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Googling for Jesus
By Howard Young
When I took on the task of updating the HTLC web site, I first started by "Googling for Jesus." In other words, I used the Google internet search engine to find web sites that have information about Jesus to give a clearer picture of what our web site should look like.
My research indicated that if you Googled for "Jesus," "Lutheran," "Lutheran Churches," or even "Holy Trinity Lutheran Church," Google could not find our web site. To the search engine, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church simply did not exist on the internet.
Since one of the core requirements is to share the good news that Jesus is our Lord and Savior — in addition to providing general church information — it is quite impossible to broadcast the good news without a basic listing in a well-known search engine like Google.
Although the web site has been operational for many years, search engines did not categorized our site as a Lutheran Church or anything remotely related to Jesus. The original web site version had a beautiful photograph of the Altar in the Sanctuary with the stained-glass windows in the background. This picture was easily worth one thousand words, but a search engine, which only understands textual content, could not interpret the beauty and the message in the picture.
After we started adding content to the site, search engines started categorizing our site as a Lutheran Church. Visitors were finally able to locate Holy Trinity on the internet. With the new web site version launched last May, every Ministry has a dedicated page that can be used as a vehicle to provide important ministry information that is so valuable to the church and to web site visitors.
I encourage you to visit and contribute to our web site. Everyone has a story to share. The web site now has a news feed capability that you can easily share your personal witness with the entire world in a matter of seconds. With everybody's contribution, the next time someone "Googles for Jesus," they will find the answer at Holy Trinity.
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About: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Thousand Oaks, CA is committed to touching in love the lives of more people in our growing community that they might also come to an experience of the Gospel of Christ, join our parish fellowship, and reach out in their own ministries in the world.
1 West Avenida de los Arboles
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
805-492-1234
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About: HTLC Evangelism Committee
The purpose of the Evangelism Ministry is to share the joyful news that Jesus is our personal Savior, Who forgives our sins, Who calms our fears, Who comforts our grieving hearts, Who inspires our dreams, Who enriches our happiness, and Who secures our future for all eternity.
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About: Howard Young
Howard Young is the site administrator for http://www.htlcto.org. He is the Church Council Secretary; sings Tenor in the Senior Choir, and occasionally rings a few bells in the Bell Choir.
Blog: http://htlcto.fizziebooks.com
Article Copyright 2004 by Howard Young. Reprinted with his permission.
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