Exciting News
Exciting News
Over the past few months I've had an ever growing list of suggestions for improving how we communicate to one another in our church family. Some of the items on that list are:
- It'd be really great if we had a church directory with emails, phone numbers, and names (especially of children). We're growing so fast I'm having trouble remembering folks' names on Sunday.
- I'd like to be able to get in touch with someone about getting involved in one of the ministry teams of Christ Covenant. Is there an easy way to do that?
- I like the weekly emails, but I had a specific question about....
- It's hard for me to keep up with prayer requests of things going on in the congregation. I wish there was a way to centralize those prayer requests.
- Is there some better way to do the new member process?
- I'd like to give to Christ Covenant online. Can I do that?
- I would love to know about upcoming events, especially who is coming and what I can bring.
- When we start small groups, there should be a way I can find out which one is nearest to me.
- I'm new here, and its hard to get information about getting involved.
And the list goes on beyond that.
Personally, I've struggled as a solo pastor to keep track of members, frequent visitors, first time visitors, and ministry teams. I do my best to communicate important content to everyone but people get left out for various reasons.
I was recently talking to a church planter friend of mine who mentioned that they had started using The City to solve the problems I mention above. After researching it thoroughly and testing it out, the elders of Christ Covenant decided this would be a great solution for the problems we're experiencing as a growing church plant.
So What is The City?
The City is a website that offers private access to our church members to foster community with one another. With it, we can...
- Find the names and pictures of our members and visitors
- Communicate with people in our congregation whether or not you know their phone number, address, or email
- Find out where you can serve in our church
- Find out what events are coming up and what you can bring
- Know what the current needs of our congregation are
- Know what the current prayer requests of our congregation are
- Discuss aspects of life and ministry with other people in our church
- Give online
- Receive information from the pastors of the church that is targeted just for you
Sounds good, doesn't it? The City is a centralized solution for connecting to one another, fostering spiritual growth, mobilizing our congregation, and growing our leadership.
What are the Objections?
There are two commons objections to why you wouldn't want to use The City.
The first is, "I only do email. I won't log into a website." If you are an email-only web user, then The City is still a useful tool for you. Once you sign up, The City will email you updates on what is going on in the congregation—including information on upcoming events and prayer requests. If you respond to an email from The City, it goes to whomever wrote the post. All this to say, you can communicate in The City solely through email.
The second is, "I can do the web I just don't want to." I completely understand. This is something new to add to your already busy life. If this is your concern, then I ask you if you'd being willing to do it for me as your pastor, for our visitors, and for the congregation as a whole. I'm asking you to use and participate in The City for the sake of our church community, serving our visitors, and for my sanity. Honestly, The City lets me communicate with our church in ways that only hiring another staff member would accomplish. Simply put, using The City is a way you can serve our church community, visitors, and me as your pastor. Would you be willing to take a little extra time to serve our church in this capacity?
What's Next
We are still putting the finishing touches on The City. Many of our ministry teams have begun to use it. In the coming weeks you'll receive an invitation to The City along with help in showing you how to use it. I wanted to give you some time between now and then to get used to the idea and ask any questions that you might have.
I'm really excited about The City but more importantly I'm excited that our need for it illustrates that our God is growing our church plant.
This Sunday
This Sunday is an extra special day in the life of our congregation. We'll welcome Jane Weeden and the Harding family into membership as well as baptize the Harding's children. I'm looking forward to worshipping our risen Savior with you.
Don't forget to invite folks to our worship.
Posted by email
