Follow Up with Guests
Real Stories of Lasting Connections
Why Guest Follow-Up Matters
First-time guests often decide whether to return to your church within minutes of their visit—and how you follow up plays a crucial role in that decision. Effective guest follow-up isn’t just about boosting attendance; it’s about showing people they’re valued and cared for. These real stories from Text In Church members reveal how thoughtful communication creates lasting relationships.
From Overwhelmed to Organized – Pastor Terry Romine’s Story
Problem
Pastor Terry Romine of Hopewell Church faced a common challenge: 18 months’ worth of untouched visitor cards. His heart was to connect with guests, but balancing pastoral duties made timely follow-up nearly impossible.
Solution
Implementing Text In Church allowed Terry to upload the backlog of visitor information, instantly triggering personalized, automated texts to each guest.
Result
The response was immediate. Two families returned the following Sunday after receiving a simple text. Over time, the church’s guest retention rate improved by 50%, and visitors consistently expressed appreciation for the intentional outreach.
The ease and ability to follow up with new guests is incredible. We have seen a noticeable impact on our new guests through Text In Church.
Turning First-Time Guests into Family – Donna Paulk’s Experience
Problem
Donna Paulk’s church relied on informal follow-up. Deacons would drop off welcome packages, but there was no structured process to engage guests beyond that initial gesture.
Solution
Inspired by Tyler Smith’s book Boomerang: The Power of Effective Guest Follow-up, Donna launched a six-week automated follow-up sequence using Text In Church. Guests received timely texts and emails inviting them to connect further, including invitations to the church’s starting point class.
Result
The strategy yielded remarkable results—28.5% of first-time guests enrolled in the starting point class. This consistent communication contributed to increased baptisms, salvations, and long-term church growth.
Text In Church has completely revolutionized our communication experience, not only with our regular attendees/members, but more importantly with our guests. The positive feedback I get on a constant basis is outstanding, and people love how they are thought about and connected with after they leave our service. In addition, texting is a great way to inform our members of upcoming events and changes in different ways. AND they have a direct number to ask questions and get a quick reply. I recommend Text In Church to everyone looking to up their communication and connection with their people!
From Missed Connections to Meaningful Conversations – John Tyler’s Approach
Problem
John Tyler’s church struggled to consistently follow up with first-time guests. Busy schedules meant that many visitors never received more than a passing acknowledgment.
Solution
By using Text In Church, the team set up automated follow-ups via text and email. They also implemented QR codes on event flyers—making guest check-ins seamless and ensuring every visitor received post-event communication.
Result
Return visits increased significantly, with guests mentioning how the personal texts made them feel genuinely cared for. The new system also streamlined outreach for large events like Halloween and local community festivals.
This software has been a game changer for our guest follow-up! I am very good at ideas and implementation... not so much maintaining long term... so to have an automated system that feels personal has been amazing!!
Key Takeaways
Make it simple for people to share their prayer requests with keywords and automated responses.
Personal follow-up matters—people feel valued when their request receives acknowledgment.
Streamlining prayer requests helps avoid administrative overload while ensuring meaningful connections.
Offering immediate ways to submit requests strengthens trust and builds community.
A structured prayer system can increase participation and foster a culture of care.
Try Text In Church for 14 Days
Ready to encourage prayer requests and connect with your community on a deeper level? Start your 14-day free trial today. Try Text In Church now.
