How a Communication Crisis Became an Opportunity for Better Connection and Support

St. John’s Episcopal Church and School in Olney, Maryland, faced a significant challenge when their traditional phone systems broke down right before Christmas. This case study shares how ACC Telecom helped them switch to a 3CX VoIP phone system that covered their entire 8.5-acre campus. The result? A fully integrated phone system that significantly improved communication and established a long-term partnership between the church and ACC Telecom.

Their Challenges

However, in 2019, their traditional phone network—often referred to as POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service)—failed them just when they needed it most, leaving them without the ability to make phone calls. Here’s what they were up against:

• Immediate Need for Replacement: Since the failure happened just before the Christmas holiday, the church was forced to transition to a VoIP system on incredibly short notice to avoid disrupting services for both the church and the school.
• Large Facility Coverage: With 50,000 square feet to think about, they needed reliable, top-tier connectivity everywhere
• Initial Disconnection Issues: The church side of St. John’s campus was initially disconnected from the main phone system due to a 2-year contract with Verizon, which resulted in frustration and poor service experiences overall.