Welcome to November's issue of The Decapolis Review.

Why bother communicating with the outside world? What a busy few months it has been! I have travelled around the UK visiting church and  faith groups, spending the best part of that time talking about how the internet can be used to shape their message to the community in which they serve.

One of the contributing factors to the decline of effective communication, whether in business or in society, is down to the fact that we are all busy people. This is, unfortunately, also one of the factors that prevent the development of quality-driven church websites. I spend a lot of my time helping and supporting clergy to find ways to produce an extension of their church ministry, through the use of the internet, but with a view to engage other people within the church to take on responsibility for its development and continued improvement.

Each church throughout the world is unique, based on the simple fact that it is made up of distinctly individual people, who bring a range of skill sets, experience and abilities to the life of the church. Ignoring and bypassing these individuals, who could contribute in such a worthwhile and positive way, is a mistake and encouraging church members to take a more active role in the forward momentum of the church's ministry should always be encouraged.

One of the phrases I hear most often from clergy is: "I simply don't have the time to sit at my desk and write new content for the website." My response to this is simple: if you don't have the time, seek out members of your church community who would be willing to help develop fresh content for the website!

In January I will be delivering a 'Writing Praise' workshop to a 'website team' in a church in Norfolk. This team consists of 8 enthusiastic individuals, who have an avid interest in developing articles and material for the website on a weekly basis. It is these people that we must look to, in order to build the resources that are desperately needed to help people in their community engage with the work of the church: people who do not attend church and would, therefore, benefit from exploring online resources and material to get a 'taster' of what it means to be a member of the Christian family and the church community.

Ask yourself this question: What type of church do you want to be perceived as? Are you a fortress, where people who visit you for the first time are unable to feel welcomed? Or are you a friendly and welcoming church, to all who walk through your doors? It has been my experience that no church wants to be a fortress, it's just sometimes we can give that impression to visitors, if we don't make the effort to welcome new faces and extend that hand of friendship, a gesture that will stay with people long after they leave the church.

One simple and easy way of helping new visitors to get a 'taste' of who you are and what you do is by providing (on your church website) as much material and information, on your ministry and community outreach, as possible. In a recent poll conducted by an online research company over 87% of people in the UK confirmed that they use the internet to explore new things, such as where to go on holiday or the best restaurants in a given area - the same can be said for churches! It is one of those clichés that I repeat time and again, when I visit PCCs around the country, because I believe it is so relevant to the development of a church website: the people you most want to attract are the people who are trying to find you.

How did you become a Christian? Was it because you were brought up in a Christian family, where your parents or grandparents took you to church? What about those people who didn't have that Christian upbringing? How can they learn about Christianity and your church? In most cases, even those people seeking support on the exploration of the Christian faith, having friends, who attend church, tend to shy away from asking them questions, for fear of appearing foolish or ignorant. This is why the internet is now becoming such a well used tool for those individuals who are seeking God; people who are taking those tentative first steps towards learning about Jesus Christ and how He can bring peace to our turbulent lives.

With that in mind, is it not sensible for churches to really begin looking at new ways to communicate with their local community? We all have a responsibility, as Christians, to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and to help spread the Word. Is your church doing that effectively? You may be doing exceptionally well for those who actually walk through the doors every Sunday morning, must we therefore abandon those that do not?

   
Daniel T. Gibbins
Operations Manager & Senior Project Leader