Setting up the homepage of your church’s website is a big first step—but it’s just the beginning of what your website can become.

Ministry pages are a necessary part of most church websites, especially for larger churches that have several active ministry groups. These pages are largely informational, with key next steps for people who are interested in getting involved in your church. That could mean anything from registering for an event to submitting an inquiry to become a volunteer.

We’re going to look at 4 key elements essential for any ministry page, so you can make sure interested readers learn exactly what they need to know.

1. Who you serve.

Perhaps the most important element of any ministry page is defining who you serve.

This is especially true if your ministry has a special name that may not be obvious to a newcomer.

Kids or student ministries often have names like “Jump!” or “Next Level” or “The Hub.” While these names may be meaningful to people who already attend your church, newcomers have no way of knowing what those names mean.

That doesn’t mean you have to rebrand all of your ministries—just be sure that in addition to clarify in the header or first lines of the page, you also include some clarifying language. E.g. “Jump! Kid’s Ministry,” or “The Hub FBC Youth.”

Also, be sure to specify the exact grade levels for your children’s and youth ministries. “Middle school” can mean several different grades depending on where you live. It’s best to clear up any confusion by using a range of grade levels.

By clarifying who you serve at the top of your ministry page, you make it immediately obvious to your reader if this page is relevant to them.

2. What you do.

Once you establish who your ministry serves, show your readers what exactly your ministry does.

Longtime churchgoers might think that simply saying “youth group” or “women’s ministry” is sufficient. However, keep in mind that your website needs to be accessible to total newcomers. You might know exactly what to expect from a kid’s ministry, but don’t assume your reader does, too.

Here are some examples of specifics you might want to include on your ministry page:

• The goal of your ministry (spiritual education, community service, worship, etc.)
• How often you meet (weekly, biweekly, monthly, etc.)
• The size of your gatherings, if this is an intimate group or large event
• If your ministry typically holds Bible study, fellowship, worship service, meal, entertainment, or a combination of these
• If registration is required

Some of the “who” and “what” of your ministry can also be communicated through photos and video. Use clear, descriptive language alongside imagery of your ministry in action to give prospective guests and new members a good idea of what to expect.

3. Upcoming events.

After you establish the basics of what your ministry does, let readers know when and where they can attend.

Ideally, your church website should have the ability to embed a calendar on your ministry pages, preventing the need to manually update each page with new events.

If you don’t have that option, try to keep your page from getting too cluttered with upcoming dates.

For example, say your women’s prayer group meets every Tuesday at 10am. You could list out the exact dates of each Tuesday meeting, or you could simply say “Prayer Group - Tuesdays at 10am - Room 135.”

The first option would be tedious, messy, and require frequent updates to your page. The second allows you to plug your event with much less effort.

4. How to get involved.

Ministry pages need to communicate with several audiences at once: church members, newcomers, potential volunteers, etc.

While the first 3 points we’ve covered are largely for new audiences looking to find a place in your church family, this final one is for established church members who want to serve as volunteers.

Figure out the best way for potential volunteers to get in touch with church staff. Maybe that’s sending an email, a phone call, or filling out a contact form on your website. Make that CTA obvious and easy to follow for anyone interested.

While this section is largely for potential volunteers, it also communications some important information to new visitors. It tells them that your ministry is run by volunteers and establishes the expectation that, if they join your church, they can become ministry volunteers.

With all 4 of these elements on each of your ministry pages, your church website will be more easily navigable for newcomers and existing members alike. But if you need a hand optimizing your church’s website, you don’t have to do it alone! GraceLed Communications can work with you to create a church website that communicates your beliefs while being welcoming to new visitors. Just schedule a call to get started!

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