Mobile Apps for Churches: Engaging the Smartphone Generation

Our modern society is obsessed with mobile devices. Everywhere you look, you can see people of all ages holding smartphones. To the left, a man is checking email on his lunch break. On the right, a teenager is taking a selfie with a friend. No matter the activity, mobile is a constant.

How can your church capitalize on this smartphone obsession? How can you capture the attention of your always-connected parishioners? Follow in the footsteps of banks: let your members do business on their phone.

Mobile Banking Is Already The Norm

When was the last time you set foot in a bank? For a lot of smartphone users, physically dropping by the bank is a thing of the past. You can now deposit checks, check your balance, and transfer funds from your phone.

According to a study by the Federal Reserve:

52% of smartphone owners with a bank account have used mobile banking

51% percent of mobile banking users have deposited a check using their phone

63% percent of mobile banking users have used their phone to check their balance before making a large purchase

Your parishioners are already using mobile phones to do their banking. Why should they have to revert to old fashioned methods to give to your church?

Mobile Apps For Churches To The Rescue

Your congregation is filled with smartphone users. If it involves writing on a piece of paper, carrying cash, or putting their phone away, they would likely avoid it at all costs.

The smartphone generation (aka everyone alive today) thrives on convenience. That’s why adding mobile apps for churches to your fundraising methods is a perfect fit. Your members will be able to deposit money into the bank, shop for new clothes, and make offerings to church, all from their phone.

Getting Your Parishioners On Board

Since mobile apps for churches will come as a great convenience to your smartphone-savvy congregation, this really won’t be a hard sell. These simple steps will be enough to engage your members and get them using the app:

• Announce your new mobile giving option during service
• Emphasize how using the app will benefit both them and the church
• Remind parishioners during each giving time
• Print information about the app in your bulletin
• Talk about mobile giving on your church’s social media accounts

Now that mobile apps for churches are an option for your ministry, there is no reason to keep relying on outdated methods to collect offerings. Once you make the upgrade, you will see how much easier mobile giving really is.