From Rick Warren’s Pastors.com, via Church Marketing Sucks, comes this extremely timely and relevant article.

Churches need to wake up and join the rest of us here in reality. The Internet is not a passing fad any more than is a church building. In fact, if you’re like me and many people my age, if your church has a crummy website, there’s a good chance I may completely write you off forever.

The list:

1. Your target audience for church growth is Internet-savvy.
2. Your Web site will be your “first impression” for many people.
3. If you’re not on the Web, you don’t exist to many people.
4. Seekers will visit your Web site before attending your services.
5. A whole generation exists that will seek “religion” online.
6. The Web site is too critical to be run by a volunteer.
7. You can’t afford a cheap site.
8. People are viewing your current Web site right now.

Go take a look at Pastors.com: 8 things pastors need to know about e-ministry by Terrell Sanders.