a web hosting is the solution

The term “outreach” is certainly a familiar one to churches, which engage in community outreach often. But how about reaching out to the community to put forth your message and a whole lot more? With a web hosting, it’s a cinch to get your name, your information, your message, and a whole lot more in front of anyone with a computer.

What can a church do with a website? First, on the home page or “landing page,” you’ll probably want to put the essentials: the church’s name, address, phone, and email address to begin with. You also want to list the church’s denomination, or “non-denominational” if such is the case. Then, naturally, you’ll want to display the times at which you offer worship services. Is it Sundays at 11 AM? Do you have Wednesday evening services too? Any other times? And then you’ll want to display, at minimum, the pastor’s name. For a small church, the pastor may be the only name to list. For a larger church, you may have a pastor, an assistant pastor, a pastor emeritus, a youth pastor, a youth leader, a choir director, an organist, a head of Sunday school, and perhaps others include office support staff. You may want to list the board members as well.

Does your church have a motto and/or a mission statement? List those on the home page too.

a web hosting tip

Now, what about posting a monthly calendar of events? If your church offers special activities, whether of a religious nature, fund-raising, communal, or otherwise, list those potluck lunches, field days, rummage sales, guest speakers, and other events on a calendar page.

How about pictures? If you have pictures taken at past events, candid shots showing people involved and enjoying themselves, or even pictures taken during your worship service, showing people raising their voices in song or praising God, why not display those, too? Visitors to the site may soon turn into visitors to the church itself!

How about posting a list of forthcoming sermons? If you know, a month in advance, the topic of the sermon for each Sunday of the coming month, list those on a page on your site as well. You’ll find that easy web hosting makes access and page revision a simple matter.

You might want a page devoted to the Sunday school, too. You can list the teacher or teachers, perhaps tell a little about what the kids are taught, and maybe even show pictures of the kids involved in some fun learning activity.

Another page can feature prayers or scripture quotations, or a list of suggested readings for the month or for specific occasions or needs.

Then how about a monthly letter from the pastor, and perhaps one from the president of the board of directors as well?

If you’ve got special fund-raising needs, such as a fund to procure a new organ, list that and show how close you are to reaching your goal.

a web hosting is a part of the community

Now, what about community outreach? If you have a food pantry or clothes closet for those in need, a ministry to the homeless or ill, a soup kitchen, a lending library or bookstore, or any other activities that reach out to the community at large or any segment of it, you’ll want to make sure to get the word out by way of your website. With a web hosting, you can change your message as often as you want to — even daily, if you so desire. Get your message out to the community and watch your congregation grow!