| In 1995 I started building and marketing | | | | arguing over which garnish was proper for a |
| Christian-oriented websites. That makes me | | | | plate at the banquet of Trimalchio (don't |
| one of the veterans of the net. I was still | | | | ask).Make your church website matterProvide |
| in my teen years and saw the Internet as the | | | | information that matters to your audience. |
| mature version of Nintendo. Besides, the | | | | Articles on parenting, marriage and financial |
| excitement of my learning permit lost its | | | | stewardship might be a descent start. |
| glow after the third or fourth drive with my | | | | However, if you want to truly have a shot at |
| parents.My parents, by the way, would | | | | bringing in outsiders with your church's |
| occasionally become frustrated with me and | | | | website, have the members of your |
| tell me to "Get off that computer and get in | | | | congregation write about their areas of |
| bed! It's 1 A.M.!" I eventually obeyed, but I | | | | expertise. For example: If you have a |
| don't regret those late nights of learning | | | | computer expert in the congregation, ask him |
| and building for the future. Today I simply | | | | her to write some articles on common computer |
| tell them that I was preparing for my | | | | problems and how an average user might fix |
| career.Most churches did not have a website | | | | them. Or if you have a doctor in the |
| in those days. In fact, the idea of a church | | | | congregation, have him write articles on |
| having a website was actually being debated | | | | keeping children healthy or symptoms that |
| by some churches and denominations. "Is it | | | | warrant a doctor's visit. Or ways to lose |
| scriptural?" I remember hearing several | | | | weight.Use your imagination. If you have a |
| times. In fact, even as late as the year 2000 | | | | coach in the congregation, you could have him |
| I was actually reprehended by a | | | | write an article about lessons kids can learn |
| self-appointed church leader for making a | | | | from sports and include a Bible verse with it |
| very basic website for a church where I youth | | | | such as "Whatever you do, do your best as if |
| ministered. He couldn't quite put his finger | | | | you are working for God" (Colossians 3:23). A |
| on it, but I had done something too new for | | | | coach could even write an article about how |
| his taste--and that just had to violate some | | | | parents should not push their children into |
| scripture, some where.We've matured beyond | | | | sports or be poor examples by yelling at |
| that now except for extreme and absolutely | | | | umpires.Maybe you write seasonal articles |
| silly situations that aren't even worth | | | | about the local highschool football team that |
| mentioning."So webmaster, hurry up and tell | | | | includes games statistics and names of those |
| us something useful!"So you want to use the | | | | who made key contributions in games. Write |
| Internet to reach the lost?Okay, but remember | | | | about other local events in order to reach |
| that just because something is new and trendy | | | | those in your community.At the end of all of |
| doesn't mean it's effective. However, through | | | | the articles have something like, "From your |
| my work on the Internet I have come to | | | | friends at the Harpeth Church, located at 555 |
| believe that it can be very effective in | | | | Whatever Street.. If you would like someone |
| reaching people. One example is what happened | | | | to to pray with you or study the Bible call |
| to the movie Gigli that featured mega stars | | | | us at 555-7733. We care."Obviously this |
| Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. The marketers | | | | doesn't replace your outreach efforts or |
| spent a jaw-dropping amount promoting the | | | | actual participation in community events. But |
| movie and with expectations of being the | | | | I believe churches should use every tool |
| "movie of the year," it had a very large | | | | available to reach the lost. And if you're |
| opening weekend.Then the teenagers and twenty | | | | thinking about having a church website or |
| somethings struck.They blogged and posted in | | | | improving the one you have, these strategies |
| forums with statements like, "Overrated." | | | | will have you on the right path. Ask members |
| "Stay at home." Or "Watch anything else."The | | | | of your church to link to the church site |
| movie flopped."In the old days, there used to | | | | from their personal websites and you are well |
| be a term, 'buying your gross,' " Rick Sands, | | | | on your way.In my opinion, the Internet is |
| chief operating officer at Miramax, told the | | | | another way of becoming "all things to all |
| Los Angeles Times. "You could buy your gross | | | | men." It's another way to use your |
| for the weekend and overcome bad word of | | | | congregation's gifts to help people and "in |
| mouth, because it took time to filter out | | | | any way possible" lead them to Jesus. It also |
| into the general audience."Those days are | | | | involves the congregation in evangelism and |
| gone with blogs and message forums that allow | | | | might prime the pump for other evangelistic |
| the "average person" to act as movie | | | | activity.Go into all the |
| critic.So what does that mean to the church? | | | | WWW!========================================= |
| It means that the Internet can give most | | | | =================== |
| anyone a voice--even a church.In terms of a | | | | |
| church website, you're not going to | | | | Note: This article may be freely reproduced |
| accomplish much of anything if your site | | | | on other websites as long as the AUTHOR'S |
| simply features your address, phone number | | | | resource box at the bottom of this article is |
| and "worship times." Sure, your members might | | | | included and all links are active with no |
| know how to call the church building to | | | | syntax changes. This note may be removed when |
| borrow tables for their garage sales, but | | | | the article is published on your website. |
| that's about all you can expect.Putting | | | | |
| articles on your church website is certainly | | | | |
| a good thing--especially if they are on | | | | ============================================= |
| topics that pull in the "average" person. Be | | | | ===============Lee Wilson founded |
| careful that you don't "preach to the choir." | | | | Grace-Centered Magazine and has spoken on |
| A church website is probably not the place | | | | many lectureships and Christian events. He |
| for major doctrinal studies and statements. | | | | co-wrote "The Real Heaven: It's Not What You |
| That's what your member-attended Bible | | | | Think" and speaks to churches about how |
| classes are for.If you truly want to be | | | | misconceptions and incorrect teachings about |
| evangelistic, your target audience won't have | | | | Heaven cause the world to turn away from |
| a clue what some of your doctrinal words and | | | | Christianity. Lee also founded Real Christian |
| beliefs mean or why you care so much about | | | | Singles, a website that helps Christian |
| them. It would be like trying to recruit | | | | singles form godly relationships. |
| students for a beginner's cooking class by | | | | |