Innovative Content for Your Children & Youth Ministry Web Pages
This is an EXCERPT from an article by Neil MacQueen originally written for Communication Resources' "Web Advisor" magazine, 2005.
Why should your church have a web page for children and youth?
...............Because that’s where the kids are!According to a July 2005 Pew Internet in American Life survey, 87% of kids age 12-17 are online regularly, with 51% daily. Pew’s Fall 2004 survey reports that over 80% of teens play games online. 89% go online to send/read email. 84% visit movie, TV, and sports team sites. 80% play games online. 26% look for religious information. 75% instant messaging. And 22% are looking for health information related to sex, drugs, or depression. (http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Teens_Tech_July2005web.pdf) They are also sharing music files and photos, and posting personal web pages. Like Jesus, the church travels these highways in order to reach a new generation.
Young people expect web page content to be fresh, interactive and fun. It’s what they experience elsewhere on the web. They don’t want a static brochure-like web page (who does?). This means that if you’re building a web page for children and youth in your church, fresh announcements and colorful graphics are not enough. Today’s young people want to share, they want to play, and they want to discover. A church website that facilitates these interests will attract kids.
You people want to connect with each other. Create a private directory on your church website where members can log in and share their Facebook and Email info.
But kids need reminders to visit your web page. And they need a reason for being there that will help them “stick” on your content. Fortunately the web provides several free tools you can use to bring kids to your web site and help build content. They include email lists, “bookmarking” and message boards.
To remind kids to visit, create a simple web form on your page that asks for an email address. Have that address mailed to you, or to a mail-list service you have contracted with. Then it’s simply a matter of broadcasting an email to your list once or twice a month that includes a link to your site. Many web hosting packages include free email list support and the forms and code to create what you need. Check with your service provider. And don’t forget to print your web address on small giveaways to hand out.
Bookmarking, also known as “Add a Favorite” on some browsers, creates a link on the user’s browser that’s easy to find next time they are surfing. But rather than hoping visitors will do it, you can create a web button for them to click that automatically lists your web page on the user’s Favorites list. (code examples: http://www.yourhtmlsource.com/javascript/addtofavorites.html)
Add free games to your website. Kids love to play, and it will give them a reason to return. You can add free games to your site either as a link to a games page, or by copying free game code into your web site. Google “online Christian games.”
Another good idea is to steer your young people to other uplifting, safe and helpful websites –after they have visited your pages. There are thousands of possible links. Google “Christian web pages,” “Christian teens” or “Christian online games” and explore your options carefully. Some are quite good, while others are little more than advertisements. Check the theology of linked content. Include links to local info, such as theaters and schools. Many young people use the web to search for local movie times, or get homework help. And don’t forget the links to kid-friendly content elsewhere on your church’s site, such as the photos page.
These are just a few of the ways you can make your site seen, used and vital to your ministry, --and their lives.
Neil MacQueen is a Presbyterian minister, children’s Bible software developer and President of Sunday Software Inc., www.sundaysoftware.com
Written August, 2005 for Communications Resources “Web Advisor”
This article may not be distributed.