Getting Started With Domains
If you plan on using Church Connect for your church website, we recommend using your own domain (or purchasing one if you do not already own one). This article covers how to do this.
Pointing Your Domain to Church Connect
When your DNS records point to ChurchTrac’s servers, your Church Connect page becomes your website. Your previous host’s content will no longer be accessible, so back up any important content. ChurchTrac does not host or migrate existing webpages. You will need to build your new church website in Church Connect.
If you'd like to use your domain with Church Connect, we recommend updating your name servers on your domain registar using Cloudflare's name servers. If you do not already own your domain, we recommend purchasing your domain from Cloudflare.
You can use Cloudflare's free service for updating name servers and purchasing domains. There is a cost for domains purchased.
To use your domain with Church Connect, select "Domain Setup" from the actions button on the Page Setup tab in Church Connect.
If you are purchasing a new domain for the first time, the setup process can be done in under an hour. If you are needing to transfer a domain to Cloudflare, the process may take a few days depending on the registrar you are transferring from.
The system will walk you through the process of using your domain. Once completed, your domain will replace the subdomain of ChurchTrac. This will be applied to ALL pages on your church's site.
Domain FAQS
What are DNS records?
Every domain has DNS (Domain Name System) records, which are like instructions telling browsers where to find your website. These records are linked to your domain name via your registrar and are updated through nameservers.
Do I have to pay to host my website?
Once your domain is connected to Church Connect, you no longer need to pay for website hosting. All Church Connect sites are hosted by ChurchTrac at no additional cost.
How do I change/update my DNS Settings?
Every domain registrar is different. Your domain registrar should have a readily available user guide with instructions on how to change/update your DNS settings. If you end up transferring to a different domain registrar, these changes may take up to 72 hours to propagate across the internet.
How does using my domain with ChurchTrac affect my church email?
DNS records also manage email services. If your email is tied to your hosting provider, you may lose access when switching to ChurchTrac. Due to the complexities with email and different service variables, we recommend reaching out to your email provider before making the switch.
What domain registrar do you recommend using?
We recommend using Cloudflare as a registrar, as it simplifies the setup process. If you use another registrar, the process may be more challenging. Remember, you are responsible for renewing and managing your domain.
Should I enable auto-renewal for my domain?
Most registrars enable auto-renewal of your domain by default. We strongly recommend keeping auto-renewal enabled to avoid any interruptions of your church's website or risk losing your domain.