Faithful Follow-Up: How Freedom Baptist Church Builds Lasting Connections Using Text In Church

A Solo Pastor with a Full Plate

When Pastor Vince Kobosh stepped into leadership at Freedom Baptist Church in Bloomington, Illinois, he wasn’t joining a large staff or an established mega-ministry. Instead, he found himself shepherding a small church with limited resources, housed in a converted office building, and supported by a heart to reach a quiet corner of town where few churches existed.

“I pretty much do everything,” Vince admits. From updating the church website to following up with visitors, every responsibility landed on his shoulders.

That’s when Text In Church became his lifeline.

Automation That Feels Personal

For a solo pastor juggling it all, automation wasn’t about replacing personal ministry, it was about making it possible.

“It’s like having a staff member 24/7… responding to people who are up at 3 a.m. filling out a Plan Your Visit form,” Vince says.

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Through automated guest follow-up, weekly broadcast texts, and email sequences, Vince could maintain consistent communication without burning out. Messages that went unseen in the moment often made a quiet impact later.

“The weekly broadcast texts? People tell me they see them. Even if they don’t come that week, it reminds them someone’s thinking about them,” Vince explains.

Related: What Are Automated Workflows, and How Can They Save My Team Time?

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Guests Who Become Family

Faithful follow-up wasn’t just about communication, it was about transformation. One out of every ten visitors who connected with Freedom Baptist was reached because of Text In Church.

And the fruit of that connection? Salvations and baptisms.

“30% of my congregation are people I’ve baptized—who were reached because we followed up and they found Jesus,” Vince shares.

Related: Why Guests Aren’t Coming Back (And What You Can Do About It)

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Ministry That Lasts

Freedom Baptist may not be flashy, but its ministry is faithful and fruitful. Customized connect cards, targeted volunteer messages, and initiatives like 21 Days of Hope keep the congregation engaged and the mission moving forward.

“I don’t know what ministry would be like without Text In Church,” Vince reflects. “It’s been a huge blessing and help to me.”

With Text In Church, Pastor Vince has discovered a way to extend his ministry beyond Sunday mornings, ensuring that every person who visits feels remembered, connected, and loved.

If you are ready to start following up with new guests, start your free trial of Text In Church now.