Every church talks about connection—but what does authentic connection actually look like in a world full of noise, automation, and transactional interactions? In this episode of The Deep Dive, our AI hosts unpack Melissa Breeden’s Engage session from First Baptist Church Woodstock, exploring simple but powerful strategies that help church leaders build real relationships with their people. If you're longing for a connection system that feels intentional, warm, and deeply pastoral, this episode gives you the blueprint.

Main Ideas

1. Connection must be part of your church’s culture, not just a Sunday announcement. Use every visual touchpoint to normalize connection and create a clear path for guests and members to engage.

2. People respond when connection is framed as a spiritual invitation, not a logistical request. Explain why connection matters, and tie your call-to-action to pastoral care, guidance, and spiritual support.

3. Authentic connection is sustained through intentional follow-through.
 Respond personally, ask gentle open-ended questions, honor prayer requests, route information to the right ministries, and schedule follow-ups so no one falls through the cracks.

4. Absence messages are goldmines for relationship-building.
 A simple “We’ll miss you! How can we pray for you?” can open doors to meaningful pastoral moments and deeper insight into people’s lives.

5. Automation can support connection, but cannot replace human accountability and variation. Use efficient tools wisely, but read every reply, personalize responses, and never reuse the same bulk text message template.

Why It Matters
People today expect to be known, not just counted. When your follow-up system blends genuine care with operational consistency, your members feel seen, valued, and spiritually supported. This episode offers a roadmap to move from transactional interactions to transformative relationships.

Call to Action

• Click here to subscribe to the Tech In Church Podcast: https://podcast.textinchurch.com/1953385/follow
• Share this episode with another church leader who may be facing the same struggles.
• Visit the Text In Church website for tools and resources to help your ministry communicate clearly and connect with more people: https://textinchurch.com/

Shareable Snippet

“Authentic connection isn’t built on programs—it’s built on intentional follow-through. Every message you respond to is a chance to make someone feel known, noticed, and loved.”

The Tech In Church Podcast is a Text In Church team production. For more information about this podcast, go to https://podcast.textinchurch.com. For more information on Text in Church, visit https://textinchurch.com.