Church Websites & the Lost

[marc]

Excellent article, Lee.    This is one I'm going to file away for future use.

[admin]

Thanks Marc. For those interested, the article he's talking about is at http://www.gracecentered.com/church_website_strategy.htm

Just As I Am, to answer your question:

As far as a church website, there are companies who specialize in building church websites. One that I can personally recommend is Church Quest. Another one that I've heard good things about and know the owner is Line One Web.

What you don't want to do is to put up a very "homemade" looking website as your church website. Everything you show to the community needs to look professional and as though you put appropriate effort into it. It's not about moving pictures or flashing text but that's another post/article.

A major key to any good website is to provide something that is worthy of people's attention. In terms of an evangelistic website, it needs to be worthy of the attention of the lost. For starters, get a hosting company like Church Quest (it's only about $7 per month) and put up a website that provides basic information on your church. You'll want to check into providing your preacher's sermons on your site so that people can listen. On the home page, have announcements about church events and special classes. That's about as basic as I'd put up. Hope this helps.

Lee

[k-pappy]

What exactly do you have in mind, Just?  I have built church websites, a ministry website, hobby sites, and business websites.  I don't do flash, so the sites are static, but so far nobody has complained :).

Also, I hope nobody thinks this a "plug," but I do rent out server space and register domain names. 

KP

[zoonance]

We tried a web site once but the kid moved off. 

[janine]

There is supposedly a website for my congregation but it is not maintained or updated in any way.

For a long time there was only one person in the congregation who had the interest and ability and time to do it -- well, she's not got the time any more I guess.  And most of the people in our congregation are either totally unconnected to the Web in any way -- or maybe they like to pass each other cute forwarded emails and that's about it.

I have thought about offering to take the website over, but it apparently means a lot to the lady who was in charge of it -- she was not eager at all to let me have the oversight.

Considering there really isn't anyone in the congregation who makes any use of the website themselves -- not even the lady running it! -- the reason to even have a site would just be for the people out there searching because they would be traveling in the area -- or local people using the 'Net to search for a church to visit.

I could do something on my own.  I could have some sort of a blog, maybe?  What could I do?  A personal website about the things the church is doing, assembly times, prayer requests, etc.?

Any suggestions?

[janine]

Here's some guy looking for free church webhosting

[admin]

Here's some guy looking for free church webhosting

You get what you pay for.

[janine]

Yeah, 'zackly.

Whatever website I might put together for my church, it would have to be me personally writing about how I see my congregation and its doings -- and Christ and his doings.  I couldn't claim to speak for the congregation.

[kanham]

Lee,

Do you have some links to good ones?

[Lee Freeman]

Lee, do you do presentations/programs/seminars/workshops for congregations starting or considering starting a website?

Pax.

[admin]

Lee, do you do presentations/programs/seminars/workshops for congregations starting or considering starting a website?

Pax.

Sorry for my late response. I have made presentations at workshops, but have not done a seminar of my own. I do Search-Engine Optimization for a living in addition to building websites. So, I am able to consult in that area.