Ministry

Church website design help

November 16, 2007 by Keith Seabourn Leave a Comment

Does your church have a website? How effective is it? How would you measure effectiveness? Would you like some expert advice?

Some friends of mine have recently completed a powerful tool to help evaluate and improve church web site design to reach outsiders. This is a free, online self-assessment tool to help you and your church communicate to others, especially those outside your church.

Church website design help: tool to evaluate and improve church web site design to reach outsiders

I highly recommend that a small team from your church use this tool to evaluate your site. It’s based on several years of wise website design developed and tested by some of the best in the internet ministry world.

Improving security for our associates

November 2, 2007 by Keith Seabourn 1 Comment

A very special opportunity presented itself while we were in Thailand. We helped our associates from the country where 41 were recently imprisoned. We talked about improving their security to help prevent any more of our associates from being sent to prison. We talked about email security, website security, and notebook computer security. We identified steps for them to take. It is a privilege to help protect our associates through helping with security precautions. These are very special people who risk much as they serve God. I am humbled to sit beside them and advise them on security issues. Please continue to pray for the 41 and their families.

Training in Thailand and India

November 2, 2007 by Keith Seabourn Leave a Comment

We were in Thailand and India to help train our staff to safely use technology that connects Christians with their brothers and sisters from around the world.

With 6 meetings in 5 weeks, it was exhausting and exhilarating at the same time.

In Thailand, Keith spoke on how to align others to the mission. Kay helped women join the community of staff women around the globe. We participated in conferences for operations and HR directors from around the world.

A second conference in Thailand involved 23 people from 8 countries in Southeast Asia. Kay excelled as a teacher. She set a high standard for the rest of us to try to meet. We taught people to use our simple tools to connect with others to share ideas and learn from one another.

Then we moved to India .

Ten staff from India and five from Asia, Africa and Europe participated. Our goal was to train the trainers who will, in turn teach this material to others. Each person learned how to build a secure, private web site for their ministry members using our Global ConneXion tools. Their members then gain access to materials and contacts with Christians from all over the world.

Michael, the director for the entire region, explained to me that staff are finding it increasingly difficult to meet students on campuses. We are working with Michael to find ways to use technology to enable staff greater connection with students for evangelism and discipleship.

Multiplying MinistryNet 2007: Bangkok

October 5, 2007 by Keith Seabourn Leave a Comment

Remember MinistryNet 2007: Bangkok? (Also, click here and here and here.) We had 100 people from 25 or so countries around the world. Three participants were from India.

One of the participants from India was Robin. Robin is attending our GCX training in Bangalore this week. I asked him what he had found most useful from the many things he learned at MinistryNet Bangkok. He told me that he returned to India and organized a mini-MinistryNet that 25 staff from here in India attended. That’s multiplication in action!

The brotherhood of the traveling shirt

October 2, 2007 by Keith Seabourn 4 Comments

I’m participating in an interesting twist on what “global” means. I traveled from the U.S. (Florida) to Bangkok, Thailand. A friend named Erik travels from Singapore to Bangkok. We ride together in a cab to a local tailor named Pinky. We both order shirts. Erik leaves to return to Singapore. Erik’s shirt is delivered to my hotel in Bangkok. I carry Erik’s shirt to Bangalore, India where I meet another friend from Singapore, Ric. I pass Erik’s shirt to Ric who carries it back to Erik in Singapore. Did you follow that transaction? 🙂

Wow, that’s a global shirt purchase! I guess we’re the Brotherhood of the Traveling Shirt.

Actually, the shirt is a silly example.

One of the amazing things about being part of a global mission organization is getting to know co-workers around the world. Kay and I met Tip on this trip. Tip has served over 10 years on the Thai staff of our ministry. She has ministered on campuses in the northeast of Thailand. She has served in the northwest of Thailand. She is now part of the Human Resources team in the national office in Bangkok.

Although Tip is Thai and we are Americans, we share a common “culture” of helping build movements everywhere. We share a common culture of bringing glory to God by introducing people to Jesus Christ. We know what it’s like to minister on campuses. We understand and teach the basics of knowing Jesus and growing as his followers. Although we have little in common from a world perspective, we have much in common from a Kingdom perspective.

Last night in the car, a friend Mark was explaining to Tip that a common Thai friend had accepted Jesus. Tip broke out in spontaneous song:

Praise the name of Jesus.
Praise the name of Jesus.
He’s my Rock. He’s my fortress,
He’s my Deliverer
In Him will I trust.
Praise the name of Jesus.

Global is great. The Kingdom of God is even greater. Laboring with friends like Tip and Erik and Ric and Mark is a tremendous blessing as we help everyone know someone who truly follows Jesus.