Resources for
Church Leaders
Free articles, webinars, guides, and the Smarter Church Communications podcast — practical tools to help your church reach more people and communicate better.
Articles, Webinars & Guides
How to Choose the Best Church Management Software for Your Church
Managing a church can be time-consuming. Here's what to look for in church management software and a comparison of three popular options to help you choose the right one for your church.
Looking for Church Sites and Management Systems After Faithlife
Faithlife is sunsetting several of their Equip elements. If your church used Faithlife for your website, online giving, live stream, or church management software, here's what to consider next.

Get Families Back to Church This Fall: A Guide for Churches
As summer draws to a close, families are looking to settle back into their routines. Here are actionable strategies for churches to invite families back, optimize social media, and communicate the value of church involvement.

Front Porch Ministry: How Churches Can Reach People Beyond Sunday
In this conversation, Zack Esgar sits down with Neil Larson to unpack a completely different approach to outreach: Front Porch Ministry. This model focuses on meeting people where they already are—building trust, community, and real relationships before ever inviting someone into a service.

How “Front Porch Ministry” Can Help Your Church Reach More People
If you’ve ever wondered why your church’s website, social media, or ads aren’t bringing new people through the doors—you’re not alone. Many churches are asking the same question: How do we actually reach people who aren’t already looking for us?
Top 3 AI Tools for Churches in 2026
As we move further into 2026, the “digital front door” of the church has never been more important. Fortunately, AI-driven tools are maturing into true ministry partners, helping leaders move from being overwhelmed by tech to being empowered by it.

Free Easter Outreach Resources 2026
As Easter approaches, churches have a unique opportunity to reach out to their communities and welcome new visitors. In today’s digital age, leveraging online advertising platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads can significantly amplify your outreach efforts.

Maximizing Easter Outreach: Landing Pages, Google Ads, Social Ads and More
Easter is the biggest opportunity of the year for your church to reach people in your community with the life-changing message of Jesus. In this webinar replay, the Tent Apps team walks through the exact strategy we are implementing for our Church Growth Package members in February and March.

How to Engage on Reddit for Churches: Practical Tips & Strategies to Reach Your Community
Discover practical tips and strategies for churches to effectively engage on Reddit, reaching their community and practicing digital hospitality in the 21st century's online 'town well'.
New AI Announcement Feature For Churches
Keeping your church or organization informed shouldn’t feel like a full‑time job. That’s why we’re excited to introduce our new AI Announcement Feature, included in our Tent Apps package.

Best Church Websites of 2026 (Real Examples That Reach People)
Your church website is often the first visit before the first visit. People search “church near me,” skim your site on their phone, and quietly ask, “Would I belong here?”

Maximize Your Church’s Reach This Christmas with Social Media Ads
As the holiday season approaches, churches have a unique opportunity to connect with their communities through the power of social media. Social media ads allow churches to reach a broader audience, including those who may not regularly attend services.

Mobilize Your Church This Christmas With a Simple Invitation Card (Free Canva Template)
A personal invitation during the Christmas season can be one of the most effective ways to help someone feel seen, welcomed, and wanted. This year, Tent Apps wants to help you mobilize your congregation to be inviters with a free Canva Christmas Card Invite Template.

Vertical TV Announcements for Churches
Tent Apps has rolled out a major upgrade to its TV Announcement Displays, making church slides more flexible, engaging, and easier to tailor for every context. This update includes full support for vertical screens, video and animation, and dedicated announcement graphics.

Church Christmas Service Planning: How to Prep Your Church for Christmas
Planning Christmas at church can feel like a lot. Good service planning helps you get ahead of the rush so December feels intentional instead of chaotic.
November Christmas Checklist for Churches: How to Reach More People This Holiday Season
The holidays are one of the best times of year for churches to connect with their communities. People are more open to invitations, spiritually curious, and looking for meaningful experiences to share with family.

