Free Church Texting: Is It Actually Free?
"As a pastor, I’ve personally tested multiple church texting platforms that promise free messaging. What I discovered was sobering. While some offer a no-cost entry point, there is always a cost (often paid with data, privacy, or control). And when it c...
The $2,000 Rule: How OBBBA Changes 1099's for Churches
For years, churches have followed a $600 1099 reporting threshold, often requiring paperwork for small, one-time payments like guest speakers or musicians. Starting in 2026, that changes. Under the OBBBA, the federal 1099 threshold increases from $600 t...
5 Common Church Website Mistakes (How to Fix Them)
Just last year, I revamped over 200 church websites. Here's my shortlist of the most common mistakes I see and how your church can easily fix them in an hour. Key Takeaways: Most church websites fail in these 5 key areas: Member-Centric Design: Priori...
How to Create a Contact Card for Your Church
If people don’t have your church saved in their contacts, your messages might never see the light of day. A digital contact card fixes that fast! When someone saves your info, it tells mobile carriers your messages aren't spam. In this guide, we’ll s...
Church Software Update: Revamped Accounting Search with Reports (Feb 2026)
As a church treasurer or bookkeeper, your tools should work as hard as you do. While ChurchTrac’s accounting search has always been a staple, we knew it could do more. In our quest to revamp it for 2026, we did more than just update the interface—we...
The 3 Jobs of a Church Website
Your church’s front door isn’t made of wood anymore—it’s made of pixels. For most people, their first interaction with your church community happens online, long before they ever attend a new church in person. A church website is no longer optio...
Clergy Housing Allowance 101
Your pastor might be losing thousands of dollars in take-home pay every year—and the IRS is perfectly happy to let you keep making this classic mistake. The clergy housing allowance is the most significant tax benefit available to ministers, yet it is ...
The #1 Pastor Payroll Mistake (It's FICA)
January 1st is often a hopeful moment for small churches. Payroll gets updated, numbers are changed, and things move forward. Unfortunately, this is also when one of the most common pastor payroll mistakes quietly happens. A well-meaning church treasure...
New Feature: Enhanced Messaging
Enhanced Messaging gives your church a dedicated toll-free number to send and receive texts and voice messages directly within ChurchTrac—no third-party integrations required. How Enhanced Messaging Works After providing basic information about your c...