ChurchList

[Todd D. Van Dyke]

Here is the idea: 5% like Facebook and 95% like Craigslist. It would be a place for the faith community to come together in a way that they could resource one another. It is not missional, or evangelical, not about debating doctrine, simply resourcing the people of area churches.

Here are a couple of real examples of ways I would have used it lately. Say I want to get a bike for my four year old, I check churchlist or post that I am looking for one. You know that are thousands of people in this area willing to give me their bike that is taking up space for free. Or I have a basement full of stuff that I would love to give away if I knew it could bless someone in the area.
Another example is that I know a friend that is having a benefit dinner for a family adopting from Liberia. I don't go to their church, but Liberian adoption is near and dear to our heart...adoption in general, so I would love to give or help out. I wouldn't know it if it wasn't for facebook though. So you could give a place for people to make announcements like that; or let's say your youth group is having a fund raising dinner for a South American mission trip and you have a heart for that, chances are if you didn't go to that church or weren't in their sphere of influence you wouldn't know. Now you do and now you can be a part of it. Churches can set up their own mini-feed to let the community at large know what they are doing, post open jobs (which most churches can't afford or don't do), whose the special speaker at your church is going to be this Sunday, summer conferences, prayer request, etc. Like craigslist, you can set it up geographically, and set it up in different communities. A simple, yet I think profound, way to bring the faith community together in a real, practical way.

Their would be space on the site for things like, but not limited to Adoption, Homeschooling, Christian Business Network, Local Non-Profits, VBS, Mother's Day Out, Missionary's Corner (highlighting Missionaries around the world that have a local connection).

[Tina D. Shang]

I am not a church goer but I think this is a wonderful idea. There are many worthwhile causes that I would be willing to contribute to if I knew about them.

[Laurel Bowen]

so, churchlist would be a craigslist for churches? I've also been thinking about a twitter for churches. A lot of church people wouldn't feel comfortable on twitter bc of the wild and unruly (at times) atmosphere. But I think it is a great way to connect with your church friends (and other churches) on a daily basis. Also a great way to connect churches of varying philosophies around common causes.

I have no skills to set up the programming required for either of these ideas. I'm a design/content person only. But Todd, you really have something here. It also seems possible that startup funding could be obtained from various churches here locally. Then maintained by subscriptions paid by churches?

[Brad Hensley | Cars Etc]

love the idea as well. Have discussed very similar idea with friends in brainstorming. I saw a story about Chicago that everyone brings their stuff they don't want or need and you can come and get stuff for free but only if you bring something. That's the only catch. Say someone needs shoes and brings an extra jacket or something. I do agree that churches are behind in the social media avenue and Knoxville as well as churches need an avenue to post things that are going on... looking into this heavily right away...