7 Ways Churches are Using Text Messaging Services to Connect with Members

With the modern world chugging forward, constantly discovering new technologies and ways to utilize those discoveries, the population must adapt to maintain their connections. As a church this is extremely important, as the congregation is a critical component of any church services.

As the days go by, many people feel too busy to meet their spiritual obligations and attend church, but new strategies to encourage attendance are being implemented more often – such as texting. Churches can now text members important information, reminders, and prayers to let them feel closer to the community than ever before.

Let’s take a look at 7 ways texting can benefit the church and its members.

All members are instantly alerted

If a big event is coming up for your church program, it may be difficult to catch every member in church on Sunday. Meetings could be hard to schedule, and some people’s obligations just might not allow them to attend gatherings and exchange information.

Having the entire group in an easy-access place makes information easier to share between members. Calendars can be sent out, memos, birthday reminders, etc. that let everyone know exactly what’s planned and what needs to be done by who.

Fundraisers can be attended by more members, leading to higher profits to improve church services and help members in their time of need. Summaries of service topics could be sent afterwards to keep missing members informed and encourage them to attend the next service.

Connect on a deeper level

Spirituality and religion emphasize a closeness, and there’s no better way to feel close to your spiritual safe haven than having it at your fingertips. Receiving personalized text messages from their ministry can give members a sense of security and trust.

Groups can make it easier to target members with specific issues and send them encouragement, hope, and faith. Also, surveys and polls can be sent out that gauge congregation opinions on certain things, such as ways to increase general attendance or future events to plan.

Giving members a direct voice within the church is just as important as being attentive outside of church. Text messages bring everyone closer together, from the pastor or priest to the youngest of members with a phone.

Encourage the youth

Phones are the main source of communication and information youths utilize regularly. By reaching out to them through their main source of media, you gain their attention faster and more effectively.

Business Insider calculates that millennials send an average of 67 texts per day, and 98% of text messages are opened. These numbers are staggering and give a general idea of how effective text messaging services are for both churches and members.

One way to target millennials is to provide substance for their focus on having everything instantly. Text messages provide this, and images can be added to promote them to members of youth ministries. Messages can even have an interactive call to action, one trick to boost responsiveness.

Grow the congregation

Churchgoers frequently invite friends and family to services, giving churches the opportunity to recruit new members. Guests can feel welcomed into the church with text messages at the end of services, as well as follow up messages and reminders. New members will enjoy the feeling of inclusion as they receive all the information they need to be an active part of the church.

Many newcomers may be wary of churches being too demanding or judgmental, thoughts that can be quelled by encouraging quotes and positive messages sent through text at just the right moments. This motivation can also keep them from feeling as though they’re lost in the rat race of life, giving them peace of mind and words to mull over throughout the day or week.

Save money on ads and pamphlets

Paper used to be the only way to give churchgoers access to recurring events, calendars, reminders, fundraisers, and more. However, digital alerts are more profitable as well as more accessible to others. By focusing on SMS/MMS alerts churches save the trip to the printer and the costs of paper, ink, and time spent designing layouts.

This reduces paper waste, making the environment cleaner and reducing overall paper waste. Pamphlets can easily get lost, dirty, ripped, thrown out, left in pockets, etc. A text message remains, sometimes popping up multiple times depending on the user’s notification settings.

This means there’s a greatly increased chance of information being read on a cell phone versus on a thin pamphlet handed out at the church that missing members could not receive.

Quickly notify members of emergencies

Services may have to be cancelled due to impromptu emergencies or extreme weather, and alerts can be instantly sent to all members via texts.

Churchgoers are human, and this means they have emergencies and problems just like everybody else. If someone is facing a crisis, texts can alert all pertinent members instantly and have them rushing to the aid of their church family member.

Churches are meant to protect, help, motivate, teach, and listen. All of these things can be achieved through something as simple as executing group texts that target specified members for their unique skills and traits.

If someone has to be rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night, the church can alert their family member’s as well as coordinate congregation members organized to help. Text messaging is the most efficient way to keep the care team on task and instantaneously notify all of them on situational changes.

Quick and easy tithes and donations

With card services becoming more advanced cash is scarcer, especially when people are traveling. They enjoy the security of a debit or credit card, keeping them from having cash strewn everywhere and having to keep track of coins.

Text services can give the option of giving tithes and donations much simpler. A designated texting number for the church can go a long way in raising funds. Members may give more than they usually do, due to having access to their full bank account and not just whatever they have in their pocket.

Churches provide a lot of life-saving services, there’s no reason they should be left out of the technology loop. Cell phones have many uses and advantages, and keeping up with the word of God is one of them.