Your church needs a website for a lot of reasons – and there are definitely more than only seven! If your website is outdated – or even nonexistent – consider the impact that a quality church website will have on your congregation and your church’s impact on the community. Here are the top seven reasons why your church needs a quality website.
1. IT WILL INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF BEING DISCOVERED.
Having a website increases your chances of being discovered by potential new members or other churchgoers visiting the area who are looking for a place to worship on their vacations. Your website may also be a resource for people in need who may look for help or answers during difficult times. Your website could be what draws them to Jesus!
2. IT ENSURES A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION.
Long gone are the days when churches would put their ads in the local newspaper. Now, it is all about presence on the internet. Because of this, a website is the best way to make your church known, but it can also make or break the possibility of having new members visit your services. Having a visually-appealing and welcoming website ensures that you’ll make a great first impression. As everyone knows, once a first impression is made, it usually sticks.
3. IT KEEPS YOUR CONGREGATION ENGAGED
Having a website can also be valuable for your congregation. In addition to pages including information about your ministry and your overarching vision, you can share updates regarding weekly meetings, important announcements, fun events, and any other useful information that would be valuable to the members of your church or church-goers visiting the area.
4. IT INTRODUCES YOUR CHURCH’S PROGRAMS
Having a page on your website about your programs is a great way to introduce your church’s offerings to the masses. For example, if your lead pastor specializes in marriage counseling and regularly holds seminars about it, make sure to feature that on your website. If you just started a children’s ministry and want people to know about it, posting about it on your website is an excellent way to advertise it. Just remember – people won’t assume you have programs, so make sure to highlight those on your website!
5. IT ALLOWS YOU TO REACH MORE PEOPLE
You can set up your website to include a blog, where you go more in-depth or add study notes to for sermons alone with more verses or reading suggestions. You can also share blog posts about God, faith, marriage, etc., which may be useful and accessible to anyone browsing the internet. You might reach another believer on the other side of the earth looking for a sermon! A quality church website will help you make the Word more accessible to so many people beyond the members of your congregation.
6. IT PROVIDES TRAFFIC TO YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND OTHER VALUABLE RESOURCES
Nowadays, people (and not only millennials) use the internet to research a multitude of things, including podcasts or sermons. Having a section of your website with links to resources including sermons or inspirational thoughts could prove incredibly useful to a plethora of people while showcasing your ministry. The additional traffic that these would draw can also increase attention to your social media channels, which, in turn, will lead to greater impact for your ministry.
7. A WEBSITE SHOWCASES YOUR CHURCH’S INVOLVEMENT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY
If your church is involved in outreach programs such as feeding the homeless, blood drives, or afterschool activities (among others), make sure to post it on your website. You should also mention the other organizations you partner with, and special events hosting in your church. This will show that your church’s outreach goes well beyond Sunday services, which may interest prospective members.
All in all, having a church’s website may seem daunting initially. However, if you decide to embrace the way that most people are finding churches to visit today, you will quickly begin to see the benefits stacking up. You may be surprised to welcome new people in your congregation who found out about your church through a simple Google search.
Interested in creating or improving your church website?
© Joshua Brown, all rights reserved
ABOUT ETHEL DILOUAMBAKA
A writer slash translator, professional shower singer and plant whisperer saved by grace, Ethel enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, usually with a certain amount of eating involved. Follow her ramblings and snapshots of her world on Instagram at @heyitsetelle