Beyond the Live Stream: Discovering Community at FAC
Written by Cory Harasym, Online Campus Pastor
One of the biggest challenges of moving to a new city is finding community. For people of faith, that often means finding a church community to belong to. That was me in 2008! One of the first things I did when I arrived in Calgary was Google “churches near me” and I found First Alliance Church (FAC). I thought I would go check it out and long story short, I've been here ever since!
In a big city like Calgary, with so many churches to choose from, how do you find a place where you can truly connect, get involved, and build lifelong friendships? We live in a day and age where technology has made finding and experiencing a church service more accessible than it's ever been before. With online services, you can get a sense of the vibe of a church community before you even enter the building. You can experience the worship and preaching and see if this is a place where you could belong. This is great because it has also allowed people who have never entered a church building before to catch a glimpse of what's happening inside. Entering a new church building doesn't have to be scary.
What I love about the Online Campus here at FAC is that attending church online via YouTube, Facebook, or Live Stream, will give you an authentic experience of what church is going to be like in-person as well. Now I know that attending a service in-person and joining online are different experiences, but joining FAC Online often gives a pretty good glimpse into what we’re all about here at FAC.
I also love that FAC Online isn't just live streaming the service on the weekend, we give people the opportunity to connect throughout the week as well! We’ve learned that we can use technology, literally every day of the week, to connect with each other, to pray together, and for us to grow in our faith. We are doing prayer meetings online, discipleship online, and small groups online.
I love how we can connect with people right where they live and help them grow in their spiritual journey! Location is not an issue for our online community. Truly, if you have a phone in your pocket or a computer at home, you can be a part of our online church community. You can be known. You can experience the love of a community that seeks to join Jesus in the renewal of all things wherever you live.
FAC Online connects people across cities, countries, and time zones. But what does this kind of community look like in practice? Here's what being part of FAC's Online Campus has meant to some of our members.
Kathleen: "Being a part of the Online Campus has been such a privilege for me. I love 'seeing' people from other parts of Canada and around the world worshipping Jesus together as one. We also get to pray for one another - not in person but online - how awesome is that? We can be connected all over the world, in Jesus."
Barb: "FAC Online was my lifeline during the pandemic. I participated in Wednesday Noon Prayer, watched the service on Saturday nights and then attended FAC Southwest on Sunday mornings. I also met my wonderful friend, Kathleen, online only to find out we lived a block away from each other. Now that is God! I am very grateful for FAC Online! God bless you!"
Doris: "I am Doris from Meheba Camp, Zambia. I have been a member of FAC Online for almost 2 years now. Before, I couldn't believe that social media can bring someone closer to God until I became a living testimony of it. The more I was watching FAC's online services, the more I got desires of knowing and reading Bible. Personally, I thank both Pastor Cory and Rosalind and all Online Campus' staff who help to make it possible for us.
Norm: “The FAC Online Campus has been like a spiritual lifeline for me over the past year and a half. I serve in ministry overseas to a people group who speak a different language. By the weekend I am exhausted and need rest. Getting to a church is difficult. Having technology to stream FAC Online at my apartment here gives me the spiritual boost I need to continue to serve the people here in the coming week. The beautiful thing is that my Sunday morning here is Saturday night in Calgary, so it times perfectly for me to have church at home each Sunday morning. Thank you FAC for the ministry you do to reach those of us who can’t get out to a church service. With FAC Online, I can still feed my soul in this virtual corporate worship.”
Join us online anytime, from anywhere, ask for prayer, and stay connected with the FAC Online community throughout the week!
