Big News and Changes

We’re wrapping up the insights and responses for May. As I’ve been saying all along, it’s been amazing to see the way that an online community can begin to grow and communicate with each other. It’s like each day gives me something new to look forward to in doing my administrative tasks.

Jake recently informed me of the topic for next month: forgiveness. Is it broad? Yes, but I think that’s what makes for such an interesting dialog on the site. It allows people from all walks of life to come and comment, share and connect in the thoughts that we have buzzing about. Primarily we’re going to be introducing the ideas of what it means to forgive someone- what it looks like and feels like to do so, and what it means to forgive ourselves and the things that we have done in our lives. I think this is going to be the most interesting because if people are open to it, we have the chance to receive a number of stories which allow for a discussion of faith and struggle.

June hasn’t even begun and we’ve already gotten some stories to share on the site. That’s pretty exciting news because it means that there’s potential for great outreach and programming. I’ve also said to Jake that I want to do something different on Facebook and twitter this month. I want to find articles and segments of what others have said and experienced in regards to forgiveness. I want to have a discussion on the boards because right now it just seems like we’re pumping the students and followers full of minimal information. I’m working to achieve a sense of application and communication between people that are worlds away. Do we have it on the prayer board that’s direct to the website? Sure, but I’d like to find a way to get it pumped up a little bit more. Jake agrees that this is one piece that’s been lacking lately.

Jake also introduced that he and the heart support leaders, minus myself, will be going out on tour with his band, August Burns Red, this summer. They’ll be addressing the community directly while I man it from home like I’ve been doing. I think it’s going to be a great chance for me to continue expanding my responsibilities and capabilities while Jake, his wife, and one of the other team members are out on the road pushing our mission. Having conversations and holding the time for them is extremely important to us through any medium; I can’t wait to see how it takes shape.

Recently, I have worked with the team in creating a new segment on the site pertaining to the subject of church. It includes finding a church, speaking about what church should be, and talking about how it is that we can let go of some of the stigmas surrounding the institution. I had the chance to put pieces of the page together and found it to be a wonderful experience. I got to see the mechanical aspect as to how some of this is formed, to organize the information, and to entice our followers to visit this page. It seems to be working very well; we’ve got more and more people visiting it each day.

http://www.heartsupport.com/gethelp/Church/

Take a look and let us know what you think! Excited to see how we’re going to be expanding in His glory this month!

Reclaim. Restore. Rise above.