Technology has changed the way we live. It has also changed the way we communicate. Even in our own assemblies we see technology being used to help us teach, assist in our song services and preach the gospel. The internet can serve as one more tool we can use to enhance our work when used properly. The internet affords access to an audience of incredible size and scope with unlimited possibilities. It truly has become the epitome of “seek and ye shall find.” For a small congregation, CongreGATE is an opportunity to gain a “better” website that can serve to prepare duty rosters and remind members of their participation in the public worship. The wealth of potential content available on your website will also draw and keep visitors, teaching them more about the church and your local congregation. Large congregations will also benefit from CongreGATE’s auto duty roster creation and reminders, plus the online directory. This allows members to stay in touch and provides critical contact information for everyone – all in one place. The RSS and iCAL-based calendars will also help with group meetings, special events, and worship opportunities.
If you already have a site, transitioning to CongreGATE is an easy way to expand your site’s capabilities. The look and unique elements from your site can even be transferred and incorporated into your new CongreGATE site. You do not have to sacrifice the overall look and feel of your current site if you don’t want to. If you are ready to give your current site a “facelift,” transitioning to CongreGATE is a convenient way to gain a new look, feel, site features…all at the same time.
Some congregations are fortunate to have someone who has web capabilities and CongreGATE still requires a manager(s) within the congregation. However, CongreGATE can make their lives easier by allowing them to focus on simply updating content instead of managing an entire site and its functionality (i.e., coding and/or programming new content, features, updates). They are still performing a valuable service and actually enhancing their value as the website becomes a more integrated part of the congregation and its communication.
CongreGATE is extremely user friendly. We provide details and tutorials on how to update information, upload new material and keep the site current. All you need is one person (or people) willing to learn the management side of CongreGATE, known as the administration console.
Yes. CongreGATE allows you to change service plans at any point, without penalty. With no contracts or commitments, you can also cancel the service altogether without fee. But why would you want to do that?
CongreGATE makes the gospel more accessible to an existing and coming generation of computer-savvy people. Admittedly there is no better way to spread the gospel then by word of mouth, but your website is available 24/7 – even when you are not. Someone searching for the truth, day or night, could find your website and learn all they need to know at their own pace and location.
CongreGATE was designed to help make all of its features available to all members. Site content is downloadable and printable so that materials can be made available at the building for all members to access as needed or for individual members to take home. From class materials, duty rosters, to the local church directory, CongreGATE is about serving all your members.
Yes. CongreGATE uses the latest encryption and authentication protocols so you can rest assured your congregation’s data is safe at all times. Our 99.9% guaranteed up-time ensures your site is readily accessible at anytime. Regular backups keep your site’s content safe.
Yes. CongreGATE allows you to keep your current domain name and point it to our servers when you’re ready to launch your website. In the meantime, we’ll provide you with a private URL while you’re setting up your CongreGATE site so your current site (if any) isn’t interrupted.
The CongreGATE system is built within the PHP environment and runs on our Linux servers using MySQL for database support. Multiple, cross-platform browser supported technologies are also utilized in order to provide the best user experience. CongreGATE takes advantage of multiple Java-, AJAX-, and HTML 5-based technologies.
CongreGATE is continually put to the test on every modern browser released for Mac OS and Windows platforms. The system should also work properly in other modern browsers running on other platforms. We test our system in Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera, and mobile browsers running on the iOS and Android platforms. We make every effort to ensure our product runs on the browsers, platforms, and devices people are using today.
The short answer is “no.” CongreGATE was created to simplify church websites and member connectivity while also making it easier for church leaders to take care of church business. We offer a product that is fully supported and guaranteed. Thus, we do not offer a “boxed” version of our system nor the ability to edit the code/databases on our servers. Offering a subscription-based model (with some of the best included hosting values around) allows CongreGATE to be fully supported by us, free from client-generated code/server errors, and offered at an affordable cost to you.
