Community life in the app: "An enrichment for all age groups"

Reading time: 5 minutes – Published: February 13, 2025

Using the hashtag #donkeyshare, we're giving parishioners the opportunity to share their experiences with the church app. This time, it's Saskia Klompmaker, the initiator of the church app in the Evangelical Old Reformed Church of Nordhorn, who's taking the stage.
She noticed that there were many different means of communication in her community and that it was easy to lose track.
“Since we started using the church app, we have been able to reach many more people in the community.

Events are perceived more consciously, there are more discussions about them and higher participation."

Interview partner: Saskia Klompmaker
Pastor: Evangelical Old Reformed Church of Nordhorn

Dominik: Hello Saskia, thank you for taking the time for this interview.
Please introduce yourself and your community.

Saskia: I'm Saskia Klompmaker, pastor here at the congregation in Nordhorn, in the western tip of Germany. Our congregation is located in a rural area, yet has an urban structure. We currently have about 1,000 members, from young to old, and therefore offer a very diverse program.

Dominik: What challenges did your community face, especially in terms of communication?

Saskia: Our biggest challenge was that each group, club, and circle had its own communication channels. As a full-time employee, I had to manage multiple email accounts, use WhatsApp, and be reachable via social media. This multitude of channels was extremely time-consuming and confusing.

Dominik: So how did you find out about Donkey Mobile?

Saskia: I saw many different providers at church conferences, but never found a solution that truly suited our congregation. Since our church's history dates back to the Old Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, I thought there might be a suitable solution there. So I did some research and came across Donkey Mobile. It was a very conscious search for a tool that would connect everyone in the congregation.

Dominik: What ultimately convinced you that Donkey Mobile is the right solution for you?

Saskia: From the first visit to the website, I quickly realized what the app could do. I didn't have to search for a long time or struggle through complicated explanations – it was immediately understandable. And that's exactly what we needed: a simple yet powerful solution for our community.

Dominik: How did your community react to the idea of an app?

Saskia: The initial reaction was, "Another app?!" But when we explained the benefits in more detail, it quickly became clear that it represented a great opportunity for us. All generations were open to it. The young people were immediately enthusiastic, but the older members also recognized that the app was a perfect fit for our congregation and our times.

Dominik: Were there any challenges in introducing the app, especially with the older generation?

Saskia: We had actually planned various strategies to specifically support the seniors – but we hardly needed them! The older members were incredibly motivated and constantly asked when it would finally start. They installed the app on their own and got along well right away.

Dominik: What changes have you noticed with the app?

Saskia: We now reach many more people in the community.

Events are more consciously perceived, there are more discussions about them, and participation is higher. Our digital parish register in the app is particularly popular – many people look to see who's participating or search for names they can't immediately identify. At the same time, everything remains voluntary: no one has to, but everyone can. And if something needs to be changed at short notice, one click is all it takes to inform the entire congregation. This has made communication channels much more direct and easier.

Dominik: Thank you for the interview, Saskia! We're delighted to be able to support you and your community with Donkey Mobile.