Tools - Released September 8-9, 2025
An important update about the Protect My Ministry integration, expanded searching, new capabilities, and more.
Protect My Ministry
- There is a new integration for Protect My Ministry. You can find integration instructions for the updated product here.
- Once you migrate and start using the updated version, you no longer have to contact MinistryPlatform Support to add your background check packages! The tool will check your packages in Protect My Ministry and add any new ones for you under .
- For more information and help migrating to the updated product, contact Protect My Ministry at support@protectmyministry.com.
- Dates now correctly reflect when a background check has been submitted and when a background check has been started.
- Contact fields are back! MinistryPlatform can now receive values from Protect My Ministry to autofill contact fields on background check records. Manage whether or not you want to see these fields under .
- We added a new configuration setting for Protect My Ministry! Make sure when you set up Protect My Ministry, you set the TOOLS, BackgroundCheckPassedVerbiage configuration setting to Clear. This helps ensures Protect My Ministry and MinistryPlatform can communicate effectively to process submitted background checks.
Add A Payment Tool
- *ENHANCEMENT* Typically when you use this tool, it limits the Select A Participant drop-down list to the first 1,000 participants. Now when you search for a participant, the Add A Payment tool returns all of the records that match your search, not just the first 1,000 records that match. So if the John Doe you're looking for is the 1,001st record? If you searched for him, he'll display in the results!
- We've cleaned up the max quantity restriction for product option prices! Previously, if the abandoned invoice clean up process canceled an invoice, the Add A Payment tool still considered the canceled registration toward the product's max quantity. This made it look like the product option price sold out, even though it was still available. No more! Now, if the invoice is canceled, that product option price becomes available again for other event registrants.
Add/Edit Event Tool
- *ENHANCEMENT* You can now select an existing product inside the Add/Edit Event tool! And if you add a new product, it is automatically assigned to the congregation selected for the event. Not only does this streamline the event creation process, but it also ensures those with specific global filters can find the product they created for the event. A win-win!
- We've added a warning message if you remove a room from an event using the Add/Edit Event tool. If you didn't already know, when you remove a room from an event, you also remove any group that was mapped to that room. Now, a warning displays if you remove a room to remind you that you may need to re-add the group to the event.
Add/Edit Family Tool
- *ENHANCEMENT* You can now assign envelope numbers when you create a new household or family with the Add/Edit Family tool! To do this, your security role must have one of the following accesses to the Donors page:
- Edit (or higher): Users with this security role can use the Assign Envelope Number button and the Envelope Number field to add new envelope numbers, manually edit existing envelope numbers, or delete existing envelope numbers.
- View: Users with this security role can see the Envelope Number field. They cannot assign new envelope numbers or edit or delete existing envelope numbers.
Note: If an existing donor already has an envelope number when you launch the tool, the envelope number will display, but you can't edit or delete the envelope number. With this enhancement, you can assign envelope numbers to new donors or existing donors that do not have an assigned envelope number. - Additional important information for this enhancement:
- This feature depends on two configuration settings: TOOLS, ShowEnvelopeNumbers and TOOLS, AssignLowestEnvelopeNumberByCongregation.
- You can turn off the Assign Next Envelope Number option! Simply set the TOOLS, ShowEnvelopeNumbers configuration setting to False.
- You can manually add an envelope number in the Envelope No field.
- We added a Duplicate Envelope Number error message to alert you if a duplicate envelope number is assigned within the same congregation or parish.
- You can assign envelope numbers for multiple members of the same household or family. The tool takes into account envelope numbers generated for other members of the household or family, so as not to assign the same number more than once.
- We highly recommend that, if multiple members of the same household or family (for example, a married couple) share a single assigned envelope number, you only record the envelope number on one of their donor records. This new enhancement keeps that in mind for you!
- Each time you use the Assign Envelope Number feature, the tool creates a unique number. So you shouldn't be able to assign the same number for multiple donors within the same household or family.
Add/Edit Sacrament Tool
Note: This tool is available in Catholic instances only. But, we know that other denominations track sacraments and may need to mass enter information. If that's you, please let us know how we can serve your needs by entering your feedback on the Idea Board.
- We've changed up the Add/Edit Sacrament tool when copying shared sacrament details to multiple records. Previously, the tool would display an error if you launched it from a selection of records, selected the Copy Shared Sacrament Details to Next Record checkbox, and left the Spouse field blank. Now, the tool just moves to the next selected record to copy the sacrament details. If you completed the Spouse field, the tool will move to the spouse next. This will help you copy those sacrament details more quickly!
- You can now omit the slashes when entering a date in the Add/Edit Sacrament tool. Just be sure to enter it in MMDDYYYY format, and the tool will enter it correctly. This will save you time - and keystrokes!
Assign Donor Tool
- *ENHANCEMENT* The Assign Donor tool now recognizes prefixes! Previously, the tool couldn't match to an existing record if it had a prefix. Now when you search for an existing record, the tool can match to an existing record with a prefix. Or, when you need to create a new donor, you can select a prefix for the new donor. This will help you keep your data clean and accurate!
Assign Participant Tool
- *ENHANCEMENT* The Assign Participant tool now recognizes prefixes! Previously, the tool couldn't match to an existing record if it had a prefix. Now when you search for an existing record, the tool can match to an existing record with a prefix. Or, when you need to create a new participant, you can select a prefix for the new participant. This will help you keep your data clean and accurate!
Deceased Person Tool
- We've updated the Deceased Person tool to be more clear in the case of transferring donations of a deceased minor. Previously, the Donation Data section stated "Transfer Donation Data to Spouse - [Head of Household Name]", which we thought was a little confusing. Now, if the deceased person is a child with a donations to transfer, the Donation Data section reads "Transfer Donation Data to Head of Household - [Name]".
Reminders
- Upcoming Change to Life Apps: In the next Life Apps release, we plan to change the names of the Care Life and Group Life applications to Care Connect and Group Connect. Volunteer Connect and Need Connect already follow this pattern. These will be collectively known as Connect Suite. We'll announce when that change occurs through Life Apps release notes but wanted to give you a heads up here as well!
- Are you more of a visual learner? Check out our video library for MinistryPlatform! We are constantly adding and updating new videos, and you can submit video topics that you'd like to see next. Check it out and let us know what you think!
- Reminder about Support Hours: Support is available Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST/EDT. If you submit a case outside of these hours, including on a holiday, the case will be reviewed at the start of the next business day. If your concern cannot wait, you can call 843-413-8400 and leave a voicemail. We are notified and will work to assist you. Hourly rates may apply for off-hours assistance. For all the details, see Support Hours & Holidays.