I recently attended the Verge conference in Austin, Texas, where the concept of missional ministry was addressed. While the concept is far from new, the resurgence of a missional focus has penetrated the minds and hearts of our national church culture. Why? It’s simple. It’s because this is the way Jesus did it. He went to the people who needed him most rather than waiting for them to come to Him. (Matt. 28:19)

Although I’ve worked in the web industry for 13 years, I’m continually fascinated by all the ways a website can be used by organizations. For churches, there are potentially limitless opportunities to interact not only with members, but with the rest of the connected world. With a myriad of opportunities, it can often be difficult for churches to define what a website should accomplish.

For thirteen years I was a founding pastor and then elder in a church that went from 0 to 2,500 in average attendance. I also started a church software company with no funding and grew it to the point of serving nearly 1,000 churches. As someone who has worked on both sides of the fence, one of the frequently asked questions that has always intrigued me is, “Why does church management software cost so much?”