Your Church App: How It Works
FaithMade builds a white-label iOS and Android app for your church — published under your church's own developer accounts, with your church's name as the Seller on the App Store and Google Play.
That part matters. Your app is yours.
Who Owns What
Your church owns:
- Your App Store listing and your Google Play listing
- Your app identity (name, icon, screenshots)
- Your developer account — it stays with you no matter what
FaithMade handles:
- Building the app
- Submitting updates and new versions
- All the technical publishing work — via collaborator access to your accounts
This is the same model used by Subsplash, The Church Co., and similar church app platforms. It's the right way to do it.
Why You Need Your Own Developer Accounts
Apple's App Review Guideline 4.2.6 requires that template-built apps be submitted by the content provider — that's you, the church. FaithMade can't submit your app under FaithMade's own account. Beyond policy, owning your listing means you're never locked out: if you ever move platforms, your app identity and your App Store ratings go with you.
How FaithMade Gets Access
Once your accounts are set up, you'll invite FaithMade as a collaborator in each platform's console:
- Apple: App Manager role in App Store Connect + an API key
- Google: Manager role in Google Play Console + a service account key
FaithMade uses those credentials to submit and manage builds on your behalf. You retain full ownership and can revoke access at any time.
What to Expect
| Platform | Time to Live |
|---|---|
| Google Play | Same week — account is approved same-day, app typically ships within a few days |
| Apple App Store | 2–5 weeks total — the DUNS number lookup is the long pole, taking up to 30 days |
Start your Apple enrollment the day you sign up with FaithMade. Your Android app can go live while your Apple enrollment clears.
The DUNS number lookup alone can take up to 30 days. There is no way to skip that waiting period by starting later. The moment you decide you want an app, start the Apple path.
The Short Checklist
- Get a DUNS number (Apple only)
- Enroll in Apple Developer Program as an Organization
- Request the nonprofit fee waiver
- Invite FaithMade in App Store Connect
- Generate and share an App Store Connect API key
- Create a Google Play Developer account
- Invite FaithMade in Play Console
- Generate and share a Google Play service account key
Full step-by-step guides for each platform are below.
Related: Apple Developer Account Setup · Google Play Setup · Launch Checklist & Timeline