We were using paper lists. It seemed reasonable at the time: assign families to our deacons, hand out the sheets, and trust that people would follow through.
Then we looked at the reality.
Some families were being contacted twice a month. Others hadn't heard from anyone in half a year. It wasn't because our team didn't care, they genuinely did. But paper lists don't show you the gaps. They just sit there while good intentions quietly slip through the cracks.
Like many churches, we paid a lot of attention to the front door: welcoming new visitors, tracking first-time guests, and hosting connection events. But the back door was wide open, and nobody was watching it. Families weren't leaving because of conflict or theology; they were slipping away simply because they didn't feel seen. They assumed nobody noticed when they started missing Sundays. Sadly, they were often right.
That’s why I built OurChurchCare.
The concept is simple: whether your church relies on deacons, elders, pastors, small group leaders, or a dedicated volunteer care team, you can assign families to them, log every call or visit, and automatically surface the individuals who haven't been contacted in too long.
When we put it into practice, the transformation was immediate. Families received consistent, meaningful contact. People felt genuinely valued. The back door started closing.
I’m incredibly transparent about why I’m sharing this tool with other congregations. I am currently transitioning into full-time pastoral ministry. OurChurchCare wasn't built to be a corporate tech startup; it was born out of local church ministry to solve a universal church problem. By utilizing this tool, you are directly supporting a fellow ministry family, while gaining a sustainable, affordable way to ensure no one in your own congregation is ever forgotten.
“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”