A Spiritual Baptist website
will generate a positive image about the religion as well as serve as a tool
whereby members of the faith can showcase their skills.
This was the view of
Brother Noel O’Brien of St. Catherine's Spiritual Baptist Church #2,
as he spoke at the launching of the Spiritual Baptist Online
News Magazine. The launching which was held at the Marriott Hotel, Downtown Brooklyn, New York
on August 19th 2006..
O’Brien, noting the internet as new technology for the faith, emphasized that it
will provide avenues for reporting, advertising and promotional space.
He
said that the Spiritual Baptists having their own website
this render some form of control as to what is said about the religion.
O’Brien added that research has shown that 8 out of 10 households have access to
the internet. This he explained could be of great resource since internet access
could help promote church events, as well as, members’ services and skills.
Brother O’Brien noted that there have been times when members of the
faith who attended functions and saw avenues where they could have showcased themselves.
However they could not have done so because their method i.e. word of mouth had
limited them from getting the necessary exposure.
Through the use of the website or the internet he predicted these
individuals would be able to advertise their skills and the exposure
can be much greater than word of mouth.
O’Brien added, “This is open to us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This
coverage gives us the advantage to educate, as well as, inform not only other
members of the religion but also the community around us.”
Stressing the limitations of flyers he noted, “Almost everywhere we go we are
handed fliers. Now nothing is wrong with that, but, at the end of the event, the
flyer may have already been used as a fan, or becomes wet, or is even thrown
away.”
He
added that by the time the event has ended the flyer may have lost its purpose.
However with a website information that was already been scheduled about an event
can be updated at short notice and little cost.
O’Brien also said that he believed that the website will be a perfect place for
training individuals within the organization and also serve as a database where
a wealth of information can be found.
He explained, “We have two people here
(referring to King Shepherd Davidson Callender and Apostolic Bishop Bernard
Primus) with a reservoir of information.” He assured the gathering that information from
these individuals could be of great value to students doing research on the
Spiritual Baptist religion.
