traffic flow, and lowering overall building expenses. Flexible, multiuse worship environments are especially common in new projects, frequently combining stackable seating on flat floors with fixed theater seating in risers. This approach allows sanctuaries to host a wider range of gatherings beyond weekend services while maintaining aesthetic cohesion. Another notable trend is the widespread move toward armless seating, now used in roughly 97 % of worship center projects. Armless designs provide greater personal space, enhance accessibility, and create visual continuity between fixed and movable seating. Meanwhile, most renovation projects involve replacing traditional pews to improve through an online control panel. Serving more than 20,000 ministries and training millions of participants, the organization provides an integrated abuse-prevention framework that can now connect directly with widely used church management platforms. This technological integration reflects a broader shift: whereas few churches relied on digital administration two decades ago, today even small congregations use affordable, easy-to-navigate systems for finances, communication, volunteer management, and more. Embedding MinistrySafe tools within ChMS platforms simplifies prevention by allowing churches to initiate, track and renew training and background checks in one place. Leaders describe this“ seamless access to best-in-class tools” as essential for safeguarding children and vulnerable populations while enabling churches to“ focus on what matters most: ministry.” Over the next two years, most major ChMS platforms are expected to support full MinistrySafe functionality, further streamlining compliance and accountability. Across platforms— from enterprise systems to affordable solutions— technology providers emphasize a shared mission of protection and trust. Partnerships aim to help churches“ create a safe environment for their members,”“ reduce liability risk, and build trust with families,” and ensure that“ nothing slips through the cracks when it comes to protecting your people.” These integrations also expand accessibility so that churches of any size or budget can implement meaningful safeguards. Ultimately, the article highlights a cultural and operational shift within ministry leadership. Prevention is no longer reactive but proactive, supported by education, structured systems, and integrated technology. As one partner explains, effective tools should help churches“ protect, connect, and point people to Jesus,” ensuring that safety and spiritual care remain inseparable. By combining comprehensive prevention frameworks with modern church management technology, ministries are increasingly equipped to protect children, support families, and steward trust— marking a significant step forward in addressing one of the Church’ s most urgent responsibilities.
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6: Q & A: Selecting the right seating for your church
Featuring Ryan Rollefson
Church seating decisions are increasingly shaped by long-term value, space efficiency, flexibility, and evolving ministry needs, according to Ryan Rollefson of SERIES ® Seating. Rather than focusing solely on upfront cost, many churches now prioritize durability and lifecycle stewardship. Lower-cost seating purchased in the past often required replacement within five to nine years, while quality seating should last well beyond 20 years— shifting attention toward maximizing budget dollars over time. Space optimization has also become critical as construction and renovation costs rise. Churches are seeking seating designs that preserve capacity while reducing required square footage, improving comfort, sightlines, accessibility, and seating capacity. Although some congregations still value a classic pew appearance, modern self-lifting theater seating can preserve traditional aesthetics while delivering better traffic flow, maintenance efficiency, and a lower cost per person— making it an increasingly attractive stewardship choice. Material selection is evolving as well. With coffee shops and multiuse ministry spaces now common, churches prefer low-maintenance, stain-resistant, anti-microbial fabrics that simplify weekly cleaning and long-term upkeep. Removable upholstery further supports efficient maintenance. Rollefson emphasizes that SERIES Seating distinguishes itself as a true designer and manufacturer, not merely a reseller. This enables the company to provide patented innovations, advanced structural features, and specialized solutions as standard offerings rather than costly upgrades. Examples include stacking theater seats that can increase seating capacity by up to 20 % and dramatically reduce storage space requirements, along with coordinated seating systems that visually unify fixed and flexible seating environments. Finally, the company’ s dedicated worship-focused team underscores a ministry-centered philosophy. By concentrating exclusively on church clients, SERIES Seating aims to address real congregational challenges with practical, design-driven solutions— reflecting its guiding mission of“ Serving by Design.” Overall, current seating trends reveal a broader shift in church facility planning: leaders are making strategic, future-oriented investments that balance stewardship, flexibility, comfort, and ministry effectiveness within the worship environment.
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7: Attention-grabbing. Cuttingedge. All-in-one.
The digital outreach technology stack at Rockharbor Church mirrors its ministry
By RaeAnn Slaybaugh
Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa, Calif., is deeply committed to nextgeneration ministry, a focus that shapes how leaders evaluate and adopt digital technology. For every new tool or strategy, the guiding question is simple: does it help the church“ compete for the time and attention of our people when they’ re on their phones? This mindset has driven
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