How Central Peninsula Church Saved $10,000 and Built a More Personal Follow-Up System

Many churches feel the tension of wanting to communicate well while juggling outdated systems, limited time, and shrinking budgets. Central Peninsula Church in the San Francisco Bay Area felt this strain too. Their team wanted to create a warm and intentional experience for new guests, but their tools and processes made it difficult to follow up well.

We sat down with Sandy Hughes, a long-time leader at Central Peninsula Church, to learn how her team moved from paper cards and a costly phone system to a streamlined, personal digital communication strategy that saves them more than $10,000 every year.

The Problem: A Manual System That Couldn’t Keep Up

For years, the church relied on a process that looked good on paper but fell apart in real life. Their team struggled with:

Paper cards that slowed everything down

A guest filled out a connection card. An admin photocopied a letter. The pastor manually signed it. Someone stuffed envelopes and dropped them in the mail. It was thoughtful but extremely time-consuming.

A limited texting tool

Their student ministry used a short-code texting system that only allowed one-way communication. It felt impersonal and made conversations impossible.

A costly landline system

The church spent between $10,000 and $12,000 each year on a phone setup that was expensive and no longer meeting their needs.

All of these challenges combined into a follow-up experience that was inconsistent and often felt transactional to new guests.

The Turning Point: A More Intentional and Personal Communication Strategy

When Central Peninsula Church adopted a centralized communication platform, two things happened almost immediately: they strengthened their guest follow-up process and dramatically reduced operational costs.

Win 1: A Follow-Up System That Builds Real Connection

Sandy was initially hesitant about using a scheduled, multi-week follow-up plan. But once their workflow launched, she saw its impact quickly.

One of the most effective moments comes late in the process. Guests receive a simple text message:

Hey [Name], we are thinking about you and praying for you today.

Sandy says, “The response back to that text, I’ve been blown away by it. The fact that someone on our staff just texted this to them to say they are known, noticed, and loved here has been a game-changer.”

This consistent, thoughtful follow-up helps guests feel seen, valued, and welcomed.

Win 2: Saving More Than $10,000 in Annual Phone Costs

The church also replaced its outdated phone system with integrated calling inside the platform.

This change allowed them to:

• Remove $10,000 to $12,000 in annual landline expenses
  
  
• Give staff the ability to make calls from personal phones while showing the church’s main number
  
  
• Maintain a professional presence without paying for a system they no longer needed
  
  

This shift alone created valuable financial margin while simplifying how the team communicates throughout the week.

Connection That Goes Far Beyond Sunday

With their communication streamlined, the church found new ways to use texting to deepen engagement.

How their team uses it today

• Prayer requests: People text the keyword PRAYER and connect instantly with a prayer team member.
  
  
• Sermon questions: The keyword PODCAST lets attendees submit questions directly to the teaching team.
  
  
• Youth ministry updates: Parents and students stay informed and connected with weekly reminders and updates.

These simple touchpoints help the church serve people the other six days of the week, not just on Sundays.

When asked how they would function without this system today, Sandy didn’t hesitate. “I am not quite sure what we would do.”

Related: Cultivate Meaningful Relationships Through the Power of Prayer
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What Your Church Can Learn from Their Experience

Central Peninsula Church didn’t just modernize their communication system. They created a more personal, consistent, and cost-effective way to welcome people and help them take meaningful next steps.

Your church can experience the same transformation by:

• Building a simple, reliable guest follow-up plan
  
  
• Replacing outdated systems that drain time and budget
  
  
• Creating space for leaders to focus on relationships rather than administrative tasks
  
  
• Offering personal, two-way communication that feels authentic

When your church communicates with clarity and consistency, people feel more connected and more likely to return.

Start Building a More Connected Church Today

Thousands of churches have discovered a simpler, more personal way to follow up with guests and communicate throughout the week. You can experience the same impact.

Not to mention the potential to save hundreds, or even thousands of dollars by switching to Text In Church Calling. 

Start your free trial of Text In Church and see how easy it is to connect with every person who walks through your doors.