ROOV is in Atlanta and Catalyst has started. Visit www.CatalystSpace.com to check it out! We are launching the beginning New and Improved ROOV today and are excited about the partnership with Catalyst! Catalyst has proven itself to be the leader in training and inspiring pastors and leaders across the nation. Needless to say… they are a ton of fun and we’re having a great time!

ROOV Nation – Hold on… cuz here we go!!

We told you it was coming and now it’s here! ROOV.com has officially launched its integration with Facebook.com.

Here’s what that means…

~ You don’t need another login for ROOV… Just use your Facebook login.
~ You don’t need to upload a picture… We’ll bring your Facebook photo over for you.
~ No need to find your friends… again… We’ll bring those over from Facebook as well!
~ Notifications…Yep, these will show up on Facebook.

Keep an eye out— There is more to come over the next couple of weeks!

Like we said before… this is not an application. It’s actually something completely new. Basically, we wanted to make ROOV easier to use, and since most of you guys already use Facebook we thought, “hmmm… why not integrate?” Now you can continue to use Facebook like always, but at the same time stay up on your latest ROOV activity.

Not currently using Facebook? That’s okay… just go to Facebook.com sign up for an account and then head back to ROOV to get going.

And there’s more???

Yep.

//Conversations
We have released the first of several weeks of improvements to the posting features on ROOV. We are making it easier to post quick updates about what you’re doing inside different ROOVs. (Don’t forget this will flow back to Facebook… so you don’t have to post in multiple places!)

//Gatherings
Build community online and move it offline… That’s our goal and we’re making it easier to accomplish. We are releasing the first phase of a new Gathering feature. You can now suggest an idea for a Gathering and once enough people show interest then you can make it happen. Now you can plan Gatherings that you know people want to attend.

Last thing…

//Causes
Next time you go to ROOV you won’t see Causes, but don’t worry that’s on purpose! We have merged Causes and ROOVs because they were basically the same thing. The Causes you were once in will now show up in your ROOVs.

So… Go to ROOV.com right now and link up your ROOV and Facebook accounts and get involved in the new and improved ROOV.

Thanks in advance for being patient with us… Pushing out big changes like this will be different, and we may have a few bugs to fix along the way!

Happy ROOV’n!

We love to blog about how the ROOV community is creatively impacting the world around them. Last weekend a fellow ROOVer posted a gathering in the “Play Poker” ROOV. They called the event ROOV Royale. It was a time for experienced and inexperienced players from all over the Dallas area to come together and play. Proceeds for the evening went to benefit two charities.

Kiva is a non-profit with the mission to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. It is the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entreprepenurs in the developing world. The event contributed to the dreams of one of these entrepreneurs, Sambath Haun.

Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. The event helped to sponsor one of Compassion’s children.

The thing we love about Gatherings like this is that it serves multiple purposes. People have a reason to gather. It’s an opportunity to meet new people. It serves a good cause. And conversations continue around things of substance afterwards.

So… kudos to the Poker ROOV for a job well done.

The question of how to create real Community within a church and city can be tough to navigate… or maybe not! I’m guessing that when groups can find an activity that they all enjoy, real Community naturally develops.

There have been Ultimate Frisbee Gatherings popping up on ROOV this summer. Try one in your city and see what develops!! Get your friends and your friends’ friends and you may be surprised at how that can boost the connectivity you begin to feel with others!

Fireworks

Hope everyone is looking forward to the weekend events! We’re heading out to the boondocks of Dallas/Ft. Worth for some good, old fashioned fireworks! Gatherings are being posted as well as ROOVers are deciding to do something fun for the Fourth together… Ah… I love community.

Some other thoughts…

I have been really humbled through conversations I’ve had over the last few weeks. After talking with people across the country that are passionate about Jesus, I leave each one stirred up… From pastors to passionate 20-somethings one phrase keeps running through my mind at the end of each conversation, “The Church is vibrant.” Sometimes I think it’s easy to think of all the things that we wish we could change or wish weren’t like they are. But when I stop and take a look into the hearts of so many people… the church is vibrant and it’s moving forward. That’s exciting and I’m motivated.

Hello ROOVers!

Some of you may have noticed and many of you have already tried this out, but there is a Gathering function on the site that is a must for all ROOVers!

Since ROOV has been open, there have been several Gatherings that have taken place: Game nights, discussions around business topics, camping trips, concerts… and the list goes on!

Gatherings can be either small or large… whatever you prefer. You can make them open to anyone or only to a select group. Basically… they are what you want them to be.

Recently there was a Gathering in Dallas that was not only a ton of fun, but it also helped meet a need.

The ROOV? Impact Africa.

The night consisted of African themed food, African jewelry, an authentic African drum line and an auction for some amazing art pieces. Then you add in a bunch of incredible people, and it made for a pretty sweet evening. All the proceeds went to benefit Caring Hands.

So, check for Gatherings that other ROOVers create or create your own. They show up on the right hand column of each ROOV page.

Now, let’s keep creating community and rallying around the things we enjoy and the things God has called us to do!