How North Raleigh UMC Used "Plan a Visit" to Help 48 New Members Join
For Jen Swindell, the Associate for Evangelism and Communications at North Raleigh United Methodist Church, the goal of church communication isn’t just to blast information, it’s to start a conversation. In a large, traditional congregation with over 700 weekly worshippers, maintaining a personal feel can be a massive undertaking.
Jen shared with us how Text In Church helped her team move from one-way announcements to a culture of two-way engagement that reaches across generations.
The Challenge: Moving Beyond the "Seven-Day Snapshot"
Before adopting Text In Church, North Raleigh UMC relied almost exclusively on a once-a-week email. This "seven-day snapshot" only looked a week in advance and suffered from low open rates.
"If we didn't have an email for someone, they just didn't get anything," Jen explained.
Without a reliable follow-up system, new visitors often fell through the cracks. If a guest didn't respond to that single initial email, the connection was lost.
The Solution: Relational Automation
Jen was drawn to Text In Church because of its focus on two-way communication. She realized that while people might ignore an email, they almost always read their texts.
Key Strategies for Success:
- The "Concierge" Experience: Using the Plan a Visit feature, North Raleigh UMC provides guests with a high-touch experience before they even arrive. Guests who plan a visit are met by Jen’s team, introduced to a pastor, and seated with members who share similar backgrounds.
- Data-Driven Results: The impact of this personal touch is undeniable. Of the last 70 people who used "Plan a Visit," 48 joined the church, a success rate far higher than traditional walk-in visitors.
- Seasonal Devotionals: During Advent and Lent, the church sends daily text devotionals based on the current sermon series. These texts create a rhythm of spiritual engagement that members now actively request if they miss a day.
The Impact: Turning "One-to-Many" into "One-to-One"
Text In Church has allowed North Raleigh UMC to scale the "perfect version" of their follow-up. By setting up workflows once, Jen ensures every guest receives a consistent, six-week journey of prayerful check-ins and resources.
The most powerful moment for Jen came from a text sent to an outreach list of people who had attended community events but never the church. When she sent a simple "How can I pray for you?" message, a woman responded that her husband had just passed away. Because of that one text, the church was able to step in, provide immediate support, and eventually perform the funeral for a family that had never previously walked through their doors.
Jen’s Advice to Church Leaders
If you’re on the fence about Text In Church, Jen says to consider the power of the response. "It allows you to connect with your folks in a one-on-one way without having to go one-by-one-by-one," she says.
It transforms church communication from a megaphone into a conversation.
Ready to create a "concierge" experience for your guests?
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