Frequently Asked Questions

This document may not answer all your questions, but please allow us to answer some of the more likely ones. If you have others, please contact Tim Eiler with the information above.

What is the purpose of MinnesotaChurches.com and how did it come about?
To whom is the website targeted?
How does the website work?
Isn’t it just as easy for a searcher to find and go to the website of his or her denomination?
How is the site being promoted?
What does the subscription fee provide for?
Why are there different subscription prices for churches with and without websites?
How do I get my church on the MinnesotaChurches.com website?
Can MinnesotaChurches.com help me obtain a website for my church?
Does MinnesotaChurches.com list churches of all Christian denominations?
When our church signs up for the MinnesotaChurches.com listing, what information do we give?
Can you provide web hit statistics?
Will MinnesotaChurches.com invoice a member church at the start of the second year?
Is there a contract – what happens if our church no longer wants to be listed?
Does the church need to have a website to participate?

What is the purpose of MinnesotaChurches.com and how did it come about?

One day in the Fall of 2002, while driving his daughter to school, Tim Eiler received the entire concept of MinnesotaChurches.com in a manner perhaps similar to how Paul might have described his conversion, though he didn’t fall from his Honda. The whole concept came at once and with such clarity, this was something more than just him thinking on his own.

The ministry of MinnesotaChurches.com is to make it much easier for people to find a home for their faith. Because people will only have to go to one place to find church information, using our ministry will reduce the length of time it takes for people to find a new church when they move. It will also increase the probability of finding the right place the first time around, because of the amount of information available at the site.

Return to the top of the page.

 

To whom is the website targeted?

Someone looking for a church is expected to derive the most value from our site. This person may be searching for a church in order to evaluate an area to which they are contemplating moving. They may be looking for a church to select once they’ve already moved. Or they may be someone simply looking for a different church than their current congregation. As the Star Tribune reported on 2/1/03, “Americans [are] shopping for a faith like never before.”

Return to the top of the page.

 

How does the website work?

The visitor to the site is able to search for a church in Minnesota by looking for a specific denomination, by city, or by zip code. Because of this, the site user already has a vast amount of flexibility to help her or him find the kind of church being sought in the quickest possible way. In addition to the current methods, the team is also working on a map-based search protocol and also the possibility to search by categories of ministries, church sizes, and more.

In addition to finding churches, the site also makes it very easy for the user to find out more about each church from each church’s website. Specific email, phone, and personnel names provided for each church on the site also help make the user more comfortable in finding out more.

Return to the top of the page.

 

Isn’t it just as easy for a searcher to find and go to the website of his or her denomination?

Not everyone who is looking for a church will be looking in a particular denomination. As the article in The Seeker’s Diary in the February 1, 2003 StarTribune notes, more people are looking for a spiritual home based on the ministries the churches offer. There are more than 60 Christian denominations that we know of represented in Minnesota. Don’t let these people pass your church by because they missed your particular church when they decided that they’d had enough of searching the myriad of denominational websites. Instead, increase the likelihood that people who would rather have the convenience of a one-stop, easily found location to search will find your congregation.

Return to the top of the page.

 

How is the site being promoted?

We feel strongly that God will take care of getting the word out to those who need it. We also believe we’re supposed to add our own marketing experience to the effort. Instead of a “build it and they will come” practice, we will promote MinnesotaChurches.com through real estate professionals, homebuilders, apartment managers, and more.

Return to the top of the page.

 

What does the subscription fee provide for?

The subscription is in place to provide the basic necessities, primarily the cost of web hosting space and promotion expenses, of running this service.

Return to the top of the page.

 

Why are there different subscription prices for churches with and without websites?

There are extra costs to set up and maintain the listing for a church without a website. In addition, part of Tim’s epiphany included a direction to urge an increased use of the World Wide Web to convey churches’ messages. The major goal of MinnesotaChurches.com is to increase people’s participation in their faith. One way to accomplish that is to encourage churches to provide more information to people via this new medium, by putting the extra $10 per year toward that cost.

Return to the top of the page.

 

How do I get my church on the MinnesotaChurches.com website?

Subscription is simple process. You may join at the MinnesotaChurches.com website through the “Get Listed” link near the top of the page. Another way to get started is to call or email Tim Eiler (tim.eiler@rocketscienz.com), who will lead you through the rest of the short process (mostly making sure we have the correct information to post).

Return to the top of the page.

 

Can MinnesotaChurches.com help me obtain a website for my church?

Yes. MinnesotaChurches.com obviously believes in the web as a way to promote churches and the Christian faith. Though we do hope that churches will promote via the web, getting them there is not our main focus. Instead, we partner with Excellanz Graphic & Web Design Services, a provider of website development and web hosting. You can look at their work and learn more about them at www.excellanz.com or talk to Tim Eiler.

Return to the top of the page.

 

Does MinnesotaChurches.com list churches of all Christian denominations?

People of all denominations will want to use the MinnesotaChurches.com service and we strive to make it available to all so that people can gain and maintain their faith no matter where they are…even if they’re just temporarily traveling somewhere! After all, we want to help people to Be Found – Not Lost!

Return to the top of the page.

 

When our church signs up for the MinnesotaChurches.com listing, what information do we give?

Each church listing consists of basic information like church name, denomination (and sub-affiliation…e.g. Catholic, Roman and Lutheran, ELCA), address, phone number, Pastor’s name, email address, and website. In addition, you will have the chance to provide a 25-50 word “commercial” about your church. In it, you might focus on the important ministries of the church, the kinds of people, the kinds of worship, or even just the worship times, as you wish.

Return to the top of the page.

 

Can you provide web hit statistics?

We will eventually provide hit statistics at the start of each subscription year and upon request from member or prospective member churches. Since full promotion of the site has yet to start, though, these statistics are not yet very useful to anyone. If you wish to see them, however, we will provide them, nonetheless.

Return to the top of the page.

 

Will MinnesotaChurches.com invoice a member church at the start of the second year?

An invoice will be sent to you just prior to the end of a member church’s year to cover the service for the subsequent year. This should help your church with record-keeping, as well as serving as a reminder.

Return to the top of the page.

 

Is there a contract – what happens if our church no longer wants to be listed?

Since this is a ministry, we wanted to be sure to set it up in that way. There is no contract involved. If, for instance, at the end of the first (or any) year, the church no longer wants to be listed, all you have to do is simply not pay the invoice for the next year. In fact, if the church wants out at any time during the year, all you have to do is contact Tim Eiler to request a de-listing. While we’ll miss you, we respect your wishes and will take your church name from the listed members and will refund 100% of your fee for that year.

Return to the top of the page.

 

Does the church need to have a website to participate?

Not at all. We encourage churches to promote on the web, because of the vast possibilities there, but it’s not required.

Return to the top of the page.