Join us at our new location! Release notes will be transitioning to our Help Center on Dec. 1.
Notable features, bug fixes, performance enhancements and updates in this series of releases: Custom Fields are now available for People Profiles, letting admins set dates, free-form text and yes/no items with any name (AMP-3001, ∞ All Versions) Profiles now show an active Activity feed, showing many different types of people activity (forms, gifts, app activity […]
Notable features, bug fixes, performance enhancements and updates in this series of releases: Interactive Notes now saves multi-line responses correctly the next time the user views them (AMP-2841, ∞ All Versions) Push notifications length limit now accounts for “unusual” characters more accurately (AMP-2894, ∞ All Versions) Admins can now see how many devices were reached […]
Notable features, bug fixes, performance enhancements and updates in this series of releases: Interactive Notes now saves multi-line responses correctly the next time the user views them (AMP-2841, ∞ All Versions) Push notifications length limit now accounts for “unusual” characters more accurately (AMP-2894, ∞ All Versions) Admins can now see how many devices were reached […]
Notable features, bug fixes, performance enhancements and updates in this series of releases: Member Directory is now generally available (AMP-2749, ∞ All Versions) When editing a Chat feature in the portal, the admin is correctly pointed to the Chat section (AMP-2748, ∞ All Versions) UMCGo+ is now generally available (AMP-2744, 27.2.x) Added the ability to use an “Aware3 […]
Notable features, bug fixes, performance enhancements and updates in this series of releases: Interactive Note totals on the home dashboard will now show results across all Notes features, not just the first one (AMP-2671, ∞ All Versions) PCO Giving now integrates gracefully with Aware3 Campaigns (AMP-2651, ∞ All Versions) If enabled, the “add fund” option […]
Key events during the year often call for more Sunday morning volunteers than usual. The hope is that the volume of churchgoers is higher than what is expected for just a typical Sunday. Easter, Christmas, Sundays with a missions emphasis, etc. are all types of services that call for a coordinated effort between a church […]
It is never too early to talk about how many pastel M&Ms, Cadbury eggs, or Starburst jelly beans you are going to eat this Easter season, is it? While Easter does bring delicious treats for all ages to enjoy, it is also a season of reflection and meditation as the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus […]
Notable features, bug fixes, performance enhancements and updates in this series of releases: Planning Center giving link is now more intelligent about searching for existing Batches, eliminating duplicates (AMP-2533, ∞ All Versions) umcGo listings now have a default UMC cross and flames icon (AMP-2517, ∞ All Versions) Outbound Text is now disabled by default to prevent any […]
They say “knowledge is power,” right? While this is true, there is more to the equation here. Until knowledge is actually applied, then and only then, can you really make powerful decisions. And when it comes to your church finances, it’s important to make informed and wise decisions with every cent. There are a lot […]
Everyone is always looking for a way to maximize their time. Have you ever sat at your desk with your email open in one browser tab, about 10 other tabs also opened, and wonder what you were even working on in the first place? It’s very easy to do. Without a clear list of daily […]
Notable features, bug fixes, performance enhancements and updates in this series of releases: Giving is back to defaulting to $0, instead of a paltry $1 (AMP-2536, ∞ All Versions) In the Push / Text Activity view, tagged messages now display the tag name (AMP-2506, ∞ All Versions) App Administrators can now add single and multi-link features on […]
When you plan one trip a year, you tend look forward to that week of relaxation and escape All. Year. Long. Whether you chose a sunny and warm setting or mountain escape, your trip is YOUR trip. Some people go to great lengths to help mark the time until their trip has arrived. A countdown […]
Are you making a resolution for 2018? Warning: according to U.S. News, 80% of resolutions fail by February. But this year, that doesn’t have to be you. Before you focus on new work habits, increasing productivity, an exercise regimen, or spending more time with your kids, try focusing on training your brain first. It’s hard […]
Notable features from this month’s series of releases: Location Info has a new, modern, streamlined look and feel (AMP-2414, 26.4). Notable bug fixes, performance enhancements and updates: Admin-initiated, emailed receipt duplicates were failing to send. Wires are connected again (AMP-2451, ∞ All Versions). Android was overly-needy in asking for Push Notification registration (AMP-2448, 26.4). Several […]
Have you ever heard the term CEO used in the context of church? While, in a way, a pastor is comparable to a CEO, that’s not the kind of CEO we are talking about. CEO is a term that can also be used to describe a well known and highly sought after audience of church […]
Your mobile app is safe with us – guaranteed. If your church has a branded mobile app with another provider, and you are being told that you must transition it to a “container app” due to the new Apple guidelines – you don’t, and we can help. With aware3, you can keep your existing app. […]
The year-end season of giving is officially in full swing! When people give a portion of their income or give above their normal tithe at the end of the year, an impact is made through your church, in your local community, and around the world. And that’s why people give, they want to make a […]
Notable features from this month’s series of releases: Planning Center Giving now fully supported (AMP-2321, ∞ All Versions). churchOn listings now support a custom background image to make them match partner branding more closely (AMP-2365, 25.13.x). Notable bug fixes, performance enhancements and updates: Android splash screens are now larger to better support all those ginormous […]
The season of generosity is here! There is evidence of the giving spirit scattered just about everywhere. Thanksgiving was barely a week ago, #GivingTuesday was less than 24 hours ago, and Christmas charitable initiatives, like food and toy donations, are posted in malls and shopping centers across America. This increased fourth quarter giving seasonality is […]
Not one church in the world is exactly the same. Churches meet in different locations, have different worship styles, use different translations of the Bible, and even worship and preach in different languages. But, even with these differences, they are still unified under one God, and that’s a pretty incredible and unique thing, and exactly […]
