Hosted Church provides ‘all positive’ experience for Bethel Baptist in Bessemer

When Calvin Bell, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Bessemer, mentioned to a friend that his church didn’t have a website, the friend recommended he contact The Alabama Baptist.

That might not seem like the natural choice — to reach out to a publication when you need a website. But TAB Media’s Hosted Church service offers a turnkey solution for churches, associations and nonprofits interested in getting a website going.

Hosted Church offers templates from which to choose, then the team personalizes the site’s colors, images and information based on your preferences. They offer regular security scans and backups to keep the information safe, as well as quick help if something “breaks.”

They can make changes throughout the year as needed, or they can train you how to make changes yourself.

‘All positive’

“The customer service has just been amazing,” Bell said. “Our experiences with the website have been all positive, especially the courtesy of the TAB staff reaching out to us each month.” 

He said the church’s site has a professional look and helps the community get to know who Bethel Baptist is.

James Hammack, digital services manager for TAB Media, said that is the most important reason for a church to have a website.

“In almost all contexts, the church website is the front door to the church in today’s digital age,” he explained. “In many ways, to have no Web presence can communicate a message to potential visitors that you don’t want them. The church website is the first step to inviting people into your church.”

Bell said Hosted Church was a great solution for his congregation to get that “front door” open.

“We didn’t have the money in our budget to spend a lot on building a website, and what Hosted Church built for us has been quality,” he reflected. “It has certainly been a valuable tool for us.”

With Hosted Church, a low annual cost covers everything needed.

To see Bethel’s website visit bethelbcbessemer.org. For more information about Hosted Church visit hostedchurch.com or call 205-870-4720, ext. 108.