What churches ask us.
Short answers to the questions a minister, a secretary or an elder asks first. If yours isn’t here, book a walkthrough and ask us.
The price and the beta
What does it cost, and what happens when the beta ends?
It’s free during the beta. After that, one monthly price by how many adults can sign in, from $39 to $149, and never more. We’ll tell you at least 60 days ahead, and nothing is charged until your church picks its band and says yes. See the bands.
We’re a small congregation. Is this too much for us?
It was made for a church where one person does the office. The smallest band costs least, and many tools stay off until your church turns them on.
Is there a contract?
No. No contract, no setup fee and no add-ons. Every tool is in every band.
Can we try it before the elders decide?
Yes. It’s free during the beta. Create your church’s account, or book a walkthrough and bring your elders along.
Your members
Will our older members be able to use it?
There’s no password and nothing to download from a store. They sign in with a link or a 6-digit code sent by email. And the printed bulletin and a printed Directory booklet are still there for anyone who wants paper.
Do we have to give up our printed bulletin?
No. It makes the printed bulletin, every week, under the headings your members know. See the bulletin.
Is it in the App Store?
No, on purpose. Your church’s app opens from your church’s own website, so there’s nothing to download and nothing to update.
Whose name do our members see?
Your members see only your church’s name, logo and colors. Church emails close with one small line saying they were sent through Above Church.
Privacy and your information
Who can see our Directory and our prayer requests?
Only your church’s signed-in members. Each person chooses what the Directory shows about them, and a prayer request can go to the church office and the elders only. A locked phone never shows a request’s words.
Is our information ours? What if we stop?
It stays with your church, walled off from every other. If you leave, ask, and we’ll send a copy of your people, households, bulletins and form answers. Then we delete everything within 30 days.
What if our secretary changes?
Each person in the office has only the permissions they need. Give the next person the same ones, and every bulletin and every week is where it was.
Getting started
How do we get started, and who sets it up?
Create your church’s account, or book a walkthrough first. Either way, send us your member list and last Sunday’s bulletin, and we’ll set it up with you. Always free.
Can we keep our web address?
Yes. Your church keeps its own address, and its email stays where it is.
Is this only for Churches of Christ?
Every church is welcome. It was born in a Church of Christ, so it starts with a Church of Christ bulletin and the words those congregations use. Change what your church does differently.
Who answers when we need help?
The person who makes it. Book a walkthrough, and we write back within one working day.
Giving
Does online giving take a cut of our contribution?
Never. Gifts go straight to your church’s own Stripe account, and we take nothing. The card company’s own fee still applies. Giving is coming in the beta. See giving.
See it with your own church in mind.
In a walkthrough we show you around a made-up congregation. Bring your minister, your elders or whoever does the computer work. There’s nothing to set up and nothing to buy.
Free during the beta. A short form, and we write back within one working day.