The first major holiday of the fall is already behind us as 2017 keeps speeding by. Candy, cookies, treats, it all just tastes better on Halloween. And diving into your leftover candy after the dust settles from the trick-or-treaters is always something to look forward to, but the sugar high also comes with a sugar […]
Notable features from this month’s series of releases: churchOn now supports Push Notifications (AMP-2323, 25.10.x). Improved layout support for the iPhone X (AMP-2318, 25.x). Deep Linking in place for all churchOn shortcodes, making it easier than ever to directly navigate to your churchOn listing (AMP-2289, ∞ All Versions). Listing Only aware3 experience now available in churchOn (AMP-2329, 25.12). Planning […]
This time of year can be one of the most anticipated seasons for some people. Apple cider, pumpkin spice, leaves changing colors, and football; fall does seem to have it all when it comes to activities, food, and entertainment. There’s even a scientific explanation as to why a lot of people feel the fall love, […]
Baby boomers, traditionalists, the silent generation, hard workers, and family values, all words to describe a large sect of the American population. Previous generations of the United States have seen a lot in their day. They have weathered the greatest storms and some monumental triumphs of our country. They are the rock and roll generation […]
Notable features from this month’s series of releases: churchOn released to support instant partner app content (AMP-2253, ∞ All Versions). Notable bug fixes, performance enhancements and updates: churchOn partners can now be searched for by user location (various, 25.6.0). Existing partners can choose to be listed in churchOn in addition to their standalone branded app […]
Every Sunday, there are people all across the world who visit churches. Some visitors on a Sunday morning want to be anonymous. They are at church to simply “kick the tires,” while others are new to the area or church shopping, hoping to find a place to connect. Visitors come in all forms and from […]
Have you ever looked in a teenager’s backpack? How many crunched up homework assignments, pieces of trash, broken headphones, and missing forms can one backpack hold? Thinking back on your grade school days, you’ll always remember the kid who opened their backpack and pulled out their lunch and about 15 pencils, but couldn’t ever find […]
Notable features from this month’s series of releases: The all-new Giving Dashboard allows a deep-dive into giving statistics across many metrics and timeframes (AMP-1856, ∞ All Versions). Notable bug fixes, performance enhancements and updates: Forms with payments and optional items now doesn’t require a payment method unless the total is more than $0.00 (AMP-2190, ∞ All Versions). Home […]
You might not know this, but the future is looking pretty boring. Well, according to Elon Musk, that is. Among Musk’s many entrepreneurial pursuits (SpaceX, Tesla, Hyperloop, etc.) is The Boring Company, which is tasked with boring into the ground to create tunnels for cars to travel in. These tunnels will create alternate routes to […]
The rate of innovation in digital technology just might have something in common with the car industry. Besides the fact that cars will in fact be computers on wheels one day, the second you drive a new car off the lot of the dealership, it automatically depreciates in monetary value. A travesty to the buyer, […]
A note from Joe: I realize it’s not winter. Or Fall. It’s been unseasonably cool here in Missouri this August and I love canoeing, so a winter picture came early this year. Notable features from this month’s series of releases: Planning Center People now sync with your in-app member profile information. As members add and […]
Apple, and the work that it does, often seems like a black box to outsiders. They take great pride in the amount of secrecy they maintain around their products and services before they’re released. Apple does a phenomenal job maintaining their current infrastructure without discussing it. Apple rarely talks about how their vast network of […]
Millennials are perhaps one of the most talked about generations, ever. Do a quick search for “millennials” on any given day, and hundreds of articles about their attitudes, opinions, likes, spending habits, or social media habits are waiting for you. As of 2015, millennials outnumber the famed baby boomer generation of the 50s, 60s, and […]
Have you ever thought about how the pyramids were built? They were built purely by human hands. No modern tools in sight. Evidence shows that it was the enslaved Israelites, who were tasked with making and laying bricks for these massive structures. Without the modern technology we have today, research estimates that it could have […]
Notable features from this month’s series of releases: Funds are now displayed on the Reconciliation report (AMP-2100, ∞ All Versions). In-app Notifications view now has a beautiful new look as well as a side menu icon (AMP-2085, 24.5.0). Text Engagement now responds to “hi”, “hello” or “profile” for members to directly edit their profile via […]
One of the most challenging things in church service planning for pastors and communication leaders can be managing stage announcements from the pulpit. Without a system and strategy in place, you can quickly find yourself stuck in a rhythm of spending 10 minutes on announcements at the beginning or end of the service, while not […]
There are all kinds of personalities in the world. God created us as unique beings, everyone with their own preferences, quirks, and gifts. There is no one on this earth that is an exact clone of you. We are always learning about ourselves and we use what we learn to connect and engage with others. […]
Stand out from the crowd ? It’s hard to ignore the ? in the room (or message). Grab your app user’s attention with a pop of color. Say what you mean to say ? A ?️ says a thousand words. Shorten up your messages with an emoji (or two ?). Keep it fun and relatable ? Lighten the mood by adding an emoji and […]
Notable features from this month’s series of releases: Touch ID is now generally available for speedy in-app gifts (AMP-2065, 24.2.0). Unsubscribe (“stop”) functionality for outbound texts is now more read-friendly and accepts sentences (AMP-2049, ∞ All Versions). Feature Hubs are now available for grouping native app features under one header in-app (AMP-2021, 24.1.0). Text Concierge is now […]
The most basic form of human interaction is communication. Communication first started as pictures, symbols, and grunts but it eventually evolved to words, phrases, and sentences that helped build the society we know today. Now, we find ourselves in an age of information overload. Everyone has a message to communicate. Whether it’s a Facebook ad […]
Some people might say that the app industry is fickle. Asking people to invest time, effort and potentially dollars to download your app is almost an impossible ask in an already crowded marketplace of available apps. They will barely skim your social posts, but now you want them to download something onto their phone? Good […]
