Christ-Honoring Intentionality

Much of life is transactional; exchanging goods, services or information for short-term gains or benefits. This is normal for groceries or a late-night Target-run, but as the Church, we simply cannot afford to be transactional. In fact, as a reflection of Christ, I believe that we need to be deeply relational in operation. It’s critical in the way that we make connections with people, but for me, one area where it can be easy to overlook Christ-honoring intentionality is in the routines of daily work, particularly in my role working with technology.

As ministry is happening each day of the week and the church continues to grow and change, there needs to be some sort of system in place to keep track of the visitors, members, volunteers, scheduling, events, and finances. Church Management Software (ChMS) helps manage that complexity by equipping administrators, pastors, elders, and volunteers with the tools and information they need to engage meaningfully with congregants and foster community.

I have the opportunity to attend a conference this year put on by TouchPoint, our ChMS provider. Friendship Church has been attending this annual summit since its inception, and this will be my third visit personally.

But could a conference about church management really be valuable in a relational way? What can you talk about for several days? Why would a conference for software management make sense?

As someone who has gone to many different conferences from my time working in corporate America, the TouchPoint Summit is like nothing else. The ability to visit with like-minded people who have genuine care about what’s happening and how we can utilize systems to make things better for everyone is such a unique experience.

Learning how other church bodies are using the same systems and features in different ways accomplishes amazing things for the sake of removing stumbling blocks and allowing godly ministry to happen can be transformative.

Both the formal teaching and the organic fellowship are valuable because they ultimately strengthen the Church's ability to serve and extend kingdom impact. Sometimes that value comes through a deeper understanding of the tools I use every day. Other times, it comes through relationships built with people who can help months later when I encounter an unexpected roadblock.

I highly value this time when 100+ churches from all over the country come together to learn, fellowship and grow. Building relationships with others in IT, finance, support roles, ministry, and pastoral leadership, along with spending time with the TouchPoint staff, changes my entire perspective. Never in my 15+ years in IT did I think I would be worshiping God with my peers through caring for others, sharing knowledge/ideas/practices, singing music and spending such valuable time together. It has changed my heart posture, and I’m so thankful for that.

When I am frustrated with something related to our ChMS, I can immediately put things into a different perspective. I have built relationships with the support staff, developers and leadership at TouchPoint. I know that they deeply care for church ministry and are working on the issue. I have spent time worshiping the living God with these people. They want the same thing that I want, kingdom impact through the Church.

Praise the Lord that we can be relational, not transactional, even within our IT systems. As we are reminded in 1 Corinthians 10:

²³ “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. ²⁴ Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

³¹ So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ³² Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, ³³ just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

May we always look for ways to glorify God in everything we do, even in the technology and systems that support ministry.