Church SMS Text Messaging & Automation

Q: Do we need our own SMS platform, or does CANAAN provide that?

CANAAN helps you choose and set up an SMS CRM platform that integrates with your church management system.

PART OF YOUR TEAM

Email can be missed, texts get read.

98% of text messages get opened within three minutes. Email? Maybe 20% get opened at all, and usually hours later. When something needs immediate attention — a last-minute venue change, a same-day giving push, a weather cancellation — SMS is the only channel that works. But most churches either don't use it, or send texts so inconsistently that people tune out.

CANAAN builds SMS campaigns that work — timed correctly, written concisely, and automated so they go out exactly when they need to without your team remembering to hit send.

“CANAAN replaced three tools we were duct-taping together—and does the job better.”

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WE'VE GOT YOU SORTED

Every type of SMS, sent.

Event reminders, giving campaigns, service changes, urgent updates — we write, schedule, and send SMS messages that get your congregation to act fast.

COMPELLING LOGO

Reminders

COMPELLING LOGO

Event announcement

ALL PLATFORMS

Connections

ALL PLATFORMS

Devotionals

STORYTELLING

Automations

STORYTELLING

Volunteer reminders

TRUSTED BY LOCAL CHURCHES

Results churches actually see

CANAAN delivers consistent results across churches of all sizes. Saving time, resources and stress.

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98%

Open rate

People open texts. Sending them keeps you in the loop organically.

50%

Action intiated

Most churches see 50% act on a text call to action.

20 Hours

Staff hours saved per week

Texts help your team stay in touch with people.

HOW IT WORKS

From messages to sending — here's how we do it.

You tell us what needs to go out and when. We write it, schedule it, and send it — automatically, on time, every time.

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Choose an SMS CRM

The first step is choosing an SMS sender. This could be Mailchimp, Text in Church or Clearstream. This subscription will be paid for by your Church to avoid bottlenecks.

You tell us what needs to be sent

Event reminder? Giving prompt? Service change? We write SMS messages that are clear, concise, and get people to take action immediately.

We write for SMS, not email

Text messages aren't emails. We keep them short, direct, and mobile-friendly. One clear message, one clear action, no scrolling required.

Timed for maximum impact

A text sent too early gets forgotten. Too late and it's useless. We schedule messages to land exactly when they'll drive action — 24 hours before an event, Sunday morning before service, the day a giving campaign launches.

Automated and recurring

Weekly prompts, monthly giving reminders, or recurring event notifications get automated so they send without anyone on your team remembering. Set it once, it runs on its own.

Integrated with your church platform

We connect with Planning Center, Church Community Builder, or whatever system you use to manage contacts. Your lists stay updated, messages go to the right people, no manual exports.

News and Insight from our team.

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Everything you get with SMS Sending

Event reminder texts

Giving campaign prompts

Service update notifications

Urgent alerts & weather cancellations

Weekly sermon follow-up texts

Volunteer coordination reminders

SMS copywriting

Automated scheduling

Recurring message setup

Need some help?

We’re here to provide support and assistance.

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frequently asked questions

Clear answers, no fluff. We’ve designed CANAAN to be intuitive from day one—but here’s where we answer the most common questions with clarity and care.

Is SMS automation included in my CANAAN subscription?

Yes — SMS setup, copywriting, and automation are included as part of CANAAN's creative services. Whether you need event reminders, giving prompts, or urgent updates, it's covered.

Do we need our own SMS platform, or does CANAAN provide that?

ou'll need an SMS platform (like Planning Center, Text in Church, or Clearstream etc). We integrate with it, write the messages, and set up the automation. If you don't have one yet, we'll recommend what works best for churches.

We have your church pay for this to avoid complications of bottlenecks.

How do we build our text message list?

Most churches collect phone numbers through connection cards, online sign-ups, or at events. We help you set up opt-in prompts and manage the list so you're only texting people who've agreed to receive messages.

Won't people get annoyed if we text them too much?

Only if you overdo it. We help you find the right frequency — enough to stay connected, not so much that people opt out. Usually that means 2-4 texts per month unless something urgent comes up. We also track opt-out rates and adjust if needed.

Can we send texts for emergencies, like a weather cancellation?

Absolutely. That's one of the best uses for SMS. We can set up a system where urgent messages go out immediately when you need them — no waiting for approval, no delayed sends. Just instant communication to everyone who needs to know.

What's the difference between SMS and email? When should we use each?

Email is for information people can read later — newsletters, announcements, sermon recaps. SMS is for things that need immediate attention — event reminders, last-minute changes, giving prompts. Use SMS sparingly, but when you do, people will actually see it.

Ready to reach people instantly?