Reaching your congregation on the other 6 days of the week can be tough. Members who aren’t involved in church activities outside the regular service—especially newcomers—tend to feel slightly isolated from the community. As welcoming as your church may be, it’s important to extend invitations for the fresher faces to participate through many channels. More committed members, too, may drift from season to season, so finding proactive methods to strengthen and unite your community is essential for the long-term health of your whole congregation.
Beyond an active social media presence, what can you do?
Mail gets tossed and flyers left behind, but a mobile
app keeps your churchgoers tuned in even when they’re not in the
pews. Below are 5 main ways a mobile app can help you build a better
community.
Highlight Events
The simple-to-use Events feature is a wonderful way to pack
your calendar. Members can view event details in just a couple clicks and RSVP
right through the app. You can update event information at any time and notify
users of upcoming fundraisers, bible studies, potlucks, and more.
Accept Donations
Up the ease of giving by
accepting donations through a Merchandise feature or linking to your
website’s donation page. It’s great way to reduce paper waste and give
your congregation a quick way to chip in, no checkbook required. You can
also sell tickets to next month’s fundraiser or your very
own churchandise (that’s church merch).
Post Sermons
Keep your daily messages on your members’ minds. Recorded
sermons are easy to share and promote. Upload an mp3, sync up your church’s
podcast, or link to your YouTube channel to host recordings through your app.
Users can tune into the sermons they missed or re-listen to their favorites
right within the app.
Send Updates
You’re just a few clicks from reaching users anywhere,
anytime with unlimited push notifications. They’re more cost-effective, less
time-consuming, and easier to create than text message marketing or email
newsletters. Link to your hosted sermons, remind people about tonight’s event,
and get creative with custom messaging options. Users can click through to view
the essential content after you grab their attention with a pop-up
notification. It’s a great way to keep your congregation in the know.
Gain Subscribers
Rather than circulating a sign-up form after services, invite users to join your mailing list when they launch your app. You can start a new email list through the app or integrate with a 3rd party newsletter service. Either way, you’ll be boosting your subscribers with each new download and eliminating the paperwork.