Planning and Launching a Web Ministry for our Church

1
Planning and Launching a Web Ministry for our
Church

• Insert your churchs name and address here.
  Include your web address, if you already have one.

Insert a photo of your church or other
representative image here
2
What is a Web Ministry?

• Our churchs presence on the World Wide Web or
  Internet, typically through a website
• Already have a Web presence through Find-A-Church
  from UMC.org
• An effective ministry tool
• Integrated into the total ministry and mission of
  our church
• Meet many of our churchs ministry goals to reach
  out to and involve members, visitors, potential
  visitors, and seekers

3
Adult Internet Use

• 73 of adults use the Internet daily
• 91 of Internet use is email and searching for
  information
• 64 of 128 million Internet users are interested
  in information of a religious or spiritual nature
• This represents 2/3 of adult Internet users or 82
  million people

Pew Internet American Life Project, Faith
Online April 7, 2004
4
Adult Internet Use

• Send/receive email with spiritual content
• Send/receive online greeting card for religious
  holidays
• Read news of religious events
• Seek information about celebrating religious
  holidays/events

Pew Internet American Life Project, Faith
Online April 7, 2004
5
Adult Internet Use

• Search for places to attend services
• Use email to plan meetings for religious groups
• Download or listen to music with
  religious/spiritual themes
• Make or respond to prayer requests
• Make donations to religious organizations/charitie
  s

Pew Internet American Life Project, Faith
Online April 7, 2004
6
Adult Internet Use

• Online faithful are devout
• They use the Internet for personal spiritual
  matters to augment their strong commitments to
  their congregations
• Online faith-related activity supplements instead
  of replaces traditional participation in
  religious/spiritual activities

Pew Internet American Life Project, Faith
Online April 7, 2004
7
Teen Internet Use

• 87 of teenagers, 1218 years old, are online
• They are using the Internet for communication

Pew Internet American Life Project, Faith
Online April 7, 2004
8
The Great Commission

• Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
  baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
  the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them
  to obey everything that I have commanded you. And
  remember, I am with you always, to the end of the
  age.
• Matthew 281920

9
The World Is My Parish

• I look upon all the world as my parish thus far
  I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I
  judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty to
  declare unto all that are willing to hear, the
  glad tidings of salvation.
• John Wesley

10
Harness the Power of the Internet for Effective
Web Ministry
11
Using a Website for Ministry

• A promising communication tool
• Information from bulletins and newsletters
• First form of communication for important news
• Easy to download, print, and read
• Time and cost savings
• Readily and indefinitely available

12
Using a Website for Ministry

• Calendar of events
• Verify dates and find events of interest
• Links to registration forms and directions
• Pictures and articles from past events
• Multimedia history

13
Using a Website for Ministry

• Encourage visitors to attend
• Provide a meet me at the door ministry to
  visitors
• Share mission and belief statements
• Connect visitors with the larger United Methodist
  Church

14
Using a Website for Ministry

• Post sermons in print and/or audio
• Offer print and audio versions of Bible studies
  and Sunday school classes
• Use video clips
• Offer online classes and discussion groups

15
Using a Website for Ministry

• Exciting possibilities for effective Web ministry
• Resources and guides available to assist us

16
Getting Started

• Form a Web ministry team for our church
• Develop a purpose and goals
• Identify our target audiences and their needs

17
Getting Started

• Acquire basic technology resources
• Select website design and hosting services
• Develop a budget for our Web ministry that
  includes material and human resource needs
• Design and populate our website with engaging
  content, photographs, and graphics

18
Getting Started

• Establish policies for how our website will be
  used and how it will protect those who use it
• Set up a schedule for regular maintenance of our
  website
• Track how our website is performing
• Evaluate our purpose and goals to keep our
  website fresh and dynamic

19
Within Our Reach

• Millions of people use the Internet every day for
  religious and spiritual purpose
• There is a biblical and theological basis for
  developing a Web ministry
• A website is a valuable tool for ministry
• There are resources to assist us
• It is affordable as well as time and cost saving

20
Lets Hear from You

• What fears and doubts might you have about our
  developing a Web ministry for our church?
• What hopes and dreams might you have about a Web
  ministry for our church?
• What other questions or comments would you like
  to share?

21
Thank You!

• We can take the next steps in the right
  direction.
• Learn more by participating in a four-part,
  online training for Web ministry at
  web.umcom.org.
• We will continue to work together to develop an
  effective Web ministry for our church.
• Thank you!