Mike Boyink commented on the last post and added that a blog-based church website should have entries which “move past the ‘things are happening at our church, and you really should come to a service’ type posts.” (make sure to read all of his comment, not just the part I’ve quoted!)
It’s such an important aspect of the concept, that I thought I would use this post to draw attention to Mike’s contribution and then add an additional thought of my own.
I couldn’t agree more with Mike’s perspective! Too many churches use their websites to focus on programs, staff, services times, etc. But those things really aren’t the life of the church. The true life of the church happens (or should happen) outside the four walls of the church building (if the church meets in a building) - as believers meet each other over dinner, at skating rinks, on walks around the neighborhood, in classes together, etc. And that’s the life that our websites should reflect - the joys and struggles we encounter in our daily lives and how we celebrate with each other in the joys and support each other in the struggles.
Online conversations via a blog-based church website are a great way to express that life, as long as they eventually lead to face-to-face relationships.
To see a great example of this, take a look at the website of the church Mike and his family are a part of: Manna in Holland, Michigan
I believe that the internet provides today's church with a historic opportunity .... to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love in ways which could only have been imagined in times past. The objective of this website is to explore the various ways in which today's technology can be used to spread the gospel around the world.
