Messages
The Messages feature lets you have private conversations with other members of your church right inside the portal ("Your in-app conversations — no phone numbers shared."). You can send a note to a friend, message a small-group leader, share a file, or quietly check in with your pastor.
Opening Your Inbox
- Log in to the Member Portal.
- Click Messages in the sidebar navigation (on a phone, the Messages tab at the bottom).
Your inbox lists every conversation you are part of, with the most recent activity at the top. Each row shows:
- The other person's name (or the conversation's name if several people are in it)
- A preview of the most recent message (You: when it was yours)
- When the latest message was sent
- A marker if there are unread messages
Note: If you see Messaging not available yet ("Your profile isn't linked to a login yet — ask your church admin."), your church office needs to connect your profile to your login first.
Composing a New Message
- From the Messages page, click New message.
- In the To field, start typing a name (Search members or teams...) and pick the person from the list. You can add more than one person to start a group conversation. "Type @ to mention a team and message everyone at once."
- Write your message in the Message box. You can use Bold and Italic.
- Optionally click Attach file to add one or more files.
- Click Send Message.
To start over, click Discard and confirm Discard this message?.
Note: You can only message members who have a portal login at your church. If you cannot find someone, ask your church office to confirm they are set up in the system.
Reading and Replying
- From the inbox, click any conversation to open it.
- The full thread appears with the oldest message at the top and the newest at the bottom, grouped by day (Today, Yesterday, and so on).
- Type your reply in the box at the bottom ("Message [name]…").
- Click Send.
A message that was changed after sending shows an Edited label.
Attaching Files
You can attach photos, documents, or other files to a message:
- While writing a new message or a reply, click Attach file.
- Select one or more files from your device.
- Add any text you want to go with them, then send.
The files appear in the conversation for everyone in it to open.
Archiving a Conversation
Archiving moves a conversation out of your main inbox without deleting it. It's a way to keep your inbox tidy.
- Open the conversation you want to archive.
- Click the Archive icon at the top of the conversation.
- Confirm Archive this conversation?.
The conversation disappears from your inbox. The other people in it still have their copy.
Blocking and Reporting
- Block: in a one-to-one conversation, click Block at the top and confirm ("Block this member? They will no longer be able to message you, and this conversation will be hidden."). To undo it, open Blocked members at the bottom of your inbox and click Unblock.
- Report this: next to a message, click Report this to send it to your church leaders for review.
See Reporting Content and Blocking Members.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I message someone who is not a member of my church? A: No. Messages stay inside your church's portal and require both people to have member accounts.
Q: Are my messages private? A: Conversations are private between the participants. Church administrators do not casually browse member messages, but content can be reviewed if there is a safety concern or if someone reports it.
Q: Will I get an email when someone messages me? A: New messages always show in your portal notifications. Which emails you get is set on Notification Settings (see Notifications).
Q: How do I block someone from messaging me? A: Open a one-to-one conversation with them and click Block at the top of the conversation. If someone is contacting you in a way that makes you feel unsafe, also contact your church office or pastoral staff right away.
Who You Can Find When Searching
- Members find adults who are listed in the directory and people they share a group with.
- Admins find any active adult member.
- Children and blocked people never appear in search.
- A minor can always reach their own guardians, and nobody else. (8.205.304)
The Messages item in the menu shows when you have unread messages. (8.205.303)
Last updated: 2026-10-21 (8.205.306).