GRAND RAPIDS- Christian Publisher Zondervan has acquired The City, a social networking software program for churches created by Seattle-based Mars Hill
Church. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Developed over the past two years by Mars Hill pastor of technology,
Zack Hubert, who spent eight years in management at Amazon.com, The City
was created in response to the church’s need to improve communication,
better engage with members, support small groups, build a stronger church
community and free up administrative resources. Mars Hill launched The City
earlier this year to create a dynamic, engaging interactive online
community for its more than 7,000 members. Within two months of launch more
than 85 percent of the church’s members had signed up and more than 75 percent visit the site every day.
“The City is an essential part of the way our members and our staff
communicate every day,” said Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill’s founding and
preaching pastor. “Thanks to Zondervan churches and organizations around
the world will have access to this resource to help people meet Jesus and
build community.”
Zondervan plans to build out the current features of The City and offer
scalable and customizable modules to churches nationwide who want to create
their own vibrant, interactive community for members.
“The City is the most creative, dynamic church-building resource that I
have seen, and we are thrilled to be able to make it available to churches
of all sizes and denominations,” said Moe Girkins, president and CEO of
Zondervan. “The impact The City has had on Mars Hill is nothing short of
remarkable, and I’m confident other churches will be attracted to the
substantial community-building benefits that come from offering this unique
resource to their church members.”
The City is specifically for the church internet community. Each church
member has a unique username and password, assuring the community of a
secure and reliable network. Members of each church’s social network can
post and maintain their personal profile, find spiritual resources, sign up
for volunteer opportunities, engage with their small group members, join
book/study groups, maintain a journal, access news, and connect and share
personal feelings, experiences, needs, and prayer requests with other
church members.
“The City is much more than a social network as it helps churches to
solve their greatest challenges –whether it’s church planting,
fundraising, developing small groups, building the global church,
bolstering a sense of community or improving communications among members,”
added Girkins. “We are excited to take this incredibly valuable resource
that Mars Hill has created and bring it to other churches throughout the
U.S. and around the world.”
As a result of the acquisition, The City creator Zack Hubert will be
joining Zondervan as Vice President of Church Community Networks.
A virtual tour of The City’s features can be found at OntheCity.Org
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