church leaders and guests.

For more tips and tricks utilizing TouchPoint’s Church Management Software, visit our YouTube Playlist.

Connect With Our Consulting Team

Would you like to learn more about how to setup reply words? Email our consulting team at [email protected] to schedule a session and learn more about utilizing this feature.

Looking For The Right Church Management Software?

If your church is looking for a reliable church management system that streamlines communication, engagement, and data management, we’d love to connect with you. Whether you’re exploring church software for the first time or looking for a better fit, TouchPoint is here to help.

Let’s find out if TouchPoint is the right church database for your church. Reach out to learn more, ask questions, or see how our church management system can support your ministry’s unique needs. We’d love to welcome you into the TouchPoint family.

Schedule a free demo and connect with one of our team members.

Special Discount for Partner Churches:

We are excited to pass along some amazing news from our friends at MinistrySafe. Through 2025, MinistrySafe is offering TouchPoint churches a unique opportunity to save $100 off the first year of your MinistrySafe Membership! This is your chance to combine MinistrySafe’s unparalleled child safety system with the organizational power of TouchPoint’s church management software. Visit MinistrySafe’s TouchPoint page to get started, and use code “TOUCHPOINT” to save.

Who Is MinistrySafe?

MinistrySafe, founded by Gregory Love and Kimberlee Norris, is a robust program designed to prevent child sexual abuse in churches and ministries. With over 60 years of legal and safety expertise, MinistrySafe educates and equips church leaders, volunteers, and staff to proactively protect children and maintain a secure environment.

What MinistrySafe Offers:

• Effective Trainings: Access engaging, prevention-focused training for your ministry team.
• Background Checks: Simplify and enhance your volunteer and staff management with thorough vetting processes.
• MinistrySafe Institute: Dive deeper with advanced, seminary-level training tailored for church leadership development.
• Custom Policies & Procedures: Develop tailored safety policies with expert guidance to protect your congregation.
• Legal Advice: Benefit from consultation with seasoned sexual abuse prevention attorneys specializing in church compliance and risk management.
• Risk Management Training: Strengthen your ministry’s safety strategies while leveraging church database solutions for improved oversight.

Strengthen your ministry’s child protection measures while enjoying significant savings. MinistrySafe and TouchPoint Software integrate together seamlessly to provide a comprehensive church technology solution for increased safety.

Ready to take advantage of this exclusive offer? Visit MinistrySafe’s TouchPoint page today! for safeguarding your community. Join us in setting a new standard for safety in ministries.

In this TouchPointer video, we explore simple but effective ways to build trust within your church community by incorporating consistent church branding in your church software. A strong brand presence across all platforms enhances engagement, fosters trust, and provides a seamless experience for church members.

Bringing Your Church Branding Into TouchPoint

TouchPoint offers various tools to ensure that your church’s branding remains consistent across all interactions. Here’s how you can implement it:

• Customizing Your Brand Kit
  Your church’s logo, colors, and font styles can be applied throughout TouchPoint, including online giving pages, registration forms, and the mobile app. This ensures that members experience a familiar and professional interface at every touchpoint.
• Branded Email Templates
  Creating email templates with your church’s branding ensures that communication remains cohesive and professional. TouchPoint allows specific individuals to manage and update these templates, keeping messaging aligned with your church’s mission.
• Event and Holiday Branding
  As your church prepares for events, you can incorporate themed graphics into check-in kiosks, online giving pages and email communications. This consistency enhances the overall event experience.
• Maintaining Church Branding Alignment Across All Platforms
  Your church’s brand isn’t just online—it’s also visible on your website, physical signage, service guides, and more. Keeping branding consistent in your church database reinforces a unified and trustworthy image.
• Using a Custom Login URL
  Churches can create a custom TouchPoint login URL that aligns with their branding. This not only adds a professional touch but also creates a seamless user experience.
• Why Customization Matters
  A well-branded TouchPoint experience provides familiarity and instills confidence in both church staff and members. By aligning your database with your church’s branding, you create a more positive and trustworthy experience.

If your church needs guidance in setting up branding within TouchPoint, TouchPoint Consulting is available to assist with customization.

For more tips and tricks utilizing TouchPoint’s Church Management Software, visit our YouTube Playlist.

Connect With Our Consulting Team

Would you like to learn more about consistent church branding? Email our consulting team at [email protected] to schedule a session and learn more about customizing your database.

Considering TouchPoint For Your Church?

Not yet a TouchPoint Partner? Schedule a demo today by filling out this form to connect to one of our team members. This is one of many ways TouchPoint’s powerful church management software can uniquely support your ministry’s needs. 

For most churches, Easter is the biggest Sunday of the year, bringing in many first-time guests. A great experience can encourage them to return, and preparation is key.

One way to get ahead is by using a pre-registration form to collect guest information before Easter morning. This helps streamline check-ins and ensures families feel welcomed right away.

