"We Count People Because People Count!"

I can't tell you how often I've discussed small group attendance reporting with a client or other church leader. And, every conversation eventually gets around to "How do you get your small group leaders to report attendance?"

Of course, there's no "silver bullet" solution, but there are two "keys" to getting small group leaders to report their group's attendance.

Vision Casting

First, you have to do a great job of casting vision. Small group leaders must understand that reporting small group attendance is not "about the numbers." It's not about ensuring the graph gets updated or the church board's monthly report is completed. It's about people's spiritual growth and development, one person at a time. I tell leaders that "we count people because people count." I know it's just a catchy phrase, but it's true.

Sometimes, when I'm discussing features and functionality as I compare different CMS (Church Management Software) options, it occurs to me that the church leader doesn't fully understand the importance of a CMS. They view it as a "database," a place to keep contact information, etc. I explain the importance of understanding what business the church is really in and how CMS enables the church to "do its business." Churches are in the business of life change. They connect with people and help them transition spiritually from non-believers to believers, from loosely engaged to more deeply engaged believers. If you view a person's spiritual journey as a series of steps, it's about understanding where they are currently and how to help them reach the next step.

Therefore, reporting small group attendance is simply a method of ensuring the CMS is accurate regarding a person's community engagement.

Ease of Use

Second, the actual task of reporting small group attendance must be easy for the group leader. Again, here's where a CMS is key to the process! On the morning of my small group meeting, I received an email prompting me to report my attendance. Without needing to access my computer or log in to the system, I can report my attendance directly on my smartphone while I'm at my meeting. If I don't get it done, then I receive two additional reminders over the next couple of days. Easy.

Making the task easy increases the likelihood it will get done.