Churches tend to offer discipleship programs that are “one-size-fits-all”. Sadly, since most people don’t want to be pigeon-holed these discipleship programs become “one-size-fits-none”. To really help people grow spiritually, we need to provide discipleship tracks that custom fit the individual.
There are two products I’ve encountered that are providing individual-specific spiritual development. First is from a company called ChurchTeams that provides a simple tool called Growth Finder. Growth Finder has users answer a series of questions which reveal the user’s spiritual strengths and weaknesses. Then users are given a series of resources to suit their specific spiritual growth needs. Users can employ the suggested resources and begin their journey of customized spiritual development. The ChurchTeams product includes a very effective small group management and communication tool and the price for the whole package is remarkably affordable (cost is based on church size).
Second is Monvee. It’s similar to ChurchTeams’ Growth Finder with a trendier look and a nice graphical interface. Additionally Monvee doesn’t just provide resources specific to each user, but it also addresses individual learning styles. Monvee is in beta right now so I don’t know the cost. I fear that they may follow suit with other trendy-looking church software companies and charge too much. I also hope I’m wrong!
Both ChurchTeams and Monvee provide church leaders with customization options that meet the needs of not only church members individually, but their church as a whole. The result is a spiritual formation tool specifically designed for your church and for your people! Pretty cool if you ask me.
So we’ve been using groupfinder from churchteams for a couple years. To what extent hvae you used their “growthfinder” tool? Like you said I just wish it was “pretty”. But it is fairly cost effective. Now if yu could somehow incorporate zoomerang leader training within churchteams that would be sweet or just add a survey tool right within it. Since it already has the database would be a cool integration.
I never actually got to use the GrowthFinder tool before leaving my last church, but I could see it’s potential. The appearance of GrowthFinder may not change much in the near future, but you’re right about how cost effective it is.
As for incorporating survey ability within ChurchTeams, that’s a pretty cool idea. I’ll pass that along to Boyd.
Another idea is this: why not put the links to the training modules in your weekly ChurchTeams reminder emails to the leaders? I’m pretty sure you could put the links in the intro text.
Talked with Boyd as well. its hopefully coming, just not yet.(ie ability to edit the reminder emails, etc)
We have developed an eDiscipleship on-line program that we provide to all churches and ministries at no cost.
Each site is branded for the local church with a picture of their church and a greeting in the local pastors voice as well as a prayer every time the user returns to take a lesson.
We have churches from Hawaii to Florida currently using the program. Our main means of support is from the corporate world who have a heart for discipleship, but some churches choose to support us because they believe in the ministry.
Each lesson is 1/2 hour which includes an interactive quiz.
It really is free because we don’t believe the Gospel message has to be paid for.