How to text your church

Before you send anything, collect consent. Under the TCPA you need permission to text someone, so use a keyword (text JOIN to your number) or a sign-up form on your website and connect cards. State who is texting and that message rates may apply, and keep a record of when each person opted in.

US carriers block unregistered business texting, so register your church as a Brand (your legal name and EIN) and a Campaign (the Charity use case). A good texting platform submits and manages this for you, and your 501(c)(3) status can lower or waive carrier fees.

Grow your list with the keyword and sign-up form from step one, and import the contacts you already have consent to text by CSV. Tag people by group (guests, volunteers, parents) so you can send the right message to the right people.

Make your first text identify your church by name, keep it short and warm, and give one clear next step. Plain SMS up to 160 characters is one segment and the cheapest, most reliable choice for routine reminders.

Set up a simple workflow so no one slips through the cracks: a welcome text to a new guest, then an email a few days later, with the sequence stopping the moment they reply. This is where texting saves your team the most time.