The Power of Pre-Enrollment

To best serve new guests on Easter morning, you can set up an Easter Pre-Enrollment Registration Form to streamline the check-in process. This allows parents to fill out key details ahead of time, reducing wait times and making the morning less stressful.

The form should capture the most needed information:

• Child’s name and grade (so they can be assigned to the correct group)
• Allergy and medical information
• Emergency contact details

With TouchPoint, children can be pre-assigned to the right classes or groups, making check-in on Easter morning quick and efficient. Parents will appreciate the organized process, and kids will feel welcomed into their age-appropriate groups without delay.

By taking this step in advance, your church can provide a stress-free and organized experience—one that leaves a positive impression on first-time guests and increases the likelihood of their return.

Why Engaging First-Time Guests Before Their First Service Matters

Many people visiting your church on Easter may be looking for a faith community to call home. If they feel welcomed, known, and cared for, they will be more likely to return.

That is why engagement should start before they even arrive. When guests pre-register, it creates an opportunity to connect with them beforehand. A simple follow-up message can make a huge difference in making them feel seen and valued.

Ideas For Welcoming First-Time Guests Before They Arrive

Once a family has registered for Easter service or any service, don’t let the connection stop there. Here are a few simple ways to follow through and make their visit memorable:

• Send a personalized welcome email – Send an automated but personal email thanking them for registering, providing service details, and letting them know what to expect on Easter morning. A friendly email can ease any nerves and set the stage for a great experience.
  
• Text message reminder with service times – A simple text a day or two before Easter with service times, parking details, or special children’s activities reinforces that their visit matters.
  
• Short welcome video from the pastor – A quick video introducing the church and personally inviting them to service can help first-time visitors feel connected before they even arrive. This can be shared via email, text, or posted on your church mobile app.

Follow Up After Easter

A guest’s first visit shouldn’t be their last interaction with your church. After Easter, continue building the relationship by:

• Sending a personalized thank-you email or card expressing how glad you were to have them and providing ways to stay connected.
• Invite them back with a text that includes a link to upcoming events or small groups.

Easter is a great chance to connect with new people, but it shouldn’t stop there. By leveraging the church technology in TouchPoint–utilizing Process Builder, Task & Notes, Registrations, along with Check-In, you can automate these actions while still making first-time guests feel welcome.

Catch up with this month’s TouchPoint Webinar, Giving Essentials!

Churches across the country are facing new challenges and opportunities when it comes to financial stewardship, church giving, and donation management. With changing donor behaviors, rising operational costs, and evolving technology, church leaders must be proactive in engaging their congregations in generosity.

In January’s TouchPoint webinar, we sat down with Brad Leeper, Founder of Ministry Essentials, to explore church giving trends for 2025 and practical steps to increase giving beyond budgeted income. Whether you’re a pastor, executive pastor, or church administrator, this discussion is packed with actionable stewardship strategies to help your church grow financial support and engage donors more effectively.

Church Giving 2025 Webinar

Morgan Mudge, Vice President of TouchPoint Software, discussed with Brad what churches are challenged with when it comes to stewarding financial giving:

• How churches can increase donations beyond budgeted income
• The importance of donor segmentation and how to engage high-capacity givers
• The role of online giving platforms and giving management software
• How to encourage recurring giving and create a healthy generosity culture
• The impact of crypto donations, stock gifts, and digital giving trends
• How churches can optimize their giving database and stewardship strategies
• The importance of capital campaigns and free cash flow growth

Sign-Up For A Free Church Giving Analysis

To help churches optimize their giving database, financial stewardship, and donation management, Brad and his team are offering a free financial analysis in partnership with TouchPoint churches and prospect churches.

This analysis will help you:

• Identify key giving trends in your church
• Understand the health of your giving database
• Find opportunities to increase church donations
• Implement church stewardship strategies that work

To request your free giving analysis, contact Melissa at [email protected].

Stay Up to Date With TouchPoint

If you found this webinar valuable, be sure to check out past discussions on our YouTube channel. Our webinars are designed to equip church staff members, pastors, and ministry leaders with the latest insights on church database management, engagement, generosity, and discipleship.

At TouchPoint, we’re committed to helping churches thrive by providing Kingdom-focused solutions and resources.

Our January webinar is happening tomorrow at 2pm CST, and we’d love for you to join us! This session is all about cultivating a thriving culture of generosity and stewardship with giving essentials in your church.

TouchPoint’s January Webinar with Brad Leeper: Giving Essentials For Growing Generosity

Date: January 30th
Time: 2pm CST

Host: Morgan Mudge, Vice President of TouchPoint

Guest: Brad Leeper, Founder of Ministry Essentials

Morgan Mudge, our Vice President, will be joined by Brad Leeper, founder of Ministry Essentials, who has spent over 30 years helping churches and ministries create effective giving strategies. Whether you’re looking to enhance church giving, optimize your online giving platform, or strengthen your donation management processes, this webinar will provide practical insights to support your mission.

