MyChurchManager

If users run a church or are part of a church group, there can be a lot to organize and a lot of people to deal with on a regular basis. MyChurchManager is an application that allows users to build up a database, as well as schedule their church activities and members, along with storing various extra documents and information.

The interface for MyChurchManager is quite basic, it is essentially an expanding window with a few icons to represent various subjects, listed under different tabs. Each icon opens a separate window that accesses different databases to store relevant information. It works simply and users will have no problem navigating and filling it in, although the process will be time consuming for large churches, something that an import feature would fix.

Sadly, the toolbar that is attached to the application's window doesn't seem to work, the File, Edit, View and Options buttons are all disabled and just seem to be there as standard. It is a blemish on an otherwise perfectly serviceable interface, although a customizable background instead of the white backdrop would be a nice touch.

The different information that is stored in the application frequently overlaps with the other areas - for instance, there are separate areas for people, groups and families. Unfortunately, people's information needs to be entered multiple times, as an individual, and then as a family unit. The application provides no way to link information in different areas, or automatically fill in areas that have already been covered in a previous section.

This problem is especially noticeable in the birthday section, which requires the entire congregation be filled out again into the system, but this time with their date of birth mentioned. The lack of compatibility between the areas cripples the application in a lot of ways, church congregations can contain up to and over 100 people. MyChurchManager should be finding ways to limit information entry repetition, not increasing it.

Unfortunately, given that users can create their own custom databases on something as simple as a spreadsheet, MyChurchManager really needs to do more. The program is lacking so much, in so many areas that it hampers more than it helps, for those looking to improve church organization, MyChurchManager is not the solution.