Online Campus Redesign and Spanish Template

The month of March was another big step in working toward our Daring Faith goal of interconnecting our growing fellowship through new technologies. From the redesign of our Online Campus website, to the new Spanish template for Saddleback.com, several projects were released that are making a major impact across our campuses. Check out just a few of the exciting developments below!

Beta Release of Saddleback’s Online Campus

Just in time for Easter, our web team released a redesign of the Online Campus featuring a completely new user experience. Unveiled the last week of March, the beta site accomplