Spring 2026 Newsletter

Conferences

Worship & Technology Conference

On April 25, Micheal, Gary B Jr, and Terry had the privilege of attending the Worship and Technology Conference at Crestwood Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and it was a fantastic day. The conference brings together worship leaders, media teams, and ministry volunteers to build skills and connect with others doing the same kind of work, and this year did not disappoint.

Micheal led a breakout session called "Unlocking the Power of Open Source: Revolutionizing Church Ministry," sharing how free, open-source tools like the ones offered through ChurchApps are genuinely changing what is possible for churches of every size. Gary B Jr led one called "Level-Up Your Church Presentation Software For Free," walking attendees through exactly how to get started with FreeShow as a zero-cost alternative to expensive presentation software like ProPresenter. Both sessions were packed with engaged people who were ready to take what they learned back to their churches.

The team also had a booth for ChurchApps and FreeShow, and it was so encouraging to meet so many ministry leaders who are actively looking for affordable, dependable solutions. The good news is that the fun is not over! Micheal and Gary B Jr will be presenting again at the Worship and Technology Conference in Lynchburg, Virginia on May 29 and 30, hosted at the Liberty University School of Music. If you are in the area or looking for a great reason to make the trip, we would love to see you there. You can register at worshiptechnology.net/virginia.

If you missed Louisville and want to connect before Lynchburg, visit us at churchapps.org to explore everything that is available to your church for free.

New Feature

Text Your Congregation Directly from ChurchApps

Staying connected with your congregation just got a whole lot easier. ChurchApps now offers texting through our integration with Clearstream, which means you can send SMS messages to your members right from the platform you are already using, no extra apps or complicated setups needed.

Whether you want to send a quick reminder about Sunday's service, follow up with a first-time visitor, or get an urgent message to a small group, texting puts your communication where your people already are. Their phone.

Getting started is simple, and our team is happy to walk you through the setup whenever you are ready. If you would like to learn more or get it turned on for your church, just give us a call at (918) 860-0053 or email terry@churchapps.org and we will take care of you.

We would also love to work with other text providers! If you have a provider you are already using and would like to see an integration with ChurchApps, have them reach out to us at support@churchapps.org. We are always looking for great partners to help churches communicate better.

Spotlight: FreeShow

Bring Your Worship Presentations Back to Life with FreeShow

We have been visiting with churches lately and hearing a very familiar story: the worship team has the tools but is not quite sure how to use them, so they fall back to whatever they were doing before. If that sounds like your church, you are not alone, and FreeShow might be exactly what you need.

FreeShow is our free, open-source worship presentation software and a full-featured alternative to ProPresenter. From song lyrics and Scripture slides to syncing your front screens with a back choir monitor, FreeShow handles it all with zero monthly fees and no licensing costs.

Our best tip for getting started: assign one dedicated volunteer as your FreeShow champion. They do not need to be a tech expert, just someone willing to learn. Gary B Jr has a dedicated YouTube channel with step-by-step tutorials, and there are built-in help guides to get your team up and running faster than you might expect.

Tips & How-To

Cut Credit Card Fees with ACH Giving

Did you know that accepting donations via ACH (direct bank transfer) instead of credit card can save your church a significant amount in processing fees each year? We have been helping churches get this set up lately, and the savings add up fast.

Credit card companies charge a percentage on every transaction, and those fees quietly eat into your giving totals month after month. ACH transfers work differently, pulling funds directly from a donor's bank account at a much lower cost. For many churches, encouraging even a portion of their regular givers to switch to ACH makes a noticeable difference.

The key is making sure your members know the right path for setting it up. Here is the simple workflow: have them visit b1.church, sign in to their Member Portal, and go to Donations. From there, they can link their bank account directly. Stripe will verify it with two small test deposits, and they are all set.

If you have questions about setting up or promoting ACH giving at your church, just reach out. We are always happy to help.

Community Milestone

ChurchApps Is Growing, and You Are Part of It

We have an exciting milestone to share! ChurchApps is now serving over 15,000 churches around the world, and we could not be more grateful. That means thousands of ministry leaders and volunteers have more time and resources to focus on what matters most, the people in their care.

Together, the churches on our platform are saving an average of $1,500 per year and receiving about $5,000 in service value at absolutely no cost. That money goes back into worship, outreach, discipleship, and community care. That is Kingdom work, and we are honored to be a small part of it.

None of this is possible without the generous donations of people like you. ChurchApps stays free for every church we serve because supporters choose to give back a portion of what they save. If you have been blessed by these tools, consider making a donation at churchapps.org/donate to help us keep serving churches around the world. Every gift makes a difference.

If you know a church that is still overpaying for software, please share ChurchApps with them. It is 100% free, forever, and we would love to help them too.

Podcast

Have You Listened to the ChurchApps Podcast?

If you have not tuned in yet, the ChurchApps Podcast is a great way to stay connected with everything happening in the ChurchApps community. Hosted by Micheal and Kari, the show features new features, practical tips, and real stories from churches just like yours that are using ChurchApps to do more ministry with less overhead.

New episodes drop every month, and whether you are commuting, doing yard work, or just taking a break, it is an easy way to pick up ideas you can take right back to your church. Topics range from platform updates to church management best practices, and hearing how other churches are putting these tools to work is always encouraging.

You can find the ChurchApps Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube. Visit churchapps.org/podcast to browse all the episodes and find your favorite place to listen.