Communications

Communications Help Manual

This guide covers all communication features available in the church management system, including messages, announcements, group messages, email campaigns, and push notifications.

Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. For All Members
3. For Staff and Administrators
4. Step-by-Step Guides
5. Troubleshooting

Overview

Communication Tools Available

The church management system provides several communication channels to help keep your congregation informed and connected:

Role-Based Access Summary

For All Members

Viewing Your Messages

Your message inbox contains all communications sent to you by church staff and administrators.

Accessing Your Inbox:

1. Log in to your account
2. Navigate to Messages from the main menu
3. Your inbox displays all messages with the most recent at the top

Message Features:

• Unread Indicator: A blue dot appears next to messages you haven't read
• Priority Badges: Important messages are marked with "Important" or "Urgent" badges
• Filter Options: Toggle between "All" and "Unread" messages using the buttons at the top
• Unread Count: The number of unread messages is displayed in the header

Message Priority Levels:

Reading a Message:

1. Click on any message in your inbox
2. The full message content will display
3. Messages are automatically marked as read when opened
4. If the message includes an action link, click "View Details" to follow it
5. Click the X button or "Dismiss" to archive the message

Managing Notification Preferences

Customize how and when you receive notifications from the church.

Accessing Notification Settings:

1. Log in to your account
2. Navigate to Profile from the user menu
3. Scroll down to the Notification Settings section

Available Preferences:

*Only active when Push Notifications are enabled

Enabling/Disabling Push Notifications

Push notifications allow you to receive real-time alerts in your browser even when you're not on the church website.

Requirements:

• A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari)
• Browser notifications must be allowed

To Enable:

1. Go to Profile > Notification Settings
2. Click the Enable button next to "Push Notifications"
3. When prompted by your browser, click Allow
4. Once enabled, customize which notifications you want to receive

To Disable:

1. Go to Profile > Notification Settings
2. Click the Disable button next to "Push Notifications"

For Staff and Administrators

Creating Announcements

Required Role: Staff or Admin

Announcements appear on the church website and can be set with different priority levels and expiration dates.

To Create an Announcement:

1. Navigate to Admin > Announcements
2. Click Add New Announcement
3. Fill in the required fields:

• Title (required): A concise headline for the announcement
• Content (required): The full text of the announcement
• Priority: Low, Normal, High, or Urgent
• Expires On: Optional date when the announcement should stop displaying
• Active: Check to display immediately on the website

1. Click Save Announcement

Sending Group Messages

Required Role: Staff or Admin

Group messages allow you to send targeted communications to specific groups within your congregation through multiple channels.

To Create a Group Message:

1. Navigate to Admin > Group Messages
2. Click New Message
3. Complete the message form:

• Title (required): Subject line for the message
• Message (required): Plain text content
• HTML Content (optional): Rich HTML version for email delivery
• Recipients: Choose who receives the message
• Delivery Channels: Select how the message is delivered
• Priority: Set the message importance level
• Action URL (optional): Link for a call-to-action button

1. Click Create Message to save as a draft

Step-by-Step Guides

How to View Your Messages

1. Log in to your account at the church website
2. Click on Messages in the navigation menu
3. You will see your message inbox with:

• Unread count displayed at the top
• List of all messages, newest first
• Blue highlight on unread messages

1. Click on any message to read the full content
2. To filter, click Unread to show only unread messages
3. Click All to show all messages again

How to Enable Push Notifications

1. Log in to your account
2. Click on your Profile (usually your name or avatar in the header)
3. Scroll down to find Notification Settings
4. Click the Enable button
5. When your browser asks for permission, click Allow
6. Customize your preferences:

• Toggle on/off New Sermons notifications
• Toggle on/off New Events notifications
• Toggle on/off Event Reminders
• Optionally enable Digest Mode for bundled notifications

1. Settings are saved automatically

Troubleshooting

Not Receiving Notifications

Problem: You're not receiving push notifications from the church.

Solutions:

1. Check notification settings:

• Go to Profile > Notification Settings
• Ensure Push Notifications are enabled
• Verify the specific notification types are turned on

1. Check browser permissions:

• Look for a notification icon in your browser's address bar
• Ensure notifications are set to "Allow" for the church website

1. Browser-specific fixes:

• Chrome: Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications
• Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Permissions > Notifications
• Safari: Safari > Settings > Websites > Notifications

Message Not Delivered

Problem: A group message or email campaign shows failed deliveries.

For Staff/Admin:

1. Check recipient email addresses:

• Invalid or bounced email addresses will cause failures
• Review the recipients list for issues

1. Check delivery channel:

• In-App: User must be logged in to see messages
• Push: User must have notifications enabled
• Email: Verify email addresses are valid

Need More Help?

If you're experiencing issues not covered in this guide:

1. Contact the church office during business hours
2. Email the tech support team at your church's support address
3. Check for system announcements that may indicate known issues