Creating a broader, vibrant community
As the basis for his book, The Externally Focused Church, co-author Rick Rusaw was intent on challenging both his own church, LifeBridge Christian Church in Longmont, Colorado, as well as fellow pastors to make a real difference in their communities. So he asked a simple question: If your church “went away,” would the community care? Many pastors realized the answer was “no” but enthusiastically embraced the goal of putting their church community to this challenge. So, in May of 2007, LifeBridge launched the Externally Focused Network (EFN) as a core ministry led by Brian Mavis.
The Externally Focused Network exists to connect with and provide resources for church leaders who are leading externally focused churches or want to move external focus from a tactic to a strategic priority. It connects passionate people to practical resources, tools and relationships that help them engage their communities with good deeds, community service and good news to transform communities and change lives.
It’s not about us
From the start, Mavis and Rusaw understood EFN represented a new church paradigm. The desire to implement was strong but knowledge lagged. They realized their ministry was about creating a true learning and sharing network. “The number one thing pastors and leaders told us they wanted to know was what other externally focused churches were doing,” said Mavis. “They had a strong desire to learn. They wanted a two-way dialog to share successes—and failures—and to build a network with additional leaders sharing best practices.”
To meet these goals, Mavis recognized he needed to employ a broader use of technology. “In 2008, like everyone else, we used email and a website; my staff and I were the webmasters and we posted documents and sent out bulk emails. We quickly learned it was clearly inefficient and not meeting our members’ needs.”
Social media built for Christians
Mavis began investigating new social media platforms like Facebook® that allow member-generated content, connectivity and discussions. However, he soon discovered that open social networks like Facebook lack a Christian-mission and do not have functionality needed for faith-based organizations like EFN. “Facebook didn’t really have the features we needed,” stated Mavis. “It’s mainly a personal, social network and it can’t organize our groups and members.”
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EFN soon turned to CircleBuilder to create an online network—private interactive collaborative community—that could meet their mission to connect and resource church leaders. CircleBuilder’s platform enables faith-based organizations to easily start their own private, branded, rules-based, Christian social networking group for any size church, ministry or group. CircleBuilder’s platform met EFN’s specific requirements including:
- Their own private, moderated member’s-only site where externally focused leaders can candidly share their thoughts, opinions and best practices.
- Member-generated content—blogs, events, photo, audio, video and text—to facilitate member dialog and learning.
- Spiritual functionality like interactive prayer and praise requests.
- Instant and unlimited Small Group creation and interests management organized by state and cause.
- Seamless authentication and single sign-on from the EFN website or Facebook connect.
- Reports on community activity.
Upward and onward
Launched in early 2009, the new EFN Pastor’s Community is growing rapidly with over 100 members and more than 60 state and cause groups. “Members who have used it are really liking it,” said Mavis. “As more and more people join, I’m expecting nearly exponential growth.”
With the help of its new Pastors Network, EFN is ready for the next challenge to its members: “We want to move them from being the best church in the community to being the best for the community,” said Mavis. “I’m confident we will meet this new challenge and excited to help our pastors and churches meet their goals.”
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