Clarify Your “Why”

It’s easy to get excited about the potential of digital tools in church. At Apollos, we’re always exploring different ways to use technology to help churches stay on mission. 

Apollos Tap is a good example of this. Tap makes it easy to engage people in seconds. No downloads. No logins. Just one simple connection that meets people where they are.

Sounds great, right? And it is! But the value of Tap doesn’t come from the fact that it’s a cool concept. It has a clear why in a church setting. It accelerates experiences and removes technology barriers that historically stop people from interacting with church in online formats.

What is the why behind your new technology? Start here. What are the pain points it meets? What ministry goal or vision statement does it support? How does it align with mission, not trends?

Invest in Process and Culture

Technology may have incredible potential, but it isn’t a magic bullet. You can’t install an app and call it a day. You need the infrastructure surrounding a digital tool or engagement platform if you want it to perform well.

Before you set up a new piece of software, you want to invest in two areas: process and culture.

As for process, this takes understanding. Like your why, take the time to look past your tools to evaluate your workflows. How does your team use their current apps and platforms? How will this new one fit in?

When our team helped rebuild Seacoast Church’s website, we started with a lot of listening to learn about felt needs and behind-the-scenes processes. The result was Director of Creative Jack Hoey III telling us that, along with our technological expertise and end results, the process was exactly what they needed to create the right solution.

Culture is also a big deal here. It doesn’t matter how good an app is. If your team doesn’t have the guidance and capacity to use it, it won’t gain traction. As you prepare for a new piece of technology, invest in your church’s digital culture by:

• Communicating clearly and setting expectations.

• Training your team on processes (and the new platform when the time comes).

• Creating margin for trial, feedback, and adjustments as needed.

If you want technology to impact your ministry’s mission, start by building processes to support it and training your staff to use it.

Give Yourself Time

Finally, get started early. Don’t wait until a new platform or app is about to arrive to start getting ready. Set timelines and benchmarks to help you prepare properly.

As executive wellness coach Jackie Glass puts it, “Timelines are really your friend in getting things done.” They keep you accountable and help you avoid things like last-minute scrambling and long-term burnout. (Jackie was a guest on the Church3.0 Podcast, where she shared a ton of insights on burnout in the church — worth a listen!)

Be detailed with your timeline, too. A step-by-step plan could look like this:

• Phase 1: Assess needs, gather input, and audit existing technological processes.

• Phase 2: Use research to define goals and set clear benchmarks and objectives.

• Phase 3: Develop an implementation plan and training schedule.

• Phase 4: Train staff and create a rollout timeline.

• Phase 5: Roll out new technology with clear support channels.

• Phase 6: Set specific times to assess and adjust as needed.

This is just an example. The point is to have a clear, time-driven plan in place to help you prepare ahead of time.

Partnering Intentionally With Your Church Technologies

As you prepare to introduce new technologies to your teams, remember that you don’t have to go it alone. Like the example with Seacoast Church, the Apollos team is familiar with walking with church teams through implementation and training scenarios. We know what it’s like to set timelines, maintain communication, conduct training, and follow up.

If you’re preparing to add digital tools like a church app, website, or even a TV app, we have the mission-driven technology needed to support your church in its mission. Reach out for a demo, and let’s start a conversation.