In the face of a quickly evolving digital landscape, large churches must address the challenge of adopting new technology that simplifies operations while increasing community impact.
Rockharbor Church, based in Costa Mesa, Calif., is one such example.
Sr. Content Manager
Subsplash
Since its founding in 1997, Rockharbor has grown to more than 1,500 weekly attendees with a mission focused on reaching the next generation. However, as its ministry grew, so did its need for a more streamlined tech solution.
This case study explores how Rockharbor leaders partnered with Subsplash to address their challenges with crucial technology — leading to increased engagement, greater efficiency, and a stronger connection with their congregation.
The challenge: managing multiple platforms
For years, Rockharbor Church relied on multiple tech platforms to manage its operations, each offering different tools for communication, giving and engagement. What should have been a time-saver became a time sink, creating increased complexity for the team.
“Over the years, as technology has evolved, so must the church,” says Young Adults Pastor Gavin Lamming. “As a church that’s oriented towards the next generation, there are more and more platforms that we are competing with.”
With an increasing demand for digital tools that matched their people’s fast-paced lives, Rockharbor leaders realized they needed to re-evaluate their current systems. The various tech platforms they were using created operational inefficiencies that resulted in a disjointed user experience, especially for their online giving and media experience.
The search for a comprehensive solution
Recognizing that a piecemeal approach wasn’t cutting it, the Rockharbor leadership team began looking for a comprehensive solution, ideally one that would bring all their digital tools together under one roof. Their search led them to Subsplash.
“We were in a moment where we were re-evaluating all our different platforms,” says Lamming. “Our previous provider offered solutions that fell short, causing our team to look for a real solution that would bring everything together.”
Rockharbor started by testing Subsplash’s mobile church app. They quickly found that the seamless experience for both church leaders and members was exactly what they had been searching for. Encouraged by the immediate success of the app, they decided to adopt more Subsplash tools, including the platform’s online giving solution.
A seamless transition with tangible results
When switching tech platforms, one of the biggest concerns for churches is the potential disruption during the transition. Rockharbor, however, found the process of moving to Subsplash both easy and efficient.
“We switched our giving platform over completely, which was a really seamless process that has already paid dividends,” Lamming notes. “More people realized that everything they need is in this one place. It’s increased involvement, it’s increased giving, it’s increased media engagement, and so much more!”
By positioning their new Subsplash app as the primary hub for church communication, Rockharbor saw significant growth in congregation engagement. People were accessing sermons, donating, and staying informed — all in one place. The church experienced a noticeable uptick in media engagement and giving as the technology made it simpler and more intuitive for congregants to participate.
Support that stands out
What truly set Subsplash apart for Rockharbor wasn’t just the quality of the technology but the level of support it received throughout the onboarding process. For churches with limited staff and time, support during implementation is crucial to the success of new digital initiatives.
“One of the gifts with Subsplash is how much their team helps and how much access to their team you have,” says Lamming. “At no point did I feel like I was in over my head. It was a very seamless process from start to finish. I felt like we were taken care of.”
This hands-on approach ensured that Rockharbor’s leadership felt confident in their new tools, allowing them to focus less on tech hurdles and more on advancing their mission.
Driving impact for the next chapter
For churches like Rockharbor, finding the right technology partner is about more than just improving operational efficiency — it’s about creating deeper connections with the congregation and maximizing ministry impact.
Rockharbor’s journey with Subsplash highlights the importance of choosing a platform that can be tailored to the unique needs of churches as well as supported by a team dedicated to the success of its clients.
“As someone who’s belonged to Rockharbor for 15 years and been on staff for eight, I can honestly say this is the most exciting season,” says Lamming. “Whether it’s media or in-person services, we just see God breaking in exactly the way that people need and pulling them more into community.”
For executive pastors and church leaders looking to amplify their impact as well as streamline their operations, Rockharbor’s experience shows that partnering with a comprehensive digital platform like Subsplash can pave the way for growth and deeper engagement.
Jeff Harvey lives in Austin, TX and is the Sr. Content Manager at Subsplash. A husband and father of three, he has served as a pastor, leader, and affiliate professor for more than 20 years in the U.S. and Brazil.
Discover how Subsplash can help your church thrive in today’s digital world by scheduling a free demo at subsplash.com/church-exec.
