Examples
31 texts a church actually sends
Each one under 160 characters so it goes as one message and one credit, with a line on why it works. Copy them, change the names, send them from your church’s own name.
Welcoming a first-time visitor
Sent on Monday or Tuesday, from the church's name, to the number the visitor wrote on Sunday. The visitor who is contacted in the week comes back; the one who is not usually does not.
Akwaaba {first_name}! Thank you for worshipping with us at {church} on Sunday. We hope you felt at home. Service is 9am next Sunday. Do come again.
Why it works: Names the person, names the church, gives the next service time. Nothing to reply to, nothing to decide.
147 characters
Hello {first_name}, it was a joy to have you at {church} on Sunday. If there is anything we can pray about with you this week, just reply. God bless you.
Why it works: Offers something the visitor might want before asking for anything. A reply, if it comes, is the beginning of a relationship.
153 characters
{first_name}, thank you for visiting {church}. Our Bible study is Wednesday at 6pm at the church hall, and everyone is welcome. Hope to see you.
Why it works: A midweek invitation gives a second chance to return before next Sunday, and a smaller room is easier to walk into than a full church.
144 characters
Dear {first_name}, welcome to the {church} family. Your class leader, {leader}, will call you this week to say hello. God bless you.
Why it works: Tells the visitor a real person will follow up, and tells the class leader by implication that they now have to.
132 characters
Thanking a member for giving
A thank you for a tithe or offering, sent a few minutes after a mobile money gift succeeds, or after Sunday's count. It confirms the money arrived and that somebody noticed.
Thank you {first_name}. Your tithe of GHS {amount} to {church} has been received and recorded. May God bless the work of your hands.
Why it works: Confirms the amount, so the member knows the mobile money went to the right place, and says it was recorded, which is what a tithe payer wants to hear.
132 characters
{church} has received your offering of GHS {amount}. Thank you for your faithfulness. Ref {reference}.
Why it works: Short, with a reference the member can quote if a question ever arises. Reads like a receipt because it is one.
102 characters
Thank you for your gift to the {fund} at {church}. GHS {amount} received on {date}. Your giving builds this house.
Why it works: Names the fund, so a member who gave to the building fund knows it was not counted as tithe.
114 characters
{first_name}, your harvest thanksgiving of GHS {amount} has been received with gratitude. {church} thanks God for you.
Why it works: Harvest gifts are often the largest of the year and often announced publicly; a private thank you the same day matters.
118 characters
Birthdays and anniversaries
Sent on the morning of the day, from the register's date of birth. The year is never mentioned, because the year is the part nobody wants announced.
Happy birthday {first_name}! {church} celebrates you today. May this new year of your life be full of God's goodness. Medaase for being part of our family.
Why it works: Warm without being long. The Twi word lands as the church's own voice rather than a system's.
155 characters
{first_name}, on your birthday {church} prays Numbers 6:24-26 over you: the Lord bless you and keep you. Have a wonderful day.
Why it works: A blessing from scripture is what a pastor would say in person, and it is what members forward to family.
126 characters
Happy wedding anniversary to {first_name} and {spouse}! {church} thanks God for your marriage and prays for many more years together.
Why it works: Names both spouses, which the register can only do if it records the marriage. A reason to keep vital records properly.
133 characters
Service and meeting reminders
Sent the evening before, or the morning of. Time, place and one reason to come. A reminder with three announcements in it is a newsletter, and nobody reads a newsletter on a phone.
Reminder: {church} worship service tomorrow at 9am. Rev. {minister} preaches on 'The God who provides'. Bring a friend.
Why it works: The sermon title gives a reason beyond habit, and 'bring a friend' is the invitation most members need permission for.
119 characters
Leaders' meeting tonight at 7pm at the church office. Agenda: harvest planning and the quarterly return. Please be on time.
Why it works: Agenda in the text means people arrive prepared, and 'quarterly return' tells the secretary to bring the figures.
123 characters
Bible class meets Wednesday 6pm. {leader}'s class is studying Romans 8 this week. See you there.
Why it works: Sent to one class only, from the class leader's list. A church of four hundred should not text everyone about one class.
96 characters
Holy Communion this Sunday at {church}. Service begins at 8:30am. Communicant members please come early.
Why it works: Tells communicants specifically, which is only possible when the register records who is a communicant.
104 characters
Watch night service: 31 Dec, 9pm to past midnight at {church}. Come and cross over with your church family.
Why it works: One of the two nights a year the whole congregation comes. The reminder is about the time, not the persuasion.