It’s almost summer! Not to catch you off guard, but the last day of school for your kids is approaching even faster. When summer hits, people go places. Not just to keep the kids occupied, but to relax and escape the normal routine. Beaches, amusement parks, lakes or cabins; you name it, people are eager […]
What was the last video you watched? Whether it was a movie trailer or an ad chances are you probably watched it on your mobile device. More than half of YouTube views come from mobile devices, after all. The reason video is so popular is because it communicates stories so well. There is a reason […]
Notable features from this month’s series of releases: Form fields are now either required or optional (AMP-2002, ∞ All Versions). Outbound Texting is now available as a standalone product (AMP-1926, ∞ All Versions). Notable bug fixes, performance enhancements and updates: During recurring gift creation, in some scenarios users were getting stuck (AMP-2006, ∞ All Versions). Initial launch […]
An act of generosity is a response of gratitude to our God. It isn’t solely an administrative or even a financial act, it’s deeply spiritual and missional in nature. Giving is a natural byproduct of being engaged in the mission of the church. People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and […]
Have you ever seen the movie, Rocky? Even if you have, let’s do a quick recap. The movie Rocky tells the story of Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a collector for a loan shark who also happens to be a very good boxer in the local circuit of Philadelphia. Heavyweight Champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) catches […]
Are you ready for Easter this Sunday? And we’re not just talking about being ready to eat some chocolate bunnies and see if you can find the golden egg this year. Easter gives us the opportunity to treat Sunday a little different. Every Sunday is important, but it’s not every week that your church’s community […]
Starting any new venture is both exciting and intimidating. There are risks inherent in the venture. You may have a great idea or passion, but there is no guarantee this it will succeed. Thinking about the early days of aware3, we had no idea what the future held. We had a passion to see churches […]
Notable features from this month’s series of releases: The portal can now use both iTunes podcast URLs and standard (RSS feed-based) podcast URLs, allowing any non-iTunes podcast to automatically be pulled into iOS & Android (∞ All Versions). iOS & Android both received a new custom video capability, and the portal now has the capability to handle very custom […]
A precious commodity for most non-profits, including churches, is volunteers. You appreciate, organize and encourage them, and in return, most volunteers serve faithfully and joyfully. Still, it can be hard to cultivate a volunteer force for Sunday mornings, and with Easter on the way, you’ll need to rally the troops and gain even more volunteers […]
Creating a vibrant, growing and relevant church is an adventure. As soon as you get things running smoothly … just kidding. It never completely runs smoothly. That’s just how ministry is. You can’t wind it up and let it go. You must be vigilant about staying fresh and current. It’s a constant process of refinement, […]
When unchurched people and guests walk through your door on Easter Sunday, will your church be ready? As pastors and church leaders, one could hope to hear a confident and resounding “yes!” to this question. But in reality, Easter takes a lot of careful planning and execution. Just like Christmas, Easter Sunday is a time […]
As a leader, pastor or elder in your church, the growth of your church is probably a topic that keeps you up at night. Monitoring church growth is only as effective as a church’s ability to track where you have been and where you are going next. Tracking your growth not only serves the purposes […]
Our world is loud, chaotic and overwhelming with information. Whether in the church office, through the radio, music or conversations with friends, we’re almost constantly ingesting audible information. When the beginning of a new week rolls around and we arrive at church and settle into our seat for a sermon, we try to silence the […]
As a tech company that exist to help churches grow through member engagement, we speak with a lot of executive pastors tasked with “figuring out that app thing” for their church. The executive pastor role comes with a ton responsibility. Most people outside of the church staff don’t realize the number of hats an executive pastor has […]
With Valentine’s just barely behind us a timely topic to be thinking about right now is love. Love can mean different things to different people. For example, you can love your family and church volunteers, but also love pizza, football, and the Three Stooges. Some words have been diluted in our society and ‘love’ may […]
Easter Sunday is a day most churches see an increase in their attendance. Because your church may welcome guests for the first time or welcome back those who have drifted from the church, your congregation should be prepared for this special day. Did you know that Easter has more Google searches than Christmas? Easter is […]
Passing the offering plate on Sunday mornings is a strong association about the church that churchgoers and non-Christians most likely both share. This image has been used to represent the church in country songs to movies and tv shows, which can create a stereotype of churches. All they do is ask for donations. Many pastors […]
Have you even hard to make a decision by committee? Of course, you have; you’re a church leader. How about something as simple as picking a place for the group to go to lunch? Sean wants sushi, Lance wants BBQ and Joe want’s Mexican. But, Lance had taco’s for dinner last night and Joe’s not […]
There are some things that never change. Billy Graham said it well: “While our world is shaking and crumbling, we need to realize that one thing will never change, and that is God. He is the same today as he was ten million years ago, and will be the same ten million years from today.” […]
Late October to early February is prediction season. Predictions about what’s ahead in the new year – church trends, sports teams, food, worship songs, etc. As humans, it’s in our nature to wonder, and it’s also in our nature to try our best to be prepared for what’s coming. I think that’s why so many […]
Happy New Year everyone! We hope you had a fantastic and restful holiday season with your loved ones (and shared some laughs along the way). Christmas 2016 was definitely a season to remember. Every year Christmas is when church leaders and volunteers feel the chaos of work and family life. With Christmas on a Sunday […]
Many of us are pulling together the final details to prepare for our candlelight Christmas services at Church. It’s a beautiful time of worship, as the room is transformed by candlelight. The Christmas Eve service is a time of connection and community, as we gather together inviting friends and family to the service.
