8 Ways To Incorporate Mobile Into Your Church

Your church is filled with smartphones. Whether your members are keeping them out of the way or getting distracted during services, it’s time to address how to incorporate mobile into your church. Instead of just banning phones or limiting them to a Bible app, encourage them to use their phones, but in a more productive way than just covertly checking out Facebook. Mobile doesn’t mean you’re going to the proverbial dark side. It’s just a modern way of engaging your members. You might be surprised at just how much more attention everyone pays.

1. Use Online Giving

For safety reasons, many people don’t carry cash anymore. Outside of putting an ATM in your church, you need a better way for members to give. Having an option on your website is great, but you can also incorporate online giving via mobile. Not only is it more convenient and secure for your members, but they can give discreetly without feeling judged if the people next to them give more.

2. Create A Mobile-Friendly Website

Mobile usage is surpassing desktop usage. Ensure your members can access your church’s site on any device by creating a mobile-friendly website. Honestly, mobile isn’t optional anymore. It’s a requirement. This is also a great way to encourage live interactions during church by adding polls to your site or letting members submit questions on a forum during the service. If you’re not sure if your site is mobile-friendly or not, use Google’s free tool to test.

3. Develop Your Own Church App

If you want to go beyond a website, develop your own church app. It’s one of the more immersive ways to incorporate mobile into your church. Your app can include nearly any feature you want. The best part is it gives your members access to church details in a single tap. You can hire a developer or use an app company that specializes in church apps.

4. Use Real-Time Social Media

Ask your members and you’ll quickly find most of them have at least one social media app on their phones. A quick and easy way to incorporate mobile into your church is to encourage social media use during services. It might sound counterproductive, but it’s not. For instance, post a question on Facebook or Twitter. Let members post responses throughout the service and near the end, address those responses. You can also host real-time trivia via social media with prizes given out at the end of each service.

5. Encourage SMS Q&As

Everyone’s not a fan of social media and that’s fine. Instead, let your members text in their questions. Carve out 15 minutes or so each week just for a Q&A period via text. You can keep it anonymous if you want or display members’ names as questions come in.

6. Send Out Messages Via Text

Sometimes social media posts get lost on an endless newsfeed and members might not always check your blog for the latest posts. Offer members the opportunity to receive daily texts (frequency can obviously vary based on your church). Use these texts to send out daily scripture, prayer requests or just an inspiring image.

7. Host Selfie/Unselfie Sundays

Selfies are huge. Love them or hate them, many of your members have selfies on their phones. Instead of writing off the trend, embrace it and use it as a way to incorporate mobile into your church. Encourage members to create their best selfies one Sunday a month. It’s not only fun, but it’s great marketing for your church. After all, as members post to Instagram, Facebook and more, word of your church is spreading. Ask a few volunteers to gather all the selfies to create collages for your website. On the other hand, host unselfie Sundays if selfies seem too selfish. This is where members and leaders take selfies that also bring attention to a specific cause or issue, such as the local food kitchen running out of food.

8. Use A Mobile Bible

Odds are, some of your members already have a Bible app on their devices. It’s easier for them to carry around and many apps include ways to highlight verses and take notes. Encourage your members to download the best Bible or worship app for their needs. YouVersion is a popular interactive Bible app that allows your church to upload outlines, sermon notes and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should churches allow phones during services?

Instead of fighting the phones, put them to work. Banning them rarely sticks, and most people are already glancing at them anyway. Redirect that attention with live polls, text-in questions, Bible apps, and real-time social media interaction. Done right, phones make people more engaged, not less.

Why does my church website need to be mobile-friendly?

Because most people will visit your site on a phone, not a desktop — mobile isn’t optional anymore, it’s the default. A site that’s clunky on a phone quietly turns away visitors checking you out before they ever walk in. Google offers a free mobile-friendly test if you’re unsure where you stand. A church website built mobile-first meets people where they actually are.

Does my church need its own app, or is a mobile website enough?

For most churches, a mobile-friendly website covers the essentials at a fraction of the cost. An app makes sense once you want a more immersive, one-tap experience and have the budget to build and maintain it. Start with a strong mobile site; add an app when you’ve outgrown it. Don’t build an app just because larger churches have one.

How does mobile giving help a church?

Fewer people carry cash, so the offering plate misses a lot of generosity it used to catch. Mobile giving is convenient, secure, and discreet — members can give without feeling watched or compared to the person next to them. Pair it with online giving on your website so people can give anytime, from anywhere. Removing friction from generosity usually increases it.

How can a church use text messaging to stay connected?

Texts cut through the noise that buries social media posts and blog updates. Let members opt in to receive daily Scripture, prayer requests, or an encouraging image, and carve out time each week for text-in Q&A during the service. People read their texts; they scroll past most everything else. Used sparingly, SMS is one of the most direct lines you have to your congregation.

Can mobile actually help my church grow, not just engage members?

Yes. Every time a member posts a Selfie Sunday photo or shares your content, your church spreads to their entire network for free. Mobile turns your congregation into your marketing team. The same tools that engage current members — social media, shareable content, easy giving — are exactly what draw new people in.

Are you ready to incorporate mobile into your church? Start today by ensuring your website is ready for mobile devices.