When Crown of Life Lutheran Church began serving the Pueblo West, Colorado community in 2002, their mission was simple: create a church family where people stay connected, supported, and spiritually encouraged.
Today, that commitment is still at the heart of everything they do, but now they are strengthening that mission with technology that makes ministry more accessible and more personal than ever before.
We spoke with Donna Schmidt, Crown of Life’s office manager, to hear how Ministry Brands Amplify has brought new momentum to their ministry.
What began as a search for better tools has turned into a transformation that impacts their congregation every single week.
Growing Needs, Limited Tools, and a Big Decision
Like many smaller churches, Crown of Life ultimately reached a point where their tools were holding them back. Their website could not support streaming. Their administrative tasks required too much manual work. Their previous attempt at online giving produced almost nothing. And multiple systems meant multiple logins, multiple costs, and unnecessary complexity.
Donna remembers reviewing everything with her leadership team and realizing how crucial it was to find a platform that could unify their needs. When she explored Ministry Brands Amplify, she discovered that not only would they gain better features, but it would also cost less than what they were already paying for separate tools.
She recalls thinking, “This does everything we need, and it simplifies everything we do.” That clarity made the decision easy.
Support That Gives Confidence and Peace of Mind
One of the first things Donna noticed after moving to Amplify was the difference in support. Donna says, “If I have a question and I cannot find the answer, I can chat or email support, and it gets answered. I did not have that before.” The reassurance of knowing help is always available has been one of the biggest blessings for her.
Donna also loves the convenience of being able to access the system from anywhere. She says, “I can do things from home, from my office, or from my phone. It saves so much time and makes everything easier.” Whether she needs to update information, publish a streaming link, or check details for Sunday, she can do it instantly, without waiting to get back to her desk.
That kind of flexibility has completely changed how she works and has brought a new sense of ease to her weekly responsibilities.
Online Giving That Exceeded All Expectations
Online giving has been one of the most surprising and impactful changes for Crown of Life. Donna admits she initially believed their members would only give “maybe fifty dollars a month” through digital options, based on past experiences with other tools.
But once they launched giving through Ministry Brands, the results were completely different.
“We have had months of over five thousand dollars in online giving,” Donna says. “It has been absolutely phenomenal for us.”
What they expected to be a small convenience has instead become a major source of financial strength and participation. Members who previously did not give online now use it regularly because it is so simple and seamless. It has allowed Crown of Life to plan better, support ministry needs consistently, and invite more people to participate in generosity.
Streaming That Keeps Everyone Connected
One of the most meaningful transformations has come through the ability to stream services on their website. For many members, this feature has become a spiritual lifeline.
Donna explains, “Some members cannot come to church anymore, but now they can still watch the whole service and stay connected.” Whether someone is homebound, recovering from illness, or caring for a loved one, they can participate fully in worship each week.
This accessibility has even touched Donna’s own family. During her mother’s hospice care, her husband stayed home with her mother each Sunday, and they watched the services together online. Donna says, “It meant everything to me that my mother could still be part of the service. It made a difference in our lives during a difficult season.”
In moments like these, technology becomes more than a tool. It becomes ministry.
Media Tools That Save Hours and Spark Inspiration
Donna is responsible for creating worship slides, bulletin visuals, PowerPoint presentations, and more. Before Amplify, this work required hours of searching online or designing graphics from scratch.
Now, she says, “I used to spend half a day building a nice presentation. With the media tools, I can find backgrounds and graphics instantly. You offer so many options, and it makes everything so easy.”
The built-in media library in Amplify has transformed her weekly workflow. She can match colors, themes, and styles with ease and has more time to focus on the ministry moments that matter.
Technology That Helps Ministry Happen
Crown of Life’s story is a powerful example of how technology, when used thoughtfully, strengthens the heart of church life. It brings people together. It fills in the gaps. It expands what is possible for small and large churches alike.
For Donna, Amplify has meant time saved, stress reduced, tasks simplified, and new opportunities discovered. For the congregation, it has meant greater connection, easier participation, and access to worship no matter where they are.
This is what happens when the right tools support the right mission.
Ready to Empower Your Ministry?
Is your church’s giving and engagement strategy helping you move forward, or is it holding you back? Are manual tasks pulling you away from people and slowing the impact you could be making? If so, your church may be ready for something better.
Ministry Brands Amplify brings together simple and secure tools for online and mobile giving, digital forms, automated workflows, communication, streaming, and more. These features empower churches to grow generosity, streamline operations, and stay focused on what matters most: ministry.