In the Christmas season, the church has the opportunity to share the call to live generously in the context of celebration and gratitude. Giving is intended to be an overflowing of the heart not a begrudging discipline. But, there is specific emphasis on this time of year, because Christmas is God’s great gift to us – the coming of His son to earth. What is more generous than giving your Son? Christmas creates a tone of celebration of the
Thinking about being a guest in someone’s home this Christmas season also makes me think about all the people that may find themselves guests in a church this time of year. After all, Christmas isn’t just a time for celebration culturally, as it’s an even more important time of celebrating the birth of our Savior, and helping people find true meaning and joy in this season. As we prepare to have guests come through our church doors for Christmas concerts, Christmas Eve services or a Sunday service on December, it’s important that we treat them just like a guest that would enter our own home.
What a whirlwind of year it has been. 2016 brought new challenges, great triumphs and examples of the impossible becoming possible in the United States and around the world. Between all forms of media, print, tv, social media, etc., it only takes the click of a mouse or change of a channel to be overwhelmed with all forms of news.
You may be wondering why a technology company is sharing their views on a subject like Thanksgiving. While many of our partners and others think of us as a technology company, the core of what we do is based on a belief that the Church is God’s hope for a troubled world. If the tools we build help churches deepen engagement and grow their impact in some small way because of what we do, we are thankful. It is a privilege to serve and work alongside such amazing partners. That is what we are most thankful for this year.
While I have very clear boundaries on Christmas decorations, as a church leader, I hope you have been preparing for and thinking about Christmas for a while now. A while ago, we posted a blog Easter is our Super Bowl. I stand by that statement, Christmas is more like March Madness. There are a thousand moving parts, it’s a major production and before its all over, you are exhausted. At aware3 we have a few tips on how you can use technology to make Christmas more impactful and less exhausting.
Aware3 focuses on providing the tools that help you move people from passive to engaged; from sitting in the stands to joining the game. The Kingdom of God isn’t just talk and what we believe. It is the movement of God through His people. So let’s play ball.
At aware3, we have 3 core beliefs that shape and give definition to why we do what we do. This three-part series is a glimpse behind the curtain at these core beliefs. In part 1 we looked at our belief that church is more than a building. Our second belief is that Church is better together. We will look at 5 factors of why we think church is better together.
At aware3, we value simplicity and strive to reduce everything down to its core elements. While this allows us to use plain language to describe our beliefs, it does mean that to get the full meaning, you have to unpack the deeper context. We will begin with digging into our first belief and looking at it from 6 perspectives: Church is more than a building.
Our great-grandparents would have thought a world with self-driving cars, mobile video conferencing, and virtual reality were things that only lived in the mind of George Orwell and the stories he crafted. Now we have all of that and more. The decisions on how to use and invest in technology are important factors in determining the story that our churches will live out.
Have you ever seen an advertisement, blog or headline that promises amazing results in 3 easy steps without any work or cost? If you haven’t, then just google ‘lose weight without exercise or diet’. You’ll get almost 2 million returned items in about 5 seconds. If only it were that easy… I do have a secret way that you can lose weight every time– work out regularly and eat better! The problem is that if you lead with that, no one will want to hear what you have to say because those things involve hard work and we already know it’s what we need to do to lose that last 10 pounds. I wish it wasn’t the case, but there aren’t many things in life that we want to achieve which don’t involve putting in the time and effort. In case you haven’t picked up on it by now, this blog won’t be about 3 easy steps to become the next giga-church using the latest idea or tool.
In our pop culture, we tend to celebrate stories of people going it alone and beating the odds. One of the most common images of Americana is the cowboy. He rides off into the sunset alone, living on the outskirts of town, needing nothing and asking nothing of others. This is the quintessential picture of the rugged individual. They can go it alone. The only problem is that’s a lie. Going it alone was never part of the plan. We are designed for relationship and connection. Like it or not folks, we need each other.
Recently, friends of mine that had been long-term missionaries overseas came home. They had been gone for over a decade and the adjustment back to the U.S. was shocking for them. One of the stories he told was of being completely overwhelmed at the grocery store. After gathering a few items in his cart, he […]
The weather has started to turn, kids have returned to school, and Starbucks is making it’s Pumpkin Spice Latte again. This can mean only one thing… it’s football season. A study showed that 40% of Americans spend between 6-16 hours a week watching football in the fall. Sports, in general, takes up a vast amount […]
There is a difference in ‘how’ we see things and ‘what’ we see. Walking outside, two people can look up at the sky and see the clouds forming and know that rain is coming. That is what they see. How we see it can be very different. One person thinks, ‘Of course it’s going to […]
Occasionaly I build things around the house and there is one thing that each project has in common: I make a plan, a list, gather the supplies and tools before I begin each time. Without fail, at some point along the way, I realize that I need one more piece, or tool, or gadget to […]
Selecting technology can be a confusing and difficult process. And, if you don’t do it well, then not only are you wasting your time, but you are also wasting the church’s money. In a recent podcast from Rich Rich, he shares 5 great questions that each church should consider before launching a mobile app. To […]
I’ve been going to church a long time. Have you ever felt like you’re having deja vu on Sunday morning? I know I have. Part of this is because there are important themes that repeat throughout scripture and areas where we are constantly needing to become more like Jesus. I can be hard-headed from time […]
I was having dinner with a pastor friend of mine recently. We were talking about the great things that are happening at his church as well as sorting through some of the challenges they were facing. He kept mentioning a specific person he was having issues with, and at one point I asked him why […]
The great philosopher Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once and awhile, you could miss it.” This has never been as true as it is today. Imagine you are Sleeping Beauty and have been snoozing for the last 9 years. Suddenly you wake up. When you […]
Somethings just go together. Fish and Chips. Thunder and Lightning. Macaroni and Cheese. Salt and Pepper (or for that matter Salt n Pepa)… In each of these cases, one of the things is good, but the combination is more than the sum of its parts. Be honest, you know who Salt n Pepa are, but […]
Have you ever wondered how people make decisions? It is clearly not all rationality and it is not all emotion. There is some mix of factors that help people decide between two options. The science behind solving this mystery is the work of sociologists and marketing experts. Finding a new church is not fun. In […]
