Custom WhatsApp Commands: Let Church Members Type SERMONS, GIVE or PRAY and Get Instant Responses
Churches across Africa are discovering they can turn WhatsApp into a self-service information hub — where members type a single word and instantly receive a sermon link, an event schedule, or a giving prompt. No app download. No website visit. Just WhatsApp.
What Are Custom WhatsApp Commands?
A custom WhatsApp command is a keyword you define in your church dashboard. When a member types that keyword into your church's WhatsApp conversation, Shepherd instantly replies with the response you configured.
The setup is simple: you choose the keyword, you write the response, and Shepherd handles the rest. Keywords are case-insensitive, so SERMONS, sermons, and Sermons all trigger the same reply.
This is different from Shepherd's built-in commands like PRAY or GIVE, which are pre-programmed with specific logic. Custom commands are completely yours to define — the keyword, the response, and the meaning. You can create as many as your church needs, and you can edit, disable, or delete them at any time.
Real Examples African Churches Are Using
Church administrators across Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Kenya are already building custom command libraries that fit their congregation's specific needs. Here are some of the most popular:
- SERMONS— Returns a link to the church's YouTube channel or sermon archive. Members can watch last Sunday's message without asking anyone.
- EVENTS— Returns the upcoming service schedule, special programmes, or a link to the events calendar. Great for visitors asking "when do you meet?"
- GIVE — Returns giving instructions, a Paystack payment link, or Mobile Money account details. Reduces giving friction dramatically.
- CONTACT— Returns the pastor's phone number, office hours, and email. Members stop calling the church line at all hours just to find this information.
- PRAYER — Returns a short guide on how to submit a prayer request through Shepherd — especially useful for first-time users.
- YOUTH — Returns information about the youth group: meeting time, location, WhatsApp group link. Keeps young people connected without the pastor acting as the connector.
One pastor in Cameroon used Shepherd to set up a MZBC custom command that returns a welcome message for new visitors — complete with their church address and registration instructions.
How to Set It Up in Shepherd
Setting up a custom command takes under two minutes. Here is exactly how to do it:
- Sign in to your Shepherd dashboard at get-shepherd.net
- Click Settings in the left sidebar
- Click the Notifications tab
- Scroll down to the "Custom WhatsApp Commands" section
- Click "Add Command"
- Enter your Keyword — it will be automatically uppercased (e.g. type sermons, it saves as SERMONS)
- Optionally add a Description — this is just for your own reference (e.g. "Sermon recordings link")
- Write your Response — this is what members receive. You can include plain text, links, emojis, and multi-line messages.
- Click Create
The command is live immediately. Test it by sending the keyword to your church's WhatsApp number. You should receive your configured response within seconds.
To edit or disable a command later, return to Settings → Notifications → Custom WhatsApp Commands and use the edit or toggle buttons next to any command.
Why This Matters for African Churches
In most African countries, church members do not browse websites. They do not check apps. They live on WhatsApp. It is the one communication channel that everyone — young and old, urban and rural — already uses every day.
When a member wants to find the sermon from last Sunday, they do not open a browser and navigate to your website. They pick up their phone and message someone in the church. That "someone" is usually the pastor, the secretary, or whoever is most visibly active in the church group.
Custom WhatsApp commands change this dynamic. Your church's WhatsApp number becomes the first point of contact for information — not a person. The pastor is no longer the human FAQ. The secretary is no longer fielding the same five questions every week.
And because Shepherd operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, a member in Cameroon asking for the sermon link at 11pm on a Tuesday gets an instant response — without anyone being disturbed.
Combine Custom Commands with Shepherd's Built-In Commands
Shepherd comes with a set of powerful built-in commands that handle core church workflows out of the box:
- HELP — Shows the interactive church menu
- PRAY — Guides a member through submitting a prayer request
- GIVE [amount] — Initiates a Mobile Money giving flow
- BOOK — Books a pastoral appointment
- CHECKIN — Records attendance at a service
- EVENTS — Shows upcoming church events
- FEEDBACK — Submits a service rating
- REGISTER [CHURCHCODE] — Registers a new member
Custom commands sit alongside these built-ins and extend what your WhatsApp bot can do. Built-ins handle transactions and structured workflows; custom commands handle information and self-service. Together, they give your members a complete self-service church experience — all inside the WhatsApp conversation they already have open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create as many custom commands as I want?
Yes. Shepherd places no limit on the number of custom commands you can create. Define as many keywords as your church needs — one for every ministry, every programme, every piece of information your members regularly ask for.
What happens if a member types a word that is not a command?
If a member types an unrecognised word, Shepherd responds with the standard HELP menu showing all available commands. Members are never left stranded without a response — the fallback always points them to what they can do.
Can I update a command response without deleting it?
Yes. In the Custom WhatsApp Commands section of your dashboard, click the edit icon next to any command to update the response text. Changes take effect immediately — no need to recreate the command or notify members.