As a result of a life changing experience, Merry Miller, the former Vice President of Programming for The Learning Annex, Creator and Producer of the late Joel Siegel’s Meet the Directors and Stars series and former co-host of ABC’s The View, has founded GodsSocialNetwork, an easy to use online social network dedicated to helping people throughout the world strengthen their relationship with faith and one another. The Web site is a safe, friendly, community where Christians can create social profiles, connect with one another, and build social groups with likeminded people.
In late July 2007, an unedited and unauthorized video of Merry conducting an interview with actress Holly Hunter on ABC News Now segment “What’s the Buzz” was leaked onto YouTube. It produced a virtual phenomenon resulting in more than 4.6 million views, which led to numerous television and radio appearances including MSNBC, ABC World News Tonight, Best Week Ever andABCNewsnow. However, it was the thousands of hate messages she received in response to the postings on MySpace and YouTube that troubled Merry the most and made her realize the need for a Web site where hate-filled messages would not be tolerated and a user could receive prayers, read uplifting articles, hear inspiring sermons and get the emotional love and support they need.
“The prayer and love from friends and family got me through it, because I was shocked at how hateful and cruel people were being over something that wasn’t even a big deal. I literally woke up in the middle of the night with the name God’s Social Network in my mind and decided then to build a free, safe, online place for people to connect, encourage, love and support one another,” explains Miller.
Miller’s mission, aided by her partner Michael Wudyka, also associated with the East Hamptons Movie Studio and owner of the Enclave Inns throughout the Hamptons, is to provide people a free “one stop shop” to help strengthen their relationships with God and one another while connecting with fellow Christians worldwide.
Site members can create profiles, meet and interact with one another online, post prayer requests and blessings, download/upload music, sermons and videos, search the Bible, read inspiring articles, get a daily devotional and more. The Web site is monitored by staff and its online community. If users are not comfortable with the posted comments or videos, they have the option of flagging the item and having it removed. After three flags from the users, the system automatically removes the posting.
Most recently, God’s Social Network members were responsible for flagging down the controversial Bill Keller video titled, “Mohammed: The Muslim Pig,” that was posted on the site due to its inflammatory rhetoric. Members also recently pulled down a hate-filled video posted about Oprah on the site.
Today, GodsSocialNetwork is one the fastest growing Christian social networks and Web sites in the country.
