Web, Tech News & Tips When You Want It
A Service of
The Christian News Herald
How to Start and Fund a Ministry or Outreach
"How to Write, Publish & Market Your Manuscript or Book"
TIPS for Christian Webmasters:
Contents by Gospelcom.net
SHARING FAITH THROUGH BULLETIN BOARDS
Ryze Business Network is a members-only bulletin board system in which
individuals can set up a section (rather like YahooGroups).
Stuart Nelson writes:
"I want to tell you about the Ryze Business Network. I am a Christian life
coach and a stress management trainer. I have joined Ryze to promote my
services. However, it has three thriving Christian networks and one that
attracts both Christians and others with an interest in spirituality. I am using
this to post comments from a Christian perspective, and hope to draw people to
my home page, which contains a full account of my testimony. Since joining just
over a month ago, my page has attracted more than 500 hits. I am not alone in
using my home page as an evangelistic tool within Ryze. Several other Christians
are doing the same. I hope you will encourage others to join too. It isn't
necessary to have a particular business to promote, and membership is free. http://www.ryze.com/
Bulletin boards often allow sensitive witness in this way: http://www.gospelcom.net/guide/resources/mail.php
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TIPS
REDESIGN: learn what principles were used in the redesign of blogger.com - http://stopdesign.com/log/2004/05/09/blogger.html
PAYING LESS: There are frequently very good ways of getting major software at
less than normal prices. Many countries have special outlets for software, for
non-profit groups, teachers, or students. For instance, in UK, Dream weaver is
available at about a quarter full price to qualifying purchasers. Similar
arrangements exist elsewhere, for instance academic superstore.com supplies
students and teachers very favorably. So never feel that a certain piece of
software may be out of reach for you. Inquire about special options that may be
available in your country!
LEARN ABOUT SP-M - and how to prevent it: http://www.spamprimer.com/
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WEB EVANGELISM SEMINARS
The seminar week in Perth organised by Create International was a great time. It
was no problem to fill a whole week with teaching - indeed there is potential to
take considerably longer on such a course, giving time for more depth and
discussion.
The seminar handouts are available as a single 132k zipped file containing seven
WORD files of several pages each. You may like see how we covered the various
topics, and indeed make comments on alternate ideas and structures. You are also
free to use or adapt these notes for any form of teaching or seminar of your
own. The only restriction is - please don't post the files online: http://www.gospelcom.net/guide/docs/seminars.zip
Many of us are convinced that there is a big need for web evangelism training at
various levels. Few, if any, training institutes cover the topic, as far as we
are aware. See proposals for curriculums, and other training links:
http://www.gospelcom.net/guide/resources/training.php
The two-day IEC Web Evangelism Conference in Chicago is scheduled for
September 14-15: http://bgc.gospelcom.net/iec/meetings.html
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THE WORLD WE LIVE IN
There's a battle that the church has all but lost. It was won by a clear
understanding of how to communicate and change opinions - something we often
fail to do effectively. As you read this article, by Southern Baptist Seminary
President Albert Mohler, you will begin to realize the power of a well thought
out media strategy:
http://www.gospelcom.net/guide/rd?b0704communication
Attention Deficit Syndrome - the more TV preschoolers are exposed to, the more
likely they are to suffer:
http://www.newWway.org/articles/tvkids.htm
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SUMBIT YOUR SITE
CrossMap is a new Christian directory to submit sites to: http://search.crossmap.com/
Typo! Sorry, the correct URL of another Christian directory WE SPREAD THE WORD
is not as reported last issue, but is: http://www.wespreadtheword.net/
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THE LEGAL STUFF
It is becoming a legal requirement in many countries, that corporate or
non-profit sites display a prominent privacy policy. It is also a good thing to
create a 'compact privacy policy' page in xml format, because many browsers can
access this - e.g. look at 'view > privacy report' on Internet Explorer.
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THE QUEST CD COMPETITION
Congratulations to John of www.missionaries.org
who wins evangelistic apologetics THE QUEST cd. Take heart if you didn't win -
it is still remarkably cheap: http://www.damaris.org/
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TAKE 5 SECONDS...
- to think of a friend who might like to see this newsletter. Then hit 'forward'
or 'send again' in your email program, insert his or her address, and add a
short note at the top to say it is from you! Thanks.
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IF ONLY...
- a Christian had thought of that and built a Bridge Strategy site around it:
Bird-related sites: http://www.surfnetkids.com/birds.htm
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LIVELY LISTS. You can achieve some amazing results using a simple list but with
the addition of CSS. These have to be seen: http://css.maxdesign.com.au/listamatic/index.htm
MAGNIFIER. If you are visually impaired, or just irritated by websites which fix
font size so that it cannot be resized on screen (please, please, don't do this,
you can't believe how frustrating it is - especially when the font is gray as
well), you can install the free program Lens Magnifying Glass:
http://www.abf-soft.com/lens-magnifying-glass.shtml
POPUPS - often very useful means of giving site visitors extra information.
But they must be coded right: http://www.sitepoint.com/article/1353
JustZIPit - free Windows alternative to WinZIP: http://free-backup-software.net/
ALLCHARS: no-pay program allows quick keyboard shortcuts to special
characters and short macros: http://allchars.zwolnet.com/introduction.html
NEVER EVER repond to emails apparently from financial groups asking for
'confirmation' of personal details: http://www.antiphishing.org/
HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND your flash pages: http://www.digital-web.com/articles/seo_and_non_html_sites/
LIQUID LAYOUTS with negative margins - multi-column layout that is search
engine friendly with DIVs and CSS: http://www.alistapart.com/articles/negativemargins/
ADVICE FOR BLOGGING NEWBIES Why blogs are increasingly important:
http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3369761
ADVICE ON HOW TO START A WEB MINISTRY: http://www.ourdailybreadmissions.org/online_evangelism.htm
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REACHING YOUNG PEOPLE
YOUTH WORK: if you are involved in any sort of youth ministry, Youth Specialties
is for you. Sign up for the newsletter too: http://www.youthspecialties.com/
DIVORCE CARE. Though there seems to be no site FOR young people suffering from
the effects of divorce (highlighted in last newsletter), there is a new
church-based program called Divorce Care for Kids: http://www.dc4k.org/
On-line counseling for youths that want to talk, troubled youths and youths that
want to find His will for their lives: http://www.ourdailybreadmissions.org/Online%20Counseling%20Services.htm
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