Grace & Peace to all staff, members, associates, and other interested parties. I would like to announce that the new Christ Image Church website has been published and is live. Since your reading this on the new website, I will assume you have an idea of the new look and feel.

This change was about more than simply "changing" the look. It involved a massive back-end software upgrade, migration to a new server, and added features and functionality, with more to come as we move into 2009. It was and is a labor of love from Elder John O'Neal, the Director of Communication & Technology for Christ Image Church. Elder John, has been with Christ Image from it's beginnings about 8 years ago.

Some of these changes are as follows:

• Upgraded content management system (CMS) from version 1.0.15 to version 1.5.9
  • This will add stability to the site and DB, as well as making back-end management much easier
• Change overall site template design.
  • The goal was to move to a cleaner, lighter, faster loading template with added modules and functions.
• Integrate online church calendar
  • The goal here was to reduce the effort in adding events, by just adding them in one shared space and allowing the code to retrieve it periodically and display it on the new site.
• Integrate internal project management system.
  • The goal is to provide an online system which will allow the staff to collaborate on projects and assign tasks to project members all online, this includes sharing files and other functions.
• Upgrade CIC blogging system.
  • Upgrade the blogging software to a more stable version, addressing some minor bugs in the previous system.
• Upgrade the Christ Image Discussion Forums software.
  • Upgrade the forum software to a more stable, secure version.
• Upgrade site community software.
  • Moved from version 1.1 of Community Builder software to version 1.2
• Added new photo gallery software
  • The new software integrates with CB 1.2 and allows more display control in the backend.
• Added new weblinks management system
  • Allows for more display options with links added to system
• Added new online store.
  • Dubbed the "Shofar Marketplace", the new CIC online store is setup to display products froma range of affiliate relationships that Christ Image Church has with Christian vendors around the country.
  • The store will also allow CIC to sell products manufactured by some of it's members.
• Online collaboration system to be used by staff members to manage project and communicate more effectively with each other on projects and tasks.