Why ministry leaders need a personal CRM
Caring for people well depends on remembering. Someone mentions a parent’s surgery on Sunday, a visitor fills out a card, a volunteer says they’re stepping back for a season. Those moments matter again a week or a month later, and they’re easy to lose between the lobby, your inbox and your memory.
What ministry leaders keep in BlackBook
- A short note after a conversation, with a reminder to check back in when you said you would
- First-time visitors you want to follow up with in the next few days
- Volunteers, small group leaders and staff you want to encourage regularly
- Birthdays, anniversaries and other dates worth a card or a call
- Pulse, which suggests who to reach out to next from your notes, history and reminders
Prepared in a minute
Before a visit or a call, open the person in BlackBook and see what you noted last time. Right after, add a quick note while it’s fresh.
Private by design
There’s no account or login. Your notes stay on your iPhone and private iCloud, there are no ad SDKs, and your data is never sold. Keep notes to what helps you care for someone, and keep anything confidential within your church’s policies. Start free with the 25 people you most want to keep up with.
More on this: how to remember details about people, a birthday reminder app for iPhone, and a personal CRM for teachers.
BlackBook facts
- Platform: iPhone, iOS 17.6 or later
- Price: free download; optional BlackBook Pro subscription (prices shown in the app)
- Free plan: 25 people, 2 notes per person, 30 days of interaction history
- Pro: unlimited people and full history, VIP reminders and insights, relationship notes with tags, duplicate detection, BlackBook AI
- AI: on-device via Apple Intelligence (Pro, iOS 26, compatible iPhone)
- Privacy: data on your device and private iCloud, no account, no ad SDKs, data never sold
- Developer: Preston Earnest / Earnestly Studios LLC
Frequently asked questions
Is BlackBook church management software?
No. BlackBook is a personal CRM for one person on iPhone. It has no member directory, giving, check-in, scheduling or group messaging, and it isn’t meant to replace your church’s management system. It’s for your own notes and follow-ups with the people you care for.
What do pastors and ministry leaders use a personal CRM for?
Mostly follow-up and care: remembering what someone shared and checking back in, following up with first-time visitors, keeping up with volunteers and small group leaders, and not missing birthdays and anniversaries.
Is my data private?
BlackBook needs no account. Your people and notes stay on your iPhone and in your private iCloud. There are no ad SDKs, and your data is never sold. Use judgment about how much sensitive detail you write down, and follow your church’s policies on confidential information.
Is BlackBook free?
BlackBook is free to download with a free plan of 25 people, two notes per person and 30 days of interaction history. BlackBook Pro is an optional subscription for unlimited people and full history: in the US it’s $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year, and the annual plan includes a 1-week free trial. Prices are shown in the app.
What iPhones does it run on?
BlackBook requires iOS 17.6 or later. On iOS 26 with a compatible iPhone, BlackBook Pro adds on-device Apple Intelligence features.
Remember every person you care for.
BlackBook is free to download for iPhone (iOS 17.6+). Start with 25 people, no account needed.
Get BlackBook – Personal CRM