Streaming a church service is one thing — gathering people around it is another. Church Online Platform, a free tool from Life.Church, helps churches host an online service where attenders can chat, request prayer, and take a next step toward faith.^1
Life.Church launched its own church online experience in 2006 and began sharing this platform in 2011 so other churches could do the same.^3 Churches broadcast a live or prerecorded service through the streaming provider they already use, then add ministry tools: public and private chat with automatic translation in over 60 languages, live prayer with volunteer response, and customizable Moments that invite attenders to indicate a commitment to Christ, give, serve, or register for an event without leaving the stream.^1 Hosts can coordinate in a private chat, post training resources, and run a service from a computer or a phone.^2
The platform is completely free — unlimited services, attenders, admins, and hosts — with custom branding, a custom domain, chat moderation, and analytics for unique attenders, watch time, salvations, and prayer requests.^1 Attenders can switch to a dark theme, request prayer from a dedicated Prayer Tab, and complete Moments or forms without leaving the stream.^4
