You will need the Limited SMS permission to perform this action.
One Church allows text messages (SMS) to be sent directly from within the system to any mobile number listed on a person’s profile. Incoming messages can also be received and responded to.
The following outlines the different ways to send text messages.
Sending Individually
To send a text message individually, navigate to the person’s profile and look under the Contact section of the Info tab. Any mobile numbers will have a dialog bubble icon next to them, indicating that a text message can be sent to that phone number. Anywhere in the system this icon appears, clicking it will open a message window.
A pop-up will appear with the following fields:
Recipients – Contains the individuals who will receive the text message. Click "Edit" to add people. A side bar opens to add group member or other people.
Template - Input a pre-written message.
Content – The text box for entering the message. Keep messages concise and to the point.
Receive Replies? – When enabled, a notification will be emailed when the recipient replies. Responses can be sent by replying directly to that email. For best results, remove all text above the “##- Please type your reply…” line, including any email signatures.
Timing – Choose now or later. If later is selected, a future date and time can be scheduled in 15-minute increments.
Once the required fields are complete, select "Send" to send the message.
Via the Send Button in the Header
Text messages can also be sent by selecting "Text message" under the "Messaging" button in the header on any screen.
This opens the same pop-up used for individual messages, but without any pre-filled recipients. Recipients can be added using the "Edit" button.
From Contacts
Text messages can also be sent from the "Messaging" section at the top of the page by selecting "Text message." Another option is to navigate to "Contacts," in the. left-hand navigation menu, select the desired individuals, or use Actions > Send text to message everyone selected.
From a Group
To send a text message to a group, navigate to "Groups," from the left-hand navigation menu or search for a group via the top search bar, choose the appropriate group, then go to the "Members" tab. Members can be individually selected or all members can be included by choosing Actions > Send text.
In Bulk (via Query Builder)
The Reporting permission, along with the Limited SMS permission, is required to send text messages in bulk.
To get started, go to Reporting > Query Builder > People in the left-hand navigation menu. Set the appropriate filters and run the query to target the desired audience. Once the query results appear (click on the "Run Query" button), select Bulk Actions > Send text.
The same pop-up used for individual messages will appear. After completing the fields, click "Send" to deliver the message.
Responding to Replies
If the option to receive replies was enabled, replies will be sent to the sender’s primary email address.
Only the most recent message sent will appear in the “In response to” line.
Keep replies within 160 characters to avoid multiple messages being sent.
Replies will be sent back via text, and subsequent responses will continue through this email-text loop.
A log of all non-financial text messages can be viewed by selecting the "gear" icon in the top right-hand corner, clicking "Text Messages," navigating to the "Logs" tab and then "Text Message." Alternatively, go to "Messaging" tab and go to Message history > Logs > Text Message.
Helpful Tips
Text messages will not be sent to anyone who has opted out or lacks a mobile number.
When replying to a text message via email, remove all text above the “##- Please type your reply…” line.
Standard messaging and data rates apply. Ensure the account balance is sufficient to cover outgoing messages. If the balance reaches $0.00, no messages will be sent.
Avoid including shortened URLs (such as bit.ly, goo.gl, or tinyurl.com), as these are frequently flagged as spam by carriers and may be rejected.