Ways to Share Your Directory

Now that you've completed your directory, the next step is to share it with your members! Instant Church Directory offers multiple ways to share your directory to reach members in the way they wish.

Ways to Share Your Directory:

Print a traditional PDF of your Directory.
Members can download the FREE member app or log in to the members' website to view your directory.
Email a copy of your directory to your church members.
Link the PDF to your church website with password protection.
How to Stop Sharing your PDF Directory.

Print a traditional Printed Directory from a PDF

Once you have entered your directory data and generated your directory, you are ready to share your PDF under Share PDF. To download your PDF, click on the Download link next to any generated directory.

From there you can choose to Print a booklet or full-size directory yourself or Print your directory with a 3rd party printer.

Members can download the FREE member app or log in online to view your church directory.

To view the directory, members can download the FREE member app on their mobile devices, or use the members' website from any browser.

The app and the members' website provide a robust church directory experience from any device. Members can search for a family within the directory to view their photos and information and to call, email or text. Plus, the mobile app and online members' website is FREE with your church's paid membership.

To share the directory in the member apps and member website, you first need to enable the feature.

Go to Member Apps and check Enabled.

By default, this access is disabled. Once enabled, members can sign in to the Instant Church Directory app (Android or iOS) or the member website using the email address listed in the directory.

Under Member Apps, you can also:

Share links to the member website and member apps for downloading.
Turn on Optional MFA (Two-Factor Authentication.)
Enable individual sections of the directory to show or not show.
Check overall and individual member login stats.
Check the status of a member's email in the directory to help troubleshoot access to the directory.

Be sure to check out our other helpful articles to learn more about these features!

Understanding the mobile apps for iOS and Android

Understanding the Members Online website

Enabling Two-Factor Authentication for Members

Help website built specifically for members

Email a PDF copy of your directory to your church members.

You can choose to download your full directory as a PDF and email it to your congregation as an attachment. Click the Download link and a PDF will download to your computer. You can then send it as an attachment to your members.

IMPORTANT: Anytime you share a PDF ensure you have a strong password on it. Never post the password for your directory on your church's website or include it in the email used to send the PDF directory. If your PDF is posted to your website and is not password-protected with a secure password, we no longer guarantee that your directory is safe and secure from others.

Link the PDF to your church website with password protection.

Before you get a link (URL) to the directory PDF to include on your website or send via email, you must first choose to share it by clicking the Share PDF button. You will be alerted that anyone with the URL to Share can access your directory PDF.

To get the URL for your website, click Share PDF, and then Copy URL to Share. Send that URL to your website developer.

You can also send the URL in an email to members.

IMPORTANT: If you choose to publish your directory on your website, ensure you have a strong password on it. We strongly urge you to post behind a member-only portion of your website. Never post the password for your directory on your church's website or include it in the email that includes the PDF directory. If your PDF is posted to your website and is not password-protected with a secure password or you have posted the password on your website, we no longer guarantee that your directory is safe and secure from others.

If you decide to share your PDF on your website or via email, please read these blog posts about scams you might encounter.

Scammers Are Targeting Directory Admins!

Don’t Take the Bait: Watch Out for “Whaling” Scam

Anytime you want to stop sharing your PDF, you can click the Stop Sharing PDF button.

The PDF will immediately be put behind lock and key. Anyone who had the URL to Share link will not be able to click on it and gain access to that PDF.