Digital notes make encouragement easier

Sending encouraging notes with your Share to another Samaritan Ministries member has always been part of the sharing experience—and now it’s easier.

We have extended the ability to send digital notes to all members—not just those in digital sharing. This allows for a member who is sharing another member’s need to communicate with that family, just as they’ve been able to do through postal mail.

The feature is proving to be popular, with 116,000 notes already sent.

Sending notes easier than ever

Senior Program Manager Ethan Hopp hopes that the new capability means an uptick in community and encouragement.

“As much as we encourage members to send notes via paper, it actually doesn’t happen as much as you might think,” he said. “And it really breaks our heart that it doesn’t, because we think that’s so instrumental , to extend the love and comfort of Jesus to our brothers and sisters when they are going through a challenging time. We’re making sending a note easier than ever before. You don’t have to go find a card, buy stamps, and say, ‘Wait a second, do I have enough stamps?’

“Notes can easily be sent from inside the Dashboard, allowing for the receiving member to respond. We’ve already seen early indicators that there is a higher level of engagement with digital notes compared to paper notes. That’s super encouraging for us as well.”

Digital sharing brings connection and care

Historically, a member assigned to share the medical need of another member has been able to mail a note of encouragement. While there’s always the opportunity for the receiving member to respond through postal mail, it’s not typical or easy.

With digital sharing, the member sharing the need can send a note instantly while sending their Share to another member, and the member with the need can respond instantly.

“When you’re assigned to send a Share to someone, you have the ability to send the Share digitally as well as send a note of encouragement along with that Share,” Ethan said.

“Fully digital payments are easier for most people. Digital sharing allows us to minister to our brothers and sisters in Christ more effectively by sending them Shares in a way they would prefer to receive them. Ministry is more than just money you receive and the message that comes with it—it's also the method by which that experience occurs.”

Now members who send paper checks will also be able to send and receive digital notes of encouragement. Those members are able to sign on to the Samaritan Dashboard and send an electronic note to the member whose need they’re sharing. (To send notes, just go to the Shares section of your Dashboard when sending your Share, or the Notes section of your Dashboard if you have already sent your Share.)

“We believe the best experience, though, is to be in digital sharing and send digital notes,” Ethan said. “We still love paper notes and members can still send paper notes even in digital sharing—we just realize that digital notes is often a more convenient method of ministry for most sending and receiving members.”

Instant messages, lasting care

Samaritan’s new digital platform has been popular with members, with more than 36,000 households now participating.

Digital notes have been popular, too. More than 116,000 have been sent so far, with thousands of replies.

While the financial transactions on the digital platform may have to occur over the course of a few days due to banking constraints, the messages arrive at the speed of light.

“We want to make sure that the encouragement can get to you immediately,” Ethan said.

Plus, members will be able to see the history of their messages.

“As a receiver, you will still get that wonderfully overwhelming feeling that you get when you open up your mailbox to a pile of envelopes with Shares,” he said. “You will see all those unread threads and see the various words of encouragement.”