The People section is the central contact database in Text In Church. Every person you want to communicate with needs a People Record: a profile that stores their name, contact information, group memberships, and message history. This article walks you through the People Dashboard, how to add and manage contacts, and answers common questions about how the section works.
Jump To
The People Dashboard
When you open the People section from the left-hand navigation, the Dashboard gives you a quick snapshot of your contact list, including:
Total number of People Records and how many were recently added
Contacts opted in to text vs. opted out
Contacts opted in to email vs. opted out
Use this view to monitor the health of your contact list and track engagement over time.
Adding People to Text In Church
There are three ways to add contacts from the People section:
Click + Add New in the top right corner to create a full People Record manually.
Click the dropdown arrow next to + Add New and select Quick Add to enter a name, email address, and phone number for one or more contacts quickly.
Click the dropdown arrow and choose Import to upload a CSV file of contacts.
Note: When importing a CSV file, make sure to check the opt-in permissions box during the import process. If you missed this step and all contacts were imported as opted out, email Support@TextInChurch.com with the subject line "Assistance with Re-Opting In Contacts" and attach the original CSV file. Our team can correct this for you.
Text In Church also automatically creates a People Record when someone texts your church number and is not already in your contact list. These contacts are labeled System Created. This is expected behavior that ensures every inbound conversation stays connected to a record. If you receive System Created contacts you do not need, you can archive them from their People Record.
Reviewing and Managing People Records
Click on any contact in the People list to open their individual People Record. From there you can:
Send them a message directly
Edit their contact information
Add or remove them from Groups
View their message and workflow history
Click the Workflows button inside a People Record to see any upcoming or previously processed workflow steps for that contact. You can send a step immediately or cancel it from this view.
The People list also displays key contact fields at a glance, including whether a person has a mobile number or email address on file and whether they have opted out of receiving messages.
Sorting and Filtering Your Contacts
You can sort the People list by clicking any column header, including First Name, Last Name, Email, and Phone. Click a header once to sort ascending and again to sort descending. Sorting by Last Name is a quick way to find a specific contact or review your list alphabetically.
When you select contacts using the checkboxes in the People list, the total count of selected records appears at the top of the list. This helps you confirm how many contacts are included before sending a message or making bulk changes.
Use the search bar and filter options to narrow your list by group membership, opt-in status, or other criteria.
Common Questions About the People Section
Do archived contacts receive messages?
No. Archived contacts are removed from active messaging and do not receive texts, emails, or automated workflow messages. To reactivate a contact, open their People Record and unarchive them.
Why is Text In Church automatically creating new contacts?
When someone texts your church number who is not already in your People list, Text In Church automatically creates a contact record for them. This is expected behavior and cannot be turned off. It ensures every inbound conversation is tied to a contact so nothing gets lost. These auto-created records are labeled System Created. You can archive any System Created contacts you do not need to keep.
Have questions or need help? Reach our support team at Support@TextInChurch.com.
