Support Resources

PRACTICALLY - An online group for neighbors is an excellent way to connect and share needs.

PICKING YOUR FOCUS

Two things to consider up front:.

1. Decide which social media platform will feel most natural for your context.

Think about where most people will already have some presence, to maximize the uptake - although realize that there is no perfect solution, and some simply won’t want to join. At this time, we have found either Facebook or WhatsApp to be the most commonly used platforms for this sort of group, but this might not be true for you.

We know of other people who have simply created a neighborhood directory - they put out a questionnaire asking about who lives in your home, contact info, social media platforms, needs etc - and distributed that directory to the street (mostly via email).

If your street already has a group or page set up, don’t compete but get involved and find out ways you can help!

2. Define the boundaries of where you are trying to reach.

We would suggest that you make it small enough to care but large enough to have a mix of resources and people. We went for a block of about 55 homes, which made sense geographically and relationally.

There is an online tool, Bless Every Home, developed for churches, that will help you work out who are your nearest 100 homes, and also gives you publicly available information (e.g. names of those who live there). If you’re located in a more rural area, that could be really helpful to you.

We also invited in a couple of friends who were technically not in that zone, but relationally are strongly connected - don’t be legalistic about any of this!

While in this document we are thinking of ‘street’ as being geographically defined, it might be that your ‘street’ is a relational network (such as, a group of families with kids in the same sports team, or people from your gym, or work relationships). However, for most of you, the prime way you will define your group will be through geographical distance.

CULTURE

From the outset, you want the group to be positive, encouraging, and hope-giving. That doesn’t mean people can’t be real and express concerns or needs! However, the goal of such sharing is to help others be aware of what’s going on, so they can offer physical help or emotional and spiritual encouragement.

HOW TO PRAY

As you can imagine, it is vital to cover this exercise in prayer! Some things to pray include:

· Neighbors will welcome this plan.

· Your household will be seen as people who offer something positive to the street.

· Conversations will naturally follow that are both meaningful and also spiritual.

· The technology will work properly!

· Community will be built online, which in turn will be translated into real life.

· People’s fears and anxieties will be diminished as they encounter the Holy Spirit in you.

· This simple plan will pay great dividends for the Kingdom.

TASKS

1. Set up the group online.

2. Communicate the presence of the group to your street.

3. Set the tone online, by posting and interacting with what is shared.

1. Set up the group online

· Choose your platform

We thought about both WhatsApp and Facebook. The advantage of WhatsApp is that it is a messaging service that works on all types of phones (it’s a free app), and so it can ‘push’ messages to phones very quickly. In a crisis time, that might be of benefit… although the over-sharing neighbor would also become really annoying really quickly!

In the end, we chose Facebook for our context. We knew of at least six people who were on there already, three of whom were regular posters. We also liked its ability to have individual posts and comment threads.

SETTING UP A FACEBOOK GROUP:

• Choose your Group Name: Probably this is not the time to pick something too clever - we went for clear and descriptive, and included the name of our street.

• Choose your Cover Photo: Every group on Facebook has a Cover Photo - the image you see stretched across the top of the page. Pick something that is decent quality! An obvious option is a shot of your street - if you don’t have a good photo, a neighbor might have one.

• Set the privacy level: Facebook allows you to set the privacy and visibility levels for your group. We recommend you select:

o Visible (which means that anyone can type in the group name and it will pop up in the results - if you don’t do this, no-one can find you!)

o Closed group (which means that while anyone can find the group and see who’s in it, only members can see posts and contribute.) These settings mean that you will need to ‘approve’ those who want to join the group, unless you directly send them an invite from within Facebook. This means that you can’t ignore the page for several days! It might be a good idea to have several people approved as Moderators, as they can also do that task. Plus, it’s a great way to draw in one or two neighbors to help make the group zing!

• Write a Group Description: Again, every group on Facebook has this, so that people know they’re on the correct group, and also to set a few ground rules. Here’s what we wrote for our group description:

Well, we’re in interesting times with this whole COVID-19 situation, with lots of anxiety and fear in our community about where it’s all headed. It’s hard to tell what the next days, weeks and months have in store for us, but whatever the case, we think it’s a good time to push into being good neighbors!

I've created this Facebook page so that we can have a support network for each other. If you have a practical, relational or spiritual need please share it on here. Hopefully between us someone will either be able to directly help or have some wisdom as to a good next step.

Let's keep the tone positive, encouraging and neighborly!

