Our Strategy Document

We are an online church for those that don't see the point of church but want to know more about how Jesus can help us live a meaningful life.

In the UK, 11% of the population attending a church, of which there are an estimated 2 million evangelical Christians. Our society is growing further away from the church, more secular and more agnostic. They are unsure about God but increasingly sure that church is not the answer. Yet over two-thirds of the population are on Social Media and over 90% are connected to the Internet, so our aim is simple: to be an online church for those that don't see the point of church but want to know more about how Jesus can help us live a meaningful life.

Currently, City is a Digital Church that streams on Facebook and uploads video content to YouTube. This has presented a unique place for City to operate and have a wide impact for the Gospel -> The Digital Space.

And it's through the Digital Space that we help people rediscover Jesus for who He truly is. We help them realise that He's absolutely lovely and that He is absolutely relevant to their daily life.

We've broken people down into two key groups: their age group and also their faith journey status to identify the key area of focus for the online church, it's the group that we have our strongest sense of relevance with. Folks in their mid 30s that are maybe on their way towards a healthier place.

They are logical. They're smart, practical people trying to live better lives. They possibly run their own business and have experienced some 'success'. Maybe they've heard of God in the past. Maybe they've been intrigued. Maybe they went to church, at some point in their life, maybe God's knocking on their heart.

The Four Journey Stages

When we look at the Gospels, we see separate and distinct places mentioned:

1. TOWNS & VILLAGES. This is symbolic of all the people in our area of reach. Most of them are not interested in Christ at this time.
   1. They need an inkling of hope to move to the next stage - "I hope it is worth my time".
2. THE CROWD. The crowd is those that hear about Jesus and have a level of intrigue and interest in finding out more.
   1. They finally agree to the invites of their friends to go and find out more about Jesus.
   2. They stand at the back, and they don't really know that much about what is going on.
   3. But something happens, Jesus does something or says something that intrigues you.
   4. You agree to come back.
   5. Those in the crowd need inspiration and challenge to move to the next stage of the journey.
3. THE ROAD. This is where we start to walk with Christ.
   1. Overtime you have become more committed.
   2. You start to walk with others that are also committed.
   3. You ask questions.
   4. Jesus ministers to you personally.
   5. You start to understand how this all works.
   6. Those on the road ned to be taught what it really means to walk with Jesus. This is where teaching plays an important role.
4. PRIVATE PLACE. This is where we start to get intimate with Christ, and it's in this place that we get the courage to serve Christ.
   1. They start to wrestle out and ask question of Christ that deepen their faith that establishes them.
   2. In this stage of the journey, people need training that is interactive and makes someone better.

Who are we reaching?

We are aiming at those in the crowds, who are in their mid 30's who are smart, practical people. We want to be a church for those that don't really do church. This is going to be the online church that the people who didn't know they'd like church would love and want to get deeper into.

I believe that as we reach this group of folks, our impact will grow and expand.

The big dilemma that they don't see the point of church, they don't need church:

• A growing portion of Millennial Christians believes they can 'find God elsewhere' (they don't need to go to church to meet with God). Many of the Christians, and non-Christians in their mid-30s thinking that church is boring and not relevant to them.
• They like the idea of mission (especially if it is social), but not necessarily being missional. In the 2019 Barna report Reviving Evangelism, they found that almost half of practising Christian Millennials (47%) say evangelism is wrong.

But Why?

• They see church as a bit of a paradox. On the one hand, it has proved to be judgemental, hypocritical, anti-homosexual and insensitive. But on the other hand, most recognise it as a community that is vibrant and positive.

They are looking for:

• A community, a place they can contribute and grow. They want TED-style talks that are inspiring and address real-world issues, especially during this time of COVID, racism and injustice. They want authentic, transparent leaders who tell stories, who inspire them and who challenge the system. They want to learn more about God and think the church should be a "A place to find answers to live a meaningful life ".

How do we communicate and do church in a way that overcomes these barriers and reach the Crowds?

Jesus Goes to them and Gathers Crowds:

• We will assume that 3 out 4 people who watch our Livestream & Between Sunday Content are folks in the Crowd, and they are intelligent, smart and professional.

