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Helping churches return to the centre of communities

Helping churches return to the centre of communities. Most Christian websites are designed for Christians “ The overwhelming majority of Christian websites are written purely for Christians. The Body of Christ seems to spend most of its energies ministering to itself. ”

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Helping churches return to the centre of communities

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  1. Helping churches return to the centre of communities

  2. Most Christian websites are designed for Christians “The overwhelming majority of Christian websites are written purely for Christians. The Body of Christ seems to spend most of its energies ministering to itself. ” Tony Whittacker – www.gospelcom.net

  3. We will be considering: What most people want The opportunity for the church Making community websites ‘sticky’ Relationships Way forward

  4. What do people look for Sport (news) Health (information) Relationships and personal issues (guidance) Hobbies (networks) Local information Tourism ideas (information) Humour Films / Music News-related things (news) Famous people ……….. plus a million other things!

  5. The Opportunity • 61% of population use the Internet • Parish websites can be best for current local information • Reality • Around 2% of us use Christian sites • Most community sites are split between church and community – dividing the community into churchgoers and non churchgoers

  6. Websites and People

  7. If you have a site on • Hollywood - 100 million hits • www.hollywoodjesus.com • Women today – an extensive site • www.womentodaymagazine.com • Solving life’s problems – Google page one • www.runningempty.org/

  8. Great Church Community Sites Kamloops - definitive www.kamloopslife.com/ Downham – Possible www.downhamonline.org.uk

  9. Ideally the Church needs sites which: • have the best current local information • solve trivial problems quickly – TV / weather • are quick and cheap to create • have up-to-date non-church information • anyone can contribute to • are financially self-sufficient • stay up-to-date …. And tell people about what is going on in church • If you can include these elements you will have a site used by the whole community

  10. The Problems are ….. • Finding a person with: • time / ability • and who is not going to move house immediately! • Getting the website used • Funding the website • Lack of interest in the Internet The site needs to be virtually self-maintaining, self-funding, updateable by anybody and able to survive neglect!

  11. Or ……a full ChurchCommunity site

  12. Physically promote your site • Newsletter - pew sheet • Posters • Wallet / purse card with URL • Local press • Word of mouth • 20,000 hits a year per 1,000 people should then be a minimum expectation

  13. …. and on the web • Church sites – Find A Church etc • CAB and Tourist Information • Christian media websites • Local websites and portals • Directories – Yell, Thomson, Scoot • Village and town directories • Local Government • This is crucial work – and can absolutely transform your ranking on the search engines. • Lastly check your status on Google regularly

  14. The way forward ….. • Find a sponsor within the congregation • Find a computer user with promotionalskills • Announce events with photos / captions • Use the sponsor panels for fundraising and to engage with the community • Consider linking to a Sunday page

  15. Result … you have a site everyone uses and can: • Engage with non-churchgoing community • Engage with existing congregations • Have a real website presence • Raise money • 20,000 hits a year per 1,000 people should then be a minimum expectation

  16. The beginning of a revolution • “I consider 2day Church Community • websites a wonderful tool both as a • way of reaching out to the local community • and of keeping members up to date • with any news” • Rev Stephen Waters • Contact Richard Searight - 2day Microportals Ltd • Email richard@2day.ws or ring 01822 600001 – website www.MyCommunity.2day.ws

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