Extension Key: wec_connector
Copyright 2005-2009, Christian Technology Ministries International Inc. http://www.CTMIinc.org
Author: Web-Empowered Church <connector(at)webempoweredchurch.com>
Support Community: http://www.webempoweredchurch.com/support/community/
This document is published under the Open Content License
available from http://www.opencontent.org/opl.shtml
The content of this document is related to TYPO3
- a GNU/GPL CMS/Framework available from www.typo3.com
The WEC (Prayer) Connector extension implements a connector community, which is a community designed to help people that have a need or service find people who can address that need or use that service. Anyone can publicly post a need (like a prayer request) or service (like a job opening), and then people who want to respond do not reply publicly. Instead, their reply is e-mailed back to the originator and the reply does not appear on the website. If the need is fulfilled or the service is not needed anymore, then the entire post can be removed by the originator.
To help in monitoring for new posts to the connector, people can subscribe to a connector and receive any new posts. In addition, each connector can be moderated by one or more users and they can quickly edit or remove entries if needed. Plus, spam filtering controls allow the administrator to keep out any unwanted content.
This extension offers many configurable options for naming, display, control, etc. to address various needs. For example, the extension can be used for things such as prayer requests, classified ads, job listings, posting board, or a business directory.
Major features of this extension include:
Easily customize colors, layout, and look
Support users to subscribe and receive all new posts by email
Allows spam-fighting tools like captcha, link limits allowed, and only certain HTML tags allowed
Optional categories
Filter messages for bad/obscene words
Moderate the messages (optional)
Customize title, instructions and even emails being sent out
Allows listings to be paged
Can hide entry form until user wants to respond
Allow messages to last only a certain amount of time (i.e., 30 days)
Prayer Request Board
Helping Hands Board (person needs help and posts request)
Job Board (person looking for job or for employee)
E-Candle (light a candle to remember someone)
Business Directory
Anything you can think of where you want to connect people with other's needs or requests!
The following are real-working examples of this extension:
Prayer Connection – http://www.ginghamsburg.org/prayer/
http://www.stonebriar.org/need-help/prayer-requests.html
People can offer their prayer requests and answers to the community.
Helping Hands – http://www.ginghamsburg.org/hands/
People can ask for help, usually with a temporary situation like babysitting, painting, or mowing their lawn.
Job Connection – http://www.ginghamsburg.org/jobs/
Allows people seeking jobs and employers seeking workers to find each other.
E-Candle system – http://www.ginghamsburg.org/candle/
Unique and quite popular page where people can offer their prayers and remembrances. This originated from needs we saw arise following 9/11.
Business Directory – http://www.ginghamsburg.org/businessdirectory/
A listing of businesses that want to advertise to our church members. The list is sorted by categories and supports an image for each one.
If you want a simplified message board/forum where you want to connect people with needs/requests, then this can work well. It supports privacy and does not require users to sign-up. This feels quite different than a forum and is also much simpler to use. It allows people to see the listings right away and quickly respond.
The following are screenshots to show you how the Connector system works:
Screenshot of Connector For Prayer Requests This shows what a normal Connector can look like with header, instructions, buttons, and the listing of entries.
Screenshot of Another Connector – called an E-Candle. This was made easily just by changing the template & colors.
This shows what you will see if you click on the “Add an Entry”.
The Web-Empowered Church (WEC) is a ministry of Christian Technology Ministries International (www.CTMIinc.org). The mission of WEC is to innovatively apply WEB technology to EMPOWER the worldwide CHURCH for ministry.WEC will help churches around the world expand evangelism, discipleship, and care through the innovative application of Internet technology. WEC web-based tools and training will help make church ministries more efficient and effective, and will extend ministry impact to a world in need of Jesus (See www.WebEmpoweredChurch.org/Jesus). We want to fuel a worldwide movement using the Internet to point the world to Jesus Christ, to grow disciples, and to care for those in need. Our desire is to use the web to empower the Church to become a truly 24 hours per day 7 days per week ministry that is not constrained by walls or distance or time.If you would like to find out more about WEC or our tools, or support us in any way, please go to our website for users: www.webempoweredchurch.com and for software/web developers: www.webempoweredchurch.org
