Student Group Communication

Hey Y’all,

Hoping for a best practice or some advice on using the direct chat with a student group.

Here’s the scenario:

We have a middle school and a high school group. Our youth pastor would like to stop using a third party text message system and use the Planning Center Group Direct Message (Chat). At the moment, for privacy and safety only students are in the group and the group setting is set to “Make member list confidential.” He would like to send a message to the group and to the parents at the same time. However, I’m not sure changing the group setting is the best idea. (Required to use the Group Chat) I don’t want another student getting contact information they shouldn’t have or an adult. A list would get me the parents of the students, but you can’t send a message from a List.

Any “work withs” or suggestions others in Student Ministry are using? At the present our Student Ministry is small, but is growing. Thanks for your help!