The Lord has been teaching me lately about how He uses relationships as the primary means for transforming lives. Many of us, myself included, grew up focusing on how to intellectually understand the gospel. To mature in the faith meant understanding doctrine and reading C.S. Lewis. Now, there’s nothing wrong with this – it is an integral part of growing in your faith. But God has been showing me that true faith includes relationships. How we interact with those around us is also an important part of our Christian walk. Maybe more important.
So how does this relate to web sites? Well, it seems to me that, for the most part, the web sites I see are directed at the head (intellect) and not the heart (relationships). But yet, to have a real impact, we must be focusing on both. Our web site readers will not internalize our message if they do not feel a connection to it.
So, how can we do this? We must make our web sites personal. When someone reads a web site, they shouldn’t be seeing a “church” web site or a “Christian ministry” web site – they should be seeing people. This can be done in many ways: pictures, stories, testimonies, video, audio. Connections to more personal sites such as blogs or Facebook profiles could also do this.
How does your church or ministry web site do in this area? I will be writing and researching this further this summer, so stay tuned! And I will be presenting all my findings this fall at the Internet Ministry Conference, so if you’re thinking about going, get signed up now.
Dave, I think you’re right. As the saying goes, “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” All the things you mentioned – pictures, stories, testimonies, video, audio, blogs and links to Facebook profiles – are all great suggestions.
I think anything that provides a visitor with the chance to interact with the web administrator, volunteers, or other visitors also helps to build a personal connection. Things like forums, chat, MySpace/Facebook groups, etc. You’ve got to consider the time and responsibility for moderating disucssion, though, so they’re not for every organization.
I’d also suggest writing the copy for a website in a less formal, more conversational tone.
Paul Steinbrueck
OurChurch.Com
Dave, one thing that I have been noticing as I have been talking with ministries and churches over the last several months is that there is a growing trend toward “social networking” tools that are fashioned for growing community among the attenders of a church or the visitors to a web site.
I agree with you that many sites are developed first with the intellectual in mind. I think the key to building effective online ministries sites for churches and ministries will be found in those who strive to build more effective online communities.
When I refer to online community, I mean a web presence that incorporates multiple tools and methods of communicating that foster the growth of relationships with each other and knowledge/relationship with God.
Within an Online community, you can develop the relationships via tools similar to facebook and maintain the “intellect” side via content in its various forms (Articles, blogs, podcasts, etc.).
In our ever increasing “high touch” society, we need both to effectively reach and grow people in their relationships in Christ.