My last post about youth ministry websites contains a roundup of expert advice to help youth pastors think through whether or not creating a website to serve their student ministry is right for their church. In this follow up, I’ve gathered together 12 of the best student ministry websites I could find.
Finding student ministry websites that presented an engaging, interactive, informative hub for teens and parents was both challenging and insightful. I saw a lot of beautiful, dead websites—websites that looked great, but offered no value because they were no longer being maintained.
Being a WordPress fan, I was pleased to see several built on the platform using quality, premium themes like Steven Gliebe’s Resurrect. (By the way, Steve just rolled out another great looking theme he calls Exodus. I love the simple wide, flat design. Check it out!)
My criteria for selection
I see a lot of “best of” articles that round up great looking websites. Without question, a beautiful design is essential to creating an excellent first impression of a church or ministry. But while great looking design is important, it’s also subjective.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
A design that I think is incredible, might leave you yawning. So my idea of great design wasn’t the only criteria I used for choosing these websites.
Great ministry websites don’t just look good, they DO good. At a basic level, they reward their visitors with up-to-date event details, an easy-to-navigate structure, and lots of white space to make viewing easy on the eyes.
So, the websites in my roundup passed the test for these essential features:
- Great looking, contemporary design
- Uncluttered layout
- Easy to navigate and find stuff
- Up-to-date events and details (this one disqualified a ton of great looking websites)
Since I don’t know what goals were made for these websites, I’m hesitant to judge them on the basis of including interactive, disciple-making content (e.g. sermon media, bible studies or devotionals, blog, etc.).
Although, some do offer such content. That was awesome to see. I also enjoyed seeing a few sites go the extra mile in providing tools and resources to help parents do the equipping.
Do your reasons for building a student ministry website include discipleship and/or outreach?
Is an objective of your mission to help young people meet and know Jesus, and grow in their faith?
Then you would do well to include website content that actively supports that mission.
So, without further adieu, here’s inspiration. Enjoy!
12 Student Ministry Websites for Your Inspiration
Westside Church
Water of Life Community Church
Forest Hill Church
Harvest Evangelical Free Church
The Vine Fellowship
Lillington Baptist Church
Fellowship of Huntsville Church
Woodlands Church
Family Life Bible Church
The Woodlands UMC
Church @ The Springs
Lake Pointe Church
Now, it’s your turn
Does your church have a student ministry website that would meet my criteria? In your online travels, have you seen any that do?
Add a little inspiration by sharing a link or two in the Comments below.
Image Credit: Sean MacEntee | Flickr cc
These are some good examples. I’m thrilled to see two using our Resurrect theme. I particularly like the Narrow Road site with the long homepage and parallax effect.
Yeah, Steve! I thought, “Hey, I recognize that theme.” LOL