Social networking site serves Christians

The site is free to all those who choose to register.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Christians, or anyone looking to avoid the issues sometimes associated with Internet community life, can now enter a Web-based world free of sex, harsh images and profanity.

Questions put before visitors who browse TheFaithSpot.com speak volumes about the Web site. Visitors are asked for church affiliation, how many services they attend and if they are into Christian praise.

The site creator, Gary Brantley, 30, of Boardman, said the site is meant to resemble MySpace.com and similar social networking Web sites, but with a Christian twist.

He said members discuss politics, relationships, community affairs and virtually anything of interest — but always from a more religious standpoint.

Members also can upload videos of Christian musical performances, sermons or hang out and play games.

“This is a social networking site for Christians, plain and simple,” he said.

According to Brantley, the site now has more than 10,000 members from various places around the world. The youngest members, he said, are about 7 years old and log on to play the various age-appropriate games on the site. Other members are more seasoned at more than 70 years old.

It was out of concern for those younger members that Brantley decided to create the site. Brantley, a lifelong member of Mount Calvary Pentecostal Church in Youngstown, said the idea came to him during a church sermon.

“I was in church and Bishop [Norman L. Wagner] was preaching about the different things going on on MySpace and all the potential threats on sites like that, with sexual predators and the content being shown to the kids,” he said. “I decided I would construct a site that filters all that bad content and monitors use so parents would not have to worry about their kids being online.”

TheFaithSpot, Brantley said, uses word tags to prevent certain words, phrases and photos from being used. Those attempting to use forbidden words or post graphic images are warned against the activity once, then banned from the site if there are additional instances.

Brantley said the list of banned members has gotten somewhat lengthy, but he is dedicated to maintaining the site’s integrity.

“It’s not that you can’t speak your mind or express your views, but anything derogatory or sexual in content will just not be allowed,” he said.

Brantley said he hopes to keep the site free to all users, but there is a place on the site where donations are accepted.

Brantley said he works full time and makes no money off the site. The $250 monthly cost to maintain it, he said, is paid for out of his own pocket.

jgoodwin@vindy.com