About the Author
Chaplain Paul Slater
Director of Ministry and Technology
So it was that I launched my new ministry career with the title of Director of Ministry and Technology, a job overseeing web site development for ministry. That was in 1999 that my ministry career direction changed and that the seed thoughts of change career, with purpose began to take root.
How I wish that I had available for me back then what is available to those desiring to build a highly visited ministry website, something with a name like the Internet Reference Center for Churches and Ministries.
A New Internet Based Ministry Career Changed My Ministry Career Direction
The web based employment opportunity offered to me was this: would I come help start a web hosting business, specializing in church websites. In addition to church web hosting we began offering small business web hosting and nonprofit corporation web hosting.
My internet business employer had already made his fortune in home and business security systems. His goal was to add another income stream to his very successful business enterprise and at the same time fund ministries through the internet by hosting church web sites.
Knowing of my computer repair business as a bi-vocational pastor, he hired me to launch his web hosting business. He felt that having a pastor who knew the computer world would help him relate to pastors wanting church web site hosting for their congregation.
We soon started a Christian ISP business. By entering into web site development, we hosted small business websites and occasionally a home based business web site. Beginning with just one employee, we soon attracted others desiring to launch web hosting careers.
Admitting Website Failures To Avoid Future Website Fiascos
I worked for several years with every intention of learning web site development as we expanded our business. Fortunately, his internet business exploded.
Unfortunately, my attempts at web site design did not. One of my roles was training computer and internet novices how to access the internet. I never did fully take advantage of the web hosting opportunity available to me by working there.
If only I had known about some of the strategic website building strategies I am aware of now at that time! I could have avoided the website frustrations that I ultimately experienced.
You see, along the way I acquired several domains that I thought would be good to have (I think it was through a buy 1, get 1 free deal). Like many, my assumption was that if you put up a website, people will come.
I won't bother telling you what they are so you won't bother clicking on the hyperlinks. Besides, all you would see is that self incriminating declaration of website ineffectiveness -- that infamous "Under Construction" verbage. They both have this notice from the Alexa traffic counter that tells how popular a site is: "Traffic Rank: No Data".
Those are my two good sites! I have two others that give this message when you access them:
"HTTP Error 403 - Forbidden Internet Explorer" with these words: "You are not authorized to view this page".
Yep, that's the message you get by going to my ineffective websites. It's no wonder I was attracted to my present host because they made and kept the promise of an effective website with traffic!
Why Admit My Website Failures?
Because of so many new effective website building tools I am changing my past website failures into some purpose driven website successes.
How I wished I would have taken advantage of learning more about building websites when I had that forward looking title of Director of Ministry and Technology.
I believe that internet ministry could accomplish so much more than it is for so many more faith based organizations. But there is so much to learn as well for a ministry based website to be an effective ministry tool.
For the past 20 years or so I have committed myself to learning a new skill annually. So I have attempted to learn ventriloquism (enjoyed it but my dummy had a lisp), home remodeling skills, real estate investing strategies, and finally website building techniques.
Harnessing The Internet's Reach For Ministry And Business
In 2006 I am looking forward to developing those website techniques, learning to access the power of the internet for ministry and to create internet income streams.
In the process of harnessing the internet for developing home based business opportunities, I intend to fulfill in even greater measure my purpose of helping people be all they can be by the grace of God.
Published by Chaplain Paul Slater on December 6, 2005 08:25 AM
