Youth Ministry Topics Technology
A Four Step Guide to Creating Your Own Website
Group Magazine
You don?t have to have a Web geek?s know-how or deep pockets to create and
post your own ministry site on the Internet. You can use your home page to
post...
- a complete schedule of ministry events and activities;
- photos of kids at your events and programs;
- ads for upcoming special events;
- stories about your group members? spiritual growth, prayer needs, and
accomplishments;
- a Bible-reading schedule;
- links to Christian Web sites;
- an email directory of your kids, so they can easily connect with each other;
and
- your own chat room where you, your adult volunteers, and your kids can interact with each other.
So how do you build your own site? Here?s how to do it for free.
1. Begin with the end in mind. In his book The 7 Habits of Highly
Effective People, author Stephen Covey says effective people can envision what
they want down the line. So first you?ll need to decide what audience to target.
Is it simply young people from your church? What about other kids in your
community, state, nation, or even the world? Dream big.
2. Plan. Decide what?s important to have on your site. What?s your
objective? Find out by creating an ad-hoc youth group Internet task force made
up of adults and teenagers. Brainstorm ideas, and then decide on your
format.
3. Design. Visit other youth group Web sites for design ideas. You?ll
find links to youth group home pages on both group?s new portal site at
youthministry.com and at youthspecialties.com. Then you?ll need to choose a free
Web provider to start building your site. Unless you know how to write HTML
code, find a provider that allows you to design without that skill. Try
tripod.com, geocities.com, ilovejesus.com, or my favorite, homestead.com?it
comes equipped with a Web site builder.
On the other hand, if you have an Internet account it likely came with free
Web space. Check with your Internet service provider.
4. Change your content often. Your kids will visit your site more often
if you update it regularly. So in with the new content and out with the old. And
you can draw more people to your site by linking to Christian music and book
online stores and to other youth groups,
Permissions
Used my permission, Group Magazine, Copyright September/October, 2000, Group Publishing, Inc., Box 481, Loveland, CO 80539.
About Group Magazine
According to David Skidmore, "Each issue is a feast for hungry youth workers." This quality magazine comes out six times per year, giving us input from others on the front lines of youth ministry. Includes lesson ideas, well-written articles, relevant news and new resources. Find them online at www.youthministry.com, where they offer lots of free online resources.
