Great Church Websites

Five new churches added to directory

2007-10-25T12:56:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, 25 October 2007, I added the following churches to The International Directory of Church Website Design (replacing an equal number of outdated sites).

Tenth Avenue Church, Vancouver, British Columbia
Crosswinds Assembly of God, Sparks, Nevada
Lake Center Bible Church, Portage, Michigan
The Meeting Place, Columbia, South Carolina
Grosse Pointe United Methodist, Grosse Pointe, Michigan

To see all of the 145+ church websites that I've added recently, click this link.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

A cell phone / PDA option

2007-10-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

The home page of Greater Grace Temple of Taylor, Michigan, offers three download options. That in itself is good. It's the middle one I want to mention. This is the first church website I've seen that explicitly provides an option to view a version of the site designed for cell phones & PDAs.

(The other two options are: HTML version for 56K, and Flash for broadband.)

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey

Two versions of a home page

2007-10-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

Occasionally I come across a church website that includes several links under a "Home" dropdown menu. Usually, of course, a Home link is not a dropdown menu and is just a single link to the church's (or any organization's) home page.

The Home link of Tenth Avenue Church of Vancouver, British Columbia, is a dropdown menu with two links: one to a home page for visitors and one to a home page for members. The layouts of the two are much different. The content is much different, too. Notably, the services times are shown on the home page for visitors, and not much else. The home page for members is comprised of a number of announcements and updates about ministries. No service times are listed, because they don't need to be.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey

Don't use IX Hosting

2007-10-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

I've used IX Web Hosting since 1 January 2007. Frequently I've been disappointed with their service. Here are the problems I've experienced:

1) I've been waiting for almost five days now to get an email problem resolved (support ticket #556749). Trying to get honest answers out of the tech support staff about this issue has been difficult. I even faxed a letter of complaint to the company's manager of tech support, Drew Sanford (that's supposedly his name; it's always possible I was given a false name). It hasn't helped.

2) Several times a month throughout the summer, when I tried to upload a small jpg to my site, my FTP client would inform me there was no room left on the server. My hosting plans includes 3G of server space; I've used 153M. Thus it seems absurd to get an error message about no space left on the server. The problem is that the company has grown so fast that they couldn't get a new data center online in time. Thus, they've kept adding more and more customers to the same servers. Clients think they have 3G of hard drive space (or whatever their plan guaranteed). In fact, the company's servers are filled to almost overflowing. Seems like a case of false advertising to me.

3) Average wait time for tech support by phone during the day (in the U.S. time zones) is 18 callers. (That is, you are 18th in line to talk to a rep.)

4) So then, you might be tempted to use their "24/7" support ticket system. Don't. It's their lowest priority of all. (I learned this from a phone tech support person.) And be sure not to add a comment later to your own ticket. That will put you back at the bottom of the queue, as I learned the hard way.

5) So, you might be tempted to turn to their 24/7 online chat help. Don't, except for lower priority matters. The online chat just connects you with an offshore call center. The folks try hard to help, but it's apparent from the wait times that they don't get any better access to IX's support staff than you or me. But at least with online chat, you don't use up your phone minutes.

6) Their shared mySQL server frequently crashes (due to activity on some other customer's sites).

So, I want to switch hosters next week. Can anyone suggest a good, reliable hoster with good tech support?

Sincerely (but unhappily),

David Gillaspey

Six new church websites added to directory

2007-09-06T17:56:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, 6 September 2007, I added the following churches to The International Directory of Church Website Design (replacing an equal number of outdated sites).

Green Valley Christian Center, Henderson, Nevada
Grace Community Grace, Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Lake Shore Church, St. Clair Shores, Michigan
Bethesda Romanian Pentecostal Church, Troy, Michigan
The Parish Church of St Andrew's, Medstead, Hampshire, England
Memorial Church of Christ, Houston, Texas

To see all of the 140+ church websites that I've added recently, click this link.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

Five new churches added to directory

2007-07-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

On Monday, 30 July 2007, I added the following churches to The International Directory of Church Website Design (replacing an equal number of outdated sites).

Four Corners Community Church, West Chester, Ohio
Rolling Hills Community Church, Franklin, Tennessee
Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, California
Mt Calvary Lutheran Church, Acton, Massachusetts
Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Greater Boston, Cambridge, Massachusetts

To see all of the 135+ church websites that I've added recently, click this link.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

A good reason to use a splash screen

2007-07-27T14:19:00.001-07:00

Splash screens or intro pages have fallen out of style with web designers. Thus, it's number one on my list of top website tips (see link in banner above), in which I encourage webmasters to not use a splash screen.

However, the home page of Pleasant View Baptist Church of Port Deposit, Maryland, employs a splash screen (it's really more of an entry page) for a valid reason: to guide visitors to content suitable for visitors on the site, or members to content suitable for members.

