You signed up, you got your account, and now you're wondering how it all works. That's exactly what this session is for.
This workshop covers everything included in your Messaging Core plan: your account orientation, group messaging, and guest follow-up. The churches that get the most out of this are the ones that pause and do the thing, not the ones that watch straight through.
A 60-Second Tour of Your Account
Before you build anything, here's where everything lives:
Dashboard: your account status at a glance
Messages: send new messages, check your inbox, review what you've sent
People: your relationship database. Every guest, member, volunteer, and staff person you'd ever text, email, or automate lives here
Groups: how you organize the people in your database so you can message them together. This is the backbone of almost everything else
Connect: your Connect Cards (digital forms for capturing contact info) and Workflows (where your automated messages live)
Tools: more advanced settings
Marketplace: add-on products and services
Settings: billing, users, phone numbers, and account management
Up top, you can start a new message anytime, open the built-in Learn articles, message support directly, or switch between light and dark mode from your profile menu.
Strategy 1: Group Messaging
The right people should get the right message at the right time, without you digging through a contact list. That starts with a group, a segmented list like small group leaders, staff, or first-time guests.
Here's how to build one:
Go to Groups and click New Group.
Name it. Add a description if you want one.
Add a member (even just yourself, to start).
Click Done.
That's a group. Now send your first message: go to Messages, click Create New Message, choose text, and pick the group you just built. In the message builder, click Variables to pull in First Name so the message reads like it's from a person, not a template.
One thing before you hit send. The first time you text someone new, Text In Church automatically sends a message letting them know they can text STOP to opt out. You don't have to write it or turn it on. It's already built in. That message counts as one credit, same as any other text, so factor it into your usage when a brand-new contact gets their first message.
Once you send, replies land in your Inbox. Archive holds anything you've cleared out, Pending shows what's scheduled, and Sent shows everything that's gone out. One standard text is one credit. A text with an image (MMS) is three. Replies are always free. You only spend credits when you're the one reaching out.
Strategy 2: Guest Follow-Up Boomerang 6 Weeks Of Guest Followup
Picture a first-time guest who has a great Sunday and never comes back, not because your church did anything wrong, but because Monday got busy and nobody followed up. This is the strategy that fixes that.
The path: keyword → Connect Card → Group → Automated Workflow. Set it up once, and it runs on its own.
Build the group. Go to Groups, click Add New, and name it something like Boomerang.
Build the Connect Card. Go to Connect Cards, click Add New, and create from the Boomerang template. Link it to the group you just made.
Activate a keyword. Choose a word that makes sense for your church (the workshop uses NEW), select the phone number it lives on, and click Add Selected Keyword.
Set the automated reply. Under Send Keyword Automated Reply, write a short message asking them to fill out the Connect Card, then attach the card as a link.
Build the workflow. Go to Workflows, create from the Boomerang template, and fill in your sender name, title, church name, website, service times, and any pastor meet-up details. Attach the group you built. Review each step (text steps show up in purple and need a phone number assigned), then save.
When it's active, you can make the announcement Sunday morning: "If you're new here, text the word NEW." From there, it runs itself.
Bring your own data, or connect what you already use.
Add people manually under People, or import a CSV by clicking the dropdown and selecting Import People.
If you already use Planning Center, Pushpay, Church Community Builder, RockRMS, or Zapier, go to Settings > Integrations and connect them directly to keep your contact list in sync. Note: you'll need admin access in both systems to link Planning Center or CCB.
A Few Settings Worth Knowing
Users: add any admin who needs full access. Each person gets their own login with two-factor authentication.
Subscriptions: shows your message allotment, phone numbers, and when your usage counters reset each month.
Invoices: your full billing history.
Notifications: each admin sets their own alert preferences here.
Phone Numbers: your Messaging Core plan includes two lines. Claim your second one here, or add a paid line for something like a student ministry or care team.
Resources Worth Bookmarking
The live chat button inside your account, for the fastest way to reach our team
TIC Academy, in the bottom left under Resources, for a self-paced video library
The Help Center, with articles for nearly every feature
Questions We Hear Most
How do I connect Text In Church to Planning Center or Church Community Builder?
Go to Settings > Integrations. Once connected, your contact list syncs automatically. No manual exporting.
What happens when my trial ends?
You'll move into a paid Messaging Core plan based on the credit band that fits how many messages you send each month. Not sure which band fits? Reach out through live chat and our team will help you land on the right one.
How do I know how many credits I need?
Think through an average month, including one-off messages and anything sent through workflows. Our team can help you find the right band so you're not overpaying or running short.
Can a volunteer or staff member have their own login?
Yes. Add them under Settings > Users. Each person gets their own login and can be set as an admin.
How do I know if someone received my message?
Check the Sent tab under Messages for delivery status. If they reply, it shows up in your Inbox.
Can I text from my church's existing phone number?
In some cases, yes, through number porting or hosting. Reach out to our support team and they'll walk you through what that looks like for your specific number.
Before Your Next Sunday
If you haven't activated your Boomerang workflow yet, do that before you close this tab. It's the single biggest thing you can do this week.
One more thing worth knowing: Calling is a one-number system that lets your team call and text from the same line instead of juggling personal phones. It's $10 a seat and plugs right into the account you already have. No pressure, just something to look into once you're settled in.
Today you built a group, sent your first message, and set up a guest follow-up workflow that keeps working long after you close this tab. That's real progress.
Go put it to use.