It’s not uncommon for churches to “patch” their technology together as they grow. And for many churches in the initial stabilization process, the “patch” solution may be the direction you choose to head. It offers you the chance to tack on additional pieces along the way without much disruption and often at minimal upfront cost.

However, there comes a point when someone on staff realizes that they need information they can’t get. That usually leads to a quick evaluation where someone admits that we’re spending way too much time duplicating data entry without a way for the data to interact. And that’s usually when we get a call.

I recently heard Tim Stevens of Granger Community Church discuss the importance of volunteers at the Texas Ministry Conference. His comments resonated deeply with me as someone who has passionately served in many volunteer roles for my church and favorite community service organizations. Volunteers are perhaps the single greatest asset of any community of faith. Healthy churches empower individuals to be actively engaged in ministry rather than passively participating in events. But how do you go about growing your volunteer base?

I read Jenni Catron's post, "Warning Signs" and saw an immediate connection to the warning signs I find in churches who are in search of or in desperate need of a new ChMS. Since I get to have these conversations regularly, I recognize that it might be easier for me to spot the warning signs it's time to consider changing your church technology solution.

Here are the top 5 warning signs to watch for:

1. Why did you create this software?
2. Who is on your staff that has served on church staff before?
3. How do you measure your success with and impact on a church?