One of UBC’s primary focuses over the next few years will be facilitating the space for authentic community to spark, grow, and thrive. For it is in authentic community that dynamic relationships, unity, and clarity of God’s dream can become a reality.
One of the outlets for creating community is through like interest connections. To build a catalyst of support towards making like interest connections, we are starting Connect Groups. The hope is for UBC members, friends, and new connections in Baton Rouge to gather around common interests, such as learning to cook a certain style of food, cycling, books, and dances classes.
This is a unique opportunity to be the presence of Jesus to greater community of UBC by inviting people to participate in common interest connections that are not churchy and intrusive. What better way to introduce someone to the dynamic community of UBC than through doing things we enjoy doing?
You might be thinking, “Well, I’m busy. When am I going to have the time to add one more thing to my schedule.” Some of these activities you might already be participating in. So, consider how you might repurpose these activities to do with others for the sake of authentic community and to be missional. We are inviting you to be holy available to provide and receive authentic community.
We are inviting you to enter into community with others by gathering with a Connect Group once per month or every other month.
Here are some of the primary common interest connections scored in the survey provided last month: Hiking, Camping, Home Décor, Cooking, Biblical Studies, Theological & Philosophical Conversations, Gardening, Traveling, Cycling, Financial Planning, Yoga, Art, Book Club, Golf, Cigar Club, Dance Lessons, Kickball.
We want UBC members to begin to populate and gather with the groups they are interested in. The best way to connect people in groups for communication is our existing Realm database. Through Realm, individuals can add to any Connect Groups and communicate with the group about an upcoming gathering.
To use Realm, you must first get an account. You probably have already received an invitation via email that went to your spam box. If not, contact Ron Perritt or Bonnie Ellis at office@ubc-br.org and we can send you another invitation.
When following the link prompts from the email invitation, you will need to create a username and password. After completing the registration, follow these steps:
On the left-side column, click the “Community” option.
Scroll down and select “Groups.”
Under “Groups,” select “Find Groups.” This will take you to a new page.
On the “Find Groups” page, scroll down and select “Connect Groups.” This will take you to a new page.
On the “Connect” page, scroll down and select any of the existing groups that interest you.
To add to a group, select the group and then select “Join Group.”
To receive notifications via email for your groups, select the “Email Setting” at the top right corner of the page. Here you can manage the ways you want to receive notifications from the group.
If you have a smart phone, we recommend that download the Realm Connect app. To turn on notifications for the group, select the “More” option on the bottom right corner, then select “Settings,” then select “Turn on push notifications,” and then turn on notifications. You can also manage the email setting too.
So may we set out on an adventure of connecting with each other in authentic community through common interests.