News You Can Use- Grants Available & Website Training
March 20, 2015
RETHINK CHURCH OFFERS GRANTS TO LOCAL CHURCHES
Rethink Church Event Grants: You may already know about these grants. They are media and marketing grants awarded to clusters of churches (3 or more working together), districts and conferences who hold a one-day service event outside the walls of the church. These events combine church and community volunteers to create a sustainable ministry in their area. Churches interested in this type of grant can complete a quick survey here, which will let them know if they qualify for a grant and at what level. Visit www.umcom.org/rethinkchurchevents for more information.
New Church Start Grants: These recently restructured one-time grants to new church planters help support the early development of a new faith community. Please keep in mind that with this new grant process there will be no set funds promised and grants are not offered in any monetary form. However, individual grants could possibly include promotional marketing materials or other support. As a first step, approved applicants will take one of our selected training courses, free of charge. [link to training courses]. Each applicant will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. To get started, church planters can apply here. Visit www.umcom.org/newchurchstarts for more information.
Digital Advertising Grants: This brand-new opportunity is for local churches who want to raise awareness of their church in the community by means of digital advertising. A simple application is all it takes to get started. However, the applying church will have to have a website for the advertising to point to that has an inviting and welcoming online presence. Churches can apply for a digital advertising grant here. The page for Digital Advertising Grants is still under development.
All of our grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The applications are open year round. Event Grant applications must be submitted at least 3 months prior to an event date, and New Church Start Grants must be submitted within one year of a new church being active. Also, a church can only be awarded one grant of any kind once per calendar year.
UMCCHURCHES.ORG OFFERS WEBSITE TRAINING
Your Church Website: Rethinking Your New Front Door
Are you a hands-on learner? Would like to build a website? We have a deal for you!
This new online course from United Methodist Communications is hands-on. No more listening to a lecture about a process or watching someone else do it – and then trying it after class.
You will have access to the course for one year, so you can start training on the day you enroll or at a more convenient time!
Here is what you will learn!
- How to build a church website using WordPress software
- How to make a plan with goals for establishing a Web ministry
- How to identify your website’s target audience
- How to keep a consistent brand
- How to develop and design content for a church website
- How to create menus and proper page structure
- How to access resources, training and support through United Methodist Communications and its Web and Internet technology sites, forums and events