Church Google Profile Optimization Guide for Churches
If someone in your town searches for 'church near me,' a map with local listings often appears first. Optimizing your church's Google profile is crucial for visibility and connecting with new families.

The Ultimate Shot List for Church Photography: Capture Every Moment
Want to capture the heart of your church through photos but not sure where to start? We’ve put together a free Church Photography Shot List to help you cover every moment—from worship to community life.

Stop Using Stock Photos: The Ultimate Church Shot List That Fills Seats
Stop relying on stock photos. Use this church photography shot list to show visitors exactly what to expect—and grow trust fast.
Microsoft Publisher Is Retiring: A Better Way for Churches to Create Print Bulletins
For years, many churches have depended on Microsoft Publisher to design their weekly print bulletins. It’s been a staple tool for pastors, administrators, and volunteers looking for a simple way to put their announcements into a bulletin format.
How to Use SEO Tools to Craft Relevant Sermon Topics: A Church Communicator’s Guide
Discover how to leverage SEO tools to create sermon topics that resonate with your congregation and community. This guide helps church communicators understand what people are searching for online.

Unlocking the Power of AI for Your Church!
Discover how to save time, streamline communication, and reach more people using the latest AI tools and strategies for church leaders.

Essential AI Tools Every Church Leader Should Know About
Feeling overwhelmed by church communications? The AI revolution is transforming how churches connect, communicate, and grow. This post breaks down insights from Zack Esgar’s “AI Tools for Churches” webinar, sharing practical ways church leaders can leverage AI.

Digital Discipleship Strategies to Transform Your Church
Discover practical strategies for church leaders to leverage technology and social media for digital discipleship, extending faith engagement beyond Sunday mornings.

Social Media Tune Up: How to Supercharge Your Church’s Online Presence
Discover how to supercharge your church's online presence by auditing your social media profiles, implementing effective posting strategies, and leveraging free templates and tools.
The Easiest Way to Create Engaging Church Content (Will & Zack)
Are you a church leader or communicator struggling to Create Engaging Church Content that truly connects? In a recent podcast episode, Zack Esgar and Will Parkins discussed practical advice for churches to make a bigger impact in today’s digital world.

Social Media Tune Up for Churches: Real Profile Audits & Pro Tips
Is your church’s social media falling flat? Discover the proven strategies and real-life audits that can transform your online presence and help you reach more people for Christ—starting today!

20 Social Media Posts You Can Use This Summer
As a church communicator, you know how vital social media is for sharing God’s story, telling your church’s story, and connecting with your community. But let’s be honest—consistently creating fresh, meaningful posts can feel overwhelming, especially with everything else on your plate each week.
The Real Importance of a Sign-Up and Events Page for Your Church
Are you making it as easy as possible for people to connect with your church? In today’s digital world, effective communication is key, and one of the most impactful things you can do is create a central hub for all your sign-ups and events.

How Tent Apps Helped a Community Church Climb to the Top of Google and Reach More Families
When a community church in Texas partnered with Tent Apps, they faced a common challenge: despite being a vibrant, welcoming church, they weren’t showing up at the top of search results when people in their town looked for a church.

Free Google Ads for Churches Unlock $10,000 Monthly
Are you a church leader aiming to broaden your reach and grow your ministry without straining your budget? Imagine having access to $10,000 in free advertising each month through Google Ad Grants. It’s not too good to be true!

Sermon to Social Media: The Easiest Way to Create Engaging Church Content (Will & Zack)
Struggling to turn your weekly sermons into content that actually connects online? Discover the easiest way to transform your church’s message into engaging social media posts—without burning out your team!
How Should a Church Respond to a Negative Google Review
Negative reviews can sting—especially when your church pours its heart into serving the community. But a negative Google review isn’t the end of the story. In fact, how you respond can turn a tough moment into an opportunity to show grace, build trust, and even help your church’s online visibility.

Maycember is Coming!
“Maycember” is a term that describes the end-of-school-year chaos in May, which is similar to the busy, stressful, and event-filled nature of December. As a Church Communicator one of the kindest things you can do for the families in your church is to truly streamline all communications during late April and through the month of May.

