The COVID-19 has been a massive disruption for many of us. Grocery stores are ransacked, unemployment is high, we have been quarantined to our homes and churches have closed their doors. If you are living alone or confined to sharing quarters with your loved ones, there is one thing you are probably missing – fellowship with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ! 

It doesn’t have to be this way, take this opportunity to hold your reunion groups online! You may find your community has an even better turn out than you’d think. All the typical reasons why people miss regularly attending most likely don’t apply now that they are stuck at home. 

Before you ask your reunion group leaders to host their groups online, here are a few things to consider: 

• Actively encourage your groups to all use one platform. Using one tool for everyone helps minimize confusion. It’s far easier to communicate directions for one group than to send multiple sets of instructions for a variety of platforms. 
• Stress the importance of privacy. Remind your Pescadores that a women’s only group should not have husbands or other males on the call. Likewise, for a men’s reunion group call, ask the husbands of the group if their wives can give them some privacy. 
• Update the new video call-in information on your online materials. You want to make it easy for those looking to connect to do so. 
• Choose a video conference, not just a call-in system. Not every Pescadore knows about video conferencing etiquette, being on video helps minimize talking over one another and deepens connections. 

Here are a few interfaces to consider: 

• Jitsi – Jitsi is a free application. There is an app and a desktop version for your users that don’t want to install anything. Group leaders need to come up with a room name (typically the reunion group name) and communicate that name to all parties. 
  • Pros: Anyone can use & it’s free
  • Cons: Anyone with the group name can access
• Zoom – Zoom is free up to a certain amount of people and uses. You need to download the app and desktop version to use, but you can restrict access
  • Pros: Many work professionals are more familiar with Zoom. There is a group leader access that can mute others and secure the chat. 
  • Cons: Zoom has been experiencing high traffic, meaning, some lagging may occur. For those unfamiliar with Zoom, the learning curve can be tough. 
• Google Hangouts – Google, like Zoom, has a limited free plan. You can only have up to 25 people in a group as well. (which is more than double the recommended size of a reunion group!). There is also an app and desktop option.
  • Pros: You can access via your Gmail account. There is a free, live speech-to-text option that adds closed captions for those attendees that are hard of hearing. 
  • Cons: Can only be accessed if you have a Gmail email account. 

Has your reunion group already been hosting their groups online? Comment and/or post pictures in the comments and let us know of your successes.