If you haven’t checked out our Ideas to Impact site (www.ideastoimpact.com), the theme this year is Spark.  I am excited about the spark of new things that can be added to your ministry.  This means lots of new knowledge and ideas on implementing the tools you have for broader and greater usage and impact.  Remember, all it takes is a baby spark, and it can grow.  It can even grow quickly to really add some “fire” to your ministry!

All of the ACS Technologies staff has their own spark from talking to all of our users and hearing their stories, needs, and experiences.  I look forward to meeting many of you and hearing your stories.  If you haven’t signed up already, go ahead and make plans to spark your ministry with us!

First you had the access to your data via OnDemand.  There is now an iPad application or OnDemand clients.  This app is available in the iTunes store under ACS OnDemand at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/acs-ondemand/id479902724?mt=8.  Everything you access via On Demand is now available via this app.  This also means that Checkpoint is also available via this application natively as well.  Think of the possibilities!!  (Please note, printing is only a limitation of your device.)
One review is already out there, I’ll let it sum it up – “Just noticed that this released today. I’ve been chomping at the bit to get my hands on it and take it for a spin. Very excited to have this flexibility. Looking forward to how I can apply this in our ministry. “

Your data and our software can now go wherever you go.  Where will you take it?

I have been trying to work on my scripture memory with this, so I am trying to keep the verses at my fingertips.  The device connected to my fingertips, my iPhone, is a great place to start.  I can use the eBible app to read those verses, or any others.  Within my one login, I can make any marks or notes and reference them from any web access or my phone.  If we could all scan a few verses as much as we look at Pinterest or Facebook, we could probably progress in our Biblical knowledge.

I am pleased that ACS Technologies is now partnering with eBible. eBible has 40+Bible versions, personalization with highlighting, underlining, and note takings, and Bible reading plans.  Last week, The City released an integration with eBible in the product.  All of the tools are available within The City and in the near future, it will share a login.  The resources of eBible are available to all of our clients, though.  Whether you prefer to access it via your phone or the web, the Word is just a “click” away. Check it out!

You can read more about the partnership between eBible and The City at The City’s blog.

You select through a touch screen interface which soft drink flavor you want. I can still choose lemonade for my son and a Coke Zero or many other soft drinks for myself.  Then, you get to choose between flavors.  It doesn’t just stop at cherry!  You can also do more than one flavor.  You build the custom mix just for yourself.

I believe ACS Technologies is a lot like that flavor machine.  We are not a single solution software company.  We have a range of software solutions and a range of product brands.  The City, Parish Data Systems, ACS, Membership Plus, and Headmaster are all in our product brands.  Each one of those is just the tip of the iceberg.  There are different solutions that are built within each of those.  It can depend on the size of your organization but also the philosophy.  How do you do church?  What are the needs of your specific organization depend on the products that you need.  You can then even choose whether you want to run the software via your local organization or On Demand.  Within the products, the customizations and settings then help you set up the database, tracking, reporting, and functionality to help facilitate the success of your ministry.

If you have a need, you need to inquire what might be available for that need.  Don’t be afraid to be creative and think outside the box.  “Discover” the “perfect combination” for your organization!

Now, the end of January has passed and we are all ready to jump in to 2012.  One of the best ways to do that is an update with lots of client requested features and enhancements!  Last night, February 21, Access ACS completed its first update of 2012.  One feature was texting!  Members can now provide their phone numbers along with the carriers for a free text messaging solution.    Also, changes to events that included the ability to enter a GL code on the event setup, additional fields on the event export, and posting of event data to Facebook.  Event registrant information can now also be copied to an activity, class, or small group.  This is just a piece of the list — and we are just at the start of 2012!  To check out everything that was released, please see the release notes!  Remember, the majority of this update came from user requests so keep letting us know what you need!

Several years ago, we developed an integration that allows you to send your list data from our PDS, ACS, and Headmaster products directly  in to Constant Contact. This saves you the time of setting up a spreadsheet, saving it, and manually loading it in to your Constant Contact account. Within the ACS product, there is also the ability to send your contribution statements via Constant Contact.

Our clients continually provide feedback on how they enjoy the product as well as the integrations. I am excited to share that we now have a special promotion for ALL of our clients with Constant Contact. Starting today, February 1, if our clients sign up for a new Constant Contact account at http://acspromo.constantcontact.com they get 50% off of their first 6 months of billing. I love a good deal! This is for ALL of our ACS Tehnologies clients – PDS, ACS, Headmaster, The City, Membership Plus, Organizations, etc. I wanted to share the word, so you can share your word!

Over the Christmas holidays, I went to a lunch program at my hometown church.  It was a great offering of Christmas music in the Sanctuary followed by soup and sandwiches in the Fellowship Hall. This church, much like many of you, has just completed a large renovation project. I viewed the new workout facility, Sunday School classes, and DVD offerings in the updated library. The thing that caught my attention the most was hand sanitizer machines placed beside elevators and large gathering entrances.  I thought it made complete sense. They were subtle yet appropriate enough. This was a great idea and addition to the facilities. Prior to lunch, I even tested them out.

May we continue to worship, but may we try to stay well also. For those that make church their first outing after being stuck inside sick, may they please cleanse their hands.

What a great way to kick off 2011, with an adventure with his family.  Little did Ron know at the time, but that walk would set the tone for his whole year.  At the end of 2011 , Ron started a new journey.  Ron had been serving as the Business Administrator at Bethany Assembly of God, a large church in Agawam, MA for the past 7 years.  He was a certified ACS Trainer as well.  He has now not only moved homes to be closer to his children in Ohio, but he joins the ACS Technologies Training and Implementation team.

Welcome, Ron!  We are pleased to have him on the team as he helps with combining the on the job needs of our clients with the functional applications to supply custom solutions.  His experience in the church office as well as with ACS Technologies tools is a winning combination.  I look forward to us all getting to know Ron better during his new journey!

The Access ACS API opens up an avenue for you to have access to your data via products other than the ones by ACS Technologies.  Ministry Scheduler Pro had previously released an integration that let clients have access to their ACS Small Group data in their product.  There is no cost to this integration.  If you have Access ACS, the API is available to you.  Organizations just need to sign the paperwork authorizing access to their data via the API.  Once the paperwork is signed, we will supply a security id.  That security id is entered in to the Ministry Scheduler Pro software and the small group data is then available.  This has been a popular feature to both Access ACS and Ministry Scheduler Pro clients. 

The top request from clients was to have the activity data available as well as part of the integration.  We both heard you! 

An activity API call was added that is available for all API development.  Ministry Scheduler Pro immediately used that call to update their product so now clients in kind have access to their ACS activity data.  No updates have to be loaded.  Easy data access for easier ministry management – I love it!  Happy scheduling!

And all the development creatures were hard at work using their computer mouse.  The stockings have been hung by some of the testers with care, the wreaths and garlands are throughout and on the buildings letting us know that Santa will soon be there!

Steve goes down the aisles and occasionally gives a team a whistle,
And to work we all go like the down of a thistle.
But please hear us share as 2011 goes out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”