Do We Really Need a Church Website?
Having a website has moved from being a novelty to being a necessity. People of all ages have begun to use the Internet for everything from looking up a phone number, researching the best camera to buy, buying books, to finding a church, doing Bible study, listening to the "radio" and participating in support groups. If you don't have a website today, you are missing out on many of the very people you are trying to reach.
An Internet presence, or website, offers a great potential to both your audience and to your church or ministry. Here are just a few the benefits you can see. Through your website, you can:
Strengthen your other communications efforts
Whether it is advertising your Easter or Christmas service, or letting people know about your upcoming sermon series, or listing prayer requests, your website enhances and strengthens your overall communication strategy. For instance, if you advertise in your community newspaper or on your local radio station, you can direct people to your website to provide more detail than is possible with a small ad or 30 second spot on the radio.
Be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Your website is always available, even when you're not. This allows people to find, see and even hear your message anytime of the day or night, when it is convenient for them. They don't have to wait until the Sunday service or until someone is in the office to answer their questions.
Communicate God's truth in multiple ways
Your website can be used to communicate truth in many different ways. Not only can you include text, but you can also communicate via pictures, images, sound and video in creative and relevant ways that really drive home the point, communicate God's truth, and help get your message across to your congregation or future members.
Reach a wider audience
Many people may hesitate to step into a church door, but would definately visit a website. Not only can you reach people in your community that would not ordinarily visit a church, but you can also reach people around the world.
Create a sense of community
A website is a great way to help build and develop a greater sense of community for your ministry or church. Through your website, members, people in the community, and people around the world can find topics of interest, whether it is this week's message, a topic from the Bible, or current issues that affect their daily lives. Your website can also be used help keep members and past members up-to-date with what is happening via online calendars and events announcements.
Communicate your message in a way that is always up-to-date and relevant to your audience
Unlike traditional print media or radio and TV, your website can be updated within minutes and become immediately available to your audience. You don't have to worry about out-of-date material floating around, or have to re-record your radio sport or advertisement. Your website can be the place that is always relevant and current.
Reduce your overall expenses
Compared with other media, having a website is significantly less expensive to both maintain and to update. Not only is it much less expensive to produce, it can also replace a lot of your printed materials and reduce your printing and mailing expenses.
So maybe, the question isn't "How Can Our Church or Ministry Benefit From A Website?," but "Why Don't We Have One?"