WHAT IS THE CITY?
The City is our online community that takes our big church and brings it together in one small place where we can communicate, connect, help, learn, and grow. But… how?
COMMUNITY
- The City doesn’t replace real community; it fosters deeper community by enabling everyone at CTR to share our daily lives with the people that make up our community. It takes the best aspects of social networking, and reinforces and enhances the real relationships, conversations and interactions that make up the life of CTR.
- The City is made up of groups, and there isn’t one group on The City that isn’t made of real life, face-to-face friendships—people who also meet together physically, who will now easily be able to connect every day of the week.
- Not only that, when new CTRers want to get connected, but are not sure where to go or how to get plugged in, The City gives us a reliable, measurable process for making sure people don’t fall through the cracks.
DISCIPLESHIP
- We want to live as a gospel-centered community, every day, and we believe The City can help move us toward that goal. The result will be a church community that better know each other, better care for each other, and better serve Jesus.
- CTR has been using technology to reach out to people through our website, podcast, Facebook, Twitter and email, but there is more we can do. We want to use technology in a spirit of service as we continue to seek Christ-likeness, not just for the sake of efficiency or as a shiny new plaything.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The cool thing is that our City is only for CTRers, so you have to be invited in or sign up using our kiosks on Sundays. You sign up for an individual profile using your email address (if you don’t have one or currently share one with your spouse, we recommend Gmail for free web-based email), The City walks you through creating your profile, and then you join groups based on the groups you’re physically in at CTR (small groups, serving teams, areas of interest, etc.).
DO I HAVE TO USE IT?
We strongly encourage you to, and here’s why: The City will quickly become the main channel for church-wide and group-specific communication, so opting out of The City would be opting out of staying connected to what is happening around the church. This is where we can build community even when we’re not face to face.
We know it might require a little investment of time and effort as you learn a new system. We’re confident, though, that you’ll have the same overwhelmingly positive experience we’ve had as we’ve begun using The City: this is a system that is intuitive, useful, and a lot of fun to use. We know you’ll love it as you discover all that The City has to offer.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF USING THE CITY
- EASILY FOLLOW UP WITH NEW FRIENDS: When you meet a new friend at church but don’t have their contact info, find them on The City. Search by first name, find their photo, click, and send a message.
- UPDATE EVERYONE AT ONCE: There’s no need to find email addresses for everyone in your small group or serving team; simply post your comment, event, prayer request or need in the appropriate group.
- FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE AT CTR: Respond to serving opportunities posted by leaders in the church, and list your skills so that others can find you when they have a specific need.
- FIND A SMALL GROUP: Search for groups in your neighborhood using The City’s group mapping tool.
- GET MORE INVOLVED IN CHURCH LIFE: Know what’s going on throughout the church and get involved.
- CUSTOMIZABLE EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS: Stay informed without having to log in to The City, but also without being inundated with emails. You choose how many emails you get.
- DEEPEN YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH & PERSONAL DISCIPLESHIP: Use the online Scripture memory tool, Bible reading plan, and journal—accessible to you anywhere you can get online, and as private as you want it to be.
- A MARKETPLACE TO BUY, SELL, OR TRADE WHILE BLESSING OTHERS IN THE CHURCH: Post job openings or look for a job, find a home, rent a room, recruit a roommate, sell your car, advertise your home business, and so on.
- CONNECT YOUR CHURCH COMMUNITY AND YOUR FRIENDS OUTSIDE THE CHURCH: The City offers tools to use Facebook and Twitter to connect with your non-CTR friends with events, community needs, status updates, and more.
NOW WHAT?
*Email us at to request an invitation. We’d love to have you join us!
*The City is reserved for those who are active attendees of Christ the Rock.