At the heart of Decatur, Georgia, Beulah Baptist Church is rich with history and has a vibrant community. The church has been a cornerstone of the community since 1896. With a membership base of approximately 4,000 to 5,000 members, it operates from a single campus, supported by a dedicated core staff of around 20 and numerous volunteers. Beulah has a diverse range of ministries—over 60 in total—ranging from mission outreach to Christian education and leadership development.
Nat Harris, who transitioned from a successful career in telecommunications to managing the church’s operations, has been instrumental in the church’s recent technology upgrade. After 21 years as the church’s business administrator, Harris led the shift from an outdated church management system to MinistryPlatform in February 2023.
The previous system posed challenges, requiring the church to adapt its operations to fit the software rather than vice versa. In contrast, MinistryPlatform’s high level of customization and flexibility effectively addressed these issues.
“MinistryPlatform allowed us to tailor the system to our specific needs rather than forcing us to conform to its limitations.” Nat Harris, Business Administrator
This transition has been transformative for the church. Harris notes that the new system provides invaluable insights into member engagement, tracking attendance and participation across various church activities, which was a struggle with the old system.
One standout feature of MinistryPlatform is its comprehensive support structure. Nat emphasizes the importance of having a dedicated coach from the platform who guided the church through the initial year of use.
“Our coach was outstanding. They were always available to assist and provided invaluable support, making the learning curve much smoother,” Nat Harris, Business Administrator.
Additionally, the platform offers extensive resources, including video tutorials, documentation, and webinars. These tools have been crucial for understanding and maximizing the system’s capabilities.
Among the many features of MinistryPlatform, Nat particularly loves the registration system. This feature simplifies members’ sign-up process for small groups and classes, automatically organizing them into groups and facilitating communication with group leaders. Streamlining the process has dramatically enhanced the church’s ability to effectively manage and engage with its members.
For those new to MinistryPlatform, Nat advises implementing the registration and participant management features first. These tools provide immediate benefits by organizing and tracking member involvement, which is crucial for any church management system. Nat also suggests that new users benefit greatly from having a representative from MinistryPlatform visit their church to understand their specific needs and workflows. This hands-on approach ensures that the system is tailored to the church’s unique requirements from the start.
Nat is optimistic about the future. He says, “MinistryPlatform has been a blessing to us. We’ve only scratched the surface of what it can do, and I’m excited about the possibilities ahead.”
MinistryPlatform remains a pivotal tool in supporting the church’s mission and operations as it adapts and grows. For any church considering upgrading its management system, Nat Harris’s experience is a testament to the transformative potential of embracing the right technology.
To learn more about Beulah Baptist Church, click here.
To learn more about MinistryPlatform, click here.
Stacey Smith
Stacey joined the ACST team in 1998 in the support department and joined the marketing team in 2021 as an Associate Marketing Coordinator. Today she runs the ACST Ministry Champions program, which involves all references, reviews, and testimonials for all of our products and services. When she isn’t at work, she is spending time with her husband, two teenage daughters and furbaby Copper.