Our Speakers

Keeping your church database clean is critical for effective communication and ministry. It not only supports the staff, but it also communicates safety, care, and love for your community. Here are practical ways to empower your church members to update their own information using tools already at your disposal.

1. Use a Data Intake Form

Create a Data Intake Form to collect updated information from your congregation. Include basic demographic details, contact information, and member-specific questions. Consider using conditional logic to ask non-members about their interests, such as learning more about your church’s various ministries.

2. Share Forms Through SMS Reply Words

Make it easy for members to access forms by utilizing SMS reply words. For example, set up a reply word like “Sunday” that automatically sends a link to the form. Depending on whether their phone number exists in the database, members will either receive a personalized link to update their profile or a generic link to the form.

3. Integrate with Your Mobile App

Encourage churchgoers to update their information through your church’s mobile app. Those who are logged-in can navigate seamlessly to the form and make necessary updates. This method is convenient and user-friendly, making it easier for everyone to participate.

4. Use Registration Links in Emails or Texts

Send targeted emails or text messages to individuals in your database with a registration link. When the link is clicked, they are automatically logged in and can quickly make changes to their profiles. This eliminates extra steps and ensures a smoother experience.

5. Highlight the Importance of Updating Information

Explain to your congregation how keeping their information updated helps the church. Accurate records improve communication, enhance online giving processes, and support volunteer management. By involving your church body, you can ensure data stays current while building engagement.

For more tips and tricks on utilizing TouchPoint’s Church Management Software, visit our YouTube Playlist.

Connect With Our Consulting Team

Would you like to learn more about database cleanliness? Email our consulting team at [email protected] to schedule a session and learn more about managing members and tidying up your database. Together, we can help your ministry thrive!

Considering TouchPoint For Your Church?

Not yet a TouchPoint partner? Schedule a demo today by filling out this form to connect with one of our team members.

We know how crucial it is for churches to send timely and accurate giving statements to their donors. At TouchPoint, our goal is to make this process as seamless as possible for you. Here are some helpful tips and tools to ensure your end-of-year contribution statements are prepared and distributed with ease:

• Multiple Delivery Options: Giving statements can be mailed physically, links can be emailed, or donors can retrieve their own statements anytime they need.
  
• Customization Is Key: Make sure your church’s information (statement header) is correctly displayed at the top of the statement by customizing it beforehand.
  
• Include a Cover Letter: Create and personalize a cover letter to accompany your statements for a more personal touch. You can find detailed instructions here.
  
• Non-Tax Statements: If you need to issue statements that only include non-tax-deductible items, use the “Non-Tax Statements” setting under Admin > Advanced > Settings > Finance > Statements. Note: Your IT staff may need to add additional code to the Statement Template Body HTML for this option. See code information in documentation: Contribution Statements – HTML Option.
  
• Direct Access Links: Email a special URL to your donors that takes them directly to the “Statements” tab on their TouchPoint record once they sign in. Replace “mychurch” in the following link with your church’s database name: https://mychurch.tpsdb.com/Person2/0/Statements
  Donors can also access their statements from your church mobile app.
  
• Go Paperless: Some donors may prefer not to receive paper copies. They (or your TouchPoint Admin) can update their preferences in the Giving > Statements tab on their record to reflect an “Electronic Only” option.

We’re here to help streamline donor communication efforts, allowing you to focus on what matters most—building relationships and growing your ministry.

If you have questions or need further assistance with giving statements, please don’t hesitate to contact our consulting team at [email protected].

We at TouchPoint Software are grateful to partner with you for all your church management software and giving needs!

Introduction

For over 26 years, Christy Smith has faithfully served Indiana Avenue Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas. From wearing multiple hats in her early years to her current role as Human Resource (HR) and Database Technology Administrator, Christy has witnessed the evolution of church operations firsthand. In 2020, Indiana Avenue transitioned to TouchPoint Software, an all-in-one church management software. This case study explores how TouchPoint has empowered their church, improved its processes, and supported its mission. 

The Challenge: Outgrowing Legacy Systems

Indiana Avenue Baptist Church has a large and dynamic congregation, with an average worship attendance of 1,000-1,500 across multiple services and a staff of 115. Managing data and processes for such a vibrant ministry is no small task. Christy described their previous church management software as an increasingly frustrating system. 

“Once they sold, their customer service tanked,” she explained. “They told me issues were my fault even though I was using their product in the cloud.” 

Recurrent issues like unreliable recurring giving, insufficient tools for database management, and poor customer support ultimately drove Indiana Avenue Baptist to seek a better solution. Additionally, the legacy system’s outdated interface created inefficiencies for staff managing registrations, member data, and donation management. 

