Where are the
5 BEST WEB SITES
in Holston Conference?

WE ASKED DONNA HANKINS, multimedia coordinator, to locate the five best web sites in Holston. Of about 250 known web sites throughout the conference, 220 belong to churches. This "best of" list includes a small church, two medium-size churches, a large church, and a college. Here's why these web sites excel — and how some could improve.

1. Emory & Henry College
Abingdon District
www.ehc.edu

Why it works: Emory & Henry College's home page content directs visitors to events happening today and throughout January 2006. The navigation and organization helps every visitor connect with the college through easily visible links labeled "For Parents," "For Visitors," "For Current Students," "For Faculty and Staff," and so on. The photo images on the home page change with every reload, and the structure is simple, attractive, and colorful. The site's interactivity is suited to the audience with a video introduction and tour links that are front and center. Enhancing the site's interactive nature are prominent links for online application, scholarship calculations, donations, and information requests.

2. Green Meadow UMC
Maryville District
www.themeadow.org

Why it works: The Rev. Buzz Trexler — Green Meadow pastor and managing editor for The (Maryville) Daily Times — is self-taught in the area of online media, yet his web site is one of Holston's best. Several features demonstrate examples of relevant content. Trexler's blog, "The Pastor's Buzz," is inspirational and current with regular postings. During this holiday season, no visitor could miss the fact that this congregation is well prepared for Advent. Interactivity is invited through comments to the pastor's blog and online prayer requests. An accessible, online map and directions to the church also add interactive value. Green Meadow is a small church with 31 in average worship attendance.

Suggestions for improvement: The site is graphically appealing; however, the black background is outdated and may not be the best choice to attract people of all ages. could improve.

3. Hartman's Chapel UMC
Morristown District
www.hartmanschapel.org

Why it works: For the first criteria of content, Hartman's Chapel''s site provides an up-to-date calendar. News links provide information about recent events at the church. This Morristown District church, led by the Rev. James Fain, has invested in a content management system from ThisChurch.org, which provides well-structured navigation and an attractive interface. The web site also provides interactivity through an online poll including poll results, a Bible verse search, and online prayer requests. Members may add their own photos to the online photo gallery — a feature that invites frequent visits and parishioner participation. Hartman's Chapel is a medium-size church with 82 in average worship attendance.

4. St. Luke UMC
Chattanooga District
www.stlukeumc.info

Why it works: St. Luke has a pastor's blog with recent and frequent entries by the Rev. Sherrell Boles. The site also provides prominent display for "Current Happenings" and "Upcoming Holiday Events." Visitors can easily find links for locating the church from various directions. Apparently, St. Luke UMC has found a talented volunteer in the church to develop this site. The pages are colorful, the graphics are effective, and the structure is easy to navigate. Newcomers are welcomed, and visitors can easily locate information about relevant activities. St. Luke is a medium-size church with 136 in average worship attendance.

Suggestions for improvement: The developer might consider an easier-to-read font for the address and phone number graphic. Increased interactive features are also recommended. In the conference-related youth activities, a hyperlink to the Resurrection web page at www.resurrection.holston.org might be helpful.

5. Middlebrook Pike UMC
Knoxville District
www.middlebrookpike.com

Why it works: Visitors to this site will quickly learn that the pages are updated at least weekly. Advent activities information and a Hurricane Katrina mission trip presentation provide further relevance to the content. The navigation is easy to follow, and the graphics are simple and attractive, if understated. Community organization ties are provided, helping visitors and members alike plug into various ministries. The site provides a modest amount of interactivity, mostly in the form of an online discussion forum. Middlebrook Pike is a large church with 474 in average worship attendance.

A gold star: Of the sites visited for this article, Middlebrook Pike's was the only with a prominent invitation to people brand new to the site or church. Such an invitation is one of the best ways churches can connect with potential guests. According to a study by Pew Internet & American Life Project, more than 2 million people go online on a typical day to search for religious or spiritual information.

For complete text of this article, visit www.circuitride.com. Donna Hankins serves as web master for the conference site, which averages 77,000 page views and 7,200 unique visitors per month.

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