Why Email Marketing Matters for Churches
90%+
Email delivery rate
35%
Avg open rate for churches
Free
Most tools offer free plans
Churches face a unique communication challenge: reaching members of all ages, keeping them informed about events and needs, and fostering community — all with limited staff and budget. Email solves this better than any other channel.
Social media reaches only 2-5% of followers. Text messages are intrusive for non-urgent communication. Bulletins are read by fewer than 30% of attendees. Email reaches 90%+ of members directly, can be read at their convenience, and costs almost nothing.
Pro tip: GetResponse offers 50% discount for nonprofits and education, plus a free plan for 500 contacts. Includes automation, landing pages, and AI email builder.
Building Your Church Email List
1. Welcome Card / Connection Card
Include a connection card in your bulletin or pew pocket. Ask visitors and members to share their email address. Offer to send the weekly newsletter and sermon notes. This is the #1 list building strategy for churches.
2. Website Signup Form
Add an email signup form on your church website homepage. "Subscribe to our weekly newsletter." Keep it simple — just email address and first name. Place it above the fold so every visitor sees it.
3. QR Code in Bulletin
Add a QR code to your Sunday bulletin that links to a mobile signup form. "Scan to join our email list." This is the fastest way for members to sign up during service — no pen needed.
4. New Member Class
Collect email addresses during new member classes or membership orientation. These are your most engaged subscribers — they have made a commitment to the church and want to stay informed.
5. Event Registration
Require an email address to register for church events: VBS, retreats, conferences, volunteer signups. This captures emails from both members and non-members who attend events.
6 Emails Every Church Should Send
1. Weekly Newsletter
One email per week with: upcoming events, sermon series info, volunteer needs, prayer requests, and a note from the pastor. This is the core of church email marketing. Send on Wednesday or Thursday to prepare for Sunday.
2. Monday Recap
Send on Monday with: sermon recap, key takeaways, discussion questions for small groups, and links to the sermon audio/video. This helps members reflect on the message and share it with others.
3. Event Invitations
Promote church events: VBS, retreats, concerts, holiday services, community outreach. Send 3 emails: announcement (3-4 weeks out), reminder (1 week out), and last chance (2 days out). Include registration links.
4. Giving Campaigns
Send targeted emails for giving: year-end giving, building fund, special missions offering, emergency needs. Share the impact of giving with stories and photos. Include a "Give Now" button linking to your online giving page.
5. Prayer Requests & Updates
Send urgent prayer requests and updates to your email list. This is one of the most valued emails churches send — members want to know how to pray for each other. Keep these emails simple and timely.
6. Holiday & Seasonal Emails
Send special emails for Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and other significant dates. Include service times, special events, and reflections. Holiday emails have the highest open rates of the year.
Church Email Automation Flows
Flow 1: New Member Welcome (4 emails, 14 days)
Email 1 (immediate): Welcome + what to expect + service times. Email 2 (Day 3): "Get connected" + small groups/ministries overview. Email 3 (Day 7): Pastor's personal welcome + story. Email 4 (Day 14): "How to get involved" + volunteer opportunities + next steps.
Flow 2: First-Time Visitor Follow-Up (3 emails, 7 days)
Email 1 (Monday after visit): "Thanks for visiting!" + next service info. Email 2 (Wednesday): "We would love to answer your questions" + connection card link. Email 3 (Friday): "See you Sunday?" + service times + what to expect.
Flow 3: Event Registration Confirmation (2 emails)
Email 1 (immediate): Confirmation + event details + what to bring. Email 2 (2 days before): Reminder + last details + "See you there!"
Flow 4: Inactive Member Re-Engagement (2 emails, 14 days)
Triggered after 60 days of no opens. Email 1: "We miss you!" + invitation to upcoming service or event. Email 2 (Day 7): "Is there anything we can pray for?" + personal note from pastor.
Pro tip: GetResponse offers 50% discount for nonprofits and a free plan for 500 contacts. Includes automation, landing pages for event registration, and AI email builder.
Church Email Templates
Template: Weekly Newsletter
Subject:
"This week at [Church Name]: [Event/Sermon title]"
Template: First-Time Visitor Follow-Up
Subject:
"Thank you for visiting [Church Name]!"
Template: Giving Campaign
Subject:
"Your generosity is making a difference"
Best Email Marketing Tools for Churches
| Tool | Free Plan | Nonprofit Discount | Automation | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GetResponse | 500 contacts | 50% off | Full + AI | $19/mo |
| MailerLite | 1K / 12K emails | 30% off | Full | $10/mo |
| Brevo | 300/day unlimited | No | Full | $9/mo |
| Mailchimp | 500 contacts | 15% off | Basic | $13/mo |
Start Your Church Email Marketing
GetResponse offers 50% nonprofit discount, free plan for 500 contacts, automation for welcome sequences, and landing pages for event registration.
Try GetResponse Free for 14 DaysFAQ
How often should a church send emails?+
1-2 emails per week is optimal for most churches. Send a weekly newsletter (Wednesday or Thursday) with upcoming events and Sunday prep, plus a Monday recap with sermon notes and discussion questions. For special events or giving campaigns, send 2-3 additional emails leading up to the event. Do not send more than 3 emails per week — members will tune out.
What is the best email tool for a church?+
For most churches, GetResponse is the best choice — it offers a 50% nonprofit discount, free plan for 500 contacts, automation for welcome sequences, and landing pages for event registration. For budget-conscious churches, MailerLite offers a 30% nonprofit discount and the best free plan (1,000 subscribers with automation). For churches with large lists, Brevo offers unlimited contacts at $9/month.
What should a church newsletter include?+
A church newsletter should include: (1) This Sunday's info — sermon series, service times, online link. (2) Upcoming events — dates, times, descriptions, registration links. (3) Volunteer needs — current opportunities to serve. (4) Prayer requests — congregational needs. (5) A note from the pastor — encouragement or reflection. Keep it scannable with clear sections. Send on Wednesday or Thursday to prepare for Sunday.
How do churches build an email list?+
The top 5 list building strategies for churches: (1) Connection cards in the bulletin — ask members and visitors for their email. (2) Website signup form — "Subscribe to our weekly newsletter." (3) QR code in the bulletin — scan to join the email list. (4) New member classes — collect emails during orientation. (5) Event registration — require email to register for VBS, retreats, and other events.