3 Welcome Email Examples for New Subscribers [+ Free Templates]

We’ve been talking a lot about email marketing around here – and for good reason! Email is one of the best ways to connect with your congregation and ensure that they receive the information they need in a timely manner. 

In past weeks, we’ve covered the basics of email marketing and church outreach as well as 10 church email newsletter mistakes (and how to fix them.) 

Today, I want to cover your church’s welcome email strategy because first impressions really do matter – especially when it comes to your email list. 

What is a welcome email?

A welcome email is the first email that your audience receives after signing up for your email list. At its core, the welcome email is your digital “hello.” It’s a chance to engage with new subscribers, thank them for being part of your community, and remind them that they signed up to receive emails from your church. 

There are two main scenarios through which someone may have subscribed to your church’s email list. 

Scenario One:

A new visitor attended your church and connected with the welcome team. Afterward, they decided to fill out a connect card. If it was a digital connect card, their email was seamlessly added to your contact list. It was a physical connect card, you likely manually entered their details into your church management software (think Breeze) and/or email marketing platform (MailChimp, ConvertKit, etc.) 

Scenario Two: 

Someone perused your church’s website and decided they wanted to receive your church’s weekly email newsletter. They entered their email address in the “subscribe” section of your website, and voilà, they were subscribed to your church’s email list. 

Why should I send a welcome email? 

Whether you're using an email marketing platform like MailChimp or taking advantage of Breeze's free email platform, it's best practice to send a welcome email – or even a series of emails – to every new subscriber. This applies whether they were manually added as in scenario one or they subscribed themselves as in scenario two.

Why? Because once someone has willingly given their contact information to your church, they expect to hear from you! A welcome email assures the subscriber that their action – be it filling out the connect card or subscribing to emails on your website – was successful! It is a quick affirmation that they are now receiving communication from your church. 

Here are a few other reasons why sending a welcome email is a good idea!

Welcome Emails Have High Open Rates

People tend to enjoy introductory emails. While our inboxes are flooded with countless promotions and work messages, a welcome email from a community we recently connected with can be new and exciting. This is why welcome emails tend to have a higher engagement rate than any other type of email, with some statistics showing an open rate of over 91%. 

Welcome Emails Set the Tone

Welcome emails are a great way to showcase who you are as a church – your culture, your values, and your voice. That means that this email isn’t just a formality; it’s the beginning of a relationship. It’s an opportunity to make new visitors feel truly welcomed, and it sets the stage for future conversations and communication. 

Welcome Emails Can Keep Your Church Out of the Spam Folder

If people actually open and engage with your church’s welcome email, it is far less likely that your emails will end up in their spam folder in the future! This is because email platforms like Gmail and Outlook will prioritize emails that people frequently open and interact with. If your subscribers show their interest by opening your welcome email, it reduces the chance that algorithms will push future emails to the spam folder. 

Welcome Emails Can Lead to Action

A Call-to-Action (CTA) is essential in making your emails more than just a read-and-delete experience. A well-crafted welcome email not only introduces subscribers to your community but also nudges them toward deeper connection. Consider your church’s “next steps” process, and offer a CTA that pushes your audience toward their next step.  

At my church, we encourage all new visitors to attend a Life Class through which they can meet the pastoral staff, ask questions, and learn more about the mission and vision of our church community. Because of this, we make sure all welcome emails have a CTA of signing up for the next Life Class. Remember, a welcome email is not just a 'hello.' It's the first step in fostering a deeper connection.

What Kinds of Things Can a Welcome Email Include? 

In addition to a Call-to-Action, it is good practice for welcome emails to include some of the following: 

1. A thank you or welcome note: 

A warm "thank you" will set a friendly tone and show your new subscribers they are valued.

2. Reminder about why they joined: 

It’s easy for us to forget that we have given out contact information. A good welcome email reminds people how they got on your email list and reassures them that their contact information is safe.

3. Encouragement to engage with your email: 

Encouraging your audience to fill out a survey, forward email content, or reply to your email will empower them to be part of the conversation - not just a recipient.

4. Core values of your church: 

Sharing core values in a welcome email will help subscribers understand and better connect with your church's mission.

5. Prompt to add them to the safe sender list: 

If a subscriber marks your email as a “safe sender,” it will ensure your emails consistently reach their inbox rather than their spam folder.

6. Link to popular content: 

Do you post most sermons on YouTube? Does your church have a leadership podcast or blog through which you pastor your congregation? Sharing top content will offer immediate value to your new subscribers and help build their understanding of your church. 

7. Note about when they’ll be expecting emails: 

Let your audience know when they will receive the next email (e.g., in the next couple of days) and how often they should expect to receive emails. Letting people know what is coming next eases anxiety and builds trust. 

3 Welcome Email Templates for Your Church

Ready to draft your welcome email? Here are a few templates you can use as a baseline!

#1 The Pastoral Welcome Email

Subject: Welcome Note from [Title and Name, e.g., Pastor Mark]

Dear [Subscriber's Name],

Welcome to the [Your Church's Name] community! I'm [Title and Name], and I want to take a moment to personally welcome you and thank you for connecting with us! We are so grateful for every person in our church family, and I look forward to getting to know you more! 

You are receiving this email because you filled out a connect card, signed up for emails on our website, or both! We promise not to send too many emails your way, but we will send emails with helpful content and information about upcoming events. 

Thanks again, and welcome! 

P.S. Stay tuned for our [type of communication, e.g., weekly newsletter] that we send out every [specific day, e.g., Friday]. And please make sure to add our email to your safe sender list to stay updated.

[Title and Name, e.g., Pastor Mark]

#2 The Core Values and Survey Email

Subject: Getting to Know [Your Church's Name]

Hello [Subscriber’s Name],

At [Your Church's Name], we’re committed to [your church’s mission statement, e.g., seeing the world look more like heaven.]

We’ve built our community on the following values: [core value 1, e.g., Humility, [core value 2, e.g., Worship], and [core value 3, e.g., Community]. 

We are so grateful to have you here! To help us serve you better, would you mind taking a brief survey? [Link to the survey]. 

God Bless,

[Your Church's Outreach Team]

#3 The Core Values and Survey Email

Subject: [Your Church's Name] Highlights Just for You

Dear [Subscriber’s Name],

Thank you for subscribing to [Your Church’s Name]’s email newsletter. Whether you are new to  [Your Church’s Name] or simply new to the newsletter, we want to welcome you! 

The purpose of this newsletter is to keep you updated on all the happenings of [Your Church’s Name]. We will send an email [frequency], and it will often include links to the sermons and other special content, as well!

Speaking of sermons, we wanted to share a powerful message that [Title and Name, e.g., Pastor Jessica] shared last week on the topic of [sermon topic, e.g., forgiveness.] 

• Link 1 [to sermon]

I hope this sermon encourages you! If you have any questions or comments, please reply to this email, and stay tuned for our next email on [specific day, e.g., Friday].

In the meantime, feel free to reach out with any questions!

Thanks again,

[Your Church's Name] Staff

Looking for an Email Platform?

Breeze email platform is easy to use and seamlessly integrated with the rest of the church management database. Plus, it is a free feature if you are a Breeze user! Learn more about Breeze’s email platform by clicking here.