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Getting Started with Ministry Mapper

Overview

Ministry Mapper is a web-based territory management system that helps congregations organize their field ministry work digitally. This guide will help you get started quickly.

How to Access Ministry Mapper

The easiest way to use Ministry Mapper is through our hosted service:

ministry-mapper.com

  1. Visit ministry-mapper.com
  2. Create an account using the sign-up page
  3. Verify your email by clicking the link sent to your inbox
  4. Contact your administrator to get proper permissions for your role

Publishers who only work maps assigned to them can skip all of this - an assignment link needs no account at all.

Benefits of the hosted service: - No technical setup required - Automatic updates and maintenance - Better security and reliability - No maintenance burden

Self-hosting requires significant technical expertise and ongoing maintenance. If you still want to self-host, see the Self-Hosting Guide for detailed instructions.

Quick Start Guide

For Publishers

  1. Open Your Link - Tap the assignment link your conductor or administrator sends you; no account and no sign-in are needed
  2. Work the Map - Record the outcome of each call as you go; other publishers on the same map see your updates immediately
  3. Watch the Expiry - The link stops working once it expires, so ask for a new one if you need more time

For Administrators

  1. Choose Hosting - Use hosted service or self-host
  2. Configure Congregation - Set up territories and settings
  3. Invite Users - Add users and assign roles
  4. Maintain System - Keep data accurate and ensure privacy compliance

Understanding User Roles

Ministry Mapper has three congregation roles. Each is granted to a user account by an administrator, and one person can hold a different role in each congregation they belong to.

  • Read-Only - View territories, maps, progress, and messages without changing anything
  • Conductor - Everything Read-Only can do, plus assign maps to publishers, create and update addresses, and reset or delete territories
  • Administrator - Everything a Conductor can do, plus create territories and maps, manage users and their roles, and change congregation settings

There is also a fourth way in, and it is not a role at all:

  • Publisher access via an assignment link - A publisher does not need an account and never logs in. A conductor or administrator sends them a link, and opening it shows exactly one map, which they can update until the link expires.

Because an assignment link bypasses login, anyone holding it has access. Never post one to a public status or story, and tell a conductor or administrator right away if one is shared by mistake so it can be deleted and reissued.

For detailed information about each role, see the User Guide.

Setting Up Your Preferences

Two settings are worth changing in your first session. Both are saved on the device you are using, so each phone or computer can be set up differently.

  • Language - Ministry Mapper is available in 8 languages (English, Español, 中文, தமிழ், Bahasa Indonesia, B. Melayu, 日本語, 한국어). Use the Language button in the sidebar footer, on the sign-in screen, or in the bottom bar of a publisher map. There is no need to change your browser settings.
  • Theme Settings - Open the palette icon to choose light, dark, or system appearance and one of five colour themes. Changes apply immediately and there is no Save button.

Common Setup Issues

Can't Create Account

  • Verify you're using a valid email address
  • Ensure password meets minimum requirements
  • Contact your administrator for help

Email Verification Not Received

  • Check spam/junk folder
  • Wait a few minutes or try resending
  • Contact your administrator

Can't See Any Territories

  • Contact your conductor or administrator to get a role in your congregation
  • An account with no role sees nothing until a role is granted
  • Publishers do not browse territories at all; they open the single map their assignment link points to

Can't Update Addresses

  • Check your internet connection
  • Verify assignment link hasn't expired
  • Try refreshing and logging in again

For more troubleshooting help, see the User Guide.

Next Steps

For Publishers: Read the User Guide to learn all features and best practices for field service.

For Administrators: Review the Self-Hosting Guide for setup requirements and the User Guide for managing territories and users.

Getting Help

  • Contact Your Administrator - First point of contact for access and territory questions
  • Read the User Guide - Comprehensive feature documentation
  • GitHub Issues - Report bugs and technical problems in the frontend repository, or the backend repository for server-side problems

Important Notes

  • Internet Required - Ministry Mapper needs a connection for normal use; publisher address updates made while offline are queued and sent when the connection returns, but administrator work always needs to be online
  • Privacy Compliance - Follow local data protection laws (GDPR, CCPA, etc.)
  • Training - Provide user training for smooth transition from paper to digital