Fall comes quickly, and your new guests are already waiting for someone to connect with them. As families return from summer, students launch into new routines, and community calendars fill up. The back to church season often brings one of the biggest influxes of guests your church will see all year.

That’s the good news. The hard part? In the rush of ministry, guest follow-up can easily slip through the cracks—and when that happens, visitors who might have become part of your community often never come back.

The pace isn’t slowing down anytime soon. But with the right tools—like church texting software—you can create a simple, reliable plan to reach your guests before it’s too late.

Why Church Guest Follow-Up Matters Most in the Fall

Outside of Christmas and Easter, no season brings more first-time visitors than August and September. Families are re-establishing routines, college students are arriving in town, and neighbors are looking for a fresh start.

That’s why having a clear guest connection strategy is essential during the back to church season. 

The Pitfalls That Cause Guest Follow-Up to Break Down

Even the best intentions can get lost in the fall ministry rush. Some of the most common issues include:

• Paper connect cards that get misplaced or sit in stacks for weeks.
  
  

• Overwhelmed volunteers trying to keep up with big events and new programs.
  
  

• Inconsistent systems—guests might get a phone call one week, but silence the next.
  
  

• No margin—leaders know follow-up is critical, but Sunday is always just around the corner.
  
  

When these cracks open up, new visitors often slip right through them.

Why Church Texting Software Solves the Follow-Up Problem

Here’s the truth: If you want to improve visitor retention, you have to meet people where they are. And today, that means their phones.

Texting stands out because:

• 98% of texts are opened—far higher than emails or voicemails.
  
  

• It feels personal and conversational without being pushy.
  
  

• Guests can reply instantly with questions, prayer needs, or next steps.
  
  

• It’s the most reliable of all digital communication tools for churches.
  
  

With the right church texting software, sending a message doesn’t add to your workload—it creates consistent, meaningful touchpoints that keep people coming back.

4 Follow-Up Texts Every Church Should Send

You don’t need a complicated plan to make a big impact. A few simple texts can build connection and help guests feel seen:

1. Thank-you text within 24 hours
   
   

   • “We’re so glad you joined us yesterday! It was great to meet you.”
     
     

2. Next step invite
   
   

   • “We’d love to see you at our newcomer lunch this Sunday. Here’s the link to RSVP.”
     
     

3. Prayer request prompt
   
   

   • “How can we be praying for you this week? Just reply to this text.”
     
     

4. Service reminder or event highlight
   
   

   • “Don’t forget—our fall kickoff service is this weekend at 9 & 11am. Hope to see you there!”
     
     

These simple follow-up texts for first-time guests can create momentum that leads to deeper guest engagement over time.

Building a Guest Connection System that Lasts

The fall calendar won’t get less busy. That’s why it’s important to build a guest connection strategy that works even when life is hectic.

• Draft your key messages before the season starts.
  
  

• Assign responsibility for sending them—whether staff or a volunteer.
  
  

• Use church texting software to automate your process and ensure no one gets overlooked.
  
  

With tools from Gloo, churches can set up simple systems that guarantee every guest receives a follow-up. And with Gloo+, you can even automate workflows so the process runs in the background—freeing you up to focus on ministry, not management.

Don’t Miss Guest Follow-Up This Back to Church Season

The back to church season is full of opportunity. New visitors are walking through your doors every week, and they’re waiting for someone to reach out. Without intentional guest follow-up, many may never return.

Here’s the good news: a thoughtful follow-up strategy powered by church texting software ensures no one falls through the cracks. Sign up for free texting today and take the first step toward connecting with every guest this fall—because they’re already waiting to hear from you.