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Free Online Learning Resource for Church Websites

3/25/2013

Abstract:

Christian College and TransformingTheChurch.org have launched an online special-interest community titled “Building Effective Online Ministries.” This online community is dedicated to teaching the planning, building and operating the online assets of churches. The community allows interactive participation among its members as well as with subject-matter experts dedicated to mentoring the community.

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Full News Release:

Christian College and TransformingTheChurch.org have launched an online special-interest community titled “Building Effective Online Ministries.” This online community is dedicated to teaching the planning, building and operating the online assets of churches. The community allows interactive participation among its members as well as with subject-matter experts dedicated to mentoring the community. This free online community is the first of a series of resources for helping churches improve their websites, social media and other online presences.

Some of the most important constituencies served by this community will include people without previous technical backgrounds such as clergy, church Boards, leaders and volunteers, without prior experience, who need to plan websites or lead teams that develop and operate online assets for churches. Development of leadership and planning skills are key priorities of the community.

Fresh content will be added to the community daily. Content anchoring the community include:

  • A daily blog with interactive comments
  • A weekly video podcast
  • Online events
  • Webinars
  • Tutorials, case studies and “how-to” guides
  • Interactive forums
  • Industry news and feature stories
  • E-mail newsletters

Membership in the community is FREE and requires only a simple registration to join and participate.

Click Here To Register Into This Community

Theme of the Special-Interest Community

Starry_Night_300sq.jpgIn the age of the Internet and ubiquitous connectivity, there is no brighter tool for use in ministry than the power and global reach of the Internet.

Matthew 5:14–16

14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (NRSV)

Click here to see the video teaser

Too often, church websites fall far short of their potential as a true ministry. They too often focus on only tactical aspects of making the website and miss the larger opportunity to provide a truly interactive and vibrant ministry to their parishes and to the world.

In a real sense, less-than-optimal websites are directly analogous to hiding ones light under a bushel.

Further, it will be the position of the community that churches need EFFECTIVE websites. Not just only a container for your address and telephone number and some long-stale static brochure-type information, but something that engages your parish, reflects the Christian community of your church, causes visitors to return to the site frequently for more and (most importantly) listens and engages in dialog with your visitors. Done correctly, an effective website becomes a true ministry in every sense of the word!

There is a world of difference between a website and a web ministry. The difference begins with the envisioning and strategy-setting processes, goes through executing and operations and culminates to measuring effectiveness and reaching defined goals.

Actually, armed with a bit of knowledge and some guidelines, building an operating an effective web ministry is pretty easy to accomplish.

This special-interest community will be dedicated to teaching and encouraging how to use the Internet to build a comprehensive and effective web ministry.

This community is currated and moderated by Bill Anderton, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientist of TeleWorship and the founder of TransformingTheChurch.org.