Preach the Gospel of the Kingdom

• This was inspirational, transformational & practical. It is easy to understand teaching that connected with people and transformed lives.
  • When the crowds gathered, Jesus also gave space for people to ask questions, He invited people to share their story (woman with the issue of blood) and would even debate with people. It wasn't just one way. Conversation happened.
• Our job is to inspire people about who Jesus is.
• Our communication will be a combination of smart, caring and simple.
• "There was something about the way you talked about Jesus that was so disarming, and made him so likeable and attractive that I went, I don't know if I've ever heard anyone do a better job. And I listen to church people for a living."

Demonstration

• Our desire is to see God confirm His word with signs and wonders. We will do this through the opportunity for prayer in the CROWDs, either actual or online.
• We've added the TRY PRAYER page to the website, following conversations with Chris Kent.

Compassion

• Our motivation for doing what we do.
• People are scattered. This is what happens to sheep when you leave them to their own devices. Everyone goes their own way. They aren’t even aware that they are in the wrong place. They are being led by something that that is not a good leader.

The harvest is plentiful.

• We believe that God will build His church, and that there are crowds of people (the harvest), that God wants us to connect with.
• “I think that's really the secret, honestly, to winning people is believing that God's already at work in them.”

The prayer is for workers.

• One of our key objectives has got to be the building and resourcing of the workers to bring in the harvest.

Stylescape Link

Design wise, our demographic like simple clean design with bold colours and organic materials. They tend to dress in a smart casual way, preferring dark blue jeans with a T Shirt, sweater or open shirt and jacket. Fonts tend to be sans serif, spaced and simple. Furniture involves organic materials, including wood mixed with light industrial (they are not as rustic or industrial as hipster or Gen Z). It's around this age that our Crowds start to marry, have children and buy their first house. Geometric shapes are popular, especially with strong contrasting colours, but the shapes are simple and not complex or over bearing. They are professional, often working from home (especially during the pandemic). The furniture is simple and clutter free, and colours usually come from cushions, rugs, throws, books, plants etc. Popular colours include a deep blue, a pastel pink (especially when aimed specifically at women), natural colours that resemble wood and plants as well as colours that are off-white, and off-black.

This needs to be much tighter, and not the Matt show. Ideal time to aim for is 45 minutes.

1. Purpose of the Livestream
   1. Inspire with teaching about the Kingdom of God, a place to ask questions, debate and share story
   2. Demonstration - bring healing to people through prayer.
2. Primary CTA: Connect
3. Transitional CTA: Keep watching

Structure

1. Countdown
   1. Notice slides playing
   2. Inspirational stuff too - stuff that keeps people watching
2. Introduction - 5 - 7 minutes as crowds gather
   1. Who we are.
   2. Why you should watch.
   3. What is going to happen.
   4. How to connect
3. Talk - 25 minutes
   1. Context (Live)
   2. Message (prerecorded)
4. Application & questions (Live)
5. Worship (prerecorded)
6. Catchup
7. What’s coming up (mixture)

CROWDs are a small group of people (2 - 4 people, or two families if you include kids) that gets together to watch the Livestream and discuss what’s raised in it.

CROWDs are different to small groups in that they are smaller, and no real work is needed by the organiser of the group short of hosting. This makes the groups easy to organise and manage, build church in the home, creates connection and is missional in focus.

The people in the pod could be Christians, but ideally - it’s People of Peace.

For example, we would invite our People of Peace round on a Sunday. We would have some cake (so it’s not a big deal to sort), catch up and then watch the Livestream. The Livestream would hit a topic that feeds the Christian but is also presented in such a way as to help our PoP see that Jesus is absolutely lovely. We could pray with our PoP (demonstration) when the opportunity arises and we can discuss the Livestream.

Another example would be someone who is heading off to uni. They could start a CROWD in their halls. They invite a Christian and a PoP around on a Sunday with a view to winning the person of peace and training the Christian to run their own CROWD.

The aim would be to make these totally natural and easy to do with no prep needed for the CROWDs (apart from prayer). It’s organic, church in the home and it enables people to physically meet and connect too.