There are a few things, that almost no matter what you add them to make it better. If something needs fixed, there is a 95% chance that duct tape plays a role in repairing it. In fact, I don’t think you will find a MacGyver episode that doesn’t include duct tape. Likewise, if you are […]
I know what you’re thinking, and no we are not releasing a timely feature for churches to engage in the countless political polls that dominate our news cycle! That is not the heart behind our newest feature. The core of Live Polling is engagement. In an increasing technology forward culture, people are used to being […]
Life can be a bit like a journey; time keeps moving you forward, but if you are paying attention to the wrong details, you might get stalled. The same goes for church life. If you are spending your energy and focus on the wrong things, then you might miss something huge that will hit you […]
One of the most under-recognized church leadership roles is the communications director. One reason is that people don’t quite understand what a church communications person does. Many in your church might not realize that this role is anything more than doing the church bulletin. In reality, your communications person usually has primary responsibility for in […]
Vulnerability doesn’t come easily to most of us. Many of us live with the fear of looking weak, being rejected, not having value and countless other forms of weakness, but most of us work pretty hard to cover it up. Going back to the Old Testament, Adam pointed to Eve to deflect blame in the […]
If there was something that you did first thing in the morning, before bed every night, almost every time you went to the bathroom and a dozen other times a day, would you think it was important to do well? Americans check their social media account up to 17 times per day. Crazy, right? Since […]
It seems like many of the niceties that were once commonplace are increasingly becoming scarce. As a boy, there were a few things that were non-negotiable in how I was expected to interact with people. Sir and Ma’am were how I addressed adults, requests started with please, and you never forget to say thank you. […]
Have you ever had help that was more work than beneficial? If you’re not sure what I mean, have your 6-year old help you change the oil in your car or cook a complex meal next time you do either. Even though it may actually take you longer to do the tasks with their ‘help’, […]
Meet our friends at New Life Christian Church As you can see from the video, New Life is a fun place. This fantastic church has three campuses and is located about an hour outside of Washington DC. Two of New Life’s campuses are physical and the third is an online campus. This unique configuration means […]
I am a student of modern advertising and I love finding new ad campaigns that are connecting with the audience. Match.com has recently started running ads highlighting that they lead to more second dates than anyone else in the web dating space. I love this because a first date, especially one from a website, can […]
When you go camping, you want to pack light. I remember a time when I would go backpacking and my plate was a frisbee. I used it as a dustpan to clean out my tent and to gather water from the stream for washing as well. One thing I could use in a bunch of […]
New cars are a lot of fun. Everything is clean, the car has the smell that can’t quite be explained, and it’s fun to take it on the first drive around town. Who doesn’t love driving a new car? The process of buying a new car, on the other hand, is something that lots of […]
It is said that good things come in threes. At aware3 we have had a busy couple of weeks and are glad to share our most recent hat trick. This set of improvements has something for everyone. The design-conscious people in your church will love the new Mosaic Layout. Your finance folks will be excited […]
There are a few places that I try to avoid if at all possible. I never go to Walmart on Black Friday. If a snowstorm is forecast for tomorrow, I avoid the grocery store. I refuse to visit New Orleans in early February and I try to avoid social media during election season. What do […]
A friend recently asked me a question that really made me think. He asked, “10 years from now, what do you want to be the best in the world at?” This is a variation of the more common question about where do want to be in 10 years or what your goals are for the […]
I know that I am dating myself, but I still remember the opening sequence in Cheers. I think one of the reasons that that show connected with so many people was that we are all looking for a place of belonging. On some level, we all want a place where we can be ourselves and […]
How we define church and what it looks like is influenced by the context we live in. The church in China is largely underground and the oppression they face has shaped the church there. There are no casual church members in a place where being a part of the church could get you arrested or […]
Meet Jason and our friends at Revivify Church Revivify is a term to describe life and energy being restored to something that is dormant or dying. You don’t have to watch HGTV for long to see hundreds of examples of this concept. It has become the ‘in’ thing to take an old dilapidated home, or […]
Have you ever tried to kill something, but no matter what you tried it just hung around, almost like it was taunting you? I have this tree that I have been waging war against. It may be the most hated tree in North America. It’s a Sweet Gum tree. This little monster looks lovely. It’s […]
We live in a world of constant marketing, manipulation and cajoling. Advertisers have found their way into every place we visit: television, the roadways, radio, social media, and every form of entertainment. This is one of the reasons that human beings are so quick to suspect that people have ulterior motives. Ever heard the argument […]
Meet Ryan and our friends at Abundant Life Church Abundant Life Church is a having a large impact in a small community! Back in the 80’s this church was planted in a community outside of Washington D.C. Many in their congregation work in and around the Capitol and the church that they have built is […]
I can still hear my dad standing in the garage showing me how to use his power tools for the first time. “Son, measure twice and cut once.” At the time, I don’t think that I fully understood that statement, but having made countless extra trips to the hardware store because I messed up a […]
Have you ever watched a dog show? Me either, but I have watched Best in Show, and I kinda hope that is what the dog show world is really like. That would be an interesting world! If you haven’t seen this mockumentary, it’s the story of several families getting ready for and competing in the […]
The church shines brightest when we are living out God’s heart for people around us. God inclines his heart towards people suffering and facing difficulties, and so should His church. You don’t have to look far to find people who need a kind word, prayer or material support. Our churches, neighborhoods, and cities are filled […]
Change is hard. Some changes are great and some less so, but no matter the type, it can have an impact on our stress levels, health, and sense of security. In the late 60’s, researchers Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe created a tool that rates the amount of stress people experience based on common life […]
Being a pastor is hard. The role of shepherding people, leading an organization, providing spiritual direction and all of the other various things pastors get pulled into can drain your energy and even lead to burnout. J.R. Briggs shares in his book FAIL, how the stressors on pastors can lead to isolation, loneliness and pain. […]
