97% Connection Rate: How One Missouri Church Mastered the Art of the Automated "Check-In"
For Kenan Klein, the "Momentum Minister" at Connect Christian Church in Carl Junction, Missouri, ministry is all about movement, moving people toward Jesus and moving the church’s vision forward. But in a growing congregation, keeping that momentum from stalling can be a challenge, especially when guests slip through the cracks.
Kenan sat down to share how Text In Church transformed their guest follow-up from a "shot in the dark" to a high-impact connection strategy.
The Challenge: The Struggle to Remember Faces and Names
Before Text In Church, Connect Christian Church relied on manual processes and "anything free" they could find on Google. With a staff that stayed busy on the weekends, it was nearly impossible to identify every guest who walked in and out of the auditorium.
Kenan, who openly shares his struggle with ADHD, noted that remembering names and initiating new conversations can be difficult when you're focused on the countless tasks of a Sunday morning. "It really hurt my heart," Kenan said, recalling a guest who visited for five weeks without anyone on staff realizing they were new.
The Turning Point: Kingdom-First Support
Kenan discovered Text In Church at an Engage Conference. At the time, the church couldn't afford a new tool, but they were struck by the Text In Church team’s willingness to help them implement strategies for free using Google Sheets.
"You guys were willing to say, 'Hey, it’s worth the investment even if you never buy our product,'" Kenan recalled. That relationship-first approach eventually led the church to officially join the Text In Church community when they reached the capacity of their manual systems.
The Strategy: Automating Conversations
The real game-changer for Connect Christian Church was the ability to set up automated groups and workflows that feel like a real conversation.
- Targeted Groups: During a sermon series on addiction, the church created a "Help" keyword. When someone texted in, it initiated a six-week automated conversation with the senior pastor, offering daily check-ins and resources.
- 97% Success Rate: The church now tracks its metrics closely. If a guest fills out a connection card, there is a 97% chance they will attend the church’s "Open Door" lunch. Once they attend that lunch, there is a 92% retention rate.
- A "Virtual Staff Member": For Kenan, the automation acts as an extra staff member that taps him on the shoulder to remind him about people's birthdays or follow-up needs.
The Result: Real Life Change
The impact of these consistent connection points has been profound. Kenan shared a story of two business owners who started attending because they saw a radical change in a coworker's life. That coworker attributed his transformation to the ongoing, supportive conversations he had with the church throughout the week.
"Snail mail is cool, but it's slow," Kenan said. "In 30 seconds, I can show up in your life and remind you that you're seen, valued, and loved".
Kenan’s Advice
If you’re on the fence, Kenan’s advice is simple: Just do it. With a free trial, you have nothing to lose but time. "What are you going to use to keep up?" he asks. "In a digital world, people are wanting more connection points beyond the weekend".
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