Frequently Asked Questions

What is bltn?

bltn (pronounced "bulletin") is an all-in-one church communication platform. It helps churches create, schedule, and publish bulletins, announcements, and updates across multiple channels - including SMS text messages, email newsletters, social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads), and print - all from one place. Churches using bltn have sent over 3.2 million digital bulletins to their congregations.

Who is bltn for?

bltn is designed for churches of all sizes - from small congregations of 50 to large churches with thousands of members. It's especially helpful for church administrators, communications directors, pastors, and ministry staff who want to simplify their weekly communication workflow and reach more people.

Why is it called "bltn"?

Our catch-phrase is "build a better bulletin". We love the tradition of the Sunday print bulletin, but we want to push church communication forward and embrace new technologies. With that in mind, we picked the most modern, web-friendly name we could think of - bltn without the vowels.

Who created bltn?

bltn was created by Jason and Justin Funk, two brothers who grew up with a passion for the church and technology. They built bltn to solve the communication challenges they saw churches facing every week.

What features does bltn include?

Why does bltn use text messages for digital bulletins?

We believe church communication should be "pushy" in a good way - it should reach people where they already are. Text messages have a 98% open rate, compared to 20% for email and even lower for app notifications. When you send your bulletin via SMS, it goes straight to your congregation's phones without requiring them to download an app, remember to open it, or navigate to find updates. Studies show text messages are at least twice as effective as app notifications for engagement.

Does bltn integrate with Planning Center?

Yes! bltn has an official integration with Planning Center. You can sync your congregation data and streamline your communication workflow between the two platforms.

Can I still print bulletins with bltn?

Absolutely! Churches are multi-generational, and we built bltn to serve every level of technological comfort. You can create your bulletin once and publish it digitally AND generate a print-ready PDF for those who prefer paper. No duplicate work required.

How is bltn different from a church app?

Most church apps have only 10-15% adoption rates - meaning 85% of your congregation never sees what you post there. Apps require people to download something new, remember to open it, and navigate to find updates. bltn takes a different approach by delivering content directly via text message, email, and social media - channels people already use daily. You get higher engagement without asking your congregation to adopt new technology.

What's the difference between bltn and Mailchimp?

Mailchimp is an email marketing platform, while bltn is purpose-built for church communication. bltn includes SMS texting (which Mailchimp doesn't), social media publishing, print bulletin generation, and a church-specific content workflow. With bltn, you create content once and publish it everywhere - text, email, social, and print - instead of managing separate tools for each channel.

Is bltn better than using separate tools for email, texting, and social media?

Most churches use 4-5 different tools to communicate with their congregation - one for email, one for texting, one for social media, maybe one for the bulletin. That means 4-5 logins, 4-5 places to update content, and 4-5 chances to miss something or have inconsistent messaging. bltn consolidates everything into one platform where you build once and publish everywhere.

How much does bltn cost?

bltn offers flexible pricing based on your church's needs. Visit our pricing page for current plans and features. We offer a free trial so you can test everything before committing.

Is there a free trial?

Yes! bltn offers a 2-week free trial with full access to all features. No credit card required to start. You can send your first bulletin within 5 minutes of signing up.

How do I get my congregation to sign up for text updates?

Each church gets a unique keyword. Congregation members simply text your keyword to our phone number to subscribe. Most churches announce this during service ("Text 'FIRSTCHURCH' to (877) 768-2586 to get our bulletin on your phone!") and include it on welcome cards, printed bulletins, and their website.

Can I get a live demo of bltn?

Yes! We offer free 15-minute demos where we'll walk you through bltn, answer your questions, and show you exactly how it would work for your church. No pressure, no sales pitch - just a helpful walkthrough. Book your free demo here.

Can you show me how to use bltn?

Absolutely! We offer free one-on-one demos. Click here to schedule a 15-minute walkthrough with our team.

How long does it take to set up bltn?

Most churches send their first bulletin within 5-15 minutes of signing up. The drag-and-drop builder makes it simple to create content, and you can use last week's bulletin as a template for future weeks.