Case Study Overview
Newsong.net  (community.newsong.net)
Being one of the top innovative Churches in the USA (2005 Growth Today Study/ Outreach Magazine Report), Newsong saw the need to adapt itself to the online world. Since more and more people were using the internet to download audio messages and videos, Newsong set out to develop its community and give them a playground so members could interact and connect with each other from around the world. In From 2006 – 2008 Newsong used its in-house and contracted talent to develop a site similar to facebook, but with an approach custom to it’s the look and feel of Newsong.

The Problem
After spending 2 years and tens of thousands of dollars Newsong had build a site that was not stable (buggy), confusing for its members and did not fit the design that Newsong desired. It seemed that Newsong had completely failed its community after making several statements throughout the 2 years that the site would be completed but it never happened.

The Solution
The Newsong Leadership decided not to develop their site (system) from the ground up but looked for an alternative that already existed. Newsong turned to a 3rd party group and developed a social sticky site which was launched a month later in December of 2008.  Newsong’s tagline is 3rd culture community, and now Newsong has a community site where its can live out its tagline.

Success
20% adoption rate in 6 weeks.
600 of Newsong 3,000 worldwide members setup their own personal pages and began engaging with the church community online within the first 6 weeks.

Newsong Maximized Volunteers
Lay leaders began setting up their own groups and organizing their own teams to serve the community. Community leaders began to emerge as they felt empowered to lead from their own community groups. This empowerment made the playing field flat and new ministries began poping up. This released presure from church staff as the community took a greater role in posting their own events and creating their own out-reaches.

Communications increased
There are only so many ways Newsong could communicate with its audience. Email blasts, bulletin inserts and announcements on Sunday mornings. Now Communication on Newsongs social network is 24/7. Newsong's Pastor updates members through blog posts and staff and lay leaders post all upcoming events online.  The Pastor even personally invites people to attend important events to gather the community together.