| As someone professionally involved in Christian | | | | for web design services that specialize in ministry and |
| ministry and web design, I understand the unique | | | | keep overall cost a priority. |
| constraints and requirements a Church and | | | | - Additionally, the web must not become a hindrance |
| Parachurch organizations bring to the world wide web. | | | | to true community and instead promote real |
| The need to be technologically current must be | | | | interaction that we all need so badly in this fractured |
| balanced with theology and religious concerns. | | | | culture. It is a sad fact, but community is missing and |
| Here are a few tips for designing a website for your | | | | leaving a hole in many people. This is just as true |
| Christian ministry: | | | | within many churches as it is without. We must |
| - Many ministry organizations do not have | | | | design websites that stress and promote actual |
| technologically savvy people at their immediate | | | | human interaction. Emphasize real gatherings and small |
| disposal, so web updates must be easily manageable. | | | | groups over online resources like audio recordings and |
| This includes things like news updates, content | | | | bible study guides. |
| changing, staff updates, and even uploading | | | | - Lastly, keep your theology in mind. It is possible to |
| newsletters and sermon audio recordings. Ask | | | | design a website and remember your faith. For |
| questions like: Can any staff member with minimal | | | | instance, make sure you are honest and sincere. Do |
| training experience quickly navigate and update the | | | | not stretch the truth or mislead people. Try to add |
| website? Is the interface intuitive? Do you use | | | | wording that will prevent misunderstanding and |
| "WYSIWYG" editors or require HTML knowledge? | | | | promote what you think God would have you |
| - It is also difficult for Christian organizations to get | | | | promote. An example may be to strongly suggest |
| the quality which is standard among websites today | | | | that online donor's use bank cards instead of credit |
| and yet keep costs low. One way to achieve this is | | | | cards (because some people do buy things or donate |
| to use "boxed" solutions or buy web templates. | | | | with money they do not have). |
| There are many companies that offer low-cost, | | | | Christian web sites can be a wonderful resource and |
| pre-designed solutions that you simply customize. | | | | promote community when we design with the right |
| Always look for "open source" solutions first, | | | | intentions and proper planning. |
| because often these will be free. You might also look | | | | |