I will most likely discontinue this site due to the NING platform changing and, in my opinion, deteriorating. What started out as free in 2007 has now gone up to $69 a month starting October 1st. Read this link and especially read the comments below it from long time NING network creators.If anyone wants to take ownership of this site that can be arranged. Otherwise it will be cancelled soon. If no one wants to assume the responsibility that is understandable. Everything has its time.
Before this site goes away I recommend that you copy any items you may want from among over 7,500 pictures, hundreds of blog posts, memorial posts and other documents you may find. You can also make screen shots of any given screen you are on using Windows own Snipping Tool for example. I may continue the site for a few months to allow others to make copies.
I started this site about 9 years ago before FaceBook was a thing. The idea was to have a neutral place where a few of us could have some fun and socialize and keep in touch while leaving aside the all the usual religious bickering that would no doubt accompany a site like this. Whatever I did seemed to have struck a nerve at the time. There are almost 1,700 members on this site now including 2 new ones who joined today.
To The Way Ministry and President Rivenbark, I am sure you will be glad to see this site go away as it may be a reminder of your failures and mismanagement resulting in hurt that was caused to many good people. Managing this site has enabled me to collect a treasure trove of memorabilia including music, pictures, videos and documents from those bygone days. It seems you would rather discount them as "old wine skins" as you told us they were. I consider them fine wine. Maybe you are now the old wine skin? It is WE who made the good things and good times happen in our years in The Way Corps, in spite of you.
As site Administrator, I have been able to have personal conversations with people from across all eras of The Way Ministry. Many have moved on to other successful walks of life and are now enjoying their families, children and grandchildren. It's been so much fun to have this experience! I will forever treasure these moments on this site and will never forget some of the greatest people I have ever known.....that would be you!
I am not on FB but I can be reached at: 
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God Bless you John for all the encouragement this site has given us over the years.
Love in Christ,
Charlie Johnston
Take care,
Joan
Thank you so much, John, for all your hard work keeping this site open for all of us.
I recently signed up for a guitar instruction site - it's real expensive! ONE DOLLAR per month - but has great value for me.
How about doing something like that here? You could make it available to anyone who wanted to give $1 per month, setting it up to be deducted from their debit or credit card.
As far as Ning eventually going under, a simple Wordpress site might actually work. There are hundreds of different "apps" to allow you to do incredible things, including "membership sites".
It is not in my "know-how" to move this site over to Wordpress, but some HTML / social media geek just might be able to do it. If that could happen, the only cost would be a domain name and web hosting. $60 / month should about cover it. Hosting cost is usually based on how much web traffic you have.
It's too bad the current Way leadership has the attitude "my way -- or the highway." No thanks! I love the high way!!
Stephen Bolin
Michigan
Thanks John for all you have done. I don't frequent, but have enjoyed the site many times. I would contribute.
John, thank you for all that you did with this site for so many years. So many of us were able to reconnect with our brothers and sisters through it, expressing our mutual love, and learning about the lives each lived after years of separation. We have been able to share our fond memories, photos, music, and hearts with each other. In many ways, it was a reunion for the Way Corps. I look forward to our final reunion at the Gathering Together.
Thanks for those comments guys. I wish it were possible to wave a magic wand and move it easily to another social networking site. But from what I read it's not so easy to do. For example, how do you move a discussion between members and capture that moment. What about comments on each persons page between members. Cherished memories? You kind of have to start all over again. The only way I would do that is if I hosted it on my own server (easy to do) and had all these great tools built in (not easy to do). This is a snapshot in time it seems.
You never know the future of social networking sites either. This NING platform has failed as have others such as My Space. Remeber them? (Didn't think so.) The mighty FaceBook and Wordpress have reigned supreme. I wish FB had followed Nings platform. It's better than FB in my opinion. NING was a contender to be THE FB of today. But FB, for whaterver reasons, won that competition in spades. From what I understand, Marc Andreesen (inventor of the web browser Netscape Navigator) owned and developed NING but later became a major shareholder of FB and got very wealthy from it as it gained in popularity> He sold off NING leaving it in the dust. Imagine what would happen if FB started charging $60 a month? LOL.
They all have your content.I'm open for ideas.
John,
I don't think you should close this site. The value in this site is incredible. Your love and heart for putting this together to begin with is remarkable. Love earns rewards. As you noted in your explanation we are the "fine wine".
Trust what you did.
Let me spark a few things and I will get back with you. I live in Texas now.
I just got back on this site after all these years and I cruised your tower pics.
I just wanted to say "Don't give this up - Let it live and God will bless it. Peace out.
Matt Miller
Hi John,
I have not been here much and desperately need to update my page, but I'm glad The Way Corps Ning is still here. Thank you.
Not sure what to say other than I hope someone can take it over. As admin could you send out an e-mail to everyone on record here with the need? Like me, I'm sure a lot of our folk do not even know the site is at risk. I just stumbled on to your blog post today.
Also (though I know this is more than just a $ thing) I think the paypal link is a good idea. I could contribute some toward expenses. In fact, since I have your e-mail, I will. At least you will know why.
I'm sure you remember "Born again to serve." You've done that here. Thanks again!
You're welcome Mark. In my opinion, good things don't always "disappear" but life is ever changing and I think that's cool in spite of it being difficult to absorb at times. Make every day count! Happy holidays!
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