Not Every Conversation Is for Everyone
Your group has 15 members, but only four of them are on the worship team. The logistics for next month's service project only involve six volunteers. And the prayer partners your group set up are in pairs.
Sending all of these conversations to the main group chat would be noisy and overwhelming. That is where chat groups and direct messages come in.
Chat Groups: Sub-Conversations Within Your Group
Chat groups are separate conversation threads within your larger group — like WhatsApp group chats inside your Flock community. Each chat group has its own members, its own messages, and its own notification settings.
How They Work
When you open the Chat tab, you see a list of all the conversations you belong to:
- Everyone — The default chat that includes every group member. This is your main group conversation.
- Chat groups — Any sub-conversations you have been added to, listed by name.
- Direct messages — Private one-on-one conversations.
Tapping any conversation takes you into that thread. Messages in one chat group are completely separate from the others — nothing crosses over.
Creating a Chat Group
Any group member can create a chat group. Here is how:
- Open the Chat tab.
- Tap the option to create a new chat group.
- Give it a name — something descriptive so members know what it is for (e.g., "Worship Team," "Event Planning," "Prayer Partners").
- Add members — Select the people you want to include from your group roster.
- Start chatting.
The chat group is created instantly, and the members you added receive a notification.
Managing Members
You can add or remove members from a chat group at any time through the members management sheet. This is a bottom sheet that slides up and lets you quickly adjust who is in the conversation.
Common Chat Group Examples
| Chat Group Name | Members | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| "Worship Team" | 4 members | Coordinate song selections, rehearsal times |
| "Prayer Partners" | 2-3 members | Dedicated prayer between specific members |
| "Event Committee" | 6 members | Plan the holiday party or service project |
| "Leadership Team" | 3 members | Leader and co-leaders discuss group matters |
| "New Members" | Varies | Welcome new people, answer questions |
Per-Group Notifications
You can mute notifications for individual chat groups without affecting your other conversations. This is helpful when a sub-conversation is busy but you do not need real-time alerts for every message.
Muted conversations still show unread badges so you can catch up when you have time — they just do not buzz your phone.
Direct Messages: Private One-on-One Conversations
Sometimes a conversation is just between two people. Direct messages in Flock give you a private, one-on-one channel with any other member of your group.
When to Use DMs
- Sensitive follow-up. A member shared a prayer request and you want to check in privately.
- Personal coordination. "Can you bring the snacks this Tuesday?" is better sent directly than to the whole group.
- Pastoral conversations. Leaders can reach out to individual members without the rest of the group seeing the exchange.
- Quick questions. "What was the name of that book you mentioned?" does not need to go to 15 people.
How to Send a Direct Message
- Open the Chat tab.
- Find the person you want to message or start a new direct conversation.
- Type your message and send.
DMs work exactly like group chat — you get all the same features including Bible verse sharing, GIFs, reactions, and image sharing. The only difference is that the conversation is private between the two of you.
Smart Resume: Pick Up Where You Left Off
Flock remembers which conversation you were in last. When you come back to the Chat tab, it takes you straight to the conversation you were viewing before you left. This saves you from having to navigate back to the chat group or DM you were reading.
Chat Groups vs. Direct Messages: When to Use Each
| Situation | Use This |
|---|---|
| Multiple people need to coordinate | Chat group |
| A sensitive topic with one person | Direct message |
| Ongoing committee or team | Chat group |
| Quick question for one person | Direct message |
| Prayer partners (2-3 people) | Chat group |
| Follow-up after a prayer request | Direct message |
Tips for Keeping Conversations Organized
Name chat groups clearly. "Worship Team" is much better than "Group 2" or "Side Chat." Good names help members find the right conversation quickly.
Do not create too many chat groups. If your group has 10 members and 15 chat groups, things get confusing. Create chat groups for genuine needs, not for every casual conversation.
Use the Everyone chat for group-wide messages. Announcements, meeting reminders, and shared celebrations belong in the main chat where everyone can see them.
Move off-topic conversations to a chat group. If a sub-topic starts taking over the main chat, suggest creating a chat group for it. "Hey, this worship set discussion is great — let's continue it in the Worship Team chat so we don't bury other messages."
Mute what you need to. If a chat group is buzzing with notifications you do not need in real time, mute it. You can still check in on your own schedule.
Related Help Articles
- Group Chat: Stay Connected Between Meetings — Main chat features overview
- Search and Share Bible Verses in Group Chat — Scripture sharing in any conversation
- Notification Settings: Control What Alerts You Receive — Customize your alerts