---
title: 649 – Great City Network
description: This week’s WELSTech includes a look at the offerings of Great City Network and the wrap up of The Post-Quarantine Church book discussion. There’s also chat about a Lenten podcast, texting in church, online giving, and capturing parent’s attention as they search online for school options. The interview Outside-the-box urban ministry – Pastor Kent Reeder […]
---

[WELSTech ](https://welstech.wels.org)

# [649 – Great City Network](https://welstech.wels.org/2021/03/02/649-great-city-network)

 Written by [Sallie Draper](https://welstech.wels.org/author/sallie-draper) | Mar 2, 2021 1:59:20 PM

This week’s WELSTech includes a look at the offerings of Great City Network and the wrap up of *The Post-Quarantine Church* book discussion. There’s also chat about a Lenten podcast, texting in church, online giving, and capturing parent’s attention as they search online for school options.

[https://welstech.blob.core.windows.net/audio/WELSTech_Episode_649.mp3](https://welstech.blob.core.windows.net/audio/WELSTech_Episode_649.mp3)

Podcast: [Download](https://welstech.blob.core.windows.net/audio/WELSTech_Episode_649.mp3) (Duration: 49:17 — 45.8MB)

### The interview

Outside-the-box urban ministry – Pastor Kent Reeder from [Illume Church](https://www.illume.church/), Seattle, WA and Dan Jaspersen, curator, join us to discuss the formation and three-fold vision of [Great City Network](https://www.greatcitynetwork.com/) – collaborating, training, and skill sharing.

- [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCER7nQE-SA50eOM1kEosG1Q)
- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/GreatCityNetwork)

### The book discussion

From challenges to opportunities – Martin and Sallie finish their discussion of *The Post-Quarantine Church*  by Thom Rainer.

### Picks of the week

- [G Suite for Edu is now Google Workspace for Education](https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2021/02/introducing-google-workspace-for-education.html)
- [Camtasia 2020](https://www.techsmith.com/video-editor.html)

### Ministry resource

Heart to heart: parent conversations series – [Audio](https://forwardinchrist.net/podcasts/) and [video](https://vimeo.com/showcase/3305246)

### WELS now

Jesus’ Passion – 40 days of Bible readings with commentary by Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Professor Stephen Geiger, available in [audio podcast](https://forwardinchrist.net/podcasts/) and [video](https://forwardinchrist.net/40-days-of-lent/) formats. Here’s a sample:

### Community feedback

- Online giving [podcast](https://welstech.wels.net/2019/12/17/617-a-season-of-giving/) and [resource page](https://wels.net/online-giving-options/)
- [WELS Intersections](https://www.facebook.com/groups/WELS.Intersections) discussion of texting for church 
    - [Texting teens and subsequent conversation](https://www.facebook.com/groups/WELS.Intersections/permalink/2149348795196753/)
    - [Texting vs email](https://www.facebook.com/groups/WELS.Intersections/permalink/2157111771087122/)
- “What will parents find when they search for your school online?” blog series by Dana Kirchoff 
    - Part 1: Online information
    - Part 2: Parent reviews
    - Part 3: Online content – Your social media & website

### Next time

WELS has a new Contact Us form and perhaps your church or school needs something similar.

### Get involved

- Add comments
- Send us an e-mail [welstech@wels.net](mailto:welstech@wels.net)
- Add to the WELSTech wiki [welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net](http://welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net/)
- Contribute to the [#WELSTech](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WELSTech&src=typd) Twitter conversation
- Follow us on Twitter – [welstech](http://twitter.com/welstech), [mspriggs](http://twitter.com/mspriggs) and [salliedraper](http://twitter.com/salliedraper)
- Share with the Diigo group [welstech](http://groups.diigo.com/group/welstech)
- Join the WELSTech community: 
    - WELSTech [Google Group](https://groups.google.com/a/groups.wels.net/forum/#!forum/welstech)
    - WELSTech on [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/WELSTech)
    - WELSTech on [Google+](https://plus.google.com/110913485482542801761/posts)
    - WELSTech on [Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/welstech/)
    - WELSTech on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/welstechpodcast/)

[View full post](https://welstech.wels.org/2021/03/02/649-great-city-network)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Sallie Draper"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2026-03-22T02:28:59.787Z",
  "datePublished" : "2021-03-02T13:59:20Z",
  "headline" : "649 – Great City Network",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 1080,
    "url" : "https://christthroughus.net/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/GreatCityNetwork-LogoSocial.png",
    "width" : 1080
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://welstech.wels.org/2021/03/02/649-great-city-network",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60,
      "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
      "width" : 60
    },
    "name" : "WELSTech"
  }
}
```