| As a former full-time youth minister (and now | | | | useless if it is not easy to get in, make updates, |
| volunteer worker), I know first-hand how | | | | and get out. Web-based services offer a benefit |
| important it is to capture and maintain accurate | | | | here -- especially if, like me, you don't work from |
| contact information for your students. It doesn't | | | | a central location all the time. |
| matter if you have 10 students or 1,000. Having a | | | | - Are you able to associate photos with your |
| good system in place to do this is mission critical. | | | | contacts? This is a must-have feature for me and |
| While there are a few good youth ministry | | | | my short-term memory! Being able to see photos |
| software packages out there, along with some | | | | of new students is a big boast to memorizing |
| quality web-based youth group management | | | | names. |
| websites, you simply need a system that will fit | | | | - Can you make Family Associations? Sure, |
| you -- even if it is just an Excel spreadsheet! | | | | "family" has a loose definition these days, but it is |
| This article is just an attempt to share some | | | | still important to be able to group your students |
| things that you might want to keep in mind when | | | | into family groups in your database system. I |
| choosing a youth group software package or | | | | especially like to create a "family" group for each |
| contact management solution. | | | | student so I can keep important family |
| - Are you able to generate mailing labels? Yes, | | | | information, even if their family does not attend |
| even in today's world, a mailed newsletter still | | | | with the student. |
| works (and gets stuck to the Fridge). You'll want | | | | - Can it print a check-in sheet? It is very helpful |
| to be able to export your data directly to labels. | | | | to be able to print out a sheet to take with you |
| - Is it easy and convenient to keep updated? | | | | to youth group to use for attendance and writing |
| Even the best youth group software package is | | | | down visitor info. |