Epiphany Systems

Ryan and I headed over to Starbucks to meet with Doug Anderson and Carter from the Nat'l Association of Vineyard Churches. Carter works in IT while Doug serves as Nat'l Coordinator. Doug was in typical Vineyard fare with hawaiian shirt and lucky charm.

We pulled four chairs together over at "5 Bucks", where we talked about the Vineyard on-line, a little about Epiphany Systems and where this will go.

With groups gathering on-line, it has some ecclesiastical implications (is that the right word? ecclesiastical?) Well, in short, our sites are gathering people into churches and on-line social groups or networks. These are real people (not virtual people). Who have real needs. We talked about kinship for example, and how this looks on-line. Different than what we're all probably used to, we concluded.

This was our purpose for being there and meeting: to discuss that by the end of summer we expect to have the largest Vineyard social community on-line. How can this be used to preserve Vineyard values at a time when our future is uncertain? What role can Epiphany Systems play to aid in shepherding these people? Where will furture church plants start: on-line or off-line? (I like this topic). We have some unanswered questions that we'll need to keep seeking the Lord on.

Note: Although Epiphany is Vineyard based, and birthed out of VLI vision, The National Vineyard cannot endorse a vendor. We appreciate that. We weren't looking for a National endorsement. We were looking to remain accountable and friendly. We think that each Vineyard and every church that approaches us needs to be Spirit-led with a vision for on-line ministry, and then determine what tools they'll need to make it happen.

On-line ministry has to take place at the local church level. It cannot be driven from a national level because the national administration is not equipped to handle the needs of the social networks that form. It is Epiphany's heart to train local church members to be involved in internet ministry so that these needs can be met.