The people you text control whether they hear from you. They can subscribe at any time and stop at any time, and both happen from their own phone. This article covers what they do and what they receive back.
For the wider picture of what counts as consent and why someone may be missing from a send, see What is text messaging consent?
Opting in
A person can subscribe in any of these ways.
Your public opt-in page - Available to every church from the moment text messaging is enabled, at {your church}.onechurchsoftware.com/public/sms-optin. It already carries every disclosure the carriers require, and it is linked from the Text Messaging panel as Opt-In Form. The person enters their number, accepts the disclosures and submits, then receives a welcome text confirming the subscription.
Texting START or UNSTOP - Subscribes the number immediately, and clears any previous opt-out. They receive: "You have subscribed to receive text messages from [Church]. Message & data rates apply. Reply STOP to opt out."
Texting JOIN, then CONFIRM - JOIN on its own grants nothing. It replies "Reply CONFIRM to opt into receiving text messages from [Church]. Message & data rates apply." Only the CONFIRM subscribes them.
Answering the opt-in question on one of your forms - See How do I add the text message opt-in question to a form?
Tip: Point people at your public opt-in page rather than adding their numbers yourself. It records the date, their IP address and browser, which is the evidence a carrier will ask for.
Opting out
A person can stop your messages at any time by texting any of STOP, END, QUIT, STOPALL, CANCEL or UNSUBSCRIBE to your messaging number.
They receive one final confirmation, which the carriers require: "You will no longer receive communication from [Church] via text message. Text START or UNSTOP to opt back in." That is the last message they get from you.
Someone can also block your number at their mobile carrier instead of texting STOP. One Church Software learns this from the failed delivery and records the opt-out for you, so you are not charged for further messages to that number.
An opt-out only the person can reverse
Warning: When someone stops your messages themselves, no one at your church can re-subscribe them, and neither can the One Church Software support team. Overriding an opt-out is what the carriers audit for, and it puts your number's approval at risk.
The block survives everything. If that person texts your church again next month about something unrelated, they stay opted out. The only way back is for them to text START, UNSTOP, or JOIN then CONFIRM from that phone.
On the Text Opt Ins screen these rows carry a Consent Source of Texted STOP or Blocked At Carrier, and the Opt in and Delete actions are not offered on them.
If someone tells you they want your texts again, ask them to text START to your messaging number from that phone. They are re-subscribed straight away.
Opt-outs your church can undo
If the person did not stop the messages themselves — a staff member marked them opted out by mistake, or they answered No to the opt-in question on a form — you can reverse it with the Opt in action. See How do I manage text message opt ins?
Getting help by text
Anyone can text HELP or INFO to your messaging number and receive your church name, your phone number, a note that message and data rates may apply, and how to opt out. Churches with giving enabled also get "Text GIVE to donate."
The carriers require this reply to name the program, provide contact details and state that rates apply, and it is kept to a single message so you are not billed twice each time someone asks. It is not customizable.