Comments on: Do You Know Why Your Church Website Exists? http://www.godvertiser.com/2009/04/09/do-you-know-why-your-church-website-exists-2/ Church Marketing Ideas, Experiments, Lessons and Pitfalls For Right Now (yes, now!) and the Future. Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:29:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: kkcoolj http://www.godvertiser.com/2009/04/09/do-you-know-why-your-church-website-exists-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1249 kkcoolj Sun, 07 Mar 2010 01:03:38 +0000 http://godvertiser.com/?p=215#comment-1249 @Donna, please DO join the bible study class and at least try it out! Small groups and bible study classes are great ways to meet people and *start* to feel connected. There are many others that join classes and small groups because they don't know anyone else in the church. @Donna, please DO join the bible study class and at least try it out! Small groups and bible study classes are great ways to meet people and *start* to feel connected. There are many others that join classes and small groups because they don't know anyone else in the church.

]]> By: donna http://www.godvertiser.com/2009/04/09/do-you-know-why-your-church-website-exists-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1248 donna Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:05:31 +0000 http://godvertiser.com/?p=215#comment-1248 been going to a church for about four weeks,theres a bible study class starting up march 7th starting point, but not sure i feel connected. been going to a church for about four weeks,theres a bible study class starting up march 7th starting point, but not sure i feel connected.

]]> By: kkcoolj http://www.godvertiser.com/2009/04/09/do-you-know-why-your-church-website-exists-2/comment-page-1/#comment-55 kkcoolj Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:11:50 +0000 http://godvertiser.com/?p=215#comment-55 @ChurchWebsites - great comments. YES I agree! Church websites need to be aware of the audiences that it attracts - and skeptics, seekers, potential vistors, non-members are very important. I like how Tim Keller's Redeemer put a link right on the home page that says <a href="http:\/\/redeemer.com\/connect\/skeptics_welcome\/" target="_blank">"I Don't Know What I Believe"</a>. If you review the top 4 list above again, I think you'll agree that they can be accomodated with the same audience you have in mind as well. For example, #1 - ensuring clarity about all the events/activities/programs/ministries of the church is something that can be certainly be done in an outward-facing way. #2 prayer requests can be solicited in a way that is received as low-risk and perhaps a method to connect with people who are new to the church. Immediately and genuine follow-up via email or phone might be the start of a great relationship between the site visitor and the church. #3, if done well, can serve to highlight social gospel initiatives or low-involvement opportunities that visitors may be interested in on even a one-time basis to "check out" the church and get involved without signing away their life to it in their minds. #4 Some churches have "trial" bible study groups specifically aimed at new comers to meet others in a low-intensity 1 day or even a 3-4 week Bible Study group series. Pre-marital peer-group education series is also a huge opportunity way to bring new people into the church. Thinking about Bible Study Groups differently to include those outside the church (both "church" and "the Church") will make how you execute #4 very differently. Regarding social media and the Church - I agree that the Church must keep it in perspective. The social MEDIA is not the end goal. The MEDIUM is just one more way to connect and broaden it's influence into the daily lives of those it meets. I personally don't think we need to change our message nor central identity. It's the behavior and methods that are evolving. As the internet evolves, there are also great new 'social' experiments emerging to further the Gospel message -- like <a href="http://www.internetevangelismday.com/" target="_blank">http://www.internetevangelismday.com/</a> No longer are churches burdened with the task of going it alone in a single neighborhood. How perfect is it that pastors and their ministries are socially networking to bring the network effect into play? These are the some of the ways that Churches can be creative when trying and connect with those outside the church. @ChurchWebsites – great comments. YES I agree! Church websites need to be aware of the audiences that it attracts – and skeptics, seekers, potential vistors, non-members are very important. I like how Tim Keller's Redeemer put a link right on the home page that says "I Don't Know What I Believe".

If you review the top 4 list above again, I think you'll agree that they can be accomodated with the same audience you have in mind as well. For example, #1 – ensuring clarity about all the events/activities/programs/ministries of the church is something that can be certainly be done in an outward-facing way. #2 prayer requests can be solicited in a way that is received as low-risk and perhaps a method to connect with people who are new to the church. Immediately and genuine follow-up via email or phone might be the start of a great relationship between the site visitor and the church. #3, if done well, can serve to highlight social gospel initiatives or low-involvement opportunities that visitors may be interested in on even a one-time basis to "check out" the church and get involved without signing away their life to it in their minds. #4 Some churches have "trial" bible study groups specifically aimed at new comers to meet others in a low-intensity 1 day or even a 3-4 week Bible Study group series. Pre-marital peer-group education series is also a huge opportunity way to bring new people into the church. Thinking about Bible Study Groups differently to include those outside the church (both "church" and "the Church") will make how you execute #4 very differently.

Regarding social media and the Church – I agree that the Church must keep it in perspective. The social MEDIA is not the end goal. The MEDIUM is just one more way to connect and broaden it's influence into the daily lives of those it meets. I personally don't think we need to change our message nor central identity. It's the behavior and methods that are evolving.

As the internet evolves, there are also great new 'social' experiments emerging to further the Gospel message — like http://www.internetevangelismday.com/ No longer are churches burdened with the task of going it alone in a single neighborhood. How perfect is it that pastors and their ministries are socially networking to bring the network effect into play? These are the some of the ways that Churches can be creative when trying and connect with those outside the church.

]]> By: Church Websites http://www.godvertiser.com/2009/04/09/do-you-know-why-your-church-website-exists-2/comment-page-1/#comment-54 Church Websites Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:54:21 +0000 http://godvertiser.com/?p=215#comment-54 Wow that's an amazing study.... but for less techie churches there is a slight risk here. Sure it's great that our church websites serve our congregations... but let's not get excited about being a Holy Huddle! What about all the seekers out there who don't normally go to church? Isn't there a danger that churches will read this and think that the 4 points above are what they should be doing with their church sites rather than sorting out so many of the things they really do need on their existing sites (like an up-to-date calendar, map, service times, contact details, etc) PS I'm not saying we shouldn't social network but surely the number 1 purpose for any church website should be to connect with those outside the church? Wow that's an amazing study…. but for less techie churches there is a slight risk here. Sure it's great that our church websites serve our congregations… but let's not get excited about being a Holy Huddle! What about all the seekers out there who don't normally go to church? Isn't there a danger that churches will read this and think that the 4 points above are what they should be doing with their church sites rather than sorting out so many of the things they really do need on their existing sites (like an up-to-date calendar, map, service times, contact details, etc)
PS I'm not saying we shouldn't social network but surely the number 1 purpose for any church website should be to connect with those outside the church?

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