BLOGS BLOGS BLOGS!

They're taking over! The blogosphere is invading The Rock Church. There are bloggers popping up all over the place and I am thrilled about it. I was once told by someone in our church, "You cannot connect people to a community within the church via the Internet." That's hogwash, it is being done all over the nation and TRC is just getting started.

Some stats from our staff meeting today: We had 84,000 hits on our website www.therockchurch.info in the month of February! A church of 1,000 people with 84,000 hits, R U kiddin' me!

But the conversation turned serious when we started talking about the content and accuracy of Internet driven information like our website which got us talking about BLOGS, BLOGS, BLOGS.

With blogs, content is KING! The reasons people go to the blogs varies, but mostly it is because the blogger has content worth reading. Blog content must be personal, informative, fun, and promoting those things the blogger cares most about. I certainly could write about an upcoming community event, but if I don't care about it, then it hurts my content and people who read tune out. On the other hand when bloggers get passionate about something the thread becomes a great read. A big thank you to all of the bloggers out there writing your passion!

Secondly, accuracy is ESSENTIAL. Right now there are over a dozen bloggers at TRC and if they report different stats about how many people attended church on Sunday the potential to lose trust becomes a serious concern of mine. If we have bloggers connected to TRC that are not writing accurate information about events and other items that they care about it can hurt the vision and mission. Note to self, "WHEN BLOGGING ABOUT MY CHURCH MAKE CERTAIN I AM ACCURATE," and the second is like it, "NEVER SPECULATE WHEN TALKING ABOUT MY CHURCH."

I am stoked about all the bloggers starting up at TRC. I think it is healthy and the community at our church will only be enhanced. Nevertheless, bloggers all around need to focus on content and accuracy. If it is worth saying (content), then it is worth saying right (accuracy).