Every church talks about connection—but what does authentic connection actually look like in a world full of noise, automation, and transactional interactions? In this episode of The Deep Dive, our AI hosts unpack Melissa Breeden’s Engage session from First Baptist Church Woodstock, exploring simple but powerful strategies that help church leaders build real relationships with their people. If you're longing for a connection system that feels intentional, warm, and deeply pastoral, this episode gives you the blueprint.

Main Ideas

1. Connection must be part of your church’s culture, not just a Sunday announcement. Use every visual touchpoint to normalize connection and create a clear path for guests and members to engage.

2. People respond when connection is framed as a spiritual invitation, not a logistical request. Explain why connection matters, and tie your call-to-action to pastoral care, guidance, and spiritual support.

3. Authentic connection is sustained through intentional follow-through.
Respond personally, ask gentle open-ended questions, honor prayer requests, route information to the right ministries, and schedule follow-ups so no one falls through the cracks.

4. Absence messages are goldmines for relationship-building.
A simple “We’ll miss you! How can we pray for you?” can open doors to meaningful pastoral moments and deeper insight into people’s lives.

5. Automation can support connection, but cannot replace human accountability and variation. Use efficient tools wisely, but read every reply, personalize responses, and never reuse the same bulk text message template.

Why It Matters
People today expect to be known, not just counted. When your follow-up system blends genuine care with operational consistency, your members feel seen, valued, and spiritually supported. This episode offers a roadmap to move from transactional interactions to transformative relationships.

Call to Action

• Click here to subscribe to the Tech In Church Podcast: https://podcast.textinchurch.com/1953385/follow
• Share this episode with another church leader who may be facing the same struggles.
• Visit the Text In Church website for tools and resources to help your ministry communicate clearly and connect with more people: https://textinchurch.com/

Shareable Snippet

“Authentic connection isn’t built on programs—it’s built on intentional follow-through. Every message you respond to is a chance to make someone feel known, noticed, and loved.”

The Tech In Church Podcast is a Text In Church team production. For more information about this podcast, go to https://podcast.textinchurch.com. For more information on Text in Church, visit https://textinchurch.com.

Guest experience isn’t just about a warm smile. It’s a strategic, discipleship-centered process that shapes how newcomers experience your church long after Sunday is over. In this episode, our AI hosts unpack Danielle Krivda's Engage session, revealing how intentional hospitality, consistent follow-up, and smart automation can help church leaders build genuine relationships that last. If you’re ready to strengthen your church’s welcome culture and boost guest retention, this episode is packed with practical, ministry-ready insights.

Main Ideas

• Authentic hospitality beats polished performance—your team’s genuine care is your most influential first impression.
• A strategic 4–6 week follow-up plan dramatically increases return rates and next steps like Bible studies, small groups, and baptisms.
• Automation empowers small teams to create big impact by personalizing communication across all 166 hours of the week.

Why It Matters
Guests decide quickly whether your church feels like a place where they are seen, valued, and remembered. In a culture where attendance patterns are irregular and attention is limited, leaders need systems that ensure no one slips through the cracks—and that every guest experiences real care beyond Sunday mornings.

Call to Action

• Click here to subscribe to the Tech In Church Podcast: https://podcast.textinchurch.com/1953385/follow
• Share this episode with another church leader who may be facing the same struggles.
• Visit the Text In Church website for tools and resources to help your ministry communicate clearly and connect with more people: https://textinchurch.com/

Shareable Snippet
“Guests don’t just need a friendly hello—they need intentional connection during the 166 hours after they leave your service. Your follow-up might be the lifeline God uses in their week.”

The Tech In Church Podcast is a Text In Church team production. For more information about this podcast, go to https://podcast.textinchurch.com. For more information on Text in Church, visit https://textinchurch.com.

Your Guest Services Team sets the tone for every new person walking into your church. In this episode, we unpack insights from Maryanne Sibley and Rebecca Carlisle’s Engage Session, Stoke Your Guest Services Teams. They share a practical, proven framework for training, inspiring, and caring for volunteers so every guest feels seen, welcomed, and valued. If your hospitality ministry feels understaffed, overwhelmed, or stuck in a cycle of burnout and recruitment, this conversation will give you a fresh way forward.

Main Ideas

• Creating a culture of appreciation through specific encouragement, personalized thanks, and honoring past volunteers transforms the volunteer experience and strengthens your church’s first impression.
• Regular debriefs with structured questions help volunteers feel heard and invested. When volunteers know their insight matters, engagement and ownership grow.
• Shared experiences (like huddles or game nights) deepen relationships and move teams from task-based functioning to true community.
• Volunteers thrive when they understand why their role matters. Clear expectations, safe boundaries, and thoughtful offboarding help them commit with confidence.

Why It Matters
Hospitality isn’t just a ministry; it’s a discipleship opportunity. Creating a culture where volunteers feel valued, heard, connected, and purpose-driven doesn’t just improve Sunday mornings; it strengthens your entire church’s ability to welcome and shepherd new people well.

Call to Action

• Click here to subscribe to the Tech In Church Podcast
• Share this episode with another church leader who may be facing the same struggles.
• Visit the Text In Church website for tools and resources to help your ministry communicate clearly and connect with more people.

Shareable Snippet

"Your volunteers don’t just fill roles—they carry your church’s welcome. When they feel valued, included, connected, and challenged, they create the kind of hospitality that changes lives."

The Tech In Church Podcast is a Text In Church team production. For more information about this podcast, go to https://podcast.textinchurch.com. For more information on Text in Church, visit https://textinchurch.com.