Dallas-based Wilshire Baptist Church adopted a five-year strategic plan for growth. Progress in the church’s achievement of the church’s seven key priorities are monitored, tracked, and reported to the 3,000-member congregation. These priorities include pursuing spiritual formation, mobilizing servants, multiplying believers, reaching out locally and globally, nurturing today’s changing families, strengthening financial stewardship, and providing new facilities and technologies.

With a desire to be good stewards of their generous resources, Wilshire has set forth detailed points for each of their seven key priorities and monitors closely its success. A different staff member is responsible for each priority, and then achievements are posted for the entire congregation on the church Web site.

Data Management Needs. To monitor, track, and report critical information accurately to their 3,000-member congregation, Wilshire Baptist knew they needed an exceptional data management package.

Wilshire wanted a software package that would give them the ability to capture information that fit how Wilshire wanted to manage their church. They found that most software packages required them to conform to the software, and they wanted the software to conform to them. Wilshire began using ACS software after extensive evaluation involving conversations with ACS’s CEO Hal Campbell, ACS representatives, and a visit to ACS headquarters.

“When I considered switching to ACS, I wanted to make sure that I would be comfortable with the company. I had met the CEO and our local sales representative, and I even traveled to their offices to cover conversion issues. That was two years ago, and I’ve never been happier with my decision,” notes David Norris, business administrator for Wilshire Baptist. “I find ACS to be much more user-friendly and intuitive than our former product.”

Wilshire also wanted the ability to customize their database in order to meet the specific targets of the church’s strategic growth plan. With detailed definitions and metrics for each of the seven goals, Wilshire’s need for information management exceeds that of the average church.

Conversion Success. In the months following the conversion from another software package to ACS, Wilshire adopted the plan to progress toward greater achievement of their key priorities. Using ACS enabled them to monitor, track, and report findings to the congregation, which was critical to their newly adopted plan. Plus, due to the user-defined features of ACS, Wilshire was able to benefit from its increased flexibility.

The church now manages its entire church office with ACS: The People module helps them manage membership, contributions, attendance, and visitation; the Financial module helps keep accurate financial records including accounts payable and receivable; and the Volunteer Manager module now allows Wilshire to empower members and help them become more active in the church’s growing ministries.

“My favorite feature is the people search and reporting process,” notes Norris. “I like the idea of defining one report or export, then being able to use it with whatever group of people I am working with that day. What a time saver. And, the searches work more like some of the internet engines—they define a broader group then start narrowing down.”

Customized Efficiency. User-defined fields have become one of the most valuable features within ACS for Wilshire. Also, having the ability produce customized reports on demand for everyday needs as well as special occasions is of great benefit to them.

Overall, Wilshire has realized incredible time savings and achieved a greater accountability for everything that the church does.

“We continue to benefit from ACS, which has become a timesaving tool that has better enabled us to manage the business side of helping others,” Norris adds.

For Norris, working with a company that he knows and trusts is just as important as the security of his data. He has been and continues to be pleased with the level of service that ACS provides to him.

“I enjoy the ACS corporate culture and attitude of helpfulness. When there is an issue to be resolved, people higher up in the organization are accessible. ACS has provided us with a far easier way to organize data and complete everyday tasks,” adds Norris.

Wilshire also benefits greatly from the Schedule Manager module, which allows the church to effectively manage all events and make sure that no room is overbooked. With 10 different choirs, a wind symphony, a hand bell choir, weddings, and dozens of discipleship classes each year, Wilshire is extremely grateful for a software system that helps keep the church’s hectic schedule under control.

About Wilshire Baptist Church
The Wilshire mission is to build a community of faith shaped by the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Founded in 1951, Wilshire is located in the heart of Dallas and has grown to over 3,000 members over the last 50 years. With over 15 different ministries serving everyone from children to seniors, Wilshire continues to grow and make an impact in their community.

ACS Technologies Products & Services Used
People Suite: People, Attendance, Contributions, connections, Special Mailings, Reservations
Financial Suite: General Ledger, Payroll, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Fixed Assets
Growth Suite: Ministry Scheduler, Report Designer, Volunteer Manager, CASS It!
Service Suite: Support, Training, Network/Multi-User

Web Site
http://www.wilshirebc.org