Our network of Executive Pastors often e-mails one another with questions or ideas that might be helpful for others. One of the recent "e-mail chains" was on the topic of church attendance tracking. There were a number of ideas, but the bottom line is … If an attendee does not want to be identified, there's nothing you can do. They must complete a communication card, register their children, give during offering (and identify themselves), or respond in some other way.
One of the Executive Pastors in our network is a bit of a comedian. He is always coming up with something funny. I thought his idea was interesting. With his permission, I thought I would share …
I think we are all going about this tracking thing all wrong. Here is the Brownian Interactive Congregational Tracking System (BICTS).
Phase One: Data Input (Equipment Cost = $00.00)
Tell your high school kids that you will pay them fifty cents a head for every head shot via their cell phone sent to you with the contact information via text mail.
Phase Two: BINGO!
Yes, BINGO! Simply use your new Vista software to arrange the pictures in alphabetical order in 1 inch squares and print them out in a format of 100 per sheet on your color copier. Now give out these sheets to your seniors and provide them tables with comfortable chairs at all of you entrances. Then give prizes for each ten in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) that they can check off (personal prize). Have them divided into small groups of six to eight seniors to combine their sheets and give the group with the most conformations a "group" prize. Then, you only need to review the group sheets to have a total attendance record.
As you can see by utilizing your current resources you can turn a difficult task into a nifty fund raiser that will engage two major age groups into meaningful ministry.
