The recently elected Pacific Union executive committee voted at their first meeting, Nov. 16, to provide netAdventist websites at no cost to every church in the union, effective Jan. 1.

"The union chose to sponsor the netAdventist program partly because it has been adopted by the General Conference as the Church’s worldwide communication platform,” says Tom Mostert, Pacific Union president. “But pastors tell us it is also the easiest church website program to use and it includes the most evangelism and communication tools, including online Bible studies, links to media ministries, and an easy way to upload sermons and make them available online or as Podcasts. And the program enables churches to share news to and from other churches, schools, conferences and the world-wide family of Seventh-day Adventists.”

Still, use of the netAdventist system is optional. “Churches may choose whatever software package they wish,” says Mostert.

While the full website program is included in the no-cost package, techinical support is available for an extra fee from netAdventist, based in Fallbrook, Calif.

"Most churches should probably sign up for the $10 per month e-mail and chat support package for the first year," recommends Danny Houghton, executive vice president of TAGnet, parent company of netAdventist. "NetAdventist will make sure your website is up and running and that you can log in. After that, with the $10 support package, netAdventist experts will answer your questions by e-mail, usually within a few minutes. Or you can click on the online chat link and get an answer almost immediately." NetAdventist also offers a $20 per month support package which includes unlimited phone support in addition to e-mail and online chat support.

For those very small churches that feel they cannot afford the $10 per month support package, says Mostert, local conference communication departments may provide limited support and offer workshops. Contact your local conference for information.

Design is another issue to consider. "Churches can currently choose from dozens of standard themes," says Houghton. "But some churches will want a custom design." NetAdventist does design work for an hourly fee. Houghton notes that most custom designs are done in two hours or less, especially if the church just wants to modify a standard theme. Extensive designs might take several hours. Contact netAdventist for more information.

Churches can use their own URL (website address) with the netAdventist program. At the netAdventist.org website, visitors can browse existing netAdventist websites, such as the Loma Linda University Church (www.lluc.org — a custom design) the Fallbrook church (www.fallbrookadventist.org — a standard theme), and the Pacific Union office site (www.puconline.org).

Churches in the Pacific Union that have already paid for netAdventist sites should not sign up for the new free sites, says Houghton. Existing paid accounts will automatically be converted to free accounts on Jan. 1. Churches with paid accounts will receive full phone, e-mail and chat support until the original expiration date and will then be asked by netAdventist if they wish to purchase continuing support.

"And the union is going to help churches who have already paid for netAdventist," says Mostert. After the first of the year, the union will return $15 for each month in 2007 that a church has prepaid. For example, if a paid account expires May 1, 2007, the union will send a refund check in the amount of $60. The churches won’t have to request this. NetAdventist has supplied a list of expiration dates, so the union office knows how much to mail and who to mail it to.

"We are excited about the evangelistic potential of every church in the Pacific Union having an attractive, up-to-date and functional website," says Mostert. “Free netAdventist sites were already available to schools. Now there is no reason for any church to not have a great website. Several churches have already reported baptisms from netAdventist sites. Let's all pray for many more."

Churches and schools can get more information and sign up for a free netAdventist website online at www.netAdventist.org.