Christian Web Hosting - a New Alternative

A Web Hosting Article Contributed by Jamie Wilson

Christian Web Hosting - a New Alternative

Christian web hosting is an alternative many religious organizations and Christ-centered businesses have been examining lately.

What You Need to Know about Christian Web Hosting

Vast amounts of information can be found on the Internet, most of it very good. But there's a lot on the Internet that is of questionable taste to a person who practices a Christian lifestyle. Many Christians prefer to do business with a host who does not also do business with pornographic sites, scam-centered sites, or radical liberal sites.

Using a Christian web host for your internet needs solves those problems. Christian web hosts are typically just as good and reliable as any other web host, but you also have the comfort of not having to worry about sharing web space with questionable sites. Often, a Christian web host can also provide you with services to develop your web site, including graphics and tools (online searchable Bibles, for instance) that you might want to include.

Finding a Christian Web Host

First, your current host may be just fine. Ask your current web host if they have a page listing their current clients; most hosts maintain this and can provide you with the link on request. If they are not satisfactory, word of mouth is always the best recommendation; ask your church secretary, or email Christian web sites you use currently, and ask who their web host is.

When you find a potential host, ask them what services they provide to their customers. Make certain you will have adequate bandwidth to conduct business, and if you have shopping carts or other CGI-type programs running on your web site, make sure the prospective host can support those as well. Ask about down time; some web hosts do not adequately plan for bandwidth. You should not go with a host who has more than 2% down time. And ask what special services they provide that other web hosts do not.

Be certain to get at least three prospects before making a decision. Prices can vary widely even at unspecialized hosting providers.

Benefits of Using a Christian Web Host

Because a Christ centered business or organization does not want to be associated with pornography or other topics with which they do not agree, doing business with a web host who focuses on serving Christians is reassuring on personal, financial, and spiritual levels. More and more, Christians are leveraging the vast power of their constituents as a tool in business, media, and politics, and it is becoming increasingly profitable to create Christ centered business plans.

If you are associated with a Christian web host, you know you will not have the embarrassment of your web service provider being "outed" for pornography. These web hosts often give a financial break to Christians and to churches, providing web services catering specifically to their needs at discount prices. And at least two Christian web hosts (probably more, I don't pretend omniscience) also provide free leasing of Christian-oriented domain names.