MinistryBeacon resource
Questions to Ask Before Adding a Digital Service to Ministry Work
A discussion guide for reviewing who will use a website, giving, livestream, or communications service and how the ministry will manage it.
Start with the ministry purpose
Before comparing services, describe the ministry work the service should support. A shared purpose helps the team decide whether a tool fits its needs and who should take part in the decision.
- What work will this service support, such as a website, giving, livestream, or communications?
- Who will use it, and who will rely on it when regular staff or volunteers are away?
- What would the team need to review later to decide whether the service is still useful?
Name ownership and access
Choose an accountable role for the service and list the people who need access for their ministry responsibilities. Decide how the organization will review that access when someone changes roles.
Keep planning notes free of passwords, recovery codes, private keys, and other credentials. Record who is responsible for an access review, not the secrets used to sign in.
Ask the provider and record its answers
Ask the provider about the service directly. Features and policies can differ between providers and products, so record the answers you receive instead of assuming a capability is available.
- What account roles are available, and what can each role do?
- What recovery options are available, and who can use them?
- How can the ministry contact support, and when is support available?
- How does the service handle information the ministry adds?
- Can the ministry export its information, and what conditions apply?
- When does renewal happen, and how will the provider communicate renewal details?
Set a review point
Write down the provider’s responses, who checked them, and which questions remain open. Name a role to revisit the service before renewal or after a significant change in ministry use, and choose a review date that works for your team.
An optional next step
Start with your team’s current understanding.
The free MinistryBeacon assessment can help organize a broader readiness conversation. Use its result as a planning aid and review next steps with the people responsible for your organization.
Start Free Assessment