There’s a better way to communicate.
Imagine talking to someone who nodded their head occasionally but rarely responded. Instead of two-way communication, this begins to feel more like a one-way road.
That’s what happens with email campaigns. Only 20 percent of emails are opened, and a disappointing 6 percent elicit any kind of response.
Important information is falling through the cracks, and in an age when people are feeling less connected, church leaders are grasping for ways to ensure congregants feel cared for between Sunday services. Surely, there’s a better way to communicate.
Enter texting. Standing in stark contrast to low email statistics, text messages boast a 98 percent open rate and 45 percent response rate. With this kind of guaranteed engagement, pastors and church leaders are discovering five ways texting has expanded their ministry. Rather than stretching themselves thin by learning Tiktok, Snapchat, and a dozen other apps, church leaders can now confidently commit to the most universally used communication tool: texting.
How Texting Can Supercharge Your Ministry
1. Build a stronger prayer culture.
While some people may still take the time to write out a request on Sunday morning, most churches are seeing fewer cards in the prayer box. And what about the request that arises on a Wednesday afternoon?
Texting provides an opportunity for congregants to ask for prayer at any time. Ministers or volunteers can respond quickly, and technology like Gloo’s free text messaging platform ensures regular follow-ups, so no one’s request gets lost in the shuffle.
2. Welcome new visitors.
Texting is also an accessible, easy way for guests to feel welcome at church without committing to membership right away.
QR codes in the bulletin and verbal announcements on Sunday mornings that encourage guests to connect via text help build connections with visitors. From there, church leaders can send tailored text messages, using provided templates as needed, to facilitate ongoing engagement and outreach.
3. Stay in touch between Sundays.
Want to check on a congregant who mentioned a death in the family? Trying to coordinate a small group? Want to check in after a hard week? Text messaging is a great way to send simple, intentional mid-week check-ins and resources.
Those interactions may only happen through text, or they may lead to plans to get together. Either way, texting is a simple way to reach out to someone who may need to feel less alone.
4. Broadcast updates and messages.
Whether you’re pastoring a church of 50 or 5,000, communicating time-sensitive information to a group of people can be a complex, stressful task. Since 90 percent of people open a text message within three minutes of receiving it, texting is the best choice for large-group communication.
When it’s time to share a devotional series based on the latest sermons or announce that the women’s event was postponed due to weather, a simple mass message through software like Gloo’s free church text messaging platform is the most reliable way to convey up-to-date information.
5. Capture meaningful stories.
Prayer requests aren’t the only thing the congregation can share with church leaders through text messaging. Texting is a great way for people to testify to how God is moving in their lives as well.
Texters can easily describe how a sermon ministered to them, share a story of spreading the gospel, or give thanks for an answered prayer. Churches can even offer congregants the ability to share their story via video message.
Contact, Comunicate, and Care
Texting helps church leaders connect with visitors, cultivate a stronger community within their congregations, and ensure that no one’s needs go unaddressed. With Gloo’s free text messaging platform, pastors and volunteers can stay in touch with the people in their care throughout the week, building strong, lasting relationships from Sunday to Sunday.
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