Narrow is the way, and few there be that find it. Hopefully, this is a description of the true path to God and not how difficult it is for visitors to find your church online. It’s easy to focus so much on preaching the truth and walking the narrow path that making your church accessible to others gets lost by the wayside. But don’t neglect this. Because one of the surest ways to grow a thriving body of Bible believers is through a vibrant church website.
Why A Church Website is So Important
Visitors are a good thing, right? You want King James Bible believers to come to your church, connect with your preaching and congregation, and join themselves to your local assembly. But statistically speaking, they will only do so after they have checked out your website. In fact, 70% of first-time visitors visit the church website before deciding to visit. Unfortunately, until recently, it was standard for Independent Fundamental Baptist churches to have outdated, poorly designed, and incomplete websites that turned people off and didn’t really serve a purpose. Worse yet, most fundamentalist churches didn’t even have a website. They just didn’t understand the need.
But that’s changing. More and more Bible-believing churches are realizing that it’s not enough to just have friendly people, sound doctrine, and the right Bible. A church website is the new atrium or foyer – a digital first impression where visitors learn more about your unique body of believers, connect with your vision, and decide to visit or even join.
The Top 5 Benefits
There are a number of reasons it is so important to invest in a quality and vibrant church website. Some of the top benefits include:
- Answered Visitor Questions
Maintaining a complete profile of church information – such as nursery info, service times, a clear statement of faith, etc. – answers the key questions visitors need answered before they get in the car and head your direction. - Saves on Advertising
Advertising your church elsewhere is expensive. A vibrant church website is one of the least expensive ways to get your message in front of the right people. It’s basically an interactive and always-on advertisement for your assembly. - Convenient Event Organization
There are numerous ways a website reduces the need for phone chains and email blasts. Have an outreach, revival, important prayer request, or social event coming up? All the details can be found on your website. - A Clear Church Testimony
Your church probably has a testimony and unique vision that others can connect with. But how will they know about it unless you tell them? Potential visitors are online and your website can provide them with your church story, links to recent sermons, and information on the pastor and staff. - Convenient Giving
Many church websites now make giving more convenient and simple. Credit cards can even be stored for recurring payments.
Sources:
- http://www.netministry.com/blog/post/Some-of-the-Many-Reasons-Your-Church-Should-Have-a-Website
- https://dlchurchwebsites.com/benefits-of-having-a-website/
- http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-blogs/152269-tony_morgan_10_reasons_your_church_should_have_a_website.html
- https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/kevindeyoung/2011/06/10/be-welcoming-get-a-good-website/
- http://churchtechtoday.com/2014/04/14/digital-presence/