Each book will be targeted towards addressing the underlying stories, tensions, and problems that affect our city, Grand Rapids. They are designed to be read in two to four sittings by addressing specific topics in 80-100 pages. The books are meant to equip Christians to transform their city by being the continuing presence of Christ, while also resourcing churches to create necessary conversations that relate to our city.

These shorts will cover topic that fit into three broad categories: practical, theological, and biblical. The three categories will include topics such as:

Practical: HIV/AIDS, the poverty industry, addiction, creation care.
Theological: nature of salvation; doctrine of God; nature of the church.
Biblical: Jesus and Judaism, Kingdom of Heaven, development of the Bible.

The authors will be pastors, teachers, and practitioners who have a special burden for the city in these areas of interest, while providing insightful commentary and instruction out of their academic and practical expertise. All authors will be from and in the Grand Rapids area. Grand Rapids doesn’t need the voices from LA, Seattle, or Atlanta; Grand Rapids needs Grand Rapids voices. Additionally, all endorsers of each individual title will be from the area. Both requirements will ensure each title hyper-locally addresses the pressing topics each book addresses.

Each year ZOOMAE will focus on one broadly themed conversation. These books will help provoke that yearlong conversation through the actual books themselves, but also speaking gigs, local conferences, book signings, etc… We think our authors should have a voice. They do have a powerful voice and will speak powerful things into the life of the Church as She exists in Grand Rapids and we want to do everything possible to empower them to breath new life into it. In a few more posts we’ll announce the theme for 2010. So far we have 4 committed authors for 2010 with 2 more in the wings.

If you are from the Grand Rapids area and would be interested in submitting a writing project, contact us.

You and I have sat around the local table and been a part of the discussions.

We have heard the creative ideas coming from our own community.

The experts on Grand Rapids are not out there, the experts are right here and ZOOAME’s vision is to empower the folks of Grand Rapids to take ownership of their city; to be the creatives, the dreamers, and the experts in order to bring renewal to our hometown.

This is why ZOOMAE’s role as a networking community is extremely valuable. Our website, along with other networking events is designed to link the Grand Rapids community together so that as ideas emerge they can be shared and rallied behind. The movement will grow when the experts, like you, can connect with the other experts, dreamers, and creative voices, share and build on others ideas, contribute your own, build relationships and generate a stronger voice.

How do you connect to the ZOOMAE network? First, join us on Facebook.

Second, share your input, ideas, and experiences with the rest of us by creating a profile on a soon-to-be social network site designed specifically for Grand Rapids.

Third, be a part of local networking events. Starting in September 2009 we will hosting regular mixers for local organizations and people who are committed to bettering Grand Rapids. Show up, have some drinks and food, bring plenty of business cards and get to know the people in our community who are making change.

Welcome to the ZOOMAE network community!

You and I have sat around the local table and been a part of the discussions.

We have heard the creative ideas coming from our own community.

The experts on Grand Rapids are not out there, the experts are right here and ZOOAME’s vision is to empower the folks of Grand Rapids to take ownership of their city; to be the creatives, the dreamers, and the experts in order to bring renewal to our hometown.

This is why ZOOMAE’s role as a networking community is extremely valuable. Our website, along with other networking events is designed to link the Grand Rapids community together so that as ideas emerge they can be shared and rallied behind. The movement will grow when the experts, like you, can connect with the other experts, dreamers, and creative voices, share and build on others ideas, contribute your own, build relationships and generate a stronger voice.

How do you connect to the ZOOMAE network? First, join us on Facebook.

Second, share your input, ideas, and experiences with the rest of us by creating a profile on a soon-to-be social network site designed specifically for Grand Rapids.

Third, be a part of local networking events. Starting in September 2009 we will hosting regular mixers for local organizations and people who are committed to bettering Grand Rapids. Show up, have some drinks and food, bring plenty of business cards and get to know the people in our community who are making change.

Welcome to the ZOOMAE network community!

Our topic?

Hospitality.

We began with this question: what if Grand Rapids was known as a city of hospitality?

Then we moved into the more complicated question: what would it take for Grand Rapids to be known as a city of hospitality?

Our goal is to get 5% of Grand Rapid to enter our city-wide conversation by talking about hospitality from every angle in homes, pubs, churches, coffeeshops, and other social spaces. We hope to get the whole city talking about what it would take for Grand Rapids to be known as the city of hospitality.

But because simply talking about hospitality without being hospitable is like a clanging gong and cymbal, we want to provoke those conversations into movement.

Conversations without love are useless.

This is why we are empowering local practitioners and leaders to write, speak, plan, and dream for the city.

You can access this conversation at hospitality.zoomae.org.

We hope you join the conversation and invite others along for the yearlong journey on hospitality.

But something has been lost in our technological and cultural evolution; a grounding in the Community of Yahweh and wider, deeper historical practices has been forsaken. As we move into sleeker forms of Church and more technologically savvy worship environments, a tethering to our deep historic past continues to fray. As society has become multi-tasked and cluttered, time for and commitment to worship, community, teaching and spiritual disciplines has wanned.

This is why we have an idea about an emerging missional experimental church community down the road that would recapture the ancient practice of weekly gathering for the 21st century and meant to be an oasis in the midst of your chaotic week. We think a time of personal fellowship, praise, and prayer with your Creator and greater Grand Rapids community could do wonders to empowering you and others to stimulate spiritual renewal in our town.

While no solid plans are developed yet, check back in a few months. We might be brewing something by then!