Recipes
A recipe is a how-to that crosses module boundaries. The module docs answer "what is this thing?" — recipes answer "how do I actually do the thing my church needs done?"
If you're new to GCM, start with the recipes. They show how members, attendance, giving, messaging, and workflows fit together in practice.
When to read recipes vs module docs
| You're looking for | Read |
|---|---|
| "How do I add a custom field?" | Custom fields (module doc) |
| "How do I set up our Sunday service from scratch?" | First Sunday service (recipe) |
| "What's the difference between active and lost members?" | Active vs lost members (module doc) |
| "How do I follow up with new members for 30 days?" | Newcomer follow-up (recipe) |
Module docs explain features. Recipes string features together for an outcome.
Available recipes
- Set up your first Sunday service — Create a meeting, choose how to mark attendance, send a thank-you. Most common first-week task.
- Welcome a first-time visitor — From the visitor form to a personalized welcome message in under 5 minutes of admin time.
- Newcomer follow-up workflow — A 3-step workflow that handles 30 days of touchpoints without any staff effort.
- Launch a giving campaign — Set up a campaign fund, the donation form, the workflow, and the closing report.
Coming soon
More recipes are in the works. Email us if there's a workflow you wish was documented — we'll prioritize it.
Recipe structure
Every recipe has the same shape:
- What you'll achieve — the outcome in one sentence.
- Prerequisites — what needs to be in place before you start.
- Steps — numbered, with screenshots.
- What happens behind the scenes — for the curious.
- What's next — related recipes or modules.
Recipes are designed to be skim-readable. If you're in a hurry, the numbered steps alone are enough.
Next steps
Pick the recipe closest to your immediate need:
- New church on day one → First Sunday service.
- Visitor walked in this morning → First-time visitor.
- Building 30-day onboarding → Newcomer follow-up.
- End-of-year capital campaign → Giving campaign.