Pastor Mike had just sat down to Christmas dinner with his family when his phone buzzed. Then again. Then three more times.
Each one was a member of his congregation – someone needing prayer, asking about service times, wondering if the church could help with an emergency. By the time dessert rolled around, he'd fielded seven calls and missed half the conversation at the table.
His wife didn't say anything. She didn't have to.
Sound familiar?
Look, we get it. The holidays are already expensive. Your church budget is stretched. The last thing you need is someone trying to sell you another solution to a problem you're already managing (sort of).
But here's the thing: You and your team deserve to actually rest during the holidays. And the people in your community who need help? They deserve to reach someone when they call.
What we want to share with you isn't complicated or expensive. It's just a practical way to make sure calls get to the right people – even when your office is closed and your team is (finally) spending time with their families.
Here's what actually happens when churches close for the holidays:
First-time visitors call to ask about Christmas Eve service times. They get voicemail. They try another church. You never hear from them again.
Someone's going through a crisis – a death in the family, a marriage falling apart, a teenager who just needs someone to talk to. They call the church at 9 PM on December 26th. Voicemail. They don't call back.
Your regulars have simple questions. "Is there child care at the Christmas Eve service?" "What time does the building open on Sunday?" "Can I drop off donations this week?" But your office is closed from December 23rd through January 2nd, so they're out of luck.
Meanwhile, you're supposed to be celebrating Christmas, but you're checking your phone every 20 minutes because what if someone really needs help?
Think about how restaurants handle the holidays. When they get busy, they don't ask their core staff to work 80-hour weeks. They bring in extra help.
Your church needs the same thing for phone calls.
This isn't about replacing your amazing church secretary or your dedicated volunteers. They're irreplaceable. They know people's names, they remember prayer requests, they care deeply about your community.
But what if you had someone who could handle the phone when they're not there? Someone who could:
And what if that "someone" cost $99?
How You're Probably Handling It Now vs. How It Could Work
Office voicemail says "We're closed, call back January 3rd"
Calls are answered 24/7, every single time
Pastor checks phone constantly "just in case"
Pastor's phone only rings for actual emergencies.
Staff feel guilty taking time offStaff can truly rest
First-time visitors get voicemail
First-time visitors get immediate answers
Crisis calls wait days for callback
Crisis calls are routed to on-call pastor within minutes
Sales calls interrupt family time
Sales calls are filtered out automatically
Cost: Guilt, stress, missed opportunities
Cost: $99 one-time
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Here's how it works when someone calls your church:
Your team sets it up once in about 30 minutes. Then it just works.
No complicated training. No monthly fees that eat your budget. No worrying about whether someone's going to answer the phone.
Dr. Shea Shrader, Harman Memorial Baptist Church:
"Church Calls AI has truly been a game changer for us. As a smaller church, we have always struggled with phone issues and keeping up with incoming messages. Church Calls AI has taken a huge burden off our plate by filtering out sales calls, transferring those truly in need to the right person, and answering dozens of common questions automatically. It has been a tremendous asset as we work hard to manage costs while still serving our community well. We are so thankful for this tool!"
This isn't some complicated tech thing. It's simple:
For $99, you activate a phone agent that answers calls to your church. It knows your service times, your location, your basic information. It can take messages and route urgent calls. And yes, it filters out sales calls so you don't have to.
You get 100,000 tokens included (that's roughly 88 calls – which for most churches lasts several months, not just the holidays).
After that, plans start at $9.99/month for basic coverage. No contract. No surprise fees. Just peace of mind.
Think of it this way: $99 is less than what most churches spend on Christmas decorations. And unlike decorations, this investment serves your community every single day of the year.
"Won't people be upset they're not talking to a real person?"
Most people just want their question answered. If they call at 8 PM on Christmas Eve asking what time service starts, they're thrilled to get an immediate answer instead of waiting three days for a callback.
And for anything complex or pastoral, the agent knows to connect them with a real person right away.
"What about real emergencies?"
The agent knows the difference between "What time is service?" and "I'm in crisis and need help now." Urgent calls are immediately routed to your on-call pastor or designated contact. You get the call right away, just like you would if someone called your cell.
"Is this going to be complicated to set up?"
It takes about 30 minutes. You'll share basic information (service times, location, who to contact for what), record a greeting if you want, and set up your transfer preferences. Then it just works.
"What about all those sales calls we get?"
The agent handles them. Politely, professionally, but firmly. Your team never has to deal with another copier salesperson or credit card processing pitch. The agent filters them out so the calls that reach you are the ones that actually matter.
When your church secretary takes time off at Christmas, she shouldn't spend the whole vacation worrying about missed calls.
When your volunteers leave for the holidays, they shouldn't feel guilty for not being available.
When you sit down to Christmas dinner with your family, you shouldn't be glancing at your phone every five minutes.
For $99, you're not just buying phone coverage. You're giving your team permission to rest without guilt. You're telling them their families matter. You're showing them that taking care of themselves is actually part of faithful ministry.
And honestly? That might be the best Christmas gift you give this year.
When you look back on this Christmas season, what do you want to remember?
Do you want to remember checking your phone during Christmas dinner, wondering if someone needs you?
Or do you want to remember being fully present – knowing that anyone who calls your church will get help, whether you're there or not?
Your staff won't remember the overtime they worked. They'll remember whether they got to be with their families.
The people who call your church won't remember if they talked to a person or an agent. They'll remember whether someone answered when they reached out.
You're doing so much. Your team is doing so much. The heart behind your ministry is beautiful.
Let us help you stay connected without burning out.
For $99, you can step into the holidays knowing every call will be answered. Your team gets rest. Your community gets help. You get to be present with the people you love.
Start an Agent Today and give your team the gift of peace this Christmas.
Need help getting set up? Real humans are standing by – email us at hello@churchcalls.ai and we'll walk you through it.
Because the best ministry happens when leaders are rested, families are valued, and communities know someone's always there to help.
You're already doing so much for your church. Let's make sure calls get to the right people – so you can be with yours.
How much does it cost after the initial $99?
The $99 activation includes 100,000 tokens (approximately 88 calls). Most churches find this lasts several months. After that, plans start at $9.99/month for basic coverage or $59.99/month for everything (call recordings, SMS capability, and live transfers).
What happens when the agent can't answer a question?
It immediately connects them to whoever you've designated. You decide who gets transferred urgent calls – could be your cell, could be your office manager, could be rotating on-call staff. It's completely customizable.
How long does setup actually take?
About 30 minutes. You'll share basic information (service times, location, who to contact for what), record a greeting if you want, and set up your transfer preferences. Then it just works.
What if we get more calls than expected?
The agent can handle as many calls as come in – no busy signals, no wait times. If you start running low on tokens, you'll get a heads-up, and you can easily add more. No stress, no surprise bills.
Can we try it just for the holidays and then cancel?
Absolutely. There's no contract. Activate it for the holidays, see how it works, and decide what makes sense for your church. Though honestly, once your team experiences the peace of mind, you might not want to go back.
Does it really filter out sales calls?
Yes. The agent is trained to recognize and politely handle sales calls, survey requests, and other solicitations. These calls never reach your team – they're handled automatically. You only get calls from real people who need real help.
