Modern BelieverCulture Changes. God Doesn't.

Some of you may have read the title of this post and become confused. Online Ministry? How does that work?

The fact is that the internet is becoming a powerful force for spreading the gospel. I am part of a generation that goes to the web for just about everything. Need somebody’s phone number? Google (though Facebook is taking this over as more people go exclusively cell phone). What time does an event start? It’s probably on at least one online calendar. Need a quick answer to a question? Twitter is there.

Social Media sites abound, but a cutting edge geek knows what's worth your time.

Church websites (or at least those who have them) are developing fast. The problem is that the rest of the web is developing faster. An effective church web site will require a lot of prayer, a lot of vision, a lot more prayer, an openness to new things and new ways of doing those things, a bit more prayer, volunteers passionate about the latest in everything web (before they ever start working on the church site), a little more prayer (for the site), and a whole lot of prayer (for the volunteers).

As John Saddington notes:

…one of the most successful ingredients that I’ve seen in the marketplace when looking for “volunteers” (but we don’t call them volunteers) is interest.

The catch here is that it must be self-generated. It can’t be fabricated or forced. In other words, some of the best volunteers are those that are already doing what you’d like them to do; they’re just not doing it for you and your ministry (yet).

This way they don’t get tired, they don’t get frustrated, or necessarily burnt out because you’re not forcing them to do something unnatural or having them try to feign interest. Find the people that love to do “online ministry” (whatever that means for your ministry) and then empower them to help out for yours.

So as you set out to create that website, rebuild it, improve it, or just maintain it, take a good look around at people living on the bleeding edge. They’ll understand that now may not be thee right time to implement something, but they’ll have crazy amounts of experience with it when your church is ready to take that step.

And while those people are likely to be well under 30 years old, some of the most savvy people I talk to about it all are baby boomers (thank you Twitter).

The question of how to disciple those who come to know the Lord online is still passionately debated though.

John Saddington always has great stuff for us, and his post on what people want from your Church website is no different. Some highlights for the already established Church are:

4. Connect with other members.

6. Join and/or interact with a home/Bible study group.

8. Find serving opportunities at the Church.

9. Post prayer requests or needs.