The Sites We Build
So, you've decided you need a new website..
Congratulations! Making that decision is the first step towards a whole new way of doing ministry.
As you probably know, the web is changing the world. It's changing the way we communicate information and the way we build relationships. The internet is a powerful tool in general, but it's an extremely powerful tool for ministries in particular. Why ministries? Well, to answer that, let's first talk about the two 'flavors' of website that are on the internet these days.
WEB 1.0 Vs 2.0
Web 1.0 is the category used to describe the first generation of websites. These were, more or less “Internet Billboards”. They displayed static information about your organization which didn't change very often. We had to wait until the next generation offered us something truly useful...
Web 2.0 is the next generation of web design that is currently thriving. What makes 2.0 so different? Interactivity. Web 2.0 is called “dynamic” because it offers interaction between web users and the website, often auto-creating much of the content that is displayed. When you think Web 2.0, think MySpace, Google, Amazon, Yahoo!, and any other website that’s using web technology to it’s fullest advantage.
A Web 2.0 website is crucial for ministries these days. You see, there are many places where a 2.0 style site isn't necessary because interaction isn't important. However, in ministry, in churches, in communities of people, interaction is everything. To help a church thrive, people need to be able to connect with each other and with the church. This is easy to achieve on Sunday's at church, but hard to maintain during the week. Web 2.0 is custom made for church communities.
So, What's This Have To Do With Mustardseed?
We understand that not everyone is comfortable with the web. It's fairly new to ministries, and using it can be daunting. But don't worry! We will literally walk you through every step of the process...From choosing a company to host your website, to setting up your website map, through the design process, and into launching a finished interactive website.
Mustardseed's goal is to make beautiful, interactive websites easy and affordable for all Christian ministries.
Interactive Sites. Content Management Systems.
Content Management Systems (or CMS) are the best thing to happen to the field of web design since it's beginning.
CMS websites are Web 2.0 at it's finest, and are really more like pieces of software than they are like “web pages”. These sites are entire systems that hold the website's content in an online database, and then display it on pages as you direct it to. The pages are considered “dynamic” because the content can interact with the website's user.
For example: Consider a page that lists all of your upcoming events. Normally, with a Web 1.0 site, you'd have to physically update that site each time you wanted the event listing to change. But, with a CMS Web 2.0 style site, the software is smart enough to look in the database, see what the upcoming events are, and update that page itself!
The benefits of CMS sites are incredible for churches. First, they're extremely easy to use. CMS sites can be updated and maintained by someone with little or no html or web design skills. Second, all information on the site is added/updated right through your web browser! These two factors mean that your church secretary can keep the website updated and that you won't have to buy any costly software to keep your site current...
Customized Themes from the Ground Up
If you choose to build a fully custom website with Mustardseed, we start your theme from the ground up, creating something custom just for you! There won’t be a single site anywhere that looks or feel like your new website! An attractive looking website is crucial in this age of New Media.
We're Excited For You!
At Mustardseed, we get excited about each and every website we do. That's because, to us, we take joy in seeing churches and ministries starting to utilize the tools that are available to spread the Gospel of Jesus. We hope that we get the opportunity to build your new website, and share the excitement of launching an interactive community that will strengthen and enhance your congregation and ministry as a whole...
