{"id":106049,"date":"2021-10-18T12:18:51","date_gmt":"2021-10-18T16:18:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=106049"},"modified":"2021-10-18T17:39:36","modified_gmt":"2021-10-18T21:39:36","slug":"ct-cs-is-texting-the-next-big-thing-for-churches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=106049","title":{"rendered":"(CT CS) Is Texting the Next Big Thing for Churches?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cA simple \u2018I love you! Thanks for getting up with the baby last night\u2019 can do wonders for my mood,\u201d says Carla Wiking in \u201cHow Texting Has Improved my Marriage<\/a>.\u201d Though she was initially resistant to embracing texting as more than a way to send succinct updates, Wiking now sees it as an important third party in her marriage. For Wiking, texting offers vital connection: \u201cI feel appreciated and thought of, which can be extra nice on long lonely days caring for kids at home.\u201d Because of its connective power, texting can smooth and soften in ways other mediums may not. \u201cWe aren’t simply better coordinated,\u201d writes Wiking. \u201cWe feel more love and appreciation and joy. Who knew a tiny keyboard could do all that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Healthier marriages aren\u2019t the only beneficiary of SMS (Short Message Service). Hannah Natanson reports<\/a> in The Washington Post that texting has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on our healthcare system, lowering communication hurdles and increasing provider availability. Natanson notes that texting allows hospitals and doctors\u2019 offices to gather more accurate patient history, and instant-response crisis text lines provide support for individuals facing acute mental-health crises.<\/p>\n

The opportunity to text with medical professionals offers a life-changing difference for many people. Jeffrey Millstein, Anish Agarwal and Lillian Sun\u2014a primary care physician, an ER physician, and a medical student\u2014wrote<\/a> in the Philadelphia Inquirer that they \u201cconstantly combine hands-on care with digital technology\u201d in their work with patients. Texting is growing to be the most accessible form of communication as \u201cfont size can be adjusted for those who are visually impaired, and voice commands through digital assistants such as Siri can be used if vision or finger dexterity are limitations.\u201d All these features, especially when combined with texting\u2019s ability to overcome language barriers via translations apps, make it easier to contact patients of every age, background, and income level.<\/p>\n

Even while relationships and businesses benefit from this new touchpoint, people still want more texts. 75 percent of clients<\/a> say that they would like to receive offers via SMS, but only 30 percent frequent businesses that offer this service.<\/p>\n

Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The average person receives 50 texts each day, and 99% of those are read within the first 15 minutes. So why isn't your church meeting people where they are\u2014their phones? Check out our latest with Thryve https:\/\/t.co\/s6nFh3vT79<\/a><\/p>\n

— CT Creative Studio (@CTCreateStudio) October 14, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n