It Begins with One Story

Written By Brittni Scott

Pastor’s Article originally published in the March 4, 2025, edition of VHBC Connections

Imagine walking into a silent room full of people. No one is speaking. Awkwardly, everyone is looking around, but no one engages anyone.  People are present, together, but there’s no connection, no belonging.  Now, picture the same room filled with people speaking to one another.  Noise fills the space as conversations flow with stories being shared, encouragement being offered, and laughter being exchanged.  What’s the difference? Communication.  

Strong communities, faith communities, don’t just happen; they are built through the words we share and the ways we listen. When we communicate well—whether in our church, our neighborhoods, or our families—we strengthen the bonds holding us together. Misunderstandings decrease, trust grows, and a sense of belonging deepens. At its core, community isn’t just about being in the same place; it’s about truly sharing life together – sharing and hearing our words.   

I thought about this connection between communication and community this week as I reflected on the ways we are strengthening our communication systems as a church.  This led me to their common Latin root – communis – which means “common, public, and shared by all.”  The more information shared by all, the greater our shared bonds grow in our community.  For this reason, we are strengthening the many avenues of communication at VHBC.   

Let me share some of the ways we are improving our communication as a church. 

VHBC Church APP 

The new VHBC App increases each sacred partner’s engagement in the life of our church.  On the App, we can watch a worship service, keep notes during a sermon, sign up for events, send messages to our Bible Study Group, check the church calendar, or find the phone number of a friend.  The VHBC APP is now our go-to communication source.  I hope each of us has downloaded it and started to use it.   

NEW Church Management Database (ChMS) 

Last week, each Sacred Partner received an email inviting us to log into our new Church Management Database called ChurchStaq by the company PushPay.  This online resource provides more robust ways for our church to communicate with each other. 
We will find addresses for church members here.   

Tomorrow, March 5, Brittni Scott will offer a Wednesday Morning Seminar on our APP and new ChMS at 10:00 am.  I hope we will take the time to learn how to use these tools to communicate better with our small groups, our ministry teams, and our church as a whole.    

New Communication Strategy 

Beginning in April, we will shift our outward communication strategy to increase the stories we share, to keep the church better informed, and to lower the number of emails we get in our inboxes.   Starting in April, we will move from a once every two weeks newsletter to a once-a-month expanded Connections newsletter.  This expanded newsletter will allow us to focus our communication so we do not miss the biggest events of the month, share more stories happening in the church, and share more details about each month’s ministries.  More than promotions, our expanded Connections Newsletter will share stories from our members and offer a new venue for members who enjoy writing. 

The new Connections Newsletter will be published online and sent out via email on the last Thursday of each month.  For members who want a hard copy, they can be picked up at the church the next Sunday.  

In addition to the new monthly Connections Newsletter, we will email weekly E-News Updates on Tuesday afternoons.  The Weekly Update will cover events for the next 10 days, including Wednesday Sessions, Wednesday Night meals, ministry events, and volunteer reminders.  We hope this focused Update will limit the number of emails individuals receive from the church and be the place for last-minute reminders.   

A new App, a new Database, an Expanded Newsletter, and a new E-News Update.  These are some ways we hope to strengthen our community experience at VHBC. At the same time, like most new things, it will take some adjustment. Let’s be patient with each other and these new tools as we grow into them, building community as we go. 

I hope to see you on the First Sunday of Lent.  You are loved! 

Eric   

Coming in April 

Expanded Monthly Newsletter 

  • Published Online on the Last Thursday of the Month (March 27) 

  • New articles and writings 

  • Monthly Ministry News 

Weekly E-New Update 

  • Emailed Every Tuesday 

  • Upcoming Wednesday and Sunday Updates 

  • Wednesday Meal Menus 

  • Volunteer Reminders 

Writers and Artists Wanted 

Our new, expanded Monthly Connection Newsletter will allow us to share more gifts from within our congregation.  We are looking for writers and artists.  Perhaps you enjoy journalism and want to interview sacred partners and tell their stories.  Maybe you love to write poetry or short stories.  Perhaps you have a piece of art that fits our monthly theme, and you are willing to share it.  Maybe you enjoy editing and are willing to help us coordinate the newsletter.  There’s even room for folks who love to write short pieces on theology or scripture.   If you are willing to share your gifts with our church, contact Eric Spivey (eric@vhbc.com) to volunteer.     

 

Brittni Scott