Churches use SMS to engage congregations nationwide

Christian churches nationwide are using text messaging to engage and communicate with their congregations. "Direct and to the point, the church's influence can extend beyond Sunday morning.

“Different churches do different things—they may ask questions about various topics with SMS surveys or polls, or run a scripture challenge using alert groups,” she said. “A high school ministry can send a scripture verse every day to give them something to think about and encourage them to pray every day. Questions are moderated and can be displayed on side-screens, a teleprompter or the facilitator’s mobile phone.

“Different ministries are trying different things such as live events on the weekends, where the audience members can text in questions while the pastor is teaching,” Ms. Baldwin said. “It’s changed the way they run their services so Q&A is incorporated, and the pastor can address those to the entire congregation,” she said.

“It’s great for people giving them a safe place to ask questions that they wouldn’t feel comfortable doing otherwise.”

The concept of writing prayer requests on a card at church and putting it into a box has evolved into texting in prayer requests at any time of day or night. From Mobile Marketer at http://bit.ly/Nsk6z

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