What is Community?

What is community? Many of us are asking this question in 2020, as we have family reunions on Zoom, watch sermons online, and wave at our neighbors from a distance. What is real community? What should church attendance look like?

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…

Hebrews 10:24-25

Is online community real community? For many of us, it feels like no: we definitely feel like something is missing, a Zoom call or email is not the same as real life.

However, it is interesting to note that not every age group feels the same way. A 2019 study found that (compared to other generations), Gen Z is most likely to feel their online community better understands their passions than family or friends. In fact, this generation is most likely to enjoy the company of an online community more than those around them in real life. 

About 60% of Gen Z said online community support is very important to them, compared to only 48% of all other generations

2019 Survey of 1000 Americans

This survey also found that Gen Z and Millennials prefer specialized and decentralized online communities over centralized ones like Facebook. In fact, 60% of Gen Z and Millennials feel closer to online forum communities than their Facebook friends.

Faith Ascent’s Trail Head is a specialized, topical forum, which younger generations prefer! In Trail Head, young people are encouraging each other through challenging situations, sharing prayer requests, and discussing Scripture and culture questions.

Who knows how church and youth groups will look in the coming months– but we are thankful that Faith Ascent Climbers have an outlet for meaningful community and discipleship on Trail Head.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thess. 5:11