107 characters
A member who has not been seen
Sent by the class leader or pastor, to one person, after two or three absences from somebody who usually comes. Never sent in bulk and never with a hint of reproach.
Hello {first_name}, we have missed you at {church} these past weeks. Is everything alright? Your class leader {leader} would love to hear from you.
Why it works: Asks after the person rather than about the absence. The reply will say whether it is illness, travel, a grievance or simply drift.
147 characters
{first_name}, {church} has been thinking of you. If you are unwell or travelling, let us know how we can support you. We hope to see you soon.
Why it works: Offers the two most common reasons for absence as acceptable answers, so the member does not have to explain.
142 characters
Dear {first_name}, this is Rev. {minister}. I noticed we have not seen you for a while and wanted to check on you personally. Call me any time on {phone}.
Why it works: From the minister by name, with a number. The most effective absence message there is, and only possible when the minister is told in time.
154 characters
Announcements
Funerals, harvest, a change of venue, a visiting preacher. One announcement per text, with the who, when and where, and the total number of texts a month kept low enough that people still read them.
{church} announces the passing of {name} of {leader}'s class. One week observance: Sunday after service. Funeral details to follow. Please pray for the family.
Why it works: Announces the fact and the first event, promises the rest, and asks for one thing. Funerals are the announcement members most want by text.
159 characters
Harvest thanksgiving is Sunday {date} at {church}. Groups and classes will present their offerings. Come and give thanks for the year.
Why it works: Two weeks' notice lets classes organise, which is what raises the total. The text is to the members; the class leader's follow up is where the work happens.
134 characters
This Sunday {church} hosts Rev. {guest} of {guest_church} as guest preacher. Service at 9am. Invite someone.
Why it works: A guest preacher is an easy invitation for members to extend to friends, so the text says so.
108 characters
Change of venue: Sunday service at {church} will be held at {venue} this week only, at the usual time of 9am.
Why it works: Says 'this week only' and repeats the usual time, so nobody turns up at the wrong place next Sunday.
109 characters
{church} welfare: contributions for {name}'s hospital bills can be given on Sunday or by MoMo to {number}, reference 'welfare'. Thank you.
Why it works: Gives a mobile money option with a reference, so the treasurer can tell welfare gifts from tithe when the statement arrives.
138 characters
Youth fellowship this Saturday 4pm at {church}. Games, worship and a talk on 'Faith at work'. Bring a friend under 30.
Why it works: Names the audience, so a text sent to the whole church still reads as aimed rather than broadcast.
118 characters
Pledges and dues
Gentle, specific and with a way to pay in the text. A pledge reminder that gives the balance and a mobile money number gets paid; one that says 'please redeem your pledges' does not.
{first_name}, thank you for your pledge of GHS {pledged} to the {fund}. GHS {paid} received; balance GHS {balance}. Pay on Sunday or by MoMo to {number}.
Why it works: States the pledge, what has been paid and what remains. A member who sees the arithmetic pays; one who has to ask does not.
153 characters
Reminder from {church}: welfare dues for {month} are GHS {amount}. Pay on Sunday or by MoMo to {number}. Being paid up keeps you covered.
Why it works: Says what being paid up is for, which is the reason welfare dues exist and the reason people pay them.
137 characters
Building fund update: GHS {raised} raised of GHS {target}. Thank you {church}! Every gift moves us closer. MoMo {number}, reference 'building'.
Why it works: Progress towards a target is the most motivating figure a church can text, and it costs nothing to share.
143 characters
Christmas, Easter and the new year
Sent to everyone, once. The one time a year a text to the whole register is right, because the message is the same for all of them.
Merry Christmas from {church}! Christmas Day service at 9am. Thank you for a year of faithfulness. God bless you and your family.
Why it works: Greeting, service time, thanks. Three things in three sentences, none of them a request.
129 characters
He is risen! {church} wishes you a blessed Easter. Easter Sunday service at 8:30am, followed by fellowship. Come and celebrate.
Why it works: Opens with the proclamation the day is about, which is what members will reply with.
127 characters
Happy new year from {church}! Thank you for 2025. Our theme for 2026: '{theme}'. First service Sunday {date} at 9am. Afehyia pa!
Why it works: The year's theme in the first text of the year is how most Ghanaian churches announce it, and the Twi greeting is expected.
128 characters
Sent for you, from your church’s name
Fold sends the thank you a few minutes after a mobile money gift succeeds, the birthday text on the morning from the register, and lets a class leader text their own class. The sender name is your church’s.
Communication in Fold
The texts write themselves when the register is right
Birthdays, thank yous and class reminders come from records your team already keeps. Thirty days free, no card.