By John Meriweather, BMA Information Services
For more than 30 years, I’ve worked in information management with Fortune 500 companies like Citibank, JP Morgan Chase, Home Depot and State Farm. These organizations pour millions into understanding and staying connected with their customers because they know communication is foundational to success. And the same is true for churches. Over the years, I’ve had many conversations with pastors who recognize how vital good communication is to building healthy, thriving ministries.
• Communication nurtures relationships, but without accurate information, communication breaks down. That’s where BMA Information Services comes in. We serve as the central hub for gathering, organizing and securely sharing information across the departments, agencies and ministries of the BMA. This commitment to maintaining accurate records and preserving our association’s history goes back more than 75 years. While the tools and technologies have changed, one thing hasn’t: collecting reliable information remains our greatest challenge. As churches grow, pastors transition and staff members shift, it becomes even more important, and more difficult, to keep our records up to date.
• We rely on you. The quality of information depends on the response we receive from our churches. Every year, the Information Services team sends out a request to update your church’s contact and ministry details. We’ve worked hard to streamline the process and reduce complexity, making it easier than ever to respond. Typically, the update cycle begins in August, aligned with the start of the ministry year for many churches, and wraps up each April at the BMA National Meeting.
The information gathered throughout the year is compiled into our annual BMA Directory and Handbook, a valuable resource available to our churches and ministries for a small handling fee.
• This year, we need your help to ensure your church’s information is accurate and up to date. Soon, your church will receive a packet from the Information Services team. Inside, you’ll find a survey with the current information we have for your church. We ask that you review and either confirm that the information is complete and accurate or provide updates as appropriate. You can update and mail the physical form or provide updates online at bmaamerica.org/annualchurchsurvey.
It’s amazing how God uses each of us, often in ways we never imagined. Twenty years ago, I couldn’t have guessed that a career in information services, which seemed so technical and behind-the-scenes, would become a way to serve churches across the nation. I’m incredibly thankful for that opportunity.
Please know that I’m here to serve you. If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact me at john@bmaamerica.org or (501) 514-4223. You can also get in touch with Heather Pantoja, our Information Specialist, at heather@bmaamerica.org or (844) 262-8637.
