How Customization Fuels Ministry Innovation
Two thriving churches, one suburban and one urban, needed a church management system that could keep pace with rapid expansion and increasing complexity. TouchPoint delivered more than software. Through creativity and collaboration, these leaders turned it into a strategic engine for engagement.
The Ministry Challenges Driving Church Technology Innovation
Churches today aren’t just places of worship; they’re hubs of community, education, and outreach. That means technology isn’t optional; it’s mission-critical.
For Tenth Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, PA), the stakes were high. Nestled in the heart of downtown, this nearly 200-year-old congregation serves a highly educated, professional demographic. “We are distinctly the biggest church in central Philly,” says James Kurtz, Director of Technology. “We have a very vibrant ministry. Something is happening on campus every day.” But urban life brings challenges: limited parking, homelessness, and the constant hum of city events.
Meanwhile, at First Baptist Church (Hendersonville, TN), a fast-growing church was riding a wave of growth. “We’re in a growth posture,” says Technology Director Ben Swaby. “Usually around a 10% to 20% growth posture year over year.” With 14,000 members, 4,000 in worship weekly, and 3,000 in groups, the church needed a church management system that could scale fast.
Both churches faced the same reality: their existing platforms couldn’t keep up. They needed a solution that was flexible, powerful, and ready to evolve.
Meet The Church Leaders Behind The Innovation
- James Kurtz – Director of Technology, Tenth Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, PA). Led a rigorous evaluation process and implemented extensive customizations, including WordPress integration and advanced reporting tools.
- Ben Swaby – Technology Director, First Baptist Church (Hendersonville, TN). Oversaw technology strategy and developed 130,000+ lines of custom code within TouchPoint, creating mission-critical systems like payment automation and analytics dashboards.
The Choice: Choosing A Customizable Church Management Platform
James’s journey started with spreadsheets and scorecards. “We gave all of these things some number of points,” he recalls. Another church software system initially outscored TouchPoint, but the hidden costs and complexity tipped the scales. “COVID happened, then we realized just how insufficient our existing platform was and that we really needed something that would absolutely work… and fast.”
Ben’s journey turned ministry challenges into catalysts for growth. “We jumped in quickly based on a recommendation, and that taught us a lot,” he reflects. The onboarding process sparked innovation. “We learned by doing, and that hands-on approach ultimately helped us master the system.”
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Building Custom Church Software Tools That Strengthen Ministry
Faced with ministry needs and limited time, both leaders refused to settle. Instead, they transformed complexity into springboards, crafting solutions that didn’t just fix problems; they reimagined what ministry technology could do. What follows are examples of the tools and ideas they used to turn their vision into reality with TouchPoint Church Management Software.
Dynamic Group Finder For Community Connection
James started with a simple but powerful idea: make it easier for people to find community. TouchPoint already offers a robust Small Group Finder, but James wanted something that would integrate seamlessly with his church’s WordPress site. “I built one that’s part of a WordPress plugin,” he explains. “It pulls all the small groups out of TouchPoint and lets users filter by age range based on the people who are in the group.” This wasn’t just a technical tweak; it was a game-changer. Instead of static listings, members now have a dynamic, filterable experience that feels intuitive and personal. For a church in the heart of Philadelphia, where people crave connection in a fast-paced urban environment, this tool turned browsing into belonging.
Geographic Mapping Tools For Data-Driven Outreach
Ben’s innovation was all about connection at scale. When his community pastor struggled to visualize where members lived, Ben stepped in. “Within two days, I had a Google map,” he recalls. “He can click on the dots, see who’s there with pictures, draw around those dots… Then overlay US Census data.” Suddenly, planning block parties and outreach events wasn’t guesswork; it was data-driven ministry. This tool didn’t just map addresses; it mapped opportunities for relationships, gospel conversations, and neighborhood transformation.
Attendance Analytics That Reveal Ministry Trends
Ben didn’t stop at what TouchPoint already offered. The platform includes a Week-at-a-Glance report with anomaly markers built in, and Ben saw an opportunity to take it further. “I enhanced it to compare with historical time periods and added enrollment versus attendance metrics,” he explains. These upgrades turned a helpful snapshot into a powerful trend analysis tool. Now, leaders can see not just how a single week looks, but how patterns evolve over time, giving them clarity to spot challenges, celebrate engagement wins, and make informed decisions that strengthen ministry.
Automated Payment Management Customized Inside TouchPoint
Perhaps Ben’s boldest move was financial. “TouchPoint does not have a [centralized] payment management system,” he explains. Most of its functionality is based on the individual, but Ben created a central location to manage all payments by ministry or event. “I coded an entire system within the system… It’s [facilitating transactions] every month, and it’s automatically doing all of it.” Goodbye, manual processes. Hello, automation. This solution streamlined tasks that once consumed hours of staff time. For ministries like Mother’s Day Out and other programs, it wasn’t just about efficiency; it was about sustainability.
Personalized Church Communications Powered By Data
James focused on clarity and relevance in a world where inboxes overflow. TouchPoint’s standard email tools were helpful, and he also wanted something that adjusted based on what TouchPoint knew about each subscriber. “Our midweek email is customized to the person,” he explains. “Different people see different events based on where they live or who they are. We don’t need to advertise the women’s retreat to the single men, right? That kind of thing. It reduces the noise and makes the message clearer.” Less noise. More relevance. Better engagement. For James, personalization ensures every message matters and every recipient feels seen.
Breaking Down Data Silos With A Unified Church Database
Before TouchPoint, data lived in 47 silos. “I’m down to 12 now, and TouchPoint is our authoritative database,” says Ben. For James, the biggest win was accuracy: “If it’s wrong, that means the data…is wrong. Let’s fix the data.”
Innovation didn’t stop at the church walls. James & Ben are both active in the TouchPoint community, encouraging and helping other TouchPoint Churches reach their full potential. They both regularly attend TouchPoint Summit annually and aide colleagues on Discord to impact beyond the four walls of their churches.
Advice For Churches Exploring Customization And Innovation
Ben’s advice: trust your team and lean into community support. “You have everybody in a church right now to do everything that God wants you to do,” he says. “Don’t be afraid to raise your hand and ask for help.”
James adds: “Start small, learn as you go, and don’t be afraid to experiment. TouchPoint is powerful, but its real strength is in the hands of people willing to innovate.”
Both envision a future where technology amplifies ministry impact. “Don’t feel like you’re alone in this,” Ben says. “There’s a community ready to help you succeed.”
In Need Of Church Management Software Customization?
If your church is growing, evolving, or navigating complex ministry needs, your technology should grow with you. TouchPoint was built for churches that value flexibility, thoughtful customization, and a true partnership approach. Whether you’re looking to streamline operations, surface meaningful insights, or create tools that reflect how your ministry actually works, TouchPoint empowers your team to build with purpose.
Let’s explore how a customizable church management platform can support your mission today and position your church for what’s next. Request a Demo to evaluate if TouchPoint Software is a better for you ministry needs!
