What tools does FaithStreet offer to ministry leaders?

Updated

FaithStreet gives ministry leaders four connected tools: a free church directory listing, an iPhone and Android app, online giving through mobile, text, and web, and a set of engagement features called Friendly Nudges. Together they cover the path from a first visit through ongoing giving and participation. The directory is described as free; the site also references a free trial, but no prices or plan limits are published, so check current terms before committing your church to the app or giving tools.

Start with the free directory listing

The directory is the entry point for most churches. FaithStreet states that 33,596 churches have joined and that visitors can search 323,200+ churches.

  • What it does: Puts your church in front of people searching by location or denomination, and gives you a page that supports the rest of the tools.
  • How to join: Use the “+ Add Your Church” action on the site and provide your church’s details.
  • What to expect: A listing that helps people find you before their first visit. The directory excerpt shows churches listed by name and city, for example Advent Lutheran Church in North Charleston, SC, and St. John Catholic Church in North Charleston, SC.
  • Coverage: Searches can be filtered by denomination and state. Listed denominations include African Methodist Episcopal, Assemblies of God, Baptist (SBC), Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran (ELCA and LCMS), Methodist (UMC), Nondenominational, Presbyterian (PCUSA), Seventh-day Adventist, and United Church of Christ, among others. States run from Alabama through Wyoming, plus Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

If your church is not yet listed, adding it is the first step; the other tools build on that presence.

Giving: mobile, text, and web in one place

FaithStreet’s giving tool is described as “a mobile, text, and web experience for giving online.” For leaders, that means one system can accept gifts through the channels congregants already use, rather than separate setups for each.

  • Mobile: Giving through the app.
  • Text: Congregants give by text message.
  • Web: Online giving from a browser.

The site frames this under “Foster new engagement and giving opportunities,” positioning giving as part of engagement rather than a standalone payment page. Pricing and transaction details are not published in the available material, so confirm fees and setup requirements directly.

The church app for iPhone and Android

The app is described as “an iPhone & Android app for empowering churches.” It is the home for the engagement features below and for mobile giving. Leaders evaluating it should treat the app as the delivery layer: members install it, and the tools inside shape weekly habits.

Friendly Nudges: building a better rhythm

Friendly Nudges is the engagement set aimed at “build a better rhythm.” It includes:

Feature What it supports
Personal giving goals Setting and tracking generosity targets
Recurring giving Scheduled, repeatable gifts
Giving reminders Prompts to keep giving on track
Daily morning prayer lists and reminders Praying alongside the community each morning
Sermon notes, questions, and links to message video and audio Carrying the sermon through the week

The design logic is continuity: giving becomes a habit rather than a one-time response, prayer becomes daily, and the sermon extends past Sunday. A leader can try these through the “Try FaithStreet Goals,” “Mornings,” and “Unified” entry points referenced on the site.

How the pieces fit together

FaithStreet describes the full arc: “From before your first visit, to attending, to meeting people, and all the way to giving and serving, FaithStreet keeps you connected.” In practice:

  1. Discovery: Someone finds your church in the directory.
  2. Connection: They engage through the app.
  3. Rhythm: Friendly Nudges build giving, prayer, and sermon habits.
  4. Giving: Mobile, text, and web giving capture ongoing support.

What to check before you commit

  • Cost: The directory is called free and a free trial is referenced, but no prices are listed. Ask what applies to the app and giving tools.
  • Giving fees and payout details: Not published; confirm before switching processors.
  • App setup effort: Plan who on your team will manage the listing and app content.
  • Denominational fit: Confirm your tradition appears in the directory’s denomination list, or use the nondenominational option.

For a leader deciding where to start, the lowest-risk move is adding the church to the free directory, then trialing the app and Friendly Nudges with a small group before rolling out giving.