Easter Ads Optimization – Webinar
Easter is one of the most significant times of the year for churches to connect with their communities. With the average American spending 2.5 to 4 hours daily on social media, leveraging platforms like Facebook and Instagram to run Easter ads is a powerful way to invite people to your church.

Church Website Housekeeping: A Guide to Keeping Your Online Presence Fresh and Impactful
Your church website is often the first impression potential visitors have of your community. It’s a digital front door that reflects your church’s values, culture, and attention to detail. This blog post explores practical tips for maintaining your church website, ensuring it stays fresh, relevant, and welcoming to both new and returning visitors.

Growing Your Church Through Online Strategy with Stacey Franco of Summit Church
In this episode of Smarter Church Communications, host Zack Esgar talks with Stacey Franco, the communications leader at Summit Church, about how their church has doubled in size over the past four years. Stacey dives into the key strategies behind their growth, including the importance of growing your church online through a focused digital approach, targeted audience engagement, and using tools like Tent Apps for their website, digital ads, and Google My Business management.

How to Fill Your Church Social Media Calendar
Social media has become an essential tool for churches to stay connected with their congregation and engage their community. Yet, many church leaders find it challenging to consistently fill their social media calendars with content that is both meaningful and impactful.

Ultimate Easter Outreach | Maximize Your Impact This Season
Easter is a prime opportunity for churches to engage with their communities, sharing messages of hope and renewal. Strategic planning and effective outreach can significantly amplify your church's impact this season.

Effective Church Website SEO Strategies to Enhance Google Visibility
Are you finding it challenging to increase your church website’s visibility on search engines? I understand how important it is for your faith community to connect with locals online. In this article, I’ll cover essential church website SEO strategies, including improving accessibility and optimizing for local search.

3 Biggest Mistakes Churches Make with Christmas Social Media Ads
Many churches make common mistakes with their Christmas social media ads, leading to wasted budget and missed opportunities. This post highlights the three biggest errors and how to fix them for more effective outreach.

Free Church Christmas Eve Outreach Resources
As the holiday season approaches, churches have a unique opportunity to connect with their communities and share the message of hope and joy that Christmas brings. This blog post outlines essential steps for preparing your church for Christmas outreach, focusing on creating a compelling online presence.

Free Advertising for Churches
Are you struggling to reach more people in your community? The Google Ads grant offers a fantastic opportunity for churches to access free advertising and expand their reach.

Unlocking Community Connections: Optimizing Your Church’s Google My Business
Imagine your church as a beacon of hope in your community. How can you ensure that this light shines brightly online, reaching those who are seeking spiritual guidance?

Church Website Design Best Practices
Church Website Design is essential for creating a strong online presence for religious organizations. By incorporating features like parallax scrolling, you can transform your church website into a vibrant hub of virtual activity.

Top 3 Essentials for an Effective Church Website Homepage
In this episode, we dive into the top 3 must-haves for a church website’s homepage. From engaging content to seamless navigation, discover how to make your church’s online presence welcoming and impactful.
Introducing Church Profile Locking for Google My Business
Profile Locking is an innovative feature offered by Tent Apps that empowers churches to manage suggestions and maintain the accuracy of their Google My Business profiles with ease, preventing unwanted suggestions or inaccurate information.

5 Quick Tips to Improve Your Church Website Today
Welcome to the digital doorstep of your ministry—the church website. In this age of online connectivity, your website is often the first point of contact for seekers and believers alike.

Create a Homepage for your Website with Your Phone and 5-7 Simple Shots!
The “hero” section of your website’s homepage is your opportunity to grab the viewers interest and attention. You can do that in several ways, including a homepage video.

Church Social Media Engagement
In our interconnected world, your church’s social media presence is a digital neighbor to countless individuals seeking connection, hope, and spiritual guidance. This post delves into three practical strategies that will help your church social media not just exist, but thrive.
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