This week, I received an unwanted text from our church's insurance representative.
Apparently, we had missed submitting a form, and if we didn't get it to them, our insurance would be cut off.
This seems to happen at least once a year. Workers' comp forms, property audit forms, checking on our compliance with child protection policies.
I'm going to be honest with you. I did not go into the ministry to deal with church insurance companies. I don't want to think about church insurance companies. I don't want to think about church insurance. I know we need to have it. I have no problem paying for it. But I don't want it to occupy any of my attention.
Here's what I understand: many pastors and churches feel the same way about church websites.
They know they need a website. They don't mind paying for a church website. They just don't want to think about it. A website for them is a necessary evil, like going to the dentist or getting their taxes done. They want it to consume as little attention as possible while still doing its job.
If that sounds like you, and you can give me two minutes to think about your church website, I want to explain why my platform might be just what you are looking for.
Designed to be Neglected
I know more about websites and web design than any pastor I know, and do you know what? Sometimes in the ministry, I can get so busy that I don't touch our church website for weeks or even months. That's just the nature of the ministry, especially when you are in a smaller church and don't have a paid staff or secretary.
I designed the church website system so that when you don't have time to update it, the site adjusts, and no one is the wiser. Upcoming events disappear when they are no longer upcoming. "Recent" posts don't show up once they are no longer recent. Everything goes back to its minimal, basic state.
Minimally Awesome
Even if you do not add any sermons, blog posts, events, or devotions, your church website will still do its most important job: It will serve as an online sales letter that helps turn website visitors into church visitors.
It will also do some secondary work: helping your church members find your livestream and online giving portal (if you have one). It can be the place where your governing documents and statement of faith live. None of this stuff requires ongoing work; it is a write-once-and-keep-forever kind of stuff and should be available even if you do not have the time for church website upkeep.
Or Go Crazy
Of course, if you want to go crazy with your website, adding content every day, the website will be great for that.
- If you want to write a blog post every week, we make that easy.
- If you want to add the text content for every sermon, you can do that too.
- If you want to have in-depth information about upcoming events, we make that easy too.
But, when the "new car smell" has worn off and your attention is on other things, you can rest easy knowing that your website will still do its most important job without betraying your neglect.
Now. Let me take care of my church's insurance.