Perth 04 Chat, forums, blogs

1
Web 101
As for me and my mouse, we will serve the Lord!
Pittsylvania Association August 25, 2006
2
Why Should a Church or Association Have a Web
Site?

• Christians have an important message to
  communicate
  
• People need to hear the Christian message... and
  theyre on the Internet
  
• You can Grow your Ministry and Free Up Resources
• You Need to Make a Good First Impression

3
Why Should a Church or Association Have a Web
Site?

• The internet has become the dominant window in
  the world culture
  
• Its how the world communicates and learns
• Computer networks are now the most crucial
  battleground for the minds and souls of people
  across the world
  
• For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
  but against the rulers, against the authorities,
  against the powers of this dark world and against
  the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
  realms. (Ephesians 612)

4
Getting Started

• What is the mission and purpose of our church?
• What are the most important things for someone to
  know about our church?
  
• Who are the constituencies we want to reach?
• What are the strongest programs within our
  church?
  
• How can the web presence further that mission and
  purpose and reach these constituencies?
  
• What are the first steps you need to take in
  order to develop the web ministry?

5
Getting Started

• What do the statistics and other information tell
  me in regard to how I should develop my own site?
  www.pewinternet.org has done extensive research
  on how Americans use the internet including work
  on how we use the web for religious purposes.
• Who are the people within the church who need to
  participate in some way to make the web ministry
  flourish?  (Who do we need to get buy in from)?
  
• Who could be on a team to develop the web
  ministry?

6
Getting Started

• What kind of technology do we want to use?  Host
  ourselves? Outsource? Template-based solutions?
  
• Who and how can we develop new and fresh content
  for the site?
  
• What can we do to promote the site?

7
From www.pewinternet.org

• Nearly two-thirds of online Americans use the
  Internet for faith-related reasons.

8
From www.pewinternet.org

• The 64 of Internet users who perform spiritual
  and religious activities online represent nearly
  82 million Americans.
  
• 38 of the nations 128 million Internet users
  have sent and received email with spiritual
  content
  
• 35 have sent or received online greeting cards
  related to religious holidays
  
• 21 have sought information about how to
  celebrate religious holidays
  
• 17 have looked for information about where they
  could attend religious services
  
• 7 have made or responded to online prayer
  requests
  
• 7 have made donations to religious
  organizations/charities.

9
OK, How do We Get a Site?

• A domain name (as little as 8.95 a year)
• GoDaddy.com
• NetworkSolutions.com
• A Web Host (as little as 3.59 a month!)
• VBMB recommends ViUX Systems (http//hosting.viux.
  com)
  
• A Webmaster/Web team
• Web Design Software (or simply a browser for
  template-based system)
  
• Graphics Editing Software

10
Two Main Types of Websites

• Brochure Web Site
• Same information as a printed brochure about the
  church
  
• Supports the ministry of the church, but is not a
  ministry in and of itself
  
• Gives basic information about the church and what
  it has to offer

11
Two Main Types of Websites

• Web Ministry
• Interactive site where ministry occurs
• Builds community
• Provides outreach to seekers
• Integrated part of a churchs outreach to
  community and beyond

12
Church Website Essentials

• About us section
• Theological background
• Worship and regular event times
• Current events
• Directions
• Profiles of Pastors and staff members
• Program descriptions
• Basic Contact information

13
Web Design Software

• Two Major Choices
• Microsoft FrontPage
• Advantage similarity to rest of Office suite
• Disadvantages non-standard code and potential
  security issues if used with Server Extensions

14
Web Design Software

• Two Major Choices
• Adobe Dreamweaver
• Advantages writes standard code, very
  extensible
  
• Disadvantage unique interface

15
Web Design Software

• Companion to Dreamweaver Contribute
• Works with Dreamweaver templates allows an
  average user to update a website with little to
  no knowledge of web design needed

16
Web Design Software

• Template-based System
• Best known in church arena
• E-zekiel (www.e-zekiel.com) 19.95 per month and
  up
  
• Allows editing of website to be done via the
  browser

17
Graphics Editor

• Basic
• Free Program IrfanView (www.IrfanView.com)
• Does the basic tasks needed by most churches and
  the price is right!

18
Graphics Editor

• Better
• Paint Shop Pro
• PhotoImpact

19
Graphics Editor

• Best
• Adobe Fireworks
• Adobe Photoshop

20
Issues to Consider

• From the earliest planning stage, the needs of
  non-Christian site visitors should be considered.
  The language and style should express welcome and
  hospitality.

21
Issues to Consider

• Christian jargon should be avoided where possible
  or explained when used.
  

22
Issues to Consider

• Present the Gospel, or link to it.
• One online respondent wrote that while visiting
  many church websites she had learned a lot about
  churches and staff but not how to meet Jesus.
  As an unbeliever she wrote, It seems to me that
  churches would tell lost people how to be
  found.

23
Reaching Non-Christians

• avoid Christianese jargon words
• understand non-Christians felt needs interests
• assume zero knowledge

24
Effective church sites

• not just adding a way of salvation page
• attitude of unconditional welcome
• focus on people these are normal people Id
  like to be with
  
• real stories, pictures, and sense of fun

25
Killing the jargon

• insider language excludes people
• one of main turn-offs in Christian
  communication
  

born again, salvation, saved, sinner, new birth,
Savior, justification, Holy Spirit, testimony,
evangelical, assurance, redeemed, redemption,
saved, mission, outreach, repentance, witness,
confess, found the Lord, have a burden
26
Evangelistic Strategies

• Virtual tour
• Accessible language
• Answers to problems
• Childrens corner
• Games and competitions

27
Evangelistic Strategies

• Seasonal information and special events
• Humor
• Community news and activities, plus start-pages
• Calendar of events

28
Evangelistic Strategies

• Sermon summaries and Bible studies
• An evangelistic section
• Evangelistic books
• A virtual magazine

29
Publicize Your Site!

• Include the church URL on EVERY item of printed
  church material, every press release or
  advertisement, and on the church sign
  
• Choose an easy-to-remember domain name
• Register your site with various church-finder
  directories and search engines

30
Checklist

• Welcome
• Language
• The Gospel
• Usability
• Finding the church

31
Checklist

• Disabilities
• People
• Youth and kids
• Got a problem
• Design style

32
Reality Check

• People dont want to be amazed at your
  flashiness they want to find information
  
• People dont read Web pages, they scan them
• People wont take their time at your site they
  are in a hurry
  
• People wont visit your site every day, so dont
  rely on it to be the primary communication
  channel
  
• People give up quickly provide a way to ask
  questions on every page

33
Its up to you!

• I believe that the Internet is one of the most
  powerful evangelistic tools and will impact the
  world for Jesus Christ in this generation.
  
• - Professor
  Dan Henrich, Liberty University
  
• See, I have placed before you an open door that
  no one can shut.
  - Revelation 38
  

34
Im Here to Help!

• I offer
• One-on-one or group training in Dreamweaver and
  FrontPage
  
• Consulting on getting started on your web site
• Consulting on how to improve your web site.

35
Feel Free to Contact Me!

• Kirby Knightkirby.knight_at_vbmb.org804-915-24498
  00-ALL-BGAV ext. 6277