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Pandemic or not, it’s hard to deny the effectiveness of text communication. With 99% of text messages being opened (and 90% within the first three minutes!), it’s easy to see why texting is a valuable tool to spread event information, alerts, updates, and reminders.

Church text messaging will take your church communications to the next level. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but in recent years, text communication has become well accepted in terms of sending messages from businesses and other entities.

Faced with a global pandemic, churches around the world are adapting. The response has been incredible as churches have met fear and crisis with innovation and connection. In the midst of the first lockdowns, churches ranging from solo pastors to multi-campus congregations with thousands of members picked up the phone and worked through their rosters from top to bottom. Leadership and volunteers reached out via phone, text, and video to make sure needs were being met. Some referred to these as “COVID Calls,” others, “Wellness Check-Ins.” Social distancing has created challenges in care, and the way forward is not always clear. Pastoral care is changing and is more complex than ever before.

In a time of social distancing, many people feel isolated, and crave interaction. Many churches strive to maintain togetherness despite being apart. The need for unity within a community goes far beyond any public health concern. It is in our nature to crave relationships, to desire acceptance, and to yearn to be a part of something greater than ourselves. In areas with an ethnically diverse population, this can be a greater challenge to achieve. Beyond our duty for evangelism and service, the purpose of communal worship is just that, to worship as a community, the whole community. 

Ministry leaders must ask themselves whether streaming a church service once a week is enough to build an online community and discipleship. In many respects, the answer is no. Furthermore, there are a number of other pain points experienced by pastors when trying to grow their church community.

With the recent events requiring us to worship from home in many places around the world, church apps are proving themselves highly valuable. Whether you have a church app, or you're looking to get one, how do you encourage digital discipleship through the platform?

With spring upon us, most have long-since forgotten our New Year’s resolutions. The start of spring—or tax season—somehow motivates us to tend to the housekeeping projects we’ve neglected. Sure, this can take the shape of some church office and building improvements.

Without the help of generous volunteers, major church events like Easter and Christmas services wouldn’t happen. Volunteers selflessly give their time and hearts by making new visitors feel welcome, teaching in children’s church, running your sound booth, and more.