We are living the age of connectivity and life sharing. It's becoming so effortless to connect, communicate, and relate in the digital world. Technology used to be a feared word, now its widely embraced and empowering to our daily lives. 

Many churches know about the digital revolution, but in many instances churches are not fully IN the digital revolution. Many are using dated communication methods and models, consequently undermining their reach and mission potential. 

Following are six reminders/challenges that should cause you to expect more impact and be strong in the digital revolution:

+ EXTERNAL BRAND BUILDING. Your Brand is more likely to be encountered digitally before any relational contact is made with your church. What are you saying (or not saying) to nine out of ten people that will experience your web site before your campus?

+ INTERNAL MISSION MOVEMENT. Your web site can help clarify the mission and communicate how effectively you are pursuing your mission. Apple didn't just sell products on their site, Steve Jobs and Apple communicated mission and movements that changed the way the world connected. Proactive churches are using their web sites to invigorate their congregation and their understanding that each person matters to the mission of that church. Does your web site represent a movement of transformed lives or predictable church programming?

+ EVERYDAY RESOURCE. The availability for people to connect with you has never been stronger, especially considering the prolific growth of smartphones and tablets. Just like people visit msnbc.com or espn.com on a daily basis, people should be conditioned to engage your web site for relevant conversation, thoughts, media, connection opportunities, giving and so on. There has never been a time of more accessibility and connection to the local church. Develop your site into a valuable, everyday asset that strengthens their spiritual life and strengthens the fabric of your church.

+ SHARING LIFE CHANGE. Your web site should have life changing messaging and resources, nothing short of that is acceptable, given your calling as a church. Just as important, your site should have easy ways for people to share your message, life change stories, and content across their social networks. The outreach and exposure potential through shared content is exciting to consider. Referrals and content endorsements are a highly successful way to connect and engage new audiences and grow your church.

+ VISION CASTING. Leaders, are you blogging? Almost every leading church or leading voice has a blog that they lean heavily on to challenge, inspire, teach, and share life experiences. We know for a fact that people want to connect with their leaders beyond the Sunday service. You have plenty to say and you have an eager-to-hear audience, so what's holding you back? It's a new paradigm for leadership, but you can effectively lead people in the digital realm.

+ BUILDING COMMUNITY ONLINE. It's happening through friends, neighbors, special interests, hobbies, and in church circles. Churches are great at building Sunday and event relationships, but many are struggling with digital relationship building and consequently, not engaging younger audiences who thrive in social networks. People spend roughly 66 hours every week online, of that, approximately 7 hours is devoted to social networking. Are you relevant in social networks such as Facebook and Twitter?

These are just a few challenges to help you realize that you should unabashedly expect more from your web ministry. You don't have to ask people to be digital… they are already there. So what are you doing to be more visible in the digital revolution? Your mission demands that you embrace the change in order to create more life-change.

Don't settle. Expect more.