Realm

Because church doesn’t end on Sunday!

Realm is an online tool that helps you connect with others and to the mission of John Knox Church. It’s designed around the many groups that make up our church: Life Groups, Ministry Teams, Service Groups, etc. Realm will be a very helpful tool as we strive together to be a community on mission.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is Realm?

There are a hundred different ways to describe Realm, but it all comes down to communication. Realm was made to help our church stay connected in a central location, extending our capacity for community and ministry throughout the week because church doesn’t end outside of face-to-face time. It’s a group-oriented communication tool that’s all about helping us build deeper community and extend the love of Christ to the world.

Why does our church need Realm?

We want to simplify and increase effective communication. We want to encourage community involvement while giving ministry teams and life groups an easy way to organize. We want to grow in our connection with one another that comes from communication and time spent with one another. We believe that Realm will allow us to do all of this more effectively. 

How is Realm different from Facebook or other social media?

With so many online points of contact today, some people are hesitant to join yet another online community. We understand that.There are many differences that sets Realm apart, but they all stem out of one fundamental distinction: Facebook and most social media is made for individuals, and Realm is built around communities. Just look at your Facebook news feed; everything revolves around you as an individual and the things and people you find important. With Realm, you are an individual, yes, but the vast majority of communication happens in the context of the different communities or groups you’re a part of, and your news feed reflects that. Furthermore, being built for the church, Realm provides leadership and administrative tools to local leaders that Facebook just can’t, because supporting and empowering churches isn’t their goal.

We wouldn’t say that one is better than the other, but they’re very clearly different.

Is Realm private?

Yes, it is! The only people who can see your Realm account are other people from John Knox who also use Realm. No one can google your name and find your Realm account. On top of that, you have complete control over who can and cannot see your contact information.No one will ever sell the information you share via Realm. Realm is owned by a company named ACS Technologies which specializes in creating software solutions for local churches. Realm is overseen by John Knox staff and is designed only for our use.

Pastors and staff members do not have unlimited access to the content posted on Realm. No one does. The only people who can see content posted within a group are the people who are a part of the group. Any prayer requests or needs that you share within your Life Group or other groups are only accessible to the members of that group.

Is Realm Secure?

Online security is a real concern and something we considered very extensively when we decided to bring Realm to John Knox. If you are interested in learning more about how your data is protected, you can see the provided information on all Realm security measures in their Help Resources.

How do I join?

Head on over to our online registration and sign up, you will receive an invitation in your email to create your account. If you don’t receive that email, be sure to check your spam folder as email from Realm can occasionally end up there.

How will we monitor people who may post malicious things on Realm?

Because Realm is a private network designed to help you communicate with people that you know and are in community with it is very unlikely that you will encounter any offensive or malicious content. Unlike blogs or other completely open social networking sites, it is very difficult to be anonymous on Realm. That being said, it is certainly not impossible for someone to post malicious content, which is why we have all of the necessary securities in place to guard against this. Account Administrators at John Knox have the ability to permanently remove someone from Realm if they abuse their account.Please notify a staff member in the event that you encounter someone who is posting malicious or inappropriate content to Realm.

What can I do on Realm?

Find a Life Group

Find opportunities to serve

RSVP to Church Events

Communicate within groups

Share Prayer Requests

Share Needs

Ask Questions

Interact with Pastors & Leaders

Receive church-wide updates

with more to come…