8 Web Site Design Questions with Nsider’s Jason Rehmel

Jason Rehmel, creative director for Northside Christian Church, answered my church Web site questions for the Building Rockin’ Church Web Sites series. Northside’s Web site is definitely one-of-a-kind and in the ROCKIN’ category — despite the fact that it is “temporary.” 
Here’s his answers:

1. How did your current web design come about?

We have had several revisions of our current site. We wanted something different and [something] that reflected our church. Northside is a “seeker-sensitive” (that is such an overused, played-out term – but anyway…) church.

We strive to be culturally relevant but deliver a scripturally sound message to people who would probably think they would never step foot in a church. So we wanted something that didn’t scream CHURCH to people as they opened the site. The current site is actually just temporary – our full blown site should launch sometime in the Spring ‘07. We are really excited about it!

2. Who was involved in the design?

I am the Director of the Creative Arts department at Northside – which comprises Communications (Graphic Design, Web and Marketing) and Worship/Programming (Weekend/Mid-Week Services, Production and Multimedia/Visual Arts). Prior to joining the staff here 4 years ago, I owned an advertising agency in Louisville, KY for about 5 years. The Graphic Design and Web portion of my department operate very much like an in-house advertising agency – supporting the needs of the different ministries (our clients) in the church. We meet regularly to brainstorm ideas.

3. Who manages it now? How?

I have a Web Designer that programs and maintains the site in house. He uses Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator and Dreamweaver.

4. What is your goal or purpose for your web site? And 5. What should web sites accomplish or do for churches?

I guess I kind of answered this in question number one. But we really do want to have a site that is fun, visually interesting and memorable.

That should be the goal for every church. When Jesus reached out to others, He knew that the easiest way to get through to them was through stories. I mean He was God – He could have snapped His fingers and made people believe in Him … He made His points in ways that people could easily identify with what He was talking about and find real life application for themselves … That’s exactly what we need to do to be an affective witness!

6. What do you see the future holding for church web sites? AND 7. Any advice for other churches seeking to design/redesign their sites?

YouTube, eBaum’s World and sites like them I think are pointing the way to the future of the Web. Our site that will launch in the Spring will have lots of video content. People are so visually oriented today that “textual” information becomes nothing but grey space to them when they see it. We have to come up with ways to compete with the ever growing list of media elements that pulls people’s attention. If a church today decides to launch a website that is text heavy – they are really just wasting their time and resources. That genre of communication has passed.

8. Other thoughts, ideas, ramblings appreciated too ….

One of the things that really got my attention a couple of years ago was watching people in our Saturday service at 4 p.m. (we do 4 weekend services and have about 5,200 in attendance). The 4 p.m. is our smallest service attendance-wise. Everyone that attends that service can get a great seat – very close to the Pastor. Inevitably though when you watch them – no matter where they sit – instead of watching the Pastor on stage they still turn their heads and watch the projected image of him on the screens. We are just programmed in today’s society to “tune-in” to media. Our local grocery store has installed TV monitors in every line so as you wait to pay for your groceries you can watch – of all things – advertisements…. AND eyes stay glued on those monitors!

[Thanks, Jason, for sharing your insights!]

[ See the previous posts in the Building Rockin’ Church Web Sites here. ]

Or if you’re a church staffer responsible for your church’s Web site, complete this unrockin’ questionnaire and contribute to the series too!

November 13, 2006 · Filed Under Rockin' Web Sites, Web Site Design

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