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Frequently Asked Questions
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Why are there 3 web sites representing the
church?
- What
is the Web Site Office?
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What technologies does the Web Site Office
use?
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What new technologies can we expect in coming
months?
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Will you ever do weekly Internet webcast of
services from Tyler?
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You have stated that you have plans for
webcasting Feast.
We are webcasting from Lake Tahoe. How is this
different from broadcasting weekly sermons from Headquarters or a
local church?
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Suggestion Received:
The Web Site Office often receives e-mails
suggesting we webcast the entire Feast service to people back
home.
- Will the TV program on the Internet ever
completely replace our use of
television broadcasting?
1] Question: Why are there
3 web sites
representing the church?
Answer:
The Garner Ted Armstrong
Evangelistic Association site is exclusively for the spreading of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ which is the First Commission.
The Intercontinental Church
of God site is exclusively for the feeding of the flock which is the Second
Commission. One site is for the world and one site is for the congregation.
Surveys of other church sites have shown that using one site to appeal to
both the general public and the congregation is less effective.
The Gateway to the Local
ICG Web Sites is a single web site
[www.icgchurches.org] where we
create local ICG web sites for those church towns requesting this service of
us. They put in this request because they have no one in their area
with the expertise or means to put up their own site. Some local
churches DO put up their own site and we list them too on the main directory
of this site.
2] Question: What is the Web Site
Office?
Answer: The Web
Site Office, in simple terms, is the Internet arm of the work that the Garner Ted
Armstrong Evangelistic Association is conducting. It primarily consists of three web sites. The EA site
is the gospel-spreading web site and specifically reflects everything Mr.
Armstrong is doing. The Church site is an aid for local ICG churches. It
provides a number of resources for local churches. The Gateway site
houses local ICG web sites.
3] Question:
What technologies does the Web Site Office presently use?
(back the
top)
Answer: In the first days
of the Web Site Office, the staff was new to the Internet and what could be
accomplished with its technologies. We did not even know how to put up a web
site. Events moved fast and we learned about the
Internet and web site design.
Through the years we have added a
number of technologies and new versions of software. We are creating
video, as well as the audio for sermons and Bible studies. We are doing
more webcasting. We now incorporate a meeting room on the Internet for
webcasts which are recorded in audio. Thousands of hours have been added
to our sites. We are using both FrontPage and Expression Web to create,
redesign and maintain web sites.
In March 2012, we celebrate our
fourteenth anniversary.
4] Question:
What new technology can we expect in the coming months? (back
the top)
Answer: At the current time [year 2012] we are conducting limited
webcasting of Bible Studies and Sabbath services to geographically remote members and congregations.
Members sign-in to the meeting room and see a live video web cast from the
minister at the Web Site Office. All webcasts are audio recorded for the
greater church. See the
Audio Bible Studies homepage. This program will soon include more ministers
and an increase in on-line webcasts.
5] Question:
Some months back you stated in a Web Report that one of your goals was to
broadcast weekly services from Tyler. Is this still on the drawing board?
(back the top)
Answer: Actually it is
not. After much discussion with Headquarters, we decided there are many
reasons why this would not be practical. We do not recommend that any local
church broadcast their services. Members are generally in their local
churches on the Sabbath, so the need to broadcast the service is not needed.
Some local ministers do post their sermons on the local web site and this is
fine. We just do not recommend live broadcasting.
We post many minister
sermons on both the EA and Church sites. In fact, we have the capability of
having minister sermons recorded and placed immediately on the web site. This could prove to be useful for
Holy Day sermons, which Headquarters presently sends out in CD/DVD format. By
placing them immediately on the web site, we save a certain amount of CD/DVD
duplication, and postage costs.
6] Question: You
have stated that you have plans for broadcasting
Feast sermons and having these sermons available on the web site. How is
this different from broadcasting weekly sermons from Headquarters or a local
church? (back
the top)
Answer: The Feast is a
unique situation. For one, Mark Armstrong has traveled to a number Feast
sites, often experiencing numerous takeoffs and landings, not to mention
the time and cost involved. With live and tape delay broadcasting, Mr.
Armstrong is precluded from having to do all this traveling. In addition,
some Feast sites often find themselves short of credentialed speakers and
ministers for the eight days of services. This is especially true of our Feast
sites outside the United States.
Further, some people are not
able to attend the Feast for the specific reasons of sickness, infirmity,
being of advanced age and/or for financial reasons. These people would be
able to access Feast sermons posted at the Church web site during the Feast.
They would not be able to see live broadcasting, but would be able to have
the sermons.
7] Suggestion
Received: More than one person has contacted the Web Site Office suggesting
we webcast the entire Feast service to people back home.
(back the
top)
Answer: We are currently doing this on a very limited basis to
geographically isolated members and congregations who are unable to attend the
Feast of Tabernacles. We would not consider doing this on a massive basis,
partly because of cost and partly because of the temptation by some to remain
home for the Feast and just watch the webcasting. God commands our
attendance at the Feast if it is at all possible. See our booklet, "Why God
Commands Our Presence at His Feast!" It is posted at the
Evangelistic Association web site at:
http://www.garnertedarmstrong.org/pubs/WhyFeast.htm
8] Question:
Will the TV program on the Internet ever completely replace our use of
television broadcasting?
(back the top)
Answer: Not anytime soon.
As long as there is television broadcasting, we will seek airtime on
stations around the country and around the world. There is talk in the
industry of a combining of television and the Internet. Instead of having
television sets, as we have today, there will be "media centers". Both the
Internet and broadcast television will be accessible from the same unit.
This would be a wonderful development for the Work of God as we continue to
develop our Internet capabilities.
If you have any questions for
the Web Site Office, let us know and we would be happy to answer them for
you.
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