New Web Directories Connect Moving Families and Churches

KALAMAZOO, MI -- The EXODUS Network announces the launch of 2 new web directories to serve relocating families and churches throughout NA. Churches are able to add information about their churches for free! "The USAChurchSearch.com and CanadaChurchSearch.com websites provides a system for churches to connect with new families and cultivate and exercise the spiritual gift of hospitality and welcoming," says Cindi Veenstra, director of the EXODUS Network, a free REALTOR® referral and relocation ministry that developed USAChurchSearch.com. Local REALTOR®S who are Selected Agents with the EXODUS Network, sponsor the web directories in their local communities as a public service and to build relationships.

Veenstra says, "This project has been led by God and is a gift which we are praying will build the body of Christ and continue to grow His kingdom!"

Veenstra has been running a ministry to relocating families, called the EXODUS Network, since 1993. The EXODUS ministry connects families who are moving to full time real estate agents who are thoroughly prescreened to meet professional and customer service standards and who are Christian Community Specialists. "When we moved to our current community, we connected with a local REALTOR who was a tremendous help in not only helping us find a great home, but also was a tremendous resource in connecting us to the Christian community. We were convinced she operated with complete integrity and she was able to answer all our questions about the resources we needed to connect with in the community. She was our first friends in our new community and 20 years later she is still a dear friend!"

When the EXODUS Broker, David Veenstra, became a REALTOR, he wanted to connect clients he worked with to agents in other communities that he believed operated with Biblical values and with the same level of customer service and professionalism that he operated with. The EXODUS Network was formally started by the Veenstras as a means of connecting relocating families with top notch professionals, who were Christian community specialists.

"Over the years EXODUS has worked with thousands of agents, some have been with us since 1993. We evaluate each agent on an annual basis and do not allow agents who do not have good evaluations to stay with us." Says Veenstra. "But over the years, just having the network didn't seem enough. I believe God has given me a larger vision and over the last 5 years we have been developing these new ministry websites that will allow the Christian community access to some amazing technology which will better meet the needs of families who are moving."

Some have made estimates that up to 30% of the people who relocate do not reconnect with a Church! That is a huge number that EXODUS is hoping their technology and church directories will help to lower.

The church sites have a user-friendly database of churches nationwide, searchable by location, denomination, church name, or type of ministry. A family/individual can go to the site and compare many of the churches found in the community, find one or several that look interesting and can complete a request for more information from one or more churches. The request can include specific information about their family or requests for specific information which the family desires (for example, specific info about youth group or choir or ....) These requests will be sent to all the churches with one click of the mouse. The churches will be able to tailor their response to the family according to the family's interests as stated on the request for information. These requests for information also allow churches to prepare for visiting families and really personalize the welcome they give. All churches who enhance their profile will also receive an email resource called Welcoming Community 8 times a year. Each issue has one specific idea or tool that can be implemented in the church to build a more welcoming community.

Enhanced ministry profiles can include information about pastors, services, weekly or special events, and denominational affiliation. Churches can link to their website, give directions to their building, or upload a map. They can update demographic information such as size, accessibility features, and church ministries. They can even add a message to welcome people who are browsing on the website!

"We encourage all Christian churches to visit USAChurchSearch.com or CanadaChurchSearch.com today to add your church to the directory and add detailed information about your church. We want to send moving families to you so that you can begin building relationships and welcome them into a new church family." A similar directory has also been launched for Christian Schools. That directory is available at ChristianSchoolDirectory.com . There is no charge to add info or search for info on any of these directories!

For more information contact Cindi Veenstra, EXODUS Network (EXODUSNetwork.com) Executive Director at (269) 349-0647 or GreatAgents@ExodusNetwork.com.

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