Meet Jim and our friends at Morning Star Church Morning Star Church is a thriving faith community forty minutes northwest of St Louis, MO. Jim serves as the Pastor of Faith Formation. He has the pleasure of focusing his time and talent on developing disciples within the church. At Morning Star, they have a clear […]
According to Jackie Robinson, “Life is not a spectator sport. If watchin’ is all you’re going to do, you’re going to watch your life go by without ya”. Life is meant for living, but for many church goers, sitting in a pew and people watching is mistakenly called engagement. When the church was described in […]
I recently had coffee with a young man who was graduating from college. He was unsure if he should start his own business, or go to work for someone else and he was looking for some advice. I remember being in the same place years ago and most of the advice I received was less […]
Do you remember writing notes and passing them in school? I sure do. I remember getting notes that were so intricately folded that it was more origami than note. At the time, that was the most advanced form of 5th grade communication. Sadly, note folding is a dying art among tween girls since it is […]
On average, only 10% of first-time guests will come back next week and become regular church members. How different would your church be if you could change that number to 25%? How about 55%? The sad truth is that many churches don’t even know how well they are retaining first-time visitors. When you meet someone […]
I was taught at a very young age that there are a few things we don’t talk about in polite company: religion, politics, and money. Perhaps this is why I flinch every time I bring a visitor to church and find out that the sermon will be on giving that Sunday. That hits on two […]
When you have something timely to communicate to someone, how do you do it? If you are like me, you most frequently send a text message. The reason is simple: sending a text is easy and effective. The facts are that text messages are read on average in under 5 seconds and on average get […]
In 2002, Minority Report was released in theaters. At that time, much of the technology in the movie was pure fiction, but now many of the technologies in the film are a reality or in development. Since the release of the film, we have begun using multi-touch sensors, like the Microsoft pixelsense tables, and now […]
Disciple making is the name of the game. It is why we exist and what we aim to accomplish as the church. With all of the advancement in technology since Jesus stood in Galilee and spoke the Great Commission for the first time, you would think we would have found a simple and easy way […]
Meet Arron and our friends at Winchester Church of God When your goal is to connect people to God and help them fully develop into disciples of Christ, you have to use all the tools available to you. And that is exactly what Winchester Church of God (Wincog) has done. In a recent interview with […]
When people think of disruptions, they are not usually thinking about something positive. Typically, people think of disruptions like Jim Carey’s “world’s most annoying sound” from Dumb and Dumber. No question, that is disturbing. But, there are some really powerful examples of disruption that have led to innovation, growth and reaching unimaginable potential. There are […]
You know the old saying, “If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is”. Everyone loves free stuff. But sometimes there are hidden costs to free things. For instance, a church may do a clothing drive for a local homeless shelter, asking people to donate gently used items for the upcoming colder […]
Meet Zach and our friends at Restore Community Church Restore is a thriving church in the Kansas City area with a focus on helping people find their way back to God. This month they will celebrate their 8th year. Now a multi-site church, they are changing the spiritual landscape in Kansas and beyond. Zach leads […]
The church has what some have called an obsession with the millennial generation. If you read many blogs by Christian writers, you will see lots of talk about this generation. In 2015, there were an estimated 83 million millennials in the US, making up approximately 26% of the population. This group of people are also […]
Meet Larry and our Friends at Northgate Christian Fellowship Have you ever heard of crowdfunding? Crowdfunding is an increasingly common way of funding a project or initiative by inviting a large number of people to give a small amount of money. Currently, there are hundreds of thousands of projects on sites like GoFundME, Kickstarter, Indiegogo, […]
Growing up, names like ‘John Connor, Skynet, and the Terminator’ were things of Hollywood fantasy. Now, the rate of technology is so rapid, that the idea of smart machines doesn’t seem so far off. In fact, futurist Ray Kurzweil is predicting the event know as the Technological Singularity for 2045. This is the event where […]
Somedays just don’t start well. You wake up late, you’re out of coffee, and you find a fragrant present that the dog left on the carpet in the living room. We have all had days that start off like that. It can be hard to recover from that kind of a morning and if you […]
If you could go back in time 20 years, you would see a huge difference that we now take for granted. Go to your local coffee shop or restaurant and at any given moment up to 20% of the people are looking at a smart phone. The first major smartphone came out in 1994 and […]
Have you ever seen a product and wondered who on earth thought it was a good idea?? There are some classic product launches that have ended in failure like New Coke, or the Chevy Nova being released in Mexico. One of my favorite examples is Clairol’s “A Touch of Yogurt” Shampoo. Nothing gives you that […]
If you are a football fan, then you know that the NFL Scouting Combine started on Feb 23rd. Your favorite team, rabid fans, and athletes with dreams of being the next superstar have turned their eyes towards Indianapolis looking for the next great prospect. Each of them share a singular hope: holding the Lombardi trophy […]
As we enter 2016, trends are emerging in the world of digital technology. More and more, people are taking notice of how huge mobile is and what that means for the future. Since we opened in 2012, we’ve worked to help churches be on the forefront of the emerging mobile trend. We’ve made mistakes along […]
More and more, our attention is pulled in different directions. Our attention spans are shrinking. Data suggests that we have 6 seconds to capture someone’s eye before they move on to the next thing. Which may be why the phrase “mobile moment” is having its own moment. Technology continues to morph and upgrade. Marketers, businesses […]
If you missed it yesterday, we announced a brand new text-to-give feature for churches. It’s a simple solution we’re offering that helps churches make giving easier for their congregation. In fact, we believe in it so much, we’re offering for free, for life to the first 250 churches that sign up. Offering it for free […]
Disruption has a bad reputation. Generally, we don’t like things that change our focus. Interruptions are unwelcome because they can mean that we lose our concentration. We are constantly looking for ways to minimize disruption. To keep the waters calm and smooth. However, there are times disruption can serve a purpose. A shake-up can be […]
I’m a pretty happy Kansas City resident right now. My Royals won the World Series for the first time in 30 years, beating the Mets in extra innings at the end of October. I’d like to say I didn’t have any doubts, but when they were down against the Houston Astros in Game 4 of […]
In today’s world, it’s easy to automate giving. You have the choice to automate bill paying through your bank. You can set up recurring payments for your cell phone, your car insurance, even your trash pick up. But in almost every scenario I’ve listed above, I’ve had something go wrong with my digital experience. Whether […]
