Most churches see the web as an expense – some necessary drudgery that has to be done but takes up valuable resources – like cleaning the bathroom. But the reality is that people are increasingly turning to the Internet for information – even (especially) about faith and church.

Churches need to begin to see their websites as an investment rather than an expense. The Internet gives churches a voice in ways that have never before been possible. Even a single small church today can have a potential impact on thousands of people anywhere in the world through their website.

Churches need to invest in good content. This means that throwing up an “About Us” page and service times is not enough. People are hungry for current information. They want to read why you believe what you believe. They want to see that the church is alive.

One of the most popular pages on my church’s website is the “Investigate the Faith” section. Every week they post up Sunday’s sermon in MP3 format, so there is always something fresh. They’re also starting to update their CrossConnector site, so now they even have current missions information available. It’s all relevant and useful. That’s what’s most important.

We need to begin to think of the Internet as an investment in evangelism, where the church website becomes not just a medium for the simple transmittal of information, but a vehicle for evangelism and teaching.

This post was adapted from a comment I posted in the Godbit discussion forums.