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5 Things Your Church Website Needs to Attract Millennials

Jono Long • December 28, 2021

Millennials are known as digital natives, or those generations raised in a digital, media-saturated environment. Because of such exposure, they use the Internet and social media more frequently than other age groups.

This is a trend that you need to pay attention to if you want to bring in younger members to your church. Word-of-mouth and other traditional marketing efforts may not be enough to appeal to them. You have to go digital and be where they are. This is where the importance of a church website comes in. It serves as an online representation of your church and allows people on the web to find you in searches.

However, having a website is not enough.

If you are looking to grow your church population and reach younger people, here are some things you should implement in your website.

1. A Glimpse Of Your Church

This is among the first things that millennials want to know about your church. Before they attend your service, they first want to know what the experience is going to be.

To make them feel at home and at ease, use write-ups, images, and videos to introduce your church. It’s a smart idea to have a dedicated page on your website for these materials so that interested millennials have a resource they can easily access. Such a resource will help them get a clearer picture of your church.

2. Professional Web Design and Engaging Graphics

You need to make a great first impression to encourage first-time visitors to stay. One way to achieve this is to ensure that your design is modern and professionally made. It should be neat and organized, providing as much essential information as possible without making the page too cluttered.

Having engaging graphics in between sections and wherever it makes sense helps as well. It keeps millennials from getting bored from the huge chunks of text and encourages them to keep navigating your site.

3. Sermon Videos or Broadcasting

Millennials, just like other people, attend church to hear challenging and inspiring sermons. Considering this, it’s a smart strategy to add your previous sermons and the schedules for future ones on your website.

This gives these young people more chances to check out your sermons first before they decide to physically attend a service. Moreover, this also works well for those who want to hear your preachings but have to travel often—the live stream option enables them to worship with you, even when on the road.

4. Educational Content

Your church is a brand, even if it isn’t in the business of selling a product or a service.

While you do not need to publish marketing and promotional content, you need to keep your blog section running. This could be done by creating informational content, like fundraisers, community events, and even educational posts. Most importantly, don’t forget that you can also use it to minister to millennials.

5. Honesty

One important thing to remember is that you don’t have to do gimmicks or try to sound laid-back to appeal to them. Be authentic to millennials just like how you are with different generations. Ultimately, be the same church that they go to, both online or offline. With fake news so rampant today, millennials value now more than ever the importance of truth and authenticity.

Conclusion

Getting your church online enables you to reach out to millennials more effectively. However, the work does not stop with building your website. You need to incorporate the aspects mentioned above to encourage them to join you for your services—and not drive them away. Above all these things, don’t try too hard and be true to yourself. Interested individuals and future churchgoers will appreciate you for that.

Need help with your church's web design? We have got you covered. At Faithworks Marketing, we exist to help churches and nonprofits widen their reach. If you’re ready to magnify your message and reach out to more people, please get in touch with us today.

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The Misconception About Church Marketing One of the biggest pushbacks against digital marketing in churches is the belief that "we don’t need marketing, we just need to preach the word." Many pastors see social media outreach as unnecessary, or worse, a distraction from traditional evangelism. However, as Pastor Ashford pointed out in the podcast, evangelism has always been about going where the people are . John Wesley, one of the founding figures of the Methodist movement, didn’t wait for people to come to a church building—he went into fields, coal mines, and public squares to preach. The same principle applies today: if people are spending hours on platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, then churches must be there too. Critics of church marketing often don’t realize that many of the methods they already use—flyers, event invitations, and even a church website—are forms of marketing. 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Facebook and YouTube provide insights on views, shares, and comments , helping you understand what type of content resonates most with your audience. Overcoming Fear and Resistance Many churches hesitate to embrace digital marketing because they fear change or feel overwhelmed by technology. However, as Pastor Ashford pointed out, resistance to social media often comes from fear of being left behind . He shared a humorous but profound analogy: "If someone tells me social media marketing isn’t necessary, I ask them—do you still have a big, old-school TV in your house? Probably not. Technology has changed, and so should the church." Churches that fail to adapt are missing out on reaching an entire generation that consumes content primarily through digital platforms. Instead of rejecting social media, churches should use it as a tool to expand their impact . Conclusion The message of the gospel is timeless, but the methods of sharing it must evolve. 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By Jono Long • January 3, 2025

