Planning and Launching a Web Ministry for our Church

1. Planning and Launching a Web Ministry for our Church Insert your church’s name and address here. Include your web address, if you already have one. Insert a photo of your church or other representative image here

2. What is a Web Ministry? • Our church’s presence on the World Wide Web or Internet, typically through a website • Already have a Web presence through Find-A-Church from UMC.org • An effective ministry tool • Integrated into the total ministry and mission of our church • Meet many of our church’s ministry goals to reach out to and involve members, visitors, potential visitors, and seekers

3. Adult Internet Use: • 73% of adults use the Internet daily • 91% of Internet use is email and searching for information • 64% of 128 million Internet users are interested in information of a religious or spiritual nature • This represents 2/3 of adult Internet users or 82 million people Pew Internet & American Life Project, Faith Online April 7, 2004

4. Adult Internet Use: • Send/receive email with spiritual content • Send/receive online greeting card for religious holidays • Read news of religious events • Seek information about celebrating religious holidays/events Pew Internet & American Life Project, Faith Online April 7, 2004

5. Adult Internet Use: • Search for places to attend services • Use email to plan meetings for religious groups • Download or listen to music with religious/spiritual themes • Make or respond to prayer requests • Make donations to religious organizations/charities Pew Internet & American Life Project, Faith Online April 7, 2004

6. Adult Internet Use: • Online faithful are devout • They use the Internet for personal spiritual matters to augment their strong commitments to their congregations • Online faith-related activity supplements instead of replaces traditional participation in religious/spiritual activities Pew Internet & American Life Project, Faith Online April 7, 2004

7. Teen Internet Use: • 87% of teenagers, 12–18 years old, are online • They are using the Internet for communication Pew Internet & American Life Project, Faith Online April 7, 2004

8. The Great Commission “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” —Matthew 28:19–20

9. The World Is My Parish “I look upon all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation.” —John Wesley

10. Harness the Power of the Internet for Effective Web Ministry

11. Using a Website for Ministry • A promising communication tool • Information from bulletins and newsletters • First form of communication for important news • Easy to download, print, and read • Time and cost savings • Readily and indefinitely available

12. Using a Website for Ministry • Calendar of events • Verify dates and find events of interest • Links to registration forms and directions • Pictures and articles from past events • Multimedia history

13. Using a Website for Ministry • Encourage visitors to attend • Provide a “meet me at the door” ministry to visitors • Share mission and belief statements • Connect visitors with the larger United Methodist Church

14. Using a Website for Ministry • Post sermons in print and/or audio • Offer print and audio versions of Bible studies and Sunday school classes • Use video clips • Offer online classes and discussion groups

15. Using a Website for Ministry • Exciting possibilities for effective Web ministry • Resources and guides available to assist us

16. Getting Started • Form a Web ministry team for our church • Develop a purpose and goals • Identify our target audiences and their needs

17. Getting Started • Acquire basic technology resources • Select website design and hosting services • Develop a budget for our Web ministry that includes material and human resource needs • Design and populate our website with engaging content, photographs, and graphics

18. Getting Started • Establish policies for how our website will be used and how it will protect those who use it • Set up a schedule for regular maintenance of our website • Track how our website is performing • Evaluate our purpose and goals to keep our website fresh and dynamic

19. Within Our Reach • Millions of people use the Internet every day for religious and spiritual purpose • There is a biblical and theological basis for developing a Web ministry • A website is a valuable tool for ministry • There are resources to assist us • It is affordable as well as time and cost saving

20. Let’s Hear from You … • What fears and doubts might you have about our developing a Web ministry for our church? • What hopes and dreams might you have about a Web ministry for our church? • What other questions or comments would you like to share?

21. Thank You! • We can take the next steps in the right direction. • Learn more by participating in a four-part, online training for Web ministry at web.umcom.org. • We will continue to work together to develop an effective Web ministry for our church. • Thank you!