Pastor Mike Goodwin began shepherding Memorial Presbyterian Church in Appleton, WI, in 2012; however, the church itself has been established since 1879. The congregation sees about one hundred people each week. There is a healthy flow of young families, but the congregation’s core is made up of older people.
Located in northeast Wisconsin, the town is a rich blend of people, young and old, for two reasons: it is the home of Lawrence University, a local liberal arts college, and the area serves as the headquarters for several global corporations.
“Memorial has always been heavily integrated in the community. We have lots of members on non-profit boards, and also have mission partners that have been in a relationship for decades.”
-Pastor Mike Goodwin
Pastor Mike and his staff readily use Realm to facilitate communication, tend to the sick and needy, streamline volunteer needs and schedules, and utilize Realm Accounting and contributions for their financials.
“As a Pastor, I use Realm to stay in tune with our financials. I also use the Shepherd App because when I’m visiting with someone, I like to be able to write notes so that I can effectively follow up. I really like that I can do that in Shepherd. I also appreciate that there are things I can keep as private notes and others I can share with our Deacons.”
-Pastor Mike Goodwin
He credits the success of their ministry to their willingness to adapt to changing needs within their community and congregation. Two of their crucial ministries, their men’s group and women’s group, thrived during COVID because they were willing to lean into technology and try new things, like the Connect App and virtual meetings. He also shared how Realm’s continuous innovation has paired well with his congregation’s and staff’s changing needs post-COVID.
“I really appreciate the evolving nature of Realm. We’ve been using it for 5 years, and since there’s been a website integration, Constant Contact integration…I just appreciate that there are additional services, but most are already included.”
The church also readily uses the many features in the Connect App, specifically related to groups, ensuring their group members stay connected, new members are able to search and find their niche, and provide spaces to grow together.
When it comes to recommending Realm, Pastor Mike expressed this:
“I would wholeheartedly recommend Realm to other ministries. The number of things that we are able to combine by using Realm has been amazing. We were running so many other systems prior, so integrating everything has been a huge blessing. And I know my Office Manager agrees.”
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To learn more about Memorial Presbyterian Church, click here.
Jenna Wallace
Jenna joined the ACST team in February 2020 as a Ministry Consultant for small to mid-size churches with a focus on empowering these ministries with the tools they need to accomplish their goals. She believes regardless of the size of the ministry, each church can utilize technology to fulfill the calling God has given them. Prior to joining ACST, she spent several years as a Sales Consultant across multiple industries, all focusing on relationship building, which she feels has allowed her to provide trusted advice to those in need. Jenna is passionate about helping others which fuels her eagerness to serve.
