> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getparable.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Getting Started with Parable. Connect your Planning Center and database to start querying unified church data with SQL

## Transform Your Church's Data Into Stories

Welcome to Parable – where your church's scattered data becomes unified insights. No more juggling spreadsheets or pulling the same reports week after week. Let's get your data working for your ministry.

### What You'll Accomplish

In just a few minutes, you'll connect your Planning Center account and database, creating a single source of truth for all your church's data. Once connected, you can query your data directly and build dynamic dashboards in tools like Power BI or Tableau.

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card icon="users" title="Planning Center Account">
    Admin access to your church's Planning Center account
  </Card>

  <Card icon="database" title="Database Credentials">
    Connection details for your church's database (PostgreSQL, MySQL, etc.)
  </Card>

  <Card icon="code" title="SQL Knowledge">
    Basic SQL skills for querying your unified data
  </Card>

  <Card icon="chart-line" title="BI Tool (Optional)">
    Power BI, Tableau, or similar for visualization
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Setup Your Account in 4 Steps

### Step 1: Add Your Organization

Start by telling us about your church. This helps us tailor Parable to your specific ministry context.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion icon="church" title="Enter Organization Details">
    1. **Organization Name**: Enter your church's name (e.g., "Echo Life Church")
    2. **Mailing Address**: Complete all address fields
       * Street Address Line 1
       * Street Address Line 2 (optional)
       * City, State/Province, ZIP Code

    <Tip>
      This information helps us understand your church's context and size for
      better insights.
    </Tip>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion icon="chart-pie" title="Configure Demographics">
    Share key metrics about your congregation:

    * **Denomination**: Select from the dropdown
    * **Average Weekly Attendance**: Choose your typical attendance range
    * **Age of Organization**: How long has your church been established?
    * **Number of Staff Members**: Select your full-time equivalent staff count

    <Note>
      These demographics help benchmark your data against similar churches and
      provide contextual insights.
    </Note>
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Step 2: Connect Planning Center

Planning Center is the heart of your church management data. This integration brings all that valuable information into Parable.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select Planning Center Integration">
    Click "Add an Integration" and select **Planning Center** from the ChMS
    options.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Your Apps">
    Select which Planning Center apps to sync:

    * **People**: Membership database
    * **Giving**: Tithes, offerings, & reporting
    * **Calendar**: Scheduling, facilities, & resources
    * **Check-Ins**: Attendance & volunteer tools
    * **Groups**: Community engagement & chat
    * **Publishing**: Custom pages, video, & audio library
    * **Registrations**: Signups, tickets, & payments
    * **Services**: Worship planning & scheduling

    <Tip>
      Select all apps for the most comprehensive insights, or start with core apps
      like People and Giving.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Authorize Access">
    You'll be redirected to Planning Center to authorize Parable. Ensure you
    have **Organizational Admin** and **Giving Administrator** permissions.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Step 3: Create Database Connection

This is where the magic happens. Connect your database to unlock SQL querying capabilities and nightly-synchronized data access.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion icon="plug" title="Configure Connection Settings">
    Enter your database credentials:

    1. **Connection Name**: Give it a memorable name (e.g., "My Database Connection")
    2. **Username**: Your database username
    3. **Password**: Your database password
    4. **Host**: Database server address (e.g., `ep-blue-hill-a74116gq-pooler.c-2.us-west-2.aws.neon.tech`)
    5. **Database**: Database name (e.g., `neondb`)

    <Warning>
      Copy your password immediately after creation – you won't be able to see
      it again for security reasons.
    </Warning>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion icon="terminal" title="Connection String">
    Your connection string will be automatically generated: `    postgresql://[username]:[password]@[host]/[database]?sslmode=require` Use
    this string to connect from BI tools or custom applications.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Step 4: Setup Billing

Complete your account setup by selecting a plan that fits your church's needs.

<Card icon="credit-card" title="Start Using Parable">
  Click "Start Using Parable" to select your plan and enter payment information.
  Your data will begin syncing immediately after setup completion.
</Card>

## What's Next?

Congratulations! Your church's data infrastructure is now unified. Here's how to start extracting powerful insights:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Access Your Data" icon="database">
    Connect to your database with PGAdmin, TablePlus, or DataGrip
  </Card>

  <Card title="Connect BI Tools" icon="chart-line">
    Set up Power BI or Tableau for visual dashboards
  </Card>

  <Card title="Build Reports" icon="file-chart-column">
    Create recurring reports that update automatically
  </Card>

  <Card title="API Access" icon="webhook" href="/api-reference">
    Integrate Parable data into your custom applications
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Common First Queries

Get started with these practical SQL queries:

```sql theme={null}
-- Weekly attendance trends
SELECT
  DATE_TRUNC('week', check_in_date) as week,
  COUNT(DISTINCT person_id) as unique_attendees
FROM check_ins
WHERE check_in_date >= CURRENT_DATE - INTERVAL '12 weeks'
GROUP BY week
ORDER BY week DESC;
```

```sql theme={null}
-- Giving patterns by demographic
SELECT
  age_bracket,
  AVG(gift_amount) as avg_gift,
  COUNT(DISTINCT person_id) as givers
FROM giving
JOIN people ON giving.person_id = people.id
WHERE gift_date >= DATE_TRUNC('month', CURRENT_DATE)
GROUP BY age_bracket;
```

## Your Data Tells a Story

Remember, every data point represents a person in your congregation – their journey, their engagement, their spiritual growth. Parable transforms these individual stories into actionable insights that help you shepherd more effectively.

<Note>
  **Need Help?**

  * Join our [Community Forum](https://getparable.io/community) to connect with other church data leaders
  * Email us at [michael@getparable.io](mailto:michael@getparable.io) for personalized assistance
</Note>

## The Journey Ahead

You've just taken the first step toward data-informed ministry. As you explore Parable, you'll discover patterns and insights that were previously hidden across multiple systems. Each report you build, each trend you identify, brings you closer to understanding and serving your congregation more effectively.

**Welcome to a new chapter in your church's data story.**