“As for me and my mouse, we will serve the Lord!”

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 they’re 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 • It’s 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 6:12)

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 nation’s 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 church’s 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 I’d 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 • Children’s 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 don’t want to be amazed at your flashiness; they want to find information • People don’t read Web pages, they scan them • People won’t take their time at your site; they are in a hurry • People won’t visit your site every day, so don’t rely on it to be the primary communication channel • People give up quickly; provide a way to ask questions on every page

33. It’s 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 3:8

34. I’m 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@vbmb.org804-915-2449800-ALL-BGAV ext. 6277