This group is centered around xxxx Ave between xxxxx St and xxxx St, plus other nearby neighbors who'd like to be included! Please do pass the word on and invite people to join.

As you can see, this is friendly, describes the purpose, and sets the tone. We also took the first paragraph from the letter we sent out to everyone (see the next page) - there’s no need to reinvent the wheel!

You might also want to encourage people to introduce themselves when they join the group - or that could be something that you do as a future post.

• Post something: It doesn’t need to be much, but post a little friendly welcome on the page.

“Hi, I’m ______, I’m so looking forward to meeting old friends and making new ones amongst our awesome group of neighbors in these crazy times!”

SETTING UP A WHATSAPP GROUP

• WhatsApp is very similar to texting, but it works for free across all phone types as an app. There is a very simple guide (and video) that walks you through the process. You can watch it here.

• Essentially you start a chat, tap ‘New Group’, and then add contacts, along with a group name and image - so pretty similar to the steps you do on Facebook.

2. Communicate the presence of the group to your street

· You will want to write a letter to your street, to tell them about your desire to strengthen community at this time, and also to invite them into the Facebook group. To save you time, we’ve shared the letter we wrote below - please feel free to cut and paste as much of this as you like into yours!

· For neighbors we already knew, we also texted them a copy of the letter. You might be part of a neighborhood Home Owners’ Association which has an email list of members, so that is another pathway for communication. Since then, a number of neighbors have called us up simply to thank us for reaching out.

· When we printed out this letter, we left some space above our names, and both signed it (just our first names). If you really want granular detail, we did so in a good quality blue rollerball pen, so the finished letter looked great!

March 17, 2020

Hi Neighbor!

Well, we’re in interesting times with this whole coronavirus situation, with lots of anxiety and fear in our community about where it’s all headed. It’s hard to tell what the next days, weeks and months have in store for us, but whatever the case, we think it’s a good time to push into being good neighbors!

We don’t have a whole lot stockpiled, but we may have something we can share with you if you’re in a pinch. We’d also be happy to do a run to the store if you’re finding it hard to get there yourself for some reason.

Anyway, if you do need something – or if you want to talk more about ways we can help each other – give us a call at xxx.xxx.xxxx. We’re the English family in the two story house next to the alleyway which goes to the pub [add your house number].

Also, we’re setting up a Facebook page for our block so that people can share needs/ what they can offer the community/ updates of what’s going on on there. This is for anyone on xxxx Ave between xxxxx St and xxxx St, along with others nearby who feel relationally connected to this street. If you’re interested in being part of that online community (we hope you do - all are welcome!), please log onto Facebook and search for the group “[group name]”. If you can’t find it then text us and we’d be glad to help!

Know that we’re praying for you, this block, and our city as we go through this together - if you have specific requests let us know.

Blessings,

Hannah and Alex Absalom

Hannah: xxx.xxx.xxxx

Alex: xxx.xxx.xxxx

(And yes, our home really does back onto the neighborhood pub - we’re originally from England, so it’s on code!!)

3. Post regularly, and respond to others

There is nothing worse than a dead Facebook group, with (virtual) tumbleweed blowing through the cloud!

· Try to post something positive or helpful most days.

· If you have neighbors who are good at posting content, have a quiet word and encourage them to do so regularly.

· When other people post, try to add a positive or helpful comment.

· As you see interesting/ helpful/ fun things online, keep a list of them, so that you have a store of good things to post in the days ahead. You might find it helpful to create a little posting plan, so that you have a structure to lean on when you aren’t otherwise feeling inspired!

· Your attitude will shine through - so pay close attention to what you write and how it comes across. Don’t be snarky, sarcastic (it never comes across well), impatient, or rude. Some people might be a bit high-maintenance, but you’re there to love them well - and others will be watching!

Right now many people feel abandoned, anxious, and isolated, and so even simple steps will make you shine - and create opportunities for you to talk about the peace and hope that you carry.

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)

NEXT STEPS CHECKLIST

What are your specific next steps?

We have created a checklist on the next page to help, although you might want to adjust it to make it fit for your context. The main thing is - don’t hang around, YOU CAN DO THIS!!

· Set up the group online

Group name

Cover photo

Privacy levels

Group description

First post

· Write the invitation letter to your neighbors

· Print the invitation letter

· Deliver the invitation letter

· Post or respond regularly on the page

· Ask Jesus to help you represent Him well there

· Be an intentional presence in your neighborhood - walk, stop, and chat (from 6’ away)!