Zerrin Kurdak

ENC 2135
2 September 2015

Understanding the Genres of the Converge Community

By Zerrin Kurdak
Converge is a popular church youth group located in the Orlando, Florida area. The
community has been a bright light in the Orlando area for years, hosting many events to serve
others at numerous locations. Local outreach is a big part of this community, and many service
projects have allowed Converge to connect with and improve the area its involved in. Converge
is also open and welcoming to all newcomers, and it has nearly tripled in size over the last two
years. The church group shapes young adults into becoming caring, responsible adults that have
a passion for changing the world. The community is known for being a safe haven for the broken
and a place that reaches out to lend a helping hand to those who are less fortunate. The
community has used many genres of communication in order to be successful in reaching a wide
audience. As The Bedford Book of Genres says, a genre is a type of composition that represents
possibilities. They change depending on how people choose to use them, and they dont fall into
any one category. Genres are flexible, they cater to specific audiences, and they can use multiple
modes of media to convey their meaning and carry out their purpose. Because of genres of
communication, Converges opportunities have definitely expanded in its journey and it has
grown to be bigger than anyone could have ever imagined. The community incorporates various
genres of communication in order to operate efficiently and to make personal connections.

One type of genre of communication the community uses often is Facebook posts.
Through Facebook, Converge can let the public know when and where the meetings are being
held. Knowledge of group events is also communicated out this way, and this allows alerts to be
easily accessible. The purpose of this genre is to inform. The public needs to be updated on
whats going on with the youth group. This community meets at least once a week, outside of
church, to get together for various activities. The members of Converge go bowling, to the
movies, or even just to get ice cream together. Knowing when these events were happening was
crucial in order to not be left out. For instance, one of the newcomers hadnt liked the
organizations Facebook page on the site at first. Therefore, she didnt see all the future events
that were listed and she didnt feel comfortable going to youth group without knowing anyone,
outside of the church, first. Since she wasnt plugged in, she stopped asking about the groups
planned activities for a while. Once she heard that Facebook was a great tool to use to get
connected, she felt much better because she could see all the events and activities that were
coming up in advance. Through the page, members of the group would get notified for a specific
event and theyd have the option of inviting their friends along too. Facebook posts have allowed
the Converge community to multiply and spread like wildfire, making it the place to be on
Thursday nights. This genre has made spreading important announcements a breeze and its
really helped unite the community.
In addition to Facebook posts, Converge has used promotional business cards to their
advantage making them imperative in getting the word out about the community. The youth
group welcomes all, but they are mindful to avoid being pushy about inviting new people.
Business cards are a great way to let those who are interested in knowing what Converge is about
receive important information without hounding people to come to the meetings. Logos is used

in this genre because facts about Converge are printed on the card - the time, the place, and the
location of where the weekly meetings are held. This allows people to be informed without the
presence of pressure to come. This has significantly impacted the general community in a
positive way because, unlike people, the cards are unbiased. The chosen medium of the cards
was print in order to be convenient, and the mode was written and visual. The cards were
designed to look appealing and friendly in order to draw attention and to leave a good impression
on passersby. As the Bedford Book of Genres said, design features play an important role in the
level of success in achieving purposes and reaching audiences. Cool colors and visuals were
displayed to look appealing to the general public, while the style was kept casual and simple.
Few details were given, but the important need-to-know information was all that was included.
Also, the cards are convenient and easy to hand out so word about Converge has spread this way
as well. For instance, cards can be left at popular public places such as Starbucks, Publix, drivethru windows, etc. They can also be left out at the main churchs local coffee shop Axum. This
approach of leaving the cards out for anyone to take has been favorable and the amount of people
reached has shown to be greater than the little amount that wouldve heard about the group
through just the use of word of mouth.
While promotional business cards are critical in informing the community, meetings are
the glue that has held everything together. Monthly meetings have kept the church group up to
date and completely functional. These meetings could be seen as reports to an extent a way to
keep all the leaders of Converge in the know. The church group has many mentors that look over
the younger kids, and many leadership positions are constantly being filled and expanded.
Because of their positions, all leaders are required to attend the monthly meetings to discuss
progress and to go over where growth is needed in Converge. This role seems to be one of the

