Text-enable Your Church
Toll-Free or Landline Number
Do you know that most churches aren't even aware that 150 million texts are sent to landline numbers every single day?
Fortunately, enabling text messaging to your current church landline or toll-free number is easy. And it doesn’t affect your local call routing at all.
Pastors and Church Leaders using this feature:
Using the landline number has been Using the landline number has been fantastic. Over the past few years, we have had less and fewer calls about the church to our landline. Mostly sales and spam calls. Moving over texting on this line had been very helpful because now people no longer need to have a new number. Been very good for communication within the church. Helped us make that jump into the modern day!
Chris Snider
Lead Pastor, The River Church
I honestly never realized how many people must have been trying to text our landline all along! We never advertised our landline as a number you could text, but we have gotten multiple members of our congregation and even guests from some of our events to send us texts saying, ‘Thank you for this and that’, and it has been really great to see!
Heather Bredeman
Joy Christian, Center,
St. Cloud, MN
the land line is more familiar with our congregation. When we texted from the other number, some would inquire about who was sending the text as the number was unfamiliar, and we did not use it frequently, so by the time we sent another text, some had forgotten the number.
Myrna and Peter Rohdin
New Life Fellowship Church, Elmhurst, NY
At first, the landline feature seemed like it would overload the church secretary since everyone would have the church phone number saved in their phones. This has not happened! People are simply interacting with our events better than ever before! We love the landline feature.
Sterling Willborn
Associate Pastor, Journey Church
Sending and receiving texts from our landline number is the #1 feature that ensures visitors and members can engage with us on the most relevant means of communication there is right now. Having one number to advertise, simplifies all graphics, ads, announcements, etc. for us, as well as for those we're trying to reach. I use PastorsLine EVERY DAY. It's changing the way we engage with our members - it's both easier and more effective.
Tara Freeman
Sending and receiving texts from our landline number is the #1 feature that ensures visitors and members can engage with us on the most relevant means of communication there is right now. Having one number to advertise, simplifies all graphics, ads, announcements, etc. for us, as well as for those we're trying to reach. I use PastorsLine EVERY DAY. It's changing the way we engage with our members - it's both easier and more effective.
J.W. Dunbar
Pastor Gateway Church, Ashland, KY
By using the same phone number for texting and calling you get people to remember your phone number. When it comes the time that are ready to reach out to us they know the phone number.
Abraham Schwartz
For us [a PastorsLine text-enabled church landline] has been huge for people to be able to text the number they already knew for our church. It means they don’t have to remember two different numbers when they are looking to try and get in touch with us. Most people don’t even realize its mostly an automated process.
Tyler Boles
Connections Pastor,
The Exchange
We really like using our landline as our primary text reply number. Makes it so much easier for our people to remember and use.
Tim Richards
Lead Pastor, Dungeness Community Church
Using our landline number for texting seems to be working great. We chose to use that number because a lot of our members already had that number saved in their contacts. We are enjoying using Pastorsline to text our church members and stay in touch.
Robin Shakan
Lead Pastor, Epic Life Church
Using our church line has been a great plus! It enables us to use the same phone number in all of our marketing. For instance, in our radio spot, we can invite listeners to call or text and then give our phone number once, saving time for other details.
This helps all of our communication be more seamless and connected.
Zac Page
Pastor, Templeton Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church
Our church does not have an administration staff so the fact that everyone can reach the church using one number has allowed better communication between the congregation and the pastors. Other text services use different numbers each time they bulk message. So the fact that our members can save the number that will text them as the church in their phone we now have a lot less opt out requests. And it simplifies our contact information on posters and cards
Taylor O'Heran
Youth Minister
Thus far it’s worked perfectly!! When we wanna send out a text message we use the church office #.
When somebody calls this #, it just takes them to our office phone where a front desk agent can answer. This is perfect! Far better than our individual cell phones ringing when somebody calls our PastorsLine number.
It’s only been a week but it’s working great!
Josiah Elias
Young Adults Pastor, Faith Chapel
Whether or not your church is using texting via mobile phones, chances are you still have a main, church landline.
How effective is that number?
Did you know that recent consumer polls show that...
prefer texting over calling
feel frustrated while waiting
on the phone
In other words, even when there is a voice option, most people prefer texting.
85% of people whose calls are unanswered will not call back!
We’re sure you realize how much time you and the people at your ministry are wasting with landline calling because people just aren’t picking up but were you aware that 85% of people whose calls are unanswered will not call back?
In a way, each of those people is a missed opportunity to bring someone into the discipleship cycle, moving them closer to Christ.
A text-enabled church landline gives more complete coverage, so when people reach out, you are there.
And once a phone is text-enabled, it can link to the PastorsLine platform and become part of your well-thought-out digital communication strategy, enjoying such features as:
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![checkboxx[1]](https://pastorsline.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/checkboxx1.png)
Multiple users with some advanced controls.
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Multiple numbers to reduce Inbox madness.
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Some multicampus options: go beyond just one account while keeping connected to your campuses/departments.
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NEW - We’ve just launched multiple keywords per campaign. Imagine being able to set up several keywords (e.g. Pray/Prayer) to trigger the same campaign, in order to catch errors or to allow you to use different words for branding purposes.
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Digital Connect Texts: because digital connect cards for guests are dead.
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Though texting is what we focus on, having the option to send a voice broadcast or receive a call might be of value to your ministry. You can call out on the numbers from the desktop and not your personal cell phone.
One of the big advantages of text-enabling your church landline number is that it's a number your people already know. Chances are, it's a number already stored in their contact list. If not, no problem. When you send a text, your number will behave like a company number. This means they will get the name of who's sending the text—their church.
