Many small churches are starting to see the benefit of having a website. Today it is easier than ever to get a sharp-looking website up with little effort, little to no knowledge of code (like HTML or PHP), and little impact on your bank account.
Here are some very basic suggestions and resources that you might find helpful as you get started.
It’s hard not to miss it. There’s been a significant resurgence in Calvinism in both evangelicalism and fundamentalism. Blogs, websites, books, conferences—Calvinists are popping up everywhere.
At Bob Jones University where I received undergraduate and seminary degrees, dozens of men were going in with Arminian or middle-of-the-road leanings and coming out four- or five-point Calvinists. The trend was unmistakable, especially among the seminary guys and often after taking Systematic Theology. You might be suspecting that this was the result of the persuasive arguments of an unflinching five-point Calvinist faculty, but for most part the faculty members warned against the dangers of Calvinism—at least the five-point kind.
Nathan Busenitz has written a 4-part series that seeks to answer the question, “What principles should guide Christians who interact on blogs?” Here are the ten principles that he discusses:
Have Your Quiet Time First
Stay Within the Lines
Consider the Consequences
Check Your Motives
Check Your Facts
Make It Personal (Because It Is)
Speak the Truth in Love
If in Doubt, Wait It Out
Choose Your Battles Carefully
Maintain the Family Honor
There is nothing new and earth shattering here, but these are solid reminders for everyone who interacts with others on blogs, forums, newsgroups, email and other internet-based forms of communication. I commend them to you.
Amazon has launched a new website, currently in the beta stage, called UpSpun. It allows anyone to create and rate lists of blogs, books, movies, music, theologians, preachers, food—you name it. I’ve come across some great new blogs as a result.
There are a couple of ways to share your opinion. You can add an item to the list by simply typing it in and clicking add. Then you can click on the up and down arrows to rate the items. You can also log in with your Amazon account, and once you’re at the UpSpun site you can click on a list and then click “Your Ranking.”
It looks like a fun and helpful site. You could use it to discover new things like blogs or as a way to publicize your own website or blog. It might also save you time in the future. If someone asks you for a list of your favorite books or blogs, you could simply send them a link to your list at UnSpun. Here are some lists you might find interesting.
Pastor Mike Ballard, who blogs at Running for the Prize, just started blogging in January. He shares six benefits that blogging has had for his ministry.
Creativity – Blogging regularly has helped spark my creativity and challenges me to come up with different ways to keep my readers checking my blog.
Information – Blogging allows me to share information with the members of my congregation about upcoming events and any updates.
Transparency – I am able to share little bits of information about the happenings in my life and with my family that allow me to be a little more “real” with my members. . . .
Discipleship – Blogging gives me a chance to teach my members throughout the week. . . .
Preaching – Blogging has blessed my preaching because it is helping me develop my storytelling skills. . . .
World Missions – Blogging has also allowed me to share God’s good news with people around the world. . . .
Bill Seaver, a guest blogger at Church Marketing Sucks, talks about the growing trend of disgruntled church members to vent their frustrations and disagreements with their pastors and church leaders.
I personally know of four churches that are dealing with this to some degree right now. Here are twoexamples from Bellevue Baptist in Memphis, Tenn. (these are not blogs in the purest sense of the word but are text-only web sites that serve the same purpose).
The issues that prompt the attacks vary, but in each case the church is under fire from a small group of individuals who disagree with the leadership (either the pastor himself or the leadership as a whole). Also, in every case the churches had no idea what hit them.
He suggests five steps to take for pastors in this kind of situation and for those who want to prepare for it.
Start a Blog ASAP
If you start a blog now, before a crisis, you will have more credibility when/if an issue pops up. I think it’s a good idea to be blogging anyway just for communication and feedback purposes, but now more than ever I’m convinced that it’s necessary for such a case as this. . . .
Get Notifications
There are two great places to easily find out what bloggers are saying about you and your church. Technorati.com is the hub of the blogging universe and allows you to search on words and phrases to see if any blogs mention the words. . . . You should also set up Google Alerts. . . . [I’d also recommend using the new Google Blog Search.]
Be Open and Honest
Here’s the thing about blogging, it’s a great medium that facilitates conversation and understanding, but if you’re not telling the whole truth, you’re going to wish you never said anything at all. Whether you get busted in your own blog’s comments or on someone else’s blog, I can almost guarantee you’ll be caught (probably by another blogger) if you give half truths, misleading statements or outright lies. As long as you respond openly, honestly and candidly, people will see that you don’t have anything to hide and that you’re willing to address the concerns of the attack blog. . . .
Everyone Reads Attack Blogs
Recent studies show that only about 30% of Americans read blogs, but that number will increase dramatically if there’s an attack blog targeting your church. Attack blogs are both easily accessible and raise curiosity once discovered. . . .
Ask for Help
If you don’t understand how to get a blog started or how to respond (if you find yourself in a crisis situation) find someone to help you. . . .
Paul Peterson, lead pastor at Northgate Free Methodist Church in Batavia, New York, started blogging in November of 2006. He shares five ways that blogging has proved beneficial for him and his church.
It gives the church real-time, behind-the-scenes info!
It allows me to offer commentary on church life.
It allows the church to see the “other side” of their pastor (particularly helpful in a larger church).
It provides opportunity to share and discuss vision.
Many small churches are starting to see the benefit of having a website. Today it is easier than ever to get a sharp-looking website up with little effort, little to no knowledge of code (like HTML or PHP), and little impact on your bank account.
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It’s hard not to miss it. There’s been a significant resurgence in Calvinism in both evangelicalism and fundamentalism. Blogs, websites, books, conferences—Calvinists are popping up everywhere.
