What do the hippie movement, a concert in the park, a free church in Siegen and an app from Communi have to do with helping the people in the Ahr Valley? More than you think. We'll tell you!
The door to God's house is open to everyone - except for long-haired and supposedly unwashed hippies in the USA in the 1960s. Because the fact is: many church congregations rejected the flower children because of their appearance.
Jack Smith therefore wanted to find a form of community that would accommodate all these hippies, and so today the Calvery Chapel, through its modern music, appeals not only to young people, but also to people on the fringes of society. The first Calvery Chapel in Europe was founded in Siegen in the 1980s.
This community has now grown to 1,000 to 1,200 members and, in addition to many other offers, there are regular events for men under the name "JEDER:MANN". There are four weekly men's evenings, overseas missions, leisure activities, barbecue events and construction work within Germany. In order to stay in closer contact, a WhatsApp alternative was sought that could accommodate all of this.
The men built their own app using Communi's app building kit, naturally christened "EVERYONE:MAN". What was previously communicated via church service announcements, emails and information sheets is now done using the app, where everyone can network with one another without disclosing any personal data.
And the group app also expands their communication: Every Sunday, men's devotions are uploaded, so if someone is looking for a drill or something similar, they can help each other more quickly and even very practical things are organized through it:
When the disaster hit the Ahr Valley, people were urgently needed to help out. The guys didn't need to be told twice: With the help of the digital noticeboard, everyone can see that operations are taking place and anyone who has the time and inclination can register and come along. They were in the Ahr Valley twice with a good 20 men and pitched in. Travel, food, tasks - all of this was organized via the community app.
In the future, there will be JEDER:MANN small groups, which will of course also be organized via the app.
