Launch and Lead Practical resources for launching new churches and leading them well

Tools We Use

Here’s a few of the tools that we use at Oak Leaf Church.

We use planning center to create service program orders and schedule musicians.  It keeps track of songs and chord charts, and musicians have access.  They block off dates they are not available and accept automated requests to play.  You could also use it to schedule other groups of volunteers, like children’s ministry workers.

We use Fellowship One to handle all of our database stuff and kid’s check in.  It could be a little more user friendly, and the price can get a little on the high side, but it’s the best church database solution in my opinion. We track guests, giving and all kinds of other things.

We use eGive and paypal to accept online contributions. eGive works great, and since it only works with checking accounts, it’s very cost effective.  Some people like paypal for convenience, so we offer that as well.  We also use paypal to accept payments for things like concerts and Oak Leaf University registration.

We use Constant Contact to send out weekly emails to our entire church database.  It’s pretty easy to create custom html campaigns and send them to groups of people.  You can track clicks and open rates.  (Fellowship One should include this option, in my opinion, but until that happens, we’ll stick with Constant Contact).

I recently switched to Bluehost to host most of our websites.  You just can’t beat the price and unlimited space.  With bluehost, we’re able to put a ton of video online via ftp (like the complete service so our musicians can evaluate themselves).  It’s worth it just for online storage space.

Finally, we use Google Documents to keep track of our teaching calendar.  Sermon titles, main ideas, speakers, worship leaders, ideas, and notes are all kept on an online spreadsheet so our entire staff can see what we’re doing.  Here’s a screen shot.

Those are some of the big ones.  What tools have you found helpful in your church?

Stuff For Sale

Here’s the last of the stuff for sale (UPDATED). This stuff might work well for your church, and is cheaper than buying it new.

1. 26′ foot UHaul box truck. $4000.  (We paid $5,000 and then fixed it up a good bit).  It’s old, but was a lifesaver for us while portable.  One UHaul works better than three trailers.

2. A cart of pipe and drape from Georgia Expo, kind of like this.  About 50 bases, with uprights and extending cross sections, and the drapes (in portable totes with wheels). $3000.  (We paid about $5,o00)

3. A 16′ double axle trailer. $2500.  We bought it from Tenth Avenue North.

4. A big circle truss. 6 different pieces make about a 30′ circle. $2000.  Kind of like this one.

5.  4×4 staging, very heavy duty with legs.  This is what we used in the movie theater, and we’re keeping a bunch for our next campus.  $100 a section, with legs.

6.  16×9 rear-projection screens.  (16 feet wide, 9 feet tall) We’ve got three of them…used to use them in a high school.  Quick setup aluminum legs, in road cases.  $1500 each.

All funds will be used to pay off some debt incurred from moving into the House of Rock.   If you are interested, email Brian.

Documents and Forms

I’m pleased to announced that our Documents and Forms are available for purchase.  This is a complete set of nearly every document and form that we use…it’s like a church in a box.  Budgets, bylaws, policies, forms, handbooks, strategies, charts and more.  It’s taken us years to get this stuff to where it is now, and I would have probably killed for it three years ago.  $79 for the complete set.

Here’s the link for you to order via paypal.

Soon after your purchase, you’ll receive an email with the download link.  Here’s just some of what will be in the zip file.

Bylaws
Ordination Application
Statement of Beliefs
Calendar Request
Descriptions of Meetings and Retreats
Staff Org Chart
Key and Alarm Agreement
Event Planning Checklist
Facility Use Policy
Facility Use Request Form
Building Procedures
Volunteer Application
Children’s Ministry Policies and Procedures
Children’s Ministry Parent Handbook
Baby Dedication Philosophy
Student Ministry Policies and Procedures
Pro Kids Policy
Counseling Procedures
FTG Follow Up Process
Greeter Handbook
Parking Handbook
Security Plan
Small Group Handbook
New Christian Follow Up Process
Baptism Process
Series Video/Graphic Checklist
Series Planning Timetable
Master Production Checklist
Worship Philosophy
Creative Arts Ministry Manual
Style Guide
Guide to the Giving Talk
Guide to the Welcome
Production Meeting Agenda
Worship Leader Expectations
Chart of Accounts
Spending Procedures
Offering Count Directions
Benevolence Policy
Purchase Requisition
Budget
Budgeting Process
Reimbursement Form
Hiring Process
Employee Handbook
Blank Housing Allowance Form
Employment Application
Checklist for New Hires
Leadership Development Plan
Resignation Agreement
6-Month Evaluation
Staff Job Descriptions

Sound, Stage and Video Stuff For Sale

Garage sale time at Oak Leaf Church…cleaning out the storage units in time for spring.  Here’s some of what we’ve got that we can sell…

STAGE

11 pieces of 4′x8′ Stage Right staging (heavy duty, with legs) $5000.

4 pieces of 4′x8′ staging that folds out like a heavy folding table.  $300 for all of it.

39 pieces of 4′x4′ bijax stage decks with various size legs, bracing and parts…$4000 for all of it.

4 pieces of 4′x4′ Road Ready Intellistage with Road Ready case and 18″ fold out legs  $1000

8 pieces of 3′x3′ Road Ready Intellistage with Road Ready case and 8″ fold out legs $1500

SOUND

1 Yamaha M3000 40-channel mixing console with power supply $2000

1 Macke 8-bus 32 channel console w/ power supply and road ready case $1000

1 Yamaha GA-24/12 24-channal mixing console with built in power supply $500

1 Peavey PV2600 amp $100

1 QSC MX 1500a amp $200

4 JBL SR-X SR4733x speaker cabinets $600 each

4 JBL MR MR935 speaker cabinets $250 each

8 Sonic 18′ folded horn subs $250 each

VIDEO

2 16′ x 9′ stumpfl rear projection screens with cases and stands (actual size is 16×9) $1500 each