By: Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell
As your Regional Executive Minister, one of the joys of my role is being able to visit our
different churches throughout the year. It’s also a rare opportunity to visit you all as a
guest!
One of the first things I do in planning a visit to a congregation is to check their website
for the worship time and location, in case either of those things have changed (not all
our churches own their own building). Surprisingly, about half of the churches I visited
this year did not have their worship time or their location prominent on their website!
This is crucial for visitors to know when and where to go!
There are also a few of our churches that don’t have a website at all. In 2025, no church
can afford to be without a website. You don’t have to have an expensive or flashy site if
you’re a small church. Many domain hosting sites offer one page (a landing page) for
free as part of the domain, and that might be all you need to convey the most important
information. Wix or WordPress also offer free sites if you need to simply get started.
There tend to be three times during the year when churches have the greatest
opportunity for new visitors: the beginning of the school year in September; Easter; and
Christmas and New Year’s. Many people see the new year as a fresh start for their life
and want to return to church, or try a new church, or restart their relationship with God.
For others, maybe they have only gone to church in the past on Christmas and Easter,
but knowing when your special services will be held are important as it may be an
invitation to come back for more.
Remember: almost everyone will visit your website first before coming in the door. Even
if you have a state of the art website, and you have made sure it was redesigned in
recent years, it’s easy for basic information to be deleted or moved. This November, I
suggest taking a moment to review your website to make sure the following information
is clear, accurate, and accessible on your home page:
1. Sunday Worship Service Time.
2. Address, including a link to a map, or any instructions (especially near one-way
streets, construction, or other barriers, along with instructions on parking if you
do not have a parking lot).
3. Information about children’s ministries, if you have them. Families want to know
what to expect.
4. Contact Information: how to contact someone in the church office if they have
questions.
I would also suggest for the holidays adding below the Sunday Worship Service Time,
or somewhere else prominent on your page, a link for Christmas Eve/Day or New Year’s
Eve/Day services. On that link, you may write a short description (is this a Carols
service, is this a Night Watch service, and a brief write-up so people know what to
expect).
Other items to review on your website:
You should have a page/section about your church: your mission or vision statement,
what you believe, and what people should expect (do you accept everyone as they are,
or is there an expectation for a dress code? What is your worship style? Are children
included in worship or is there a children’s church or nursery care?)
You should also include photos and biographical statements of your pastors and staff,
either as links on the about page or a separate page for pastor and church staff.
Virtual visitors? You should have either a link from the home page or a page titled
Virtual Worship or other such title that links to where people can view online. Sometimes
people want to test out visiting a congregation first by watching the worship service to
see if the worship experience connects with them, or to hear a sermon, or to just know
what to expect. Be sure in the worship service to include virtual visitors by greeting
those online, and consider having someone designated as a “digital usher” who can
also join the stream and encourage people to participate at home by sharing prayer
requests, giving online, and knowing where to find information included in
announcements on the website. Some of our churches even have a “virtual coffee hour”
for virtual worshipers to meet in Zoom after the service.
You should also include on your website ways people can give. If you have not already
accessed online giving, check with your bank! Sometimes its very easy to set up. Many
banks now offer Zelle for free with your account and they will include a QR code that
you can have people scan to give directly to your church’s bank account! See what your
bank offers, or peruse the various online methods of giving (easiest way to do this?
Look at other church websites and see what services they use!)
Also, remember that not everyone has had a previous church experience, or one in a
long time. We live in an unchurched society and often churches have unsaid
expectations: how to dress, when to stand, that you’re supposed to give financially, how
to find the scripture in the Bible, even how to sing out of a hymnal (not everyone has
music education and understands how stanzas are spaced out). Be prepared to help
people experience and feel welcome the first time they visit, both virtually, and in-
person.
I visited a church this past weekend where no one knew me, and one of the deacons
came and sat next to me in the pew, introduced herself, and let me know if I had any
questions I could ask her. She made sure I had a program. She only asked my
name—she didn’t ask for my contact information (the pastor did announce that later in
the service) but I felt warmly welcomed without being prodded. During the greeting time
people came to my pew and introduced themselves. I didn’t feel singled out, and I felt
encouraged to participate on my own. It was a wonderful way to worship. Consider how
guests can be welcomed without overwhelming them.