Purpose-driven teams often want to help as many people as possible, which is admirable but risky. Trying to serve everyone can lead to unclear messaging, inefficiencies, and burnout. When users are left without specific choices, they may feel confused and leave. 1. General = Generic A generic call to action rarely motivates anyone. Broad messaging […]
Why “Helping Everyone” Is Not a Strategy Read Post »
No formal training. Still better at spotting bad design than most teams I’ve worked with. I have two wonderful kids – a 15-year-old and an 8-year-old. They have grown up in the digital age and are proficient in using technology. My daughter discovered she could add her friends as emergency contacts and send them texts
What My Kids Taught Me About Usability Read Post »
This article is part of my series, “Listening as a Ministry Discipline.” The Gap Between Intentions and Experience Most ministries have a clear mission: But intention doesn’t always align with reality. People quietly drift away, unsure how to take the next step. Confusing systems and unclear pathways create friction. Programs and events are full, but
Aligning Ministry with Mission: Lessons from UX Research Read Post »
This article is part of my series, “Listening as a Ministry Discipline.” Listening Is the Starting Point In ministry, we often think of stewardship in terms of money, time, or volunteer energy. But stewardship is also about caring for what God has entrusted to us: the people we serve, the systems we build, and the
UX Research as Stewardship: The Researcher’s Role in Ministry Work Read Post »
This article is part of my series, “Listening as a Ministry Discipline.” We Track What’s Easy to Count Most churches are good at tracking the obvious: These metrics matter. They reveal who is attending, who is giving, and who is participating. But they only tell part of the story. They don’t tell us how people
The Data We’re Not Collecting: Why Churches Need New Discipleship Metrics Read Post »
This article is part of my series, “Listening as a Ministry Discipline.” The People Behind the Numbers Most ministries segment people by age, life stage, or attendance patterns. We track: These categories are helpful, but they don’t tell the whole story of where people truly stand spiritually. Two people in the same small group can
This article is part of my series, “Listening as a Ministry Discipline.” The Quiet Barriers We Don’t See Most people don’t leave church because of one big, dramatic reason. They leave because of small moments: In UX research, we refer to these as friction points. They’re tiny obstacles that drain emotional energy and nudge people
Invisible Friction: How Small Barriers Erode Church Engagement Read Post »
This article is part of my series, “Listening as a Ministry Discipline.” The Listening We Think We’re Doing Most ministry leaders believe they’re listening well. We hear prayer requests. We chat in hallways. We send out a survey every now and then. We notice when someone hasn’t been around for a while and send a
Listening as a Ministry Discipline: UX Research and Spiritual Formation Read Post »
This article is part of my series, “Listening as a Ministry Discipline.” Churches work hard to create welcoming environments. But long-term discipleship isn’t built on first impressions. What we often miss are the quiet signals that tell us when belonging is slipping — not because of conflict, but because of drift. And drift is rarely
The Quiet Drift Churches Keep Missing: Why Churches Need UX Research for Discipleship Read Post »
I just finished Mistakes I Made at Work by Jessica Bacal, and instead of feeling exposed, I felt seen. I felt like sitting down with a circle of honest, brilliant women all saying: “You’re not the only one.” “When you have a ‘growth mindset,’ you understand that mistakes and setbacks are an inevitable part of
What “Mistakes I Made at Work” Reminded Me About Growth Read Post »
