From Chaos to Clarity: How Grace City Church Transformed Guest Follow-Up and Connection
When Good Intentions Weren't Enough
At Grace City Church of North Dallas, first-time guests were showing up, but not sticking around. Calandra Williams, the church's Director of Communications, described it honestly:
"We didn't know the people's names. We just knew, hey, a new face came… but we don't have Jennifer's number."
Their guest follow-up process was disjointed, inconsistent, and deeply frustrating. Without a system in place, people were slipping through the cracks, and ministry momentum was stalling. Worse yet, the tech platforms they tried were clunky, impersonal, and clearly not built for churches.
The Turning Point: A Trial Run Backed by Prayer
Overwhelmed but determined, Calandra took a leap of faith. She launched a personal trial of Text In Church, using her own money to see if it could truly work for their ministry.
"Sometimes new things overwhelm me," she admitted. "But you guys take the guesswork out."
Through hands-on onboarding, coaching calls, and a user-friendly platform, she quickly saw the potential. And when she pitched it to her team with data, strategy, and answers to every concern, the decision was unanimous.
The Strategy: Automating Connection, Personalizing Care
Once Text In Church was live, the transformation was immediate. Grace City implemented a suite of tools that changed everything:
First-Time Guest Workflows
Guests who filled out digital or physical connect cards were instantly added to automated workflows.
"Guests now fill out a connect card and are instantly added to a workflow. I don’t do anything else. It’s all working while I sleep."
Connect Cards + QR Codes
With printed cards featuring QR codes and a small Starbucks incentive, guest info collection became seamless and welcoming.
Texting + Calling in the Same Place
Calandra and her team could call or text guests using the virtual number; no personal phones required.
"I love that I can call people without using my personal number. And they feel like someone is really communicating with them."
Planning Center Integration
For their pastor, a Planning Center integration was non-negotiable. With seamless backend syncing, Text In Church delivered.
"He said, what about Planning Center? I was like, it integrates on the backend. That sealed the deal."
The Results: A Church That Feels Like Home
Since implementing Text In Church, Grace City Church grew from 80 to 121 active members in just a few months.
Guests no longer slip through the cracks. Instead, they receive timely texts, personalized care, and feel genuinely welcomed.
"They respond and talk. They’re like, 'Hey, thank y’all for sending this message. I’ll be back Sunday.'"
Even better? Calandra can step away and know the system keeps working.
"Even my pastor (who was hesitant) figured out how to use it while I was on vacation. That’s how simple and user-friendly it is."
Ready to Go From Overwhelmed to Organized?
If your church is struggling with guest retention, unclear follow-up, or too many disconnected tools, it's time to try something built for ministry.
Start your 14-day free trial of Text In Church and see what a difference clarity, automation, and intentional connection can make.
"Use Text In Church, girl. It’s a game changer." —Calandra Williams, Grace City Church of North Dallas
