Being a blogger myself, I am a regular reader of Darren Rowse over at ProBlogger.net. Well, he's having another writing project, and this post is a direct result of that. While there is a prize, and it would be nice to get, the reason I like participating in his writing projects is that they usually encourage me to break out of my posting patterns and try something new. In that vein, I bring you the top 5 things that I've learned while running this site:

1. This Blogging Gig Ain't Easy – Honestly, when I started this site, I expected it to be pretty easy. I figured one post a week about topics I'm already familiar with would require pretty minimal effort. However, I learned that trying to run a site that makes a difference requires more time, participation, reading and learning on my part than I had ever expected.
2. Patience Is A Virtue – A year and a half ago, I had very modest expectations for this blog. I had hoped that at least a few people would be impacted and work to improve their church or church-related websites. Today, for the first time the blog has hit 100 feed subscribers, and the site is better know than I had ever expected.
3. I Have Great Readers – Since I mentioned the number of subscribers, let me just say that I have great readers, who help provide feedback and insight into the website topics discussed here. I'm also very thankful that everyone was so patient and understanding during my last few months of personal turmoil (even now, I'm still trying to get back on a regular schedule). Your continued support over this time has been very much appreciated.
4. There Is No De Facto Template For Church Websites – Yes, I admit that when I started out, I looked at putting together as a pretty simple equation (something like A + B + C = Church Website). However, I've learned that there are places for a number of different approaches to a church website, depending on community, location, congregation makeup, and a number of other factors. There are basic sections that should be on every one of these sites, but the rest is up for grabs. The important thing with the rest of these sections is to make sure they are implemented as effectively as possible.
5. Running This Site Is Rewarding – Honestly, I've gotten more out of running IfJesusHadAWebsite.net than I had ever expected. I've learned more about site design and implementation, developed more relationships, and had a bigger impact than I could have hoped for. I hope to continue serving the Lord's will for the web for a while to come, because I still feel that he's got a lot in store for all of us!