The Back Porch

So, big things are happening for the Back Porch. First things first, we’re going to start meeting every other week, so you can get twice the Back Porch action per month. That’s cool, right?

The answer is yes.

Also we’re going to try expanding the variety of energy we put into it. Today several of us sat down for a good long time and planned for the future of the Back Porch, and I dare say it was extremely encouraging. We did both some big dreaming and little planning, which included planning out dates for a great deal of the upcoming semester. At some point we’ll give the full scoop for all that on the site, but for the time being, let’s just stick to saying that the next two meetings are February 3rd and February 17th. We’re still waiting for confirmation on the speaker, but suffice to say as soon as we know, so will you.

Additionally, we’re going to be deliberate about doing more promotion, which invariably means incorporating more media into the entire flow. We’ve essentially got the design department filled for this, however if anybody feels like assembling some kind of street team that can be reliable about distributing posters and flyers on a weekly basis, that would be pretty helpful for us.

Also, a good friend, and now fellow member of the Back Porch leadership, Sarah Word is going to start writing for the blog. She’s good folk, and consequently will produce good reading for us as well, and should provide a little more variety from just hearing from me and Craig. Also, on a similar line of thinking, we’re also always looking for more people willing to contribute to the blog. It doesn’t have to be a weekly thing, so if you even have one article you think would be a good fit, go ahead and let me know and I’ll take a look. That being said, if you would like to contribute regularly (I’m talking to you, Jonathan Roberts), let me know and we can include you as well.

In the next few months we’re hoping to expand from being a simple blog to having an online zine as well, which will provide a lot of options creatively and practically as well. As always, we’re looking for help in the design, as well as contributors. Heck, we might even sell you advertising space! (That was a personal idea had at this very moment. If the rest of the leadership does not agree, please forgive me for even suggesting it.)

What all this, and more, amounts to is a stronger sense of purpose and drive for the Back Porch. We want to drive a stronger sense of community and focus for not just us as leadership, but for everybody who comes on the Saturday’s, and everybody who reads this blog. We want to saturate our entire lives with the ideals that Christ exemplified, and to do so in a non-cliché or threatening way. To fully permeate our lives with generosity and forgiveness and mercy and compassion.

This is going to be a big year.

Keep it real, folks.

Peter