"Sharing Life" on this community site only works if you participate. A real Christian community shouldn't have any anonymous bystanders sitting back and reading everyone else's content while not contributing. That's not real community...So, be brave...stop living anonymously, and dive into this community right now!
Ok...take a deep breath. We understand. You don't know if you can do it. But, learning to use this website is not as hard as you may think. It has been built so people with very little internet knowledge can easily create a user account, login to the site, and then start sharing life (ie. adding photos, events, or other content) with the rest of the online community.
Have questions about what exactly this site is? Visit the frequently asked questions page for more information.
Ok, are we ready to learn how to use the site? Here we go!
You can't add any content to the website without having a username and being logged in. So the very first thing you want to do is go through the short and easy registration process to get a name and password. Click here to get a username and then come back to this page for further instructions when you're all setup.
I know...people don't like to write about themselves so making a user profile may be the last thing you want to create. However, user profiles are what make this site a true community. Afterall, how can you have community if you don't share anything about yourself?
So, please take some time and create a really detailed profile for yourself by going here and then clicking 'edit profile'. Think of this like a virtual church directory...we can learn more about each other and (when you upload a photo) remind everyone who you are so we can say "hi" on Sunday mornings. Creating a good profile is important...please don't neglect yours!
(for your piece of mind: by doing this, you won't be put on any mailing lists, you won't show up in search engine lists, and we don't collect any really personal information about you. So, never fear, these profiles are 'virtually private' and it would be a very rare exception if anyone outside of the St. Matthew community every found or saw them)
You can check out a sample profile here.
Ok, if you just now created a username then the site will have logged you in automatically. However, if you return to the site later you may not be logged in anymore. You'll know your logged in if, under the big "community" logo at the top you see a menu that looks something like this:
On the other hand, if you see a login box that looks like the one below, that means you're no longer logged in...so put in your username and password and click the login button.
Did you forget your username or password? You can always go here to request that the information is resent to your e-mail address.
Once you're logged into the site, you're now allowed to add a bunch of different types of content (things like events, photos, discussion topics or comments on other people's content). If you're logged in, you should see a menu, similar to the one pictured here, on the right sidebar of the site. That menu shows you what kinds of content you can add to the site..just click what you want to do and fill out the resulting form. Yes, it's just that easy!
Community Groups are a main part of this community site. We encourage you to go over to the Group Directory and see what types of groups are currently on the site. Click on the group names to view the group homepage.
When you're logged in, you can click the "subscribe" button next to any groups, thereby becoming a part of that group's online community. This allows you to add content into the group homepage and be notified via e-mail when others add content to the group.
To add content to the group, simply go to the group homepage, and (if you're a member of the group) you'll see a menu where you can add content. Just add content from inside the group and it will show up on that groups homepage...fun and easy!
Don't see a community group that you'd like to have on the site? No problem! Just make sure you're logged in and you'll be able to create a group just like adding any other content. Easy as pie.
Again, this site can only work if YOU are involved and active. Don't just add your own content...you can look at and read other people's content and make comments on it. Just look for a link that says "add a comment" below any content and share your 2 cents. It's a great way to have conversation and encourage each other on the journey.
Sign up for a free account and take part in the St. Matthew community online! It’s easy, quick and, of course, free!
