Online church as an entry point

November 13, 2025

By Rev. Rick King

Lately I’ve been thinking and writing to you about the relationship between church in its online and its in-person manifestations. And while online church was a lifeline for many during COVID, afterwards it became a back door through which people made a slow exit from ever attending church again.

While online church can do a good job of supplementing in-person involvement in a local church, a worship livestream, website or social media presence doesn’t often lead to spiritual growth, and can often become an off-ramp for Christians whose commitment to growing in faith might be less now than it was earlier in their life.

It’s a question of balance: I still seek restaurant recommendations from friends who’ve eaten at them, even though I also search for restaurants and reviews online. The same goes for any purchase Linda and I are thinking of making: We research it online first.

If I have a Sunday off and want to go to church, as I did during my 2023 sabbatical, I went online to churches’ websites, whether as a first look at where I might go, or to supplement my experience by visiting the website afterwards to see what they offer: small groups, recordings of other services or messages, or to take a look at their vision and mission statements to see what they say about themselves.

Let’s face it: Most of the new people we will be seeking to reach as a new church live much of their life online as well as physically.

It makes sense that a church’s online presence is becoming a first church home for people, which for many, will lead to becoming active in the gathered, physical church and hopefully, to a deeper relationship with God.

I’d love to hear about your experience. Where do you experience church best, and why?