most rewarding jobs out there, and many of the leaders dont look at the monthly meetings as an
unfortunate part of the job, but rather as a way to share about whats been going on with the
students and to find out how they can become better equipped to aid them in their journey. The
mode of these meetings are visual and auditory because presentations are given, which is
beneficial for the participants because they are entertained while also being forced to pay
attention to the discussion. The lead pastor reviews specific topics, and everyone is encouraged
to write new ideas down and then present them at these meetings. As the article Responding,
Really Responding to Other Students Writing said, the best way to review someones work is to
temper your criticisms and offer advice. The leaders review each others work and try to help
make their plans a reality. Leaders were told to avoid being afraid to speak their minds or offer
crazy possibilities, even if those ideas seemed like too much work at first. For instance, one
leader brought up the idea of having an annual fundraiser in order to increase funds for the youth
group. As more students started becoming regulars, the community ended up needing more
resources to keep going at the rate they were at. Other leaders supported the idea of a fundraiser
and helped toss around hypotheticals, and some even shared hesitations. In Write Now, the
author talks about how the rhetorical situation is understood when one looks at the audience and
the message. At these meetings, the leaders are challenged to find efficient ways in which
Converge can reach an audience of young adults with different perspectives. They have to be
prepared for audience members who are not all Christian, and they look at how to present the
message in the easiest way to understand. The pastor finds ways to relate to and identify with the
crowd. Suggestions of how to introduce the message each week are given, and ideas on how to
best inform the audience are thrown out. These meetings are special because being able to come
together to offer advice and talk through doubts is one of the most significant parts about the

group. The leadership staff are constantly coming up with new ideas and theories. The leaders
arent nervous to tell someone else when their suggestions are far-fetched, but they are also never
hesitant to encourage others and help expand the way those around them are thinking. They are
always excited for the future, and Converge wants to continue to grow and be a positive
community to be a part of.
Since the idea of an annual fundraiser was well received, the leaders of the community
agreed to push forward with the event. Fundraiser flyers turned into an important genre of
communication that has supported and promoted the youth group. The flyers were designed to be
bright and cheerful, and they are handed out personally to the public each year. The mode is
written and the medium is print, which easily advertises to a broad audience. The style of the
flyers were meant to be witty and charming, and they are always well received! Just like the
business cards, they can easily be seen by leaving them at public places. This has reached a wider
audience and has spread the word about the annual event. The local Orlando area started to look
forward to the fundraisers as a way to hear about what Converge was currently doing and
planning, and the event has become a big night no one wants to miss. One year, a local reporter
even came out to cover the event and report the big activities of the night. The short media
attention did wonders to bring in local companies that wanted to get involved with Converge. At
the annual fundraiser, kids who regularly attend the youth group have the chance to showcase
their talents. Many kids sing, dance, play instruments, and more. Also, various companies and
families donate gifts to be auctioned off for profit. For instance, one of the families that regularly
attend the main church let their vacation home in the mountains of Georgia be auctioned off each
year for a week-long trip. The money from this has helped Converge out tremendously, and the
bidders have the pleasure of securing a great vacation while simultaneously helping out a good

cause. Fundraiser flyers have also allowed the public to see what the latest news about Converge
is and what organizations theyve partnered up with. The fundraiser is something everyone in the
community looks forward to each year, and the flyers have helped to bring more people together.
The use of multiple genres has allowed the Converge community to function properly
over the years. Converge has become a home to many adolescents and a place of fellowship for
the local students. Not only has the church group bonded over shared beliefs, but they have
similar goals and interests that are showcased in the different genres of communication. Genres
of communication have operated in ways that unite and bond the youth group community.
Converge has connected through the use of Facebook posts, promotional business cards, monthly
meetings, and fundraiser flyers. All of these genres of communication let the group give and
receive support in any way needed, just as a community should. The communication process is
easy and very accessible, and Converge has always been able to broadcast this. Getting in touch
with leaders or getting any information on numerous activities has been made simple. The local
area surrounding Converge views the community with respect and admiration for the positive
public image they have continued to uphold. Members of Converge are happy to belong to a
group that is open when it comes to discussing important topics, ideas or issues. Converge is
considered an honor to be a part of, and its a community that puts in the effort to use genres of
communication in order to gain an end result of being publicly viewed as such a positive force.

Works Cited
Braziller, Amy, and Elizabeth Kleinfeld. The Bedford Book of Genres: A Guide &
Reader. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
Straub, Richard. Responding, Really Responding. On Writing. Ed. Wendy Bishop.
Boston: McGraw Hill, 2010. 309-317. Print.