Welcome to Shepherd's Stream
Shepherds
At Shepherd’s Stream, our mission is to equip church leadership with the tools they need to thrive in a digital age. We are excited to announce a new, completely free feature for all claimed church listings: Customized QR Code Integration. If you have claimed your church listing on our platform, you can now generate and download a unique QR code directly from within the Members Area under My Marketing. This custom code links seekers and members instantly to your church profile, bridging the gap between your physical outreach and your digital ministry.
What is QR Code Marketing?
A QR (Quick Response) Code is a scannable barcode that acts as a digital "portal." When someone points their smartphone camera at the code, they are instantly directed to your church’s listing on Shepherd’s Stream—no typing or searching required.
In a ministry context, QR code marketing is the practice of placing these codes on physical objects to provide seekers and members with instant access to your service times, sermons, location, and contact information. It serves as a bridge, inviting the community into fellowship through a secure, censorship-free digital sanctuary.
Why is This Beneficial for Your Church?
- Seamless Connection for Visitors – Searching for a church online can be a daunting task. A QR code on your outdoor signage or "Welcome" banners allows a passerby or first-time guest to instantly see your church’s full profile, beliefs, and upcoming events before they even walk through the doors.
- Enhances Print Media & Outreach – Traditional materials have limited space. By adding your Shepherd's Stream QR code to your Door Hangers, Flyers, Rack Cards, and Brochures, you turn physical handouts into dynamic digital portals. This allows you to reach neighbors at their front door or in the public square, providing a "digital porch" where they can:
- Link to your Sermon Stream to hear the Word of God preached before they ever step through your doors.
- Direct people to your Marketplace offerings, resources, or giving pages.
- Provide a digital "Connect Card" via your profile to streamline visitor follow-up.
- Bridge the Gap by moving neighbors from a casual glance to a meaningful encounter with your fellowship.
- Modernized Outreach with Metal Business Cards – Many leaders are moving toward durable, high-impact metal business cards. A laser-engraved QR code on a metal card is a sophisticated way to share your ministry. It’s a conversation starter that ensures your church's information is saved directly into a contact’s phone rather than lost in a stack of paper.
- Cost-Effective Growth – Effective marketing can be expensive. By offering this tool at no charge, Shepherd’s Stream ensures that every congregation—regardless of budget size—has access to the same high-level technology used by the largest organizations in the world.
Forged for Excellence
By combining elite physical tools with our secure hosting and mapping systems, we are making it easier for church leadership to reach the lost, invite them into fellowship, and glorify the Lord Jesus.
Finding Your Church Home: A Guide for Seekers
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." — Hebrews 10:24-25
At Shepherd’s Stream, we believe that technology should be a bridge to the local assembly. Our Church Geolocator is designed to help you obey the biblical command to gather with the saints by making it easy to find a local fellowship, whether you are moving to a new city, traveling, or seeking a permanent church home. As the largest geo-coded directory on the internet, our platform offers two distinct ways to navigate over 230,000 listings to find the right house of worship for your family.
Navigating the Interactive Map
For those who prefer a visual search, our main Church Geolocator page features a fully interactive map of the United States. Simply click on any state on the national map to be taken to a detailed, second-level state map. Every pin you see on these maps represents a geolocated congregation. By clicking a pin, you are taken directly to the church's profile, where you can view essential contact information, directions, and—if the leadership has claimed their profile—a wealth of resources like recent sermons, videos, and doctrinal statements.
Browsing the Full State Directories
If you prefer to browse by text or are looking for a specific municipality, we provide a complete directory located directly below the USA map. By choosing your state from these links, you will access a full directory organized alphabetically by city. These comprehensive links ensure that no church is hidden, from major metropolitan areas to small rural towns, allowing you to see every available option in your chosen region at a glance.
Tools to Help You Make an Informed Decision
The ultimate goal of Shepherd’s Stream is to help you find a community, not just a building. For a more targeted approach, we recommend using our comprehensive search engine powered by Elasticsearch, located on the main toolbar. By entering your city and state, you will receive immediate, precise results for your area. Once you find a potential fellowship, we encourage you to use the church profiles to research their leadership, listen to teaching via Sermon Stream, and learn about their history. To keep your search organized, you can utilize our List Feature to save churches of interest, add private notes, and manage your favorites as you seek the Lord’s leading for your next church home.
A Free, Full-Featured Profile for Every Congregation
We built this platform to provide church leadership with a digital sanctuary—a professional and secure home that remains immune to censorship and compromise. One of our core principles is that the tools for the gospel should never be a financial burden. That is why claiming and updating your shepherd’s stream profile is a completely free service. We provide every congregation with a full-featured digital foundation, designed to serve as a powerful supplement to your existing site or as a complete, stand-alone solution for your ministry's web presence.
- Welcome & Service Times: Create an immediate connection with service schedules, contact info, and your church's unique mission statement.
- Automated Announcements: Keep your flock in the loop. Post news and prayer requests that trigger automatic notifications to all your followers.
- Interactive Geo-Location: Ensure neighbors can find your doors with integrated mapping and turn-by-turn directions.
- Leadership Biographies: Foster trust by introducing your Pastors and Stewards, sharing their heart and experience with the community.
- Ministry Showcases: A dedicated space to highlight your youth, outreach, and fellowship programs.
- Doctrinal Clarity: A specific area for your Statement of Faith and Denomination—answering the #1 question seekers ask.
- Historical Archive: Tell the story of your congregation’s heritage and God’s faithfulness over the years.
- Digital Document Library: Make sermon notes, bulletins, and discipleship tracks available for instant download.
- Photo Galleries: Share the visual life of your church, from baptisms to community serve-days.
- Audio Ministry Vault: Host podcasts, radio broadcasts, or worship recordings for members to listen to anywhere.
- Sermon Video Hosting: Unlimited, permanent hosting for your preaching, protected from secular censorship.
- Live Stream Integration: A seamless portal for real-time worship that automatically archives your services for future viewing.
Moving Beyond the Risks of Secular Platforms
We know many churches turn to secular social media as a "free" alternative. However, these platforms claim the power to change the rules—or silence the Word—at any moment. Shepherd’s Stream is your Safe Harbor. We offer a place where you can advocate for Biblical Truth without the fear of arbitrary bans. Your Full-Featured Profile is a foundation built on your values, not secular algorithms.
Empowering Stewardship through Technology
As a non-profit, we believe your tithes and offerings should go toward reaching people, not paying for expensive web hosting. By claiming your listing, you gain a professional web presence that rivals any custom-built site. Our advanced Church Geo-Locator then ensures that families moving into your area can find a congregation that aligns with their convictions.
Our Promise to You
Shepherd’s Stream is more than just a directory; it’s a ministry tool built to protect and promote the work you do every day. We are here to support you in shepherding the flock of God with modern excellence and spiritual integrity.
