In 2022 according to the popular wedding site, The Knot: 20% of weddings took place in October, 15% in September, and 19% in June-August. 2023 is likely not much different. That means wedding season is here. Schedule a simple reminder. The best way to schedule a reminder to reach out to the couple is to go to the member profile for the bride or groom and add a Note. Make the content of the note a summary of your counseling. Add in a reminder about something specific to ask them about. Then schedule when you want a reminder sent to you and assign it to yourself or the pastor for whom you are entering the note. You can follow this same procedure multiple times at say the 3 month, 6 month, and 12 month benchmarks.
If the note needs to be more confidential than a generic "Pastoral Care" note, then create a password protected Note Type (Members > Settings > Note Types) for that particular pastor.
- Map out the training. This means identifying the resources you want to give them. It could be content like a series of videos that are already done, or something you want to create like a series of emails or landing pages (step 2). Then decide the time frame between each item. For example:
- Put them in workflow.
- Wait 4 weeks.
- Send a personalized email with a prayer for them.
- Wait 4 weeks.
- Send a text with the link to the 1st of 3 newly married Youtube or Podcast devotionals.
- Wait 1 week.
- Send 2nd text to devotional 2.
- Wait 1 week.
- Send 3rd text to devotional 3.
- Wait 16 weeks (6 months since wedding)
- Create note for pastor to call or text.
- Wait 26 weeks (1 year since wedding)
- Create note for pastor to call or text.
- Create the resources. Go back through step 1 and create the Email, Text, and Landing Page assets you outlined. Save these as Templates. Now, you have all the pieces of the puzzle.
- Build the workflow. Finally, go to Communicate > Workflows > Create Workflow. Start by giving it a name. I like outlining the purpose and goal in the description. On the Steps page add in the time frames and asset elements.
- Activate the workflow. The workflow is in draft mode until you actually activate it on the workflow list page.
- Enroll the couple. Scroll down to the Recent Workflows section on the member profile pages for both the Bride and the Groom, and enroll them in your wedding follow-up workflow.
Some of my favorite memories as a pastor were times spent in pre-marital counseling with young couples. It was a great time to clarify their understanding of the gospel. I loved helping them discover from the Bible that God's plan for marriage starts by submitting to Him.
I did a lot to help them learn to walk with God and each other before marriage, but I wish I would have done a better job of discipling them that first year. We would love to help you do that!
