BCC Getting New Website
26 February, 2007 
Looks like a much needed update is coming to the Beavercreek Christian website!
The old one was some sort of website-in-a-box… but at least it wasn’t updated very often. This one still has a fair dinkum of work to be done, but attention is being paid.
I suppose this brings up the interesting issue of what purpose should a ministry’s website serve? Informational? Inspirational? Are they speaking primarily to the curious outsider or the connected participant?
Having been a part of building a website for the last ministry we served with, I’ll offer this: Most ministry websites lack the focus appropriate to their resources. The web is not a level playing field. Self-publication is awesome, and the individual is probably permitted a certain amount of rawness to their online presence. Not so with organizations. The small business or non-profit with a volunteer staff is held up to the same standard as the biggest of the big boys with multi-million dollar budgets.
The web is not a level playing field.
Do I think local ministries should have a web presence? Absolutely! It’s 2007 and people are increasingly turning to Google when they want to check you out or find additional information. (Case in point: I’m signed up for that Men’s Retreat shown in the photo and went to the website for details on when to be where… details that are unfortunately not there.) But, a local ministry needs to make an honest assessment regarding the resources they can devote to their own personal Internet; hone in on an appropriate number of goals given those resources; and then avoid the temptation to do “just one more thing.”
Let me just say as an outsider, I would say that one thing I would think should be on every ministries website is the latest sermen given (just text is fine, but audio is technocool!). There are times when someone may wish to hear the message, but can’t or won’t go to the church. Since the idea is to spread the word, not count the people, I would think this is something every church would do. I admit, I don’t go to church, but sometimes I watch on TV or if I’m in the mood I’ll read a bit. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll be exposed to the message I “need” to hear, but I can only get that exposure if it’s put out there for me to find.
I would also think that a moderated discussion forum or blog would be good. Anything that creates positive dialog would be useful. Anything to spread the word and create the interest should be available.
Most ministry sites I’ve seen try and define themselves and brag about what they are doing, but do very little about opening the way for people to discuss and grow. I have heard you often talk about the idea of evangalism is important, spreading the word. To me, if you come at me with Bible in hand, I’ll ignore you, but if you allow me to come to you, I might hear what you say.
Good points, Rantz. Your last comment is priceless!
Sermon audio or transcripts are nice… but only if there is a forum for interaction, I think. One of the reasons we stuck around BCC is that I emailed Dave, the Senior Minister, early on with comments and questions and disagreements about that week’s message… and he replied!
There is still a culture of control in many corners of Christendom. Many nice church folks are frankly afraid of open conversation, of disagreement, of questions and doubts. People can get very defensive very quickly. Hell, they can get pretty offensive, too.
And even worse: What if someone uses a cuss word on the ministry’s website? We might have to shut the whole damn thing down!
Interesting that you mention evangelism, ‘cuz my perspective on that has undergone radical changes. It’s not that I think evangelism is unimportant; it’s that evangelism has a different meaning for me.