WordPress Dashboard Configuration
All app configuration is managed from the church's WordPress admin. No separate portal needed.
Accessing App Settings
Go to Digital Church → Native App in wp-admin to access all app configuration.
Settings Tabs
General Settings
Digital Church → Native App → General
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| App Name | Display name in app stores and on device home screen |
| Bundle ID | Unique identifier (e.g., app.digitalchurch.clientname) — cannot change after store submission |
| App Status | Enable/disable app features while maintaining store presence |
Branding
Digital Church → Native App → Branding
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| App Icon | 1024×1024 PNG — displayed on home screen and app stores |
| Splash Screen | Loading screen shown when app launches |
| Primary Color | Main brand color used throughout the app |
| Accent Color | Secondary color for highlights and CTAs |
| Header Style | Light or dark header with matching text |
Use the church's primary brand color for Primary Color. Test contrast with white text — this color is used for buttons and navigation.
Navigation
Digital Church → Native App → Navigation
Configure which tabs appear in the bottom navigation:
| Tab | Content Source |
|---|---|
| Home | Custom layout with featured content blocks |
| Sermons | WordPress sermon post type |
| Events | Events calendar (Tribe Events) |
| Groups | Small groups directory |
| Giving | Link to online giving (opens browser) |
| More | Additional links, settings, about |
Customization options:
- Drag to reorder tabs
- Toggle visibility for each tab
- Set custom icons (optional)
- Configure tab labels
Home Screen
Digital Church → Native App → Home
The home screen uses a block-based layout:
| Block Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Hero | Large featured image with overlay text |
| Featured Content | Highlighted sermon, event, or page |
| Quick Links | Grid of icon links to app sections |
| Live Stream | Shows live indicator when streaming |
| Recent Sermons | Latest sermon cards |
| Upcoming Events | Next few events |
| Custom HTML | Embedded content or custom layouts |
Drag blocks to reorder. Click to configure each block's content.
Push Notifications
Digital Church → Native App → Push Notifications
Send and schedule push notifications:
- Click New Notification
- Enter title (50 chars recommended)
- Enter message body (150 chars recommended)
- Optionally add a deep link
- Choose Send Now or Schedule
- Click Send
Notification History shows all sent notifications with delivery stats.
Devices
Digital Church → Native App → Devices
View registered devices:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Platform | iOS or Android |
| App Version | Which build the user has installed |
| Last Active | When the device last contacted the server |
| Push Token | Device token for notifications (truncated) |
Use this to troubleshoot notification delivery issues.
Content Management
Sermons in the App
Sermons from the WordPress sermon post type automatically appear in the app:
- Video sermons — Play inline with native video controls
- Audio sermons — Play with background audio support
- Series — Grouped by sermon series taxonomy
- Search — Full-text search across sermon titles and descriptions
Events in the App
Events from Tribe Events Calendar sync to the app:
- Upcoming events — Sorted by date
- Event details — Location, time, description
- Add to calendar — Native calendar integration
- Registration — Links to event registration page
Groups in the App
Small groups from Ultimate Member Groups appear in the app:
- Group directory — Browse and search
- Group details — Description, meeting time, leader contact
- Join requests — Request to join from the app
- Private content — Member-only content for logged-in users
User Authentication
Login Flow
The app uses WordPress authentication:
- User taps Login in the app
- Enters WordPress username/email and password
- App receives JWT token
- Token stored securely on device
- Subsequent requests include token for authenticated endpoints
Member Features
Logged-in users can access:
- Private group content
- Personal profile editing
- Saved/favorited content
- Push notification preferences
API Configuration
REST API Endpoints
The app communicates via WordPress REST API:
| Endpoint | Purpose |
|---|---|
/wp-json/dc-app/v1/config | App configuration (colors, tabs, etc.) |
/wp-json/wp/v2/sermon | Sermon list and details |
/wp-json/wp/v2/tribe-events | Events list and details |
/wp-json/wp/v2/um_groups | Groups list and details |
/wp-json/dc-app/v1/push/register | Register device for notifications |
Caching
The app caches content locally:
- Config — Cached for 1 hour, refreshed on app launch
- Content — Cached for offline access, refreshed when online
- Media — Images cached for 7 days
Webhook Notifications
WordPress can notify the app of content changes:
- New sermon published → App receives push prompt
- Event updated → Cache invalidated
- Notification scheduled → Background job triggers delivery