Group Chat: Stay Connected Between Meetings

More Than Just Messaging

Your group meets once a week. But community does not pause between Tuesdays. The moments in between — a prayer need on Thursday, a funny meme on Saturday, a "thinking of you" on Monday — are what turn a group of acquaintances into a family.

Flock's group chat keeps your community connected all week long, right inside the same app where you manage prayers, events, and attendance. No need for GroupMe, WhatsApp, or a separate text thread. Everything lives in one place.

What You Can Do in Group Chat

Send Messages

The basics work exactly the way you would expect. Type a message, tap send, and everyone in the group sees it. Messages appear in real time, so conversations flow naturally.

The + Button: Photos, GIFs, and Bible Verses

Tap the + button next to the message input to open the attachment panel. It has three tabs:

Photo — Take a photo with your camera or choose one from your library. Share group selfies, whiteboard notes from the meeting, screenshots of a sermon quote, or anything visual.
GIF — Search and send a GIF from Giphy's library. Sometimes a well-timed GIF says it better than words.
Verse — This is one of Flock's most unique features. Search for a Bible verse by reference ("John 3:16") or in plain English ("love chapter," "be still and know") and Flock's AI finds it for you. Choose from 12 translations, then insert it into your message or send it immediately as a beautifully formatted scripture card. Anyone in the group can tap the card to open it in Blue Letter Bible for deeper study. For a full walkthrough, see Search and Share Bible Verses in Group Chat.

React to Messages

Instead of sending a new message that says "Ha!" or "Amen!", you can react to any message with an emoji. This keeps the chat cleaner while still letting people respond to what is being said.

Reply to Specific Messages

When a conversation moves fast, you can reply directly to a specific message to keep context clear. This works like a thread — your reply links back to the original message so everyone knows what you are responding to.

Mention People

Type @ followed by someone's name to mention them directly. They will receive a notification even if they have muted the general chat. Use this when you need a specific person's attention — "Hey @Sarah, can you bring the study guides tonight?"

Pin Important Messages

Leaders can pin messages to keep them at the top of the chat. This is perfect for directions to the meeting location, a Bible reading plan, or any information the group needs to reference repeatedly.

Search Past Messages

Cannot remember who mentioned that restaurant last month? Flock includes AI-powered search that finds messages by meaning, not just exact keywords. Search for "dinner plans" and it will surface relevant conversations even if nobody used those exact words.

Read Receipts

Flock shows when messages have been read, so you know your message was seen. This is especially useful for leaders who need to confirm that important announcements reached the group.

Moderation Tools for Leaders

As a group leader, you have a few extra capabilities:

Delete messages — Remove any inappropriate or off-topic messages
Pin messages — Keep important information visible at the top
Mute notifications — Temporarily silence a busy conversation without leaving it

These tools help you keep the chat a positive, productive space.

Chat vs. Announcements

Flock has both chat and announcements, and they serve different purposes:

	Chat	Announcements
Purpose	Casual, real-time conversation	Important broadcasts
Pace	Fast-moving, conversational	Permanent, organized
Finding old messages	Can get buried in the flow	Always easy to find
Best for	Day-to-day connection	Event details, updates, important news

Use chat for the daily life of your group. Use announcements for anything that needs to be found later.

Tips for a Healthy Group Chat

Set the tone early. The first few messages in a new group chat set the culture. Start with something warm and inviting, and your members will follow suit.

Use it, but do not overuse it. A chat that buzzes all day can feel overwhelming. Encourage meaningful messages and use sub-conversations (chat groups) to keep side topics from flooding the main thread.

Share scripture. The Bible verse feature is there for a reason. When someone is struggling, sharing a relevant verse is one of the most powerful things a group can do.

Respect quiet members. Not everyone is a chatty person, and that is perfectly fine. Some members prefer to read along without posting. They are still part of the community.

Move private matters to DMs. If a conversation shifts to something personal or sensitive, take it to a direct message. Keep the group chat a space that feels comfortable for everyone.