The Solution: Transitioning To A New Database 

In 2020, Indiana Avenue Baptist Church decided to implement TouchPoint’s all-in-one church software. The transition came with a bold decision: bringing over “garbage data” from the old system. 

“I chose to bring a lot of garbage into TouchPoint and clean it there rather than lose records,” Christy shared. 

Although the database still requires ongoing cleanup, the functionality and support from TouchPoint made the transition worthwhile. Christy emphasized the importance of reliable customer service: 

“I don’t get blamed when the product doesn’t work. TouchPoint’s staff is quick to respond and answer my questions.” 

The Results: Key Benefits Of TouchPoint

1. Partner-Centric Support 

Christy highlighted how TouchPoint’s partnership philosophy sets it apart: 

“TouchPoint really sees themselves as a partner and co-laborers, as opposed to clients. Everyone I’ve dealt with genuinely believes in what they say.” 

From consulting to onboarding, the team’s commitment to supporting Indiana Avenue’s ministry has made a lasting impact. Regular consulting sessions have been instrumental in optimizing TouchPoint’s functionality for Indiana Avenue’s unique needs, such as streamlining event registrations and configuring custom searches.  

“We’ve done quite a few consulting times, and that’s great because they get in, and they look at our data, and make it work for us…which is just a huge plus and well worth every penny spent for it.” 

2. Improved Database Functionality 

TouchPoint’s robust tools have addressed many of the church’s challenges. Registrations, a critical feature for Indiana Avenue’s numerous events, now operate seamlessly. The church uses registrations extensively for events like college retreats and children’s camps, which previously struggled with duplicate records and missing information. 

Christy emphasized how the registration system has simplified event management: 

“We do a lot of events, so registrations are huge for us, and [so is] having a system that works.” 

“The mobile app will be huge because it eliminates login issues, the biggest barrier to registrations,” Christy explained. “People can log in from their phones, reducing errors and creating a smoother experience.” 

3. Enhanced Data Management 

While database cleanliness remains an ongoing task, Christy has leveraged TouchPoint’s tools to make progress: 

“I do a lot of custom searches to clean up records. This allows me to review and archive the appropriate records.” 

The ability to archive outdated records has allowed Christy to focus on creating actionable, accurate data. Looking forward, she is excited about implementing Process Builder to automate repetitive tasks and save significant time for ministry staff. 

Lessons Learned 

Indiana Avenue’s journey with TouchPoint Software underscores several key insights for churches managing similar transitions: 

1. Invest In Training: Christy has taken it upon herself to create a 100-page training manual and recorded Teams meetings for staff to revisit instructions and tutorials. Although resources are available through TouchPoint, this is a church-specific training manual that allows staff to physically flip through resources to find exactly what they need.  

2. Designate A Point Person: One individual must own and oversee the database to ensure consistency and support for other staff. Christy has taken this role at Indiana Avenue, ensuring that all staff members have a go-to resource for questions or guidance. 

3. Connect With Others: Churches can benefit from networking with others using the same system for shared tips and support. Christy regularly collaborates with other churches to share best practices and insights. 

Christy also shared the value of attending TouchPoint Summit, an annual user’s conference that brings church leaders together to learn, network, and collaborate: 

“Summit is a great mix of breakout sessions and connecting with other churches. I always leave with practical takeaways and new relationships that help us use TouchPoint more effectively.” 

She highlighted the benefit of learning from other users’ experiences, exploring advanced features, and engaging in discussions that inspire new ways to maximize the system. 

The Impact 

TouchPoint has transformed how Indiana Avenue Baptist Church manages its data and operations. Beyond the technical improvements, the partnership-oriented approach has fostered trust and collaboration. 

“TouchPoint is not a bad word in our church,” Christy noted with a smile, contrasting it with their previous system that left staff frustrated. “TouchPoint is good about responding. Even if they can’t do something, I at least feel heard, which is important.” 

TouchPoint’s modern and user-friendly interface has significantly reduced staff complaints and streamlined operations. For example, the church has seen a noticeable improvement in communication efficiency through saved searches and targeted messaging. 

Looking ahead, Christy and her team are excited to implement new features and continue refining their processes. The journey is ongoing, but with TouchPoint as a partner, Indiana Avenue Baptist Church is well-equipped to grow and thrive. 

Conclusion 

Indiana Avenue Baptist’s experience with TouchPoint Software highlights the power of a comprehensive church management system paired with a genuine partnership approach. For churches navigating similar challenges, Christy’s story serves as both inspiration and a practical guide. Investing in the right tools, training, and relationships can make all the difference in supporting ministry goals. 

Ready to evaluate your church database and church giving software like Indiana Avenue Baptist? 
Contact us to learn how TouchPoint Church Management Software can help your ministry thrive!