Keep Your Church Website UpdatedWithout Hiring a Developer
Your website shouldn't require a computer science degree to maintain. Here's how modern platforms make updates simple.
The Stale Website Problem
We've all seen it. A church website that was clearly built with love and care... three years ago. The design still works, the information is mostly correct, but something feels off.
The problem isn't that churches don't care about their websites. It's that updating them is harder than it should be. When every change requires technical knowledge, a specific person's time, or navigating confusing interfaces, updates simply don't happen.
Common Signs of a Neglected Website:
Easter event still on the homepage... in June
Signals that nobody is paying attention to the website
Staff page shows someone who left two years ago
Creates confusion and undermines trust
Service times changed but website wasn't updated
Visitors arrive at the wrong time and may not come back
Contact form that nobody monitors
People reach out and never hear back—devastating for visitors
Why Traditional CMS Tools Fail Churches
WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix work great for many businesses. But churches have unique needs that generic tools don't address.
Too Many Features
Enterprise CMS tools like WordPress have thousands of options. Church staff don't need 90% of them, but they still have to navigate around them.
Plugin Nightmares
Every feature requires a different plugin. They break, conflict with each other, and require constant updates.
Developer Dependency
Making simple changes requires calling whoever built the site. If they're busy or unavailable, updates don't happen.
No Church-Specific Features
Generic tools don't understand events with RSVPs, prayer requests, member directories, or giving integration.
The result? Churches end up with websites that are powerful in theory but neglected in practice. The tool that was supposed to help becomes another burden on already-stretched staff.
What "Easy to Update" Actually Means
When church platforms claim to be "easy to use," what should that actually look like? Here's our definition:
- No training required. If your secretary, volunteer coordinator, or youth pastor can use email, they can update the website.
- No coding. Ever. Not for adding events, changing photos, updating service times, or any other common task.
- Can't break it. The system should prevent you from accidentally destroying your site's design or layout.
- Mobile updates. Quick changes should be possible from a phone, right after the event, while things are still top of mind.
This isn't a wish list—it's the baseline. Technology should serve your ministry, not compete with it for your attention.
Features That Update Themselves
The best website isn't one that's easy to update—it's one that barely needs updating at all.
Events That Manage Themselves
Create an event once. It appears on your calendar, your homepage, and any relevant pages. When it's over, it moves to past events automatically.
Announcements With Expiration
Post an announcement with a start and end date. It appears on schedule and disappears when it's no longer relevant.
Group Updates That Sync
When a small group leader updates their meeting time in the system, it updates everywhere—no duplicate entries.
Prayer Requests That Flow
Submissions go to the right people automatically. Staff get notified. The prayer board stays current without manual curation.
Empowering Your Whole Team
The old model was one person who "does the website." When they got busy, went on vacation, or left the church, updates stopped. That's a single point of failure your ministry can't afford.
The new model distributes responsibility:
- Youth pastor updates youth events directly
- Small group leaders manage their own group pages
- Office admin handles announcements and general updates
- Worship leader posts sermon videos and music resources
When the people closest to the information can update it directly, content stays current. And when anyone can help, nobody gets burned out.
Ready for a Website That Stays Current?
The Great Commission was built specifically for churches. Events update automatically, any staff member can make changes, and you'll never need to call a developer for simple updates.
See How Easy It Is