Using the Web

Written by Ted Evans

In a recent technology survey I found that most churches have an Internet connection. The Web is either available in the church office or at a staff or minister’s home. The World Wide Web is important tool for churches. There are a growing number of churches, both large and small, with websites. Several companies provide space for a site when you have their Internet connection. If available, a website is a very useful way to keep the community informed. Users will be able to secure information and leave general messages for the church. Here are some suggestions for Internet usage in both of these situations.

Weekly Ministry Updates

A website and email is an excellent method to inform the members/community about church activities.

Sunday Schedules

Posting the regular service schedule is a valuable service to both the community and the church family. Be sure to note special services and events, and keep the schedule up-to-date. While this is extremely useful, nothing is worse than an out-of-date schedule showing an Easter service in October.

Church Directory

Using the same idea of an email directory or printed church directory, placing email addresses on the website is a good idea. Be sure to get permission from the members before listing any information. The best method to ensure privacy when using member information is to require a log-in name and password for that part of the site. This is simple to implement if you want tight security. Remember, if it is on the Web, anyone can view the pages if they are not secure.

Lesson Plans and Additional Studies

Enhanced Sunday School lesson preparation or spiritual growth material can be obtained from the Web and printed for distribution, or you may want to email the material. (EXTRA! supplemental teaching ideas for Family Bible Study curriculum is an example of this type of information.) If you have a church website you can provide links to sites that contain enhanced Sunday School lesson preparation or spiritual growth material. Be sure to check these sites regularly as they can change or stop providing useful information. Also, check any links that these sites may have. Sometimes these extra links contain objectionable material and content for church members.

Web site Service
LifeWayLINK , a service of LifeWay, offers high-quality, free websites for churches. Choose from among five templates, or site designs, for the free sites. Included are four pages to present information about the church, its services, ministries, and events, including a page of contact listings for staff. The service is not just for churches that currently do not have a website, but also for those who think they are paying too much for the service or are having difficulty keeping their current site up to date.

The Web may well be the best technology that the church can use to reach the lost world. The Internet will never replace the fellowship of God’s people as they gather to worship and work. However, it can help develop and build a Christian community that will allow us to use our gifts in special ways. A website developed by a congregation not only serves the church, community, state, and nation, but the entire world.

Using information from the Web will sharpen our skills as teachers and students. By accessing information that is at our fingertips we can be the best-informed persons of all times as we prepare to share the gospel. While the gospel never changes, the method of delivering the gospel is changing. Let’s be ready in this new century.

Ted Evans is Director of the Information Services Department at the South Carolina Baptist Convention in Columbia, South Carolina.

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