We’ve been talking a lot about the upcoming holiday season, and with good reason. The time between November 1st and December 31st is a busy time for most of our clients. They’re often looking for unique ways to connect with their congregations. With that in mind, I wanted to switch gears and look at Advent, […]
Push messages are an excellent tool for your ministry to keep users continuously with updated content beyond Sunday morning, but they can be tricky – “how long should my message be?” and “When is the best time to send a notification?” are common questions we get here at aware3. More and more apps use push […]
The end of the calendar year always seems like it’s full of parties, dinners, church services, and family. Generosity flows freely. But for churches and nonprofits, the end of the year also means significant giving happens. People want the last minute tax write off, or a place to make a donation to honor a loved […]
Have you heard about Giving Tuesday? It’s the Tuesday after Black Friday and Cyber Monday and dedicated to cultivating generous giving to nonprofits through social media and digital campaigns. While the majority of focus is on charitable organizations, churches shouldn’t ignore Giving Tuesday. We’ve talked about how connection drives generosity. Giving Tuesday is a great […]
We have the opportunity to work with churches around the country who are passionate and creative about how mobile fits into their overall mission. It’s great to see the unique ways our church partners use their apps to engage their congregations. But sometimes our churches use our apps in ways we haven’t ever considered. One […]
For Restore Community Church in Kansas City, their branded app from Aware3 has empowered their people to be more generous than ever before. Aware3’s giving feature has been a game-changer, particularly for first-time givers. “Ever since we started mobile giving, we’ve seen offerings from people who have never given before,” says Zach Henderson, Center of […]
When you start a new relationship or friendship, how long does it take to get to know them? Often it takes time together, listening to what the other needs and growing together. Relationships are about give and take. If that’s how relationships work in real life, why shouldn’t they work that way when it comes […]
With the power of the Forms feature on the Aware3 church app, leaders can pray for their people at them moment they need it most. Churches have seen a big impact with Aware3’s Forms feature. From streamlining baptism registration to getting newcomers quickly plugged in with connection cards, forms are a powerful tool. But the […]
For Restore Community Church in Kansas City, their branded app from Aware3 has been transformative, bringing CCB to life with the power of mobile — especially with the groups feature. Even though Restore hasn’t heavily marketed their app to their people nearly 85% have downloaded it and it’s part of their daily life. “CCB is […]
For Restore Community Church in Kansas City, their branded app from Aware3 has been transformative, bringing CCB to life with the power of mobile. “One main reason we chose Aware3 for our church’s app is because of how well it would integrate with what we were already doing with Church Community Builder,” says Zach Henderson, […]
How many front doors does your church have? If your church is like most, there’s one. It’s the main entrance, the one your people walk through every week. Easy, right? Okay, here’s a tougher question: how many digital front doors does your church have? Chances are, the number is higher than you think. Let’s start […]
Fall is a crazy time of year for ministries: it’s back to school and back to church. Fall is also a key season for small groups, kicking off new communities, classes and gatherings. Here’s how to use your app to make the most of your small group launch. 1. Group FinderStart autumn off right: make […]
We write a lot about the way smartphone usage is growing around the world. An estimated two billion people own a smartphone, and that number continues to rise. Businesses, marketers and developers are constantly looking for ways to engage these mobile users in unique ways. But the learning curve is steep, and people are trying […]
Before we start, let’s get one thing straight. We’re not suggesting that you pull an Office Space and send your printer out the window. But your Aware3 app can help you cut down on the amount of printing your church does, saving money, resources and time. Your app streamlines your materials by putting all your […]
Sometimes our clients use their branded mobile app in ways that are so unique, we have to highlight them. We recently worked with Westside Family Church to create a vibrant app for their church community. They’ve filled it with great content, easy ways to join with a small groups and how to find the church online. […]
At Aware3, we build simple, smart solutions that help your people get connected, so Sunday is only the beginning. Just in time for your fall group launch, we’ve redesigned the app’s small group feature, so it’s easier than ever for them to connect with each other. We rebuilt this feature with your newest members in […]
We’re excited to announce our latest customization feature: horizontal scrolling. Your church now has more options than ever to make your app look and function the way you want. Now, you’re able to set the direction your buttons scroll, vertically or horizontally. Choose the number of columns, as well as how many buttons appear per […]
As August approaches, people are finishing up vacations and looking toward the school year. While returning to school means a return to structured days, work, and small groups, it can also mean the loss of some of your high school students to college. So how do you create a connection with teens and college students […]
When most people think about how mobile can impact the Church they immediately think about Sunday. We love seeing our apps used on Sundays. For us though Sunday was low-hanging fruit. The real question for us was how can we change Monday-Saturday. One of our favorite ways we see our church partners using their app […]
How many apps do you have on your phone? In the last month, how many apps have you downloaded? According to Quartz, the average iPhone user downloads fewer than one app to their phone a month. It’s a staggering number, considering Apple boasts 78 million app downloads since 2008. The data suggests that people love […]
No matter where you go, everyone talks about relationships. Whether it’s online or in real life, marketers, bloggers, and business people are emphasizing their importance when it comes to doing business. While exploring the profitability of customer and organizational relationships is important, every once in a while it’s good to think about you can be […]
The beach, camps, sports, road trips or just sleeping in . . . on summer Sundays, it seems like your people are anywhere but church. Unfortunately, your ministry can find itself in the middle of the summer slump. Sound familiar? Summer vacation often brings a dip in attendance and a dip in giving. But ministries […]
On Sunday morning, everyone walking into church gets their copy of the sermon notes. This sheet of paper provides a place to jot down thoughts and highlight the key points and takeaways from the message. But those notes are only valuable when your people can make them part of their lives. That’s why we’re excited to […]
Church apps by Aware3 offer two types of push notifications — broadcast and geotargeted — so you can get in touch with your people anytime and anywhere. When you use them well, these notifications are great tools to keep your people in the loop. Here’s how to make the most of your app’s push notification features.
