Help people belong
Belonging is what turns somebody who attends into somebody who is part of the church — a circle they meet with, something they are learning, a job they do, and a way to keep up with all of it during the week.
A group is people who meet. A class is something you finish. A ministry is a job you do. Getting those three straight is most of the work.
In this section
| Page | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Groups | Ongoing circles — small groups, fellowships, anything that meets on a rhythm |
| Classes | Courses with an end — membership classes, workshops, retreats |
| Ministries & Volunteers | Serving teams, positions, and the schedule |
| Member Portal | The page each member gets for themselves |
| The Passport App | The phone version, plus Team View for staff |
| Group Message Notifications | What gets sent when somebody posts in a group, and how members control it |
Where to start
Signing up seeds five generic groups, a class and seven ministries so the portal is not empty on day one. Making those yours is the first job — rename what you run, delete what you do not, and add what is missing. It is one of the Setup Center milestones for a reason: left as-is, they tell members you have not set the place up.
Then give people a way to see it. Send portal links and point members at the app.
How it connects
People arrive here from Follow up with guests once they are past their first few visits. What your church requires before somebody counts as a member — attendance, a class, a baptism — is set under Visitor-Member Path, and members watch their own progress against it on the Home tab of the portal.