As churches navigate an ever-evolving cultural and technological landscape, reaching communities effectively requires innovation, intentionality, and an unwavering commitment to serving people where they are. In this episode of the Pro Church Marketing Podcast, host Jono Long sat down with Doug Garasic, pastor of Rust City Church in Ohio, to discuss what it means to truly impact communities in meaningful ways. Their conversation offered a wealth of insights for pastors and church leaders ready to embrace bold outreach strategies and sustainable growth. The Foundation: “Known Before Needed” One of the standout principles Doug shared is that churches must be “known before needed.” In times of personal crisis or pivotal life moments, people look to the church. Doug emphasized that making an impact requires consistent presence and visibility in the community. This visibility isn’t about flashy marketing or gimmicks—it’s about meeting tangible needs and building trust over time. For example, Rust City Church moved beyond traditional outreach methods like backpack giveaways, which were already saturated in their area. Instead, they asked local schools what they truly needed. The answer? Support for teachers. The church transformed a school library into a spa day for faculty and staff, complete with massages, gift cards, and supplies. This disruption of expectations created a memorable and meaningful experience, leaving a lasting impression of care and support. Building Outreach on Intentionality A key takeaway from Doug’s story is the importance of intentionality. Churches must resist the urge to replicate what others are doing and instead focus on real community needs. Before launching an outreach effort, Rust City Church asks, “What’s not being done that needs to be done?” This intentional approach not only avoids redundancy but ensures their actions resonate with the people they serve. One innovative example is their "Black Friday Survival Kit" initiative. Instead of focusing on shoppers, they provided lattes, snacks, and stress-relief items to mall employees working on the busiest day of the year. Simple yet impactful, this initiative highlighted the church’s creativity in identifying overlooked segments of the community. Sustaining Momentum: Less is More Doug highlighted the danger of burnout for both church leaders and members. To combat this, Rust City Church focuses on doing fewer events but executing them with greater impact. By choosing two to four key outreach initiatives annually and dedicating their full resources to them, they ensure each event is impactful, memorable, and sustainable. Doug also shared an essential leadership principle: every successful initiative needs a “champion” within the congregation and an external “coach” for guidance. This dual structure helps churches maintain energy, focus, and excellence without overwhelming their teams. Learning from Failures Not every effort yields the desired results, as Doug candidly admitted. In one instance, Rust City Church gave away a fully remodeled home to a family in need, only to have the family sell the house within weeks. While disheartening, the experience reinforced the importance of learning from mistakes and seeking guidance from organizations with more experience in similar efforts. “Cracking the code” of impactful outreach requires patience, trial, and humility. It’s about aligning passion with processes to create enduring change. Marketing Beyond the Walls For Doug, effective church marketing isn’t about flashy ads or exaggerated promises. He describes the dangers of “monster truck marketing”—overblown promotions that fail to deliver genuine impact. Instead, he advocates for sharing authentic stories of community engagement. By amplifying the meaningful work churches are already doing, they not only attract people but also build a reputation as a vital and trustworthy presence in the community. Playing the Long Game Doug’s advice for 2025 is clear: churches must embrace the long game. The goal isn’t to fill seats overnight but to create a culture of care and service that naturally attracts people when they’re ready for spiritual growth. As Doug puts it, “Even people who don’t attend our church should be glad we’re here.” For pastors and leaders looking to make a deeper impact in their communities, the principles shared in this conversation offer a roadmap: be intentional, prioritize sustainability, embrace innovation, and always lead with love.

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