How it Works
Text-enabled landlines are quite new. They are a virtual service made possible by cloud computing. There is no additional equipment needed. Your calls still go through your local provider. Most landline numbers can be converted. Check your landline’s eligibility.
1.
Your caller texts your church landline number.
2.
PastorsLine has provisioned your landline for SMS, so the text message will be routed through our servers. Once we receive the text, we place it on PastorsLine.com or our mobile app.
3.
To reply, you simply text back your caller through PastorsLine.
Setting it up
This is a 5-step process which typically takes 1 - 2 days.
You get this feature and so much more...
(All features are included.)
direct, automated data capture via phone from those interested
mobile keywords to opt in to different church campaigns
automatically create and manage groups
gather information via online forms
polls and surveys
personalized, bulk text messaging
personalized birthday wishes
contests
create and schedule a series of automated messages
integrates with Planning Center, Church Community Builder, Mailchimp, Elvanto, ...
Overall, text-enabling your church landline gives your ministry virtually 100% communication, in the method people prefer, any time of the day or night.
FAQ
The PastorsLine platform is a church-driven, bulk texting platform developed and managed by church ‘insiders’. We know churches intimately. We’ve attended them, been part of their management teams and worked with them for many years. Our goal is to serve you by helping you spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. We’ve positioned ourselves to be your in-house, IT team for solutions to your communication issues. In addition to everything our platform can do, our partners love our responsiveness to their needs and fast tech support.
When we finished our evangelistic event in Houston, 70% of those who were baptized, communicated with me through PastorsLine...it had a big influence.
Wyatt Allen
Evangelist, End Time Hope
The text message bible study invites are working great. We saw a huge increase from 5-6 to 10-12 and the numbers stayed consistent.
Zeke Vas
Pastor
[PastorsLine is] a huge answer to something we’ve been looking for. I was able to send a template with a field merge by scheduling it...
Dr. Matthew Robinson
Pastor
PastorsLine has been a fantastic tool which has enhanced communication with out church family. As with any tool, the secret is in learning how to use it effectively. I have been most excited when I see my church members telling their very own unchurched friends to text “PRAY” to our pastorsline number and have them join our prayer sessions.
Paolo Esposito
Pastors, RGF Church
At first, the landline feature seemed like it would overload the church secretary since everyone would have the church phone number saved in their phones. This has not happened! People are simply interacting with our events better than ever before! We love the landline feature.
Sterling Willborn
Associate Pastor, Journey Church
The personal and almost immediate assistance at [PastorsLine] is so great! We feel valued and important! We love that it is church-based!!! … Jason and the team at [PastorsLine] are always ready to help, make things better, and they also welcome feedback.
Richie Halversen
Pastor @ College Drive Church
It’s honestly the best feature that we have utilized. Being able to give one phone number for voice and text simplified our process.
J.W. Dunbar
Pastor Gateway Church, Ashland, KY
For us [a PastorsLine text-enabled church landline] has been huge for people to be able to text the number they already knew for our church. It means they don’t have to remember two different numbers when they are looking to try and get in touch with us. Most people don’t even realize its mostly an automated process.
Tyler Boles
Connections Pastor, The Exchange
By using the same phone number for texting and calling you get people to remember your phone number. When it comes the time that are ready to reach out to us they know the phone number.
Abraham Schwartz
I belong to a Church Communications group on Facebook, and you were highly recommended. We signed up with you over others because we are a multi-generational church and you have an ability to reach people on landlines.
Daniel Chambers
The land line is more familiar with our congregation. When we texted from the other number, some would inquire about who was sending the text as the number was unfamiliar, and we did not use it frequently, so by the time we sent another text, some had forgotten the number.
Myrna and Peter Rohdin
New Life Fellowship Church, Elmhurst, NY
We hired [PastorsLine] to assist us in a new “Small Group” initiative we were launching at our church. The tools they provided us with helped us monitor and take action on hundreds of responses. Our workflow was cut in half and our ability to track, monitor and follow through with the data gathered more than doubled.
Chris Elliott
Associate Pastor, New Believers
Baptism Worship Service Reminders - bulk texting—we were blown away by the number of people who showed up.
Cara Saliby
Director of Admin
Thus far it’s worked perfectly!! When we wanna send out a text message we use the church office #.
When somebody calls this #, it just takes them to our office phone where a front desk agent can answer. This is perfect! Far better than our individual cell phones ringing when somebody calls our PastorsLine number. It’s only been a week but it’s working great!
Josiah Elias
Young Adults Pastor, Faith Chapel
...the guest connection card...We had a great response -- people whose names and contact info we might not have captured otherwise. Our autoresponder directs them to our Welcome Center...where we have a gift...with their name on it.
Kristen Waddle
Church Communications
Sending and receiving texts from our landline number is the #1 feature that ensures visitors and members can engage with us on the most relevant means of communication there is right now. Having one number to advertise, simplifies all graphics, ads, announcements, etc. for us, as well as for those we're trying to reach. I use PastorsLine EVERY DAY. It's changing the way we engage with our members - it's both easier and more effective.
Tara Freeman
PastorsLine has totally changed not only my workflow, but it's taken our "personal" factor up 10x! Just with our welcome process, we have gone from a 40% READ rate to a 40% CONVERSATION rate. That's just crazy!
So thanks 🙂
Tommy Carreras
Group Director
I honestly never realized how many people must have been trying to text our landline all along! We never advertised our landline as a number you could text, but we have gotten multiple members of our congregation and even guests from some of our events to send us texts saying, ‘Thank you for this and that’, and it has been really great to see!