Time once again to give you an update about what the PastorsLine team has been doing and a peek into what’s upcoming.
First and foremost—we thank our client partners for their patience and their excellent feedback. Many of the things on our ‘To Do’ list were inspired by your requests. We’re totally pleased because our goal is to shape PastorsLine to reflect what YOU need, not what we think you need.
Here’s an overview of the highlights since last time…
Current App (V1) Updates
While we revamp our app, we know it's important to solve any issues or complete any critical feature requests we promised in our current app version.
Groups: Easier setup
The Situation: You have an integration with PastorsLine. You create a new list or a few new…
Duplicate numbers: Edit, delete, block, unsubscribe
Edit and delete: PastorsLine has made things simpler. Now, we will show you all the contacts which…
PCO: Adjusted overnight syncing time
The PastorsLine-PCO overnight re-sync has a different run time from other integrations: 3am PST. This accommodates the…
Removal of legacy ‘send immediately’ option
The PastorsLine ‘smart syncing’ feature for integrations makes ‘send immediately’ obsolete. Previously: As soon as new contacts…
Detection of Answering Machines/Voicemail
When sending a voice message, sometimes a human answers and sometimes a machine. Our process for differentiating…
Elvanto: Groups vs. People Categories
In PastorsLine, you can collect people into groups and give those groups names. So does Elvanto. Elvanto…
Elvanto: Archived/inactive or deleted contacts
You have marked some Elvanto contacts as archived/inactive or deleted. PastorsLine does not import these contacts.
Keywords: Release and reuse
There are some keywords which are ‘just right’. You want to use them each time you run…
Admin plus
PastorsLine recognizes that there is often mobility in church staffs. People come and go. This can mean…
Filters: Contacts without a mobile number
PastorsLine (PL) is basically a texting app. Thus, a contact’s mobile phone number is a critical piece…
CCB selective resyncing
It happens on occasion that some groups do not sync successfully. PastorsLine used to notify you of…
Redirect when logged out
You are logged out. You type in an address (URL) of a PastorsLine page you wish to…
Disabled integration: preserve history
As you realize, when you disable an integration, PastorsLine removes the associated groups and contacts. This made…
Group sent statistics
After you send a group message, PastorsLine sends you an email message with the statistics of that…
Unsubscribe contacts with multiple failed messages
Next to the Undelivered Message icon (red triangle with an exclamation point inside) is an ‘X‘. This…
Option: Not to be Charged for Incoming Messages
Now, you have the option to switch how PastorsLine charges you for incoming messages. Default option: Pay…
Polls: New view which doesn’t use Groups
Before: PastorsLine stored the data from each poll under its own tag. There was one tag for…
Tighter User-URL Authentication
PastorsLine wants to keep your account(s) and data as safe as possible. It is important to make…
Easily Identify New Imports to a Group
Sometimes, it is useful to know which people you have just imported. So, when you import members…
Groups: Delete with or without Contacts
Deleting a group has two parts. One part is the group itself. The other part is the…
Contests: Separate view for each contest
Before As the above image shows, on the Groups and Keywords page, there was one running list…
PCO: Setting primary number
Since PastorsLine is primarily a texting app, the contact’s primary number should be a mobile number. When…
Project Revamp: Web App (V2) Updates
While we revamp our app, we know it's important to solve any issues or complete any critical feature requests we promised in our current app version. Here are some updates.
Reject All (Legacy)
As you probably heard, our team is almost ready to launch PastorsLine V3. However, we are still…
Use Campaigns Page for new groups with keyword(s) and/or autoreply
As you know, we always do our best to improve the functionality and clarity of PastorsLine. Technically,…
They’re not duplicate campaigns – don’t delete
We hope you’ve heard that we are working hard to finish up Version 3 of our PastorsLine…
Cost reduction to number lookup/checking
Checking numbers is cheaper. Each check (or recheck) only costs 0.5 credits. Even more of a reason…
Sending messages: Short code 77411 default
PastorsLine has made it easier for churches who wish to use our dedicated short code when sending…
HUB: Add someone to a Group
Let’s say you are in the HUB. You want to send a group message, but before you…
Short/Long code: additional messages and warnings
Due to increased carrier filtering, bulk text messages sent via a long code (10 digit, local number)…
Move over to the new HUB!
Our HUB has been in beta for over 1 year! (How time flies!) We are beginning to…
Reprocessing of Failed Messages
To increase deliverability of messages, we have improved our automatic reprocessing system. This notice is relevant for…
Site feedback bot
On the PastorsLine website, you will see our online chat option (yellow arrow below). Besides asking us…
Smart Syncing: Improvements
We want to clarify how smart syncing works. The first time smart syncing checks a contact it…
Carrier Data for Canadian phone numbers
Previously Canadian carriers gave us free access to use our Look-up API. This is a feature which…
Long/short code reprocessing: Who gets the replies?
Churches are using a short code (or toll-free number) to work around the cell phone provider restrictions….
Sharing Templates
Make the workloads of everyone in your church lighter by sharing your templates. Creating a new template?…
Group Message Statistics: easier viewing
PastorsLine has made it more convenient to see the message statistics of your group messages. After choosing…
Voice Broadcasts: two important updates
Update #1 There is a new voice broadcast module. This article will show you how to access…
Short code: Current Situation
MAJOR update—the mobile carriers have approved our short code: 77411. We have tested and implemented it in…
HUB: Sending via the short code
Basically, this is the same process as in Inbox 1.0. It just looks a little different. Get…
Birthdays: Easier editing
Previously, editing the date of birth (DOB) was only by means of clicking the dropdown calendar. This…
Signature format: editing bug fixed
The “Reply STOP to Opt Out” option was disappearing when switching back and forth from short codes…
Importing birthdays (DOB) from CSV file
If your .csv file has a birthday column, it needs to be in MM-DD-YYYY format to import…
Importing addresses
PastorsLine now allows the importing of address via the CSV upload option, and this information will sync…
Templates management: update
The situation Sometimes, as you clean something up, another issue is revealed. This is what happened with…
Templates in the new HUB
Are you are a fan of the PastorsLine Templates feature? Then, you will be happy to hear…
Major new feature: Voice broadcasts
Even though texting is still the top communication form, there are many situations in which a voice…
VoiceBroadcast with new HUB
MAJOR Update—Coming soon: voice broadcasts with the New Hub. It’s an improved design with the following options:…
Links and templates in the new HUB
The legacy app (Inbox 1.0) PastorsLine gave you the option of adding images, merge fields, templates, and/or…
Organization Settings Page
This new page has not finished its development, but you can begin using it now. Its purpose…
New Hub (and continuing Legacy App)
So often, duality is seen as something negative (think Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or multiple personality…
PastorsLine: New skin
New look We recently re-skinned our legacy PastorsLine app by applying basic UI and UX fixes. This…
About the author
Jason Alexis
Jason Alexis is the creator of PastorsLine and co-author of the RethinkMinistry book. His experience as a former engineer has informed his scientific, data-driven approach, as he creates digital strategies and tools for churches. Jason is also the communication director at his church and a stay-at-home dad who homeschools his two boys. He enjoys tennis meetups and weekend biking with his wife and kids.
