Below are some of the most common questions about Spark. We're probably missing some
questions that you might have. If so email
us and we'll add them to the list. Remember what your kindergarten teacher said.
No, not, "Keep your hands to yourself." "The only stupid question is the one you don't
ask."
What kind of legal entity is the Spark Development Network?
The Spark Development Network is a registered Arizona non-profit and federally recognized 501(c)(3).
So how do you intend to make money?
Simply put, we don't. The Spark Development Network is not a money making
venture. We're relying on sponsors to help pay our expenses, churches to donate
talent and individuals to donate their time. Oh, and most importantly, God to
provide the guidance, energy and inspiration.
OK, so how are you going to provide support?
We're not, you are. We believe in the model of community support. If you're
familiar with the popular Stack Exchange sites like Stack Overflow
and Server Fault you'll see what we're
thinking. We believe that an empowered community teamed with outstanding
documentation is the recipe for success.
What is Rock RMS?
We needed a system (commonly called a Church Management System or ChMS) to
help manage our individual churches' data. One that
worked well, was extensible and configurable, that we could freely share with
other churches and organizations. We also wanted a system built on open-source
code - meaning anyone could have access to the code to use or modify to fit
their needs. We couldn’t find that application, so we formed the Spark
Development Network and decided to build it. Rock is our premier collaboration.
Who is using Rock RMS?
We don't force organizations to tell us they're using Rock, so we can't tell you
with 100% accuracy. However plenty of churches have self-reported they are using
Rock and we've published that
dynamic list here so you won't think you're out on a limb when you see who
else is using it.
Why isn't there a cost to set up or subscribe?
Our goal is to provide a priceless data and relationship management solution to
churches and organizations of all sizes around the world. One that doesn’t cost
an arm and a leg. One prioritizes the mission of building God’s Kingdom over
corporate cash flow. We want to give organizations of all sizes the
opportunity to partner with us by contributing what they can to help develop
and maintain Rock.
If you would like to become a contributing member of the Rock community, you can
invest in Rock by donating online.
For Specific Questions About Rock
See the Rock FAQ