Keeping parishioners informed and keeping your religious community connected can be challenging when the world is so distracted by screens. Emails often wind up in ‘spam’ folders due to aggressive algorithms and the members of your church never see your message. Many elderly members of your community may struggle to turn their notifications on for updates on your church through social media, making it difficult to get the word out in a pinch.
This is where a bulk short message service (SMS) can make a world of difference. When you use bulk SMS for your organisation, your message is delivered right to your community when you need it. No spam filters accidentally catching your updates or prayer requests, and no missed information for last-minute changes–ever.
Why Bulk SMS?
More and more churches and ministries are using bulk SMS to connect with their congregation. SMS messages have a high open rate–98% to 99% compared to emails, which only have a roughly 20% open rate.
Bulk SMS also provides you with instant deliveries, which is perfect for time-sensitive information. Is your bible study pushed back thirty minutes or is a fundraising committee meeting moved to a different space? You can immediately notify your constituents to avoid any miscommunication and blunders.
How Bulk SMS Can Help Your Ministry
While immediate notifications are one of the best uses for bulk SMS, other benefits include its cost-effectiveness, the ability to schedule SMS messages, and customising your text campaigns.
Bulk SMS messages help you build relations with your church followers, send inspirational messages and bible passages, and even motivate members of your congregation to donate and attend events.
SMS Templates
Whether it’s daily inspirational verses or updates on an upcoming church function, 160.com.au has templates that you can customise for your bulk SMS messages. These templates can be customised for each recipient for a more personalised approach. Similar to Microsoft Word’s mail merge feature, the words in brackets below can be replaced with a custom word for each individual recipient.
For Volunteer Recruitment
“Hello, the [event] is coming up and [your church] needs a dedicated group of volunteers to get the ball rolling. Reply YES if you are interested in helping out!”
“Good morning, our [event] is looking for some volunteers to assist with [event or specific task]! Join us at [time and place] if you are ready to roll up your sleeves and support the [your church] community! Food and beverage will be provided.”
For Daily Inspiration
“Good morning! Here’s your daily dose of scripture during these challenging times, brought to you by your friends at [your church]: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.’ Proverbs 3:5-6.”
“[Your church] wants you to greet the day with some inspiration from the Lord: ‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.’ Jeremiah 29:11.”
For Donation Requests
“Good afternoon, [your church] is hosting a fundraiser/charity for [cause] and you can become a donor today at [insert donation link]! Reply STOP to opt-out.”
For Schedule Changes
“Hello, [your church] community. Unfortunately, today’s [event] has been rescheduled from [initial date/time/meeting place] to [new date/time/meeting place]. Call us at [phone number] if you have any questions. We hope to see you there!”
For Event Reminders
“Hello! This is a reminder that [your church] is hosting an event for [cause] at [date/time/place]. Join us to enjoy live music, delicious bites, and connect with your community. We hope to see you there and have a blessed day!”
For Prayer Requests
“Good evening, [member of the congregation] is in need of your prayers during this time. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers today during this difficult time.”
The 160.com.au Approach
If you’re ready to send better SMS messages and updates to your congregation, 160.com.au has the solutions you need. Our all-in-one bulk SMS messaging services allow you to optimise your SMS marketing, including sending SMS from email accounts, sending singular messages or bulk messages, and sending out promotions, reminders, and alerts through an SMS message scheduler.
Connect with your congregation like never before with 160.com.au–get started today for your free trial!