The Ultimate Planning Center Texting Guide for Churches

Why This Guide Exists

Church leaders wear a lot of hats, and communication often falls through the cracks. If you’re already using Planning Center, adding texting into your workflow should feel natural—not like another system to manage. That’s where the Text In Church Messaging Add-On comes in.

This guide will walk you through how it works, who it’s for, and how to use it effectively for real ministry moments.

What Is the Text In Church Add-On for Planning Center?

The Text In Church Add-On integrates directly into your Planning Center People account, allowing you to send personalized text messages to any list you've already created in Planning Center.

Instead of exporting contacts or logging into a separate platform, you can send a text right where you're already working.

You’ll see a new option: "Send text with Text In Church Messaging". Click it, and you can send:

One-time texts
Scheduled messages
Personalized content with dynamic fields (like first names)

Use Case #1: Promote Giving Through Text

Giving shouldn’t be complicated. With the Planning Center Add-On, you can:

Share your text to give number
Send giving reminders around events or end-of-year campaigns
Include giving links in thank-you or recap messages

Example Message:
"Your generosity fuels our mission! Give quickly and securely by texting GIVE to 816-482-3337."

‍

Learn more about how it works in our full Text to Give guide for Planning Center

Use Case #2: Boost Sermon Series Engagement

Don’t let people forget about the series you poured your heart into. Use the Planning Center Add-On to:

Send a midweek preview
Remind people on Saturday
Follow up with a message + replay link on Tuesday

Example Messages:
"Can’t wait to see you this Sunday! We’re continuing our Unshakable Faith series at 9:30 + 11."

"Miss Sunday’s message? Catch up here: [link]"

‍

Use Case #3: Weekly Engagement Made Simple

Weekly communication doesn’t have to be hard. You can:

Send Monday encouragement texts
Promote midweek ministries on Wednesday
Send a personalized invite on Friday

And yes, you can schedule it all ahead of time.

Example Messages:
"Hope your week is off to a great start! Sunday’s message was such a reminder to rest in God’s peace."

"Don’t forget: Bible study is tomorrow night at 7 in Room 4."

‍

Use Case #4: Volunteer Appreciation

Your volunteers are already in Planning Center. Now you can:

Send thank-you messages before or after they serve
Highlight different teams each month
Plan ahead for Volunteer Appreciation Sunday

Example Message:
"Hey Josh! Thank you for serving with the tech team today. Your behind-the-scenes work makes Sundays meaningful."

‍

Use Case #5: Event Coordination

Planning a church retreat, VBS, or holiday service? Use the Planning Center Add-On to:

Send event-specific reminders
Communicate last-minute schedule changes
Keep attendees informed with real-time updates

Example Message:
"Hi Rachel! Just a reminder that our Christmas Eve rehearsal is tonight at 6pm in the worship center. See you there!"

‍

What Makes This Integration So Simple

No exports or extra imports
Uses lists you already built in Planning Center People
Works with SMS only
Includes templates and personalization fields

You can even view pending messages right inside your Text In Church account.

Try It Today

The Text In Church Add-On for Planning Center is included in your free trial. Setup takes just minutes, and you’ll see immediate results in clarity, connection, and care.

Need help? Check out our step-by-step setup guide.

Start sending messages that move people toward connection without switching platforms.

Start your free trial of Text In Church today.