When giving is made simple, gifts increase throughout the week. That’s right: the traditional day to donate to church has shifted. Our data demonstrates that 60% of giving doesn’t happen on Sundays. More and more, generosity is an everyday event. Increasingly, when it comes to generosity, the “when” of the transaction is only the beginning. […]
Most of us just think of blogs when we think of RSS feeds – a letter to readers of the author’s thoughts on this topic or that. An RSS feed, though, simply put, is a way to keep updated without having to remember to “check back often” for new content via your browser bookmark. When you […]
I read an article, How HGTV Built a Network on Redemption Stories, and it is so true. We love to see the old and run-down become new again. And, I don’t know about you, but I wish I could be best friends with Chip & Joanna Gaines. Well, as Christians, of course “Redemption” has a deep […]
As this article “goes to print,” we are less than EIGHT WEEKS from Easter! We’d like to help you use your app at its highest potential as a tool to engage visitors in your ministry – to bring them in to your Easter service, to capture their interest and their information, and to extend that […]
As you know, we’ve built in a lot of flexibility for you in the management of your app. We love to see fresh new graphics from time to time – and your users will too. 3Circle Church changed their Home Screen (background image) during the Christmas season to match other graphics they were using during that […]
We’ve been hearing some pretty remarkable stories from some of our church partners about how giving through their Aware3-powered mobile app is going. From giving increases to compliments from users to hours saved on administration of those gifts, it’s clear that the enhancements in our giving feature are hitting our goal: to make giving easy. […]
I wrote before about the “10th Hour.” Well, the 11th hour has arrived. November means Thanksgiving, Christmas, end-of-year, and New Year’s action items are well underway. You’re planning the details of the special programming, prayer initiatives, worship experiences, and ear-marking the special giving. This is the time of year we see many more new faces, […]
On a daily basis, we have something to celebrate here in our office. We’re seeing stories come in from our church partners that are answers to hopes and prayers since our founders realized the potential for ministry by way of mobile technology and Aware3 was born. We’re hungry for more. We’d like to share stories […]
We know when the “11th Hour” strikes, we’re already in crisis mode, right? Let’s get ahead of crisis mode and start planning now for the influx of visitors entering your doors for your Christmas programming and through Advent and into the New Year. Handling Guests. Are your guest teams prepared? It might be time to freshen up some […]
It’s exciting to see churches utilizing tools like Facebook brand pages (formerly known as “Like” pages or “Fan” pages) and other social media tools to engage both their fellowship and those just investigating “the whole church thing.” I happen across Facebook pages and Twitter accounts of our church friends and partners, and it’s very satisfying […]
Triple-Threat Giving Integration: Aware3, Church Community Builder, BluePay Earlier this week we announced our integration with BluePay and the feedback from our church partners has been amazing. If you’re interested in learning more about what we mean when we say “integration,” please see our previous blog. Allow us to paint a clear picture of what we […]
Whether in life or ministry work, we are pulled in so many directions. Technology has given us a lot of wonderful tools to help grow the Church, but more often that not, these systems aren’t talking to each other. As a result, there is a lot of wasted time and energy entering the same content […]
Thanks to a tweet from Church Community Builder (@CCBchurch), I read a great article, “3 Ways to Re-Engage the Millennial Audience,” by Robert Coletti. I encourage you to read the entire article – realistic perspective on an age-old tension between “church” and “production,” and the new modern twist on the struggle to engage and maintain relationship with […]
We are thrilled to roll out a referral program! Of course, we are so blessed when any of our church partners refers us to other churches in their local network. We want to see entire cities impacted by your ministries, and we get so excited to think that our product might be part […]
At Aware3, we’re serious about growing with your ministry and evolving as technology evolves. We are a software company committed to continuous development. We don’t just sit around sipping coffee, folks! Ok, we do more than our share of sitting and sipping coffee…but we’re sitting at our computers, exploring and developing our faces off while […]
As a general policy, when we release new features into our app network, iOS is first in line. We decided to approach new features from this angle based completely on data that has been collected over several years – iOS simply outpaces Android in both downloads and usage, nearly 4 to 1. Over the course […]
Your users are living in a very fragmented ecosystem; from smartphone OS versions to desktop browser brands, software version support can be a challenge to tackle. DESKTOP & MOBILE BROWSERS At Aware3, we support the following desktop browsers: Chrome (current version) Firefox (current version) Internet Explorer 8.0 and up Mobile browsers are much more current, […]