The home page (the entry page) is small and loads quickly. No fancy, slow-loading Flash animations on this entry page.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey

Five new churches added to the Directory

2007-07-17T15:16:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, 17 July 2007, I added the following churches to The International Directory of Church Website Design (replacing an equal number of outdated sites).

Church by the Glades, Coral Springs, Florida
Generation Church (youth ministry of The City Church), Kirkland, Washington
All Saints Church, Chevy Chase, Maryland
In Your Element (student ministry of Champion Forest Baptist Church), Houston, Texas
Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Thornton, Pennsylvania

To see all of the 130+ church websites that I've added recently, click this link.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

Five churches added to Directory today

2007-07-11T15:57:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, 11 July 2007, I added the following churches to The International Directory of Church Website Design (replacing an equal number of outdated sites).

220power (youth ministry of Bethany World Prayer Center), Baker, Louisiana
Watermark Community Church, Dallas, Texas
Revolution, Kansas City, Missouri
First Baptist Church, Laurel, Maryland
Mountain Lake Church, Cumming, Georgia

To see all of the 125+ church websites that I've added recently, click this link.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

Who has time?

2007-07-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

Today, I came across a church website that advertised a retreat for "women who do too much." I wonder how many of such women will find time for it?

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey

Longest URL?

2007-07-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

Today I came across a church website with perhaps the longest URL I've ever seen:

http://www.mtzionbaptistchurchalexandriala.com

I think most readers of this blog will agree that's too long to be useful.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey

Five churches added to Directory today

2007-07-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, 7 July 2007, I added the following churches to The International Directory of Church Website Design (replacing an equal number of outdated sites).

Northside Christian Church, New Albany, Indiana
Church on the Move, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Atlantic Coast Church, New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia
Calvary Bible Church, Kalamazoo, Michigan

To see all of the 120+ church websites that I've added recently, click this link.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

10 new churches added to directory

2007-06-25T23:21:00.000-07:00

On Monday, 25 June 2007, I added the following churches to The International Directory of Church Website Design (replacing an equal number of outdated sites).

Fountain City Wesleyan Church, Richmond, Indiana
Gravity Students (youth ministry of Fountain City Wesleyan Church), Richmond, Indiana
Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, Bloomington, Indiana
First Baptist Church, Princeton, Indiana
Point of Grace Church, Waukee, Iowa
Prairie Lakes Church, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Heartland Community Church, Overland Park, Kansas
Chestnut Mountain Church, Flowery Branch, Georgia
Forest Park Covenant Church, Muskegon, Michigan
Eagle Heights Church, Somerset, Kentucky

To see all of the 100+ church websites that I've added recently, click this link.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

Vendor lists updated

2007-06-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

This morning, I added five new vendors (or products) to my directory of vendors of proprietary Content Management Systems. I added 15 new vendors to my directory of "web services providers," that is, web designers (but the directory includes companies that provide not only web design services but a number of other ancillary services).

Links to both are found above.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey

Churches added to The Directory

2007-06-20T14:16:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, 20 June 2007, I added the following churches to The International Directory of Church Website Design (replacing an equal number of outdated sites).

King's Cathedral and Chapels (a multisite church), Honolulu, Hawaii
New Hope Kapolei, Waipahu, Hawaii
Central Christian Church, Mt. Vernon, Illinois
White River Christian Church, Noblesville, Indiana
Trinity English Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana

To see all of the 100+ church websites that I've added recently, click this link.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

Meet Andrae Crouch

2007-06-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

Remember Andrae Crouch? He wrote the popular early praise song "Soon and Very Soon." He's currently co-pastor, along with his twin sister, Sandra Crouch, -- I'm not kidding -- of Christ Memorial Church in San Fernando, California. You can see and hear a personal welcome from Andrae and Sandra on this page, in Quicktime format.

Enjoy.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey

More churches add today to the directory

2007-06-08T15:28:00.001-07:00

On Friday, 8 June 2007, I added the following churches to The International Directory of Church Website Design (replacing an equal number of outdated sites).

Woodmen Valley Chapel, Colorado Springs, Colorado
First Cathederal, Bloomfield, Connecticut
Metropolitan Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.
First Baptist Church, Alpharetta, Georgia
Shiloh Hills Baptist Church, Kennesaw, Georgia
Destiny World Church (a multi-site church), Atlanta, Georgia
Avalon Church, Mcdonough, Georgia
Son Rise Baptist Church, Newnan, Georgia
Antioch Baptist Church, Gainesville, Georgia
Calvary Chapel Gwinnett, Buford, Georgia
Blackshear Place Baptist Church, Flowery Branch, Georgia

To see all of the 95+ church websites that I've added recently, click this link.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

10 churches added to directory today

2007-06-06T12:29:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, 6 June 2007, I added the following churches to The International Directory of Church Website Design (replacing an equal number of outdated sites).

