Gloo Strengthens Church Outreach with Investment in VisitorReach's AI Technology

In a significant move to enhance church outreach and engagement across the nation, Gloo, a leading technology platform tailored for the Christian community, has announced a strategic investment in the innovative startup VisitorReach. This collaboration aims to fuse technology and pastoral expertise, providing churches with the essential resources needed to connect with their communities effectively.

Founded in 2023, VisitorReach offers a unique service enhanced by artificial intelligence, designed to deliver personalized advertisements to local residents. By inviting potential visitors to engage through personalized text conversations, they are transforming the traditional approach of church outreach. According to Brad Hill, chief solutions officer at Gloo, "VisitorReach represents the next generation of church outreach," as it perfectly blends modern technology with an understanding of local churches' needs.

VisitorReach's offerings have already proven beneficial for over 600 churches through their Digital Health Assessment service. This service acts as a comprehensive evaluation of a church’s online presence, providing tailored recommendations for improvement. The intention behind this initiative is clear: to empower churches to create meaningful connections with new visitors and existing congregants.

Marc Estes, president and CEO of VisitorReach, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, "By uniting the Gloo technology platform with VisitorReach's innovative outreach solutions, we can jointly equip churches across the nation to bring hope, healing, and the message of Jesus to a world in desperate need." Their mission encapsulates a profound commitment to empower faith organizations with transformative tools designed for outreach excellence and purposeful community interaction.

Gloo, known for its wide array of solutions catering to churches—including communication tools, digital ministry capabilities, and social media support—plans to launch a bundled offering that combines VisitorReach with its premium membership, Gloo+. This initiative is expected to unveil further details soon, aimed at maximizing user engagement and outreach efficacy for churches.

Hill noted that this alliance fills a crucial gap in how Gloo supports the church community. He explained that the partnership would enable Gloo to provide a complete lifecycle solution for every stage of visitor and congregant engagement. This integrated approach is expected to ensure that churches can maintain a consistent influx of new visitors while utilizing contemporary digital marketing strategies, all without needing a dedicated outreach staff.

"The net result of the partnership will be that churches can enjoy a steady, predictable stream of new visitors, leverage modern digital marketing principles, and possess the necessary tools to more effectively engage and retain their people for greater ministry impact," Hill added.

As a Gloo Capital Partner, VisitorReach will continue to operate under its brand and maintain its leadership team, ensuring consistency in its business operations. Specific financial terms of the investment have not been disclosed, although it marks a promising future for both organizations.

Gloo serves a network of over 80,000 churches and more than 1,000 resource partners aimed at fostering the flourishing of communities and the thriving of their organizations. By connecting ministry leaders with comprehensive resources and insights, Gloo ensures the efficient exchange of information that nurtures collaboration and confidence in their collective mission.

VisitorReach's unique approach focuses on building strong relationships with people in the community through tailored communication strategies. The platform’s capabilities allow pastors to effectively utilize tools like quick replies, conversational assistants, and personalized outreach journeys to engage with newcomers and foster an environment conducive to long-term community building.

Ultimately, this strategic investment not only highlights Gloo's commitment to supporting the church ecosystem but also underscores the vital role technology plays in fostering spiritual connections and community outreach in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.