Horizon Community Church, Galt, California
Rock of Roseville, Roseville, California
St Paul Baptist Church, Sacramento, California
Calvary Evangelism Center, Sacramento, California
Calvary Chapel of Grass Valley, Grass Valley, California
Faith Bible Chapel Office, Arvada, Colorado
Flatirons Community Church, Lafayette, Colorado
Ken Caryl Baptist Church, Littleton, Colorado
Resurrection Fellowship, Loveland, Colorado
Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel, Colorado Springs, Colorado

To see all of the 85+ church websites that I've added recently, click this link.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

Churches added to directory on 2 June 2007

2007-06-03T01:24:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, 2 June 2007, I added the following churches to The International Directory of Church Website Design (replacing an equal number of outdated and/or less than stellar sites).

Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, Mountain View, California
Richmond Baptist Church, Richmond, California
Calvary Baptist Church, Los Gatos, California
North Valley Baptist Church, Santa Clara, California
First Baptist Church, Davis, California

To see all of the 75+ church websites that I've added recently, click this link.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

Churches added to directory on 31 May 2007

2007-06-01T01:33:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, 31 May 2007, I added the following churches to The International Directory of Church Website Design (replacing an equal number of outdated and/or less than stellar sites).

Yorba Linda Friends Church, Yorba Linda, California
Calvery Chapel Camarillo, Camarillo, California
Calvary Chapel Visalia, Visalia, California
Family Community Church, Fresno, California
Salinas Valley Community Church, Salinas, California

To see all of the 70+ church websites that I've added recently, click this link.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

10 churches added 27 May 2007

2007-05-27T22:40:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, 27 May 2007, I added the following churches to my directory of the best of church website design (replacing an equal number of outdated and/or less than stellar sites).

Cornerstone Church, Harbor City, California
Gethsemane Baptist Church, Long Beach, California
Media City Church (a/k/a Burbank Foursquare), Burbank, California
Church of the Open Door, Glendora, California
Inland Church, Pomona, California
Union Evangelical Church, West Covina, California
Mandarin Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Alhambra, California
Canyon Lake Community Church, Canyon Lake, California
Sunridge Community Church, Temecula, California
NewSong Church (a multisite church), Irvine, California

To see all of the 60+ church websites that I've added recently, click this link.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

New church websites added on 25 May 2007

2007-05-26T00:28:00.000-07:00

On Friday, 25 May 2007, I added the following churches to my directory of the best of church website design (replacing an equal number of outdated and/or less than stellar sites).

Calvary Chapel of Downey, Downey, California
Praise Chapel Christian Fellowship, Huntington Beach, California
Morningstar Christian Chapel, Whittier, California
Thanksgiving Church, Buena Park, California (multi-lingual)
Worship Center Community Church, Long Beach, California

To see all of the 50+ church websites that I've added recently, click this link.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

Church websites added 24 May 2007

2007-05-24T23:42:00.000-07:00

On 24 May 2007, I added the following churches to my directory of the best of church website design (replacing an equal number of outdated and/or less than stellar sites).

Christian Life Cathedral, Fayetteville, Arkansas
First Baptist Church of Springdale (Arkansas) & The Church at Pinnacle Hills, Arkansas (two campuses of a multisite church that share the same website look)
Segaero Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, California (Korean — I think — language site)
Bethel AME Church, Los Angeles, California
Faith Inspirational Missionary Baptist Church, Compton, California (check out the fabulous songs that play in the background on this site)

To see all of the 50+ church websites that I've added recently, click this link.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

New churches added to directory on 23 May 2007

2007-05-24T00:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I added these six churches to my directory of the best of church website design (replacing an equal number of outdated entries):

Grace Community Church, Houston, Texas
Grace Christian Church, Katy, Texas
Hillside Southern Baptist Church, Phoenix, Arizona
Church for the Nations, Phoenix, Arizona
East Valley Bible Church, Gilbert, Arizona
New Life Church of God, Tucson, Arizona

(I recently purchased a list of 5,000 church URLs from a list broker [American Church Lists] in order to update my directory. This list was sorted by state and by city. Thus, you'll see that new churches I add to my directory typically will be located in the same state, which will seem odd unless you have read this note. Occasionally, as with the Texas churches above, churches will be from other states because someone sent me an email suggesting them.)

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

2007-05-02T11:53:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Just came across this website that offers three options for obfuscating (disguising) email addresses to stop spambots.

www.spamspan.com.

I'm going to pick one option and use it on my own website. (Easy to do. I just have to update a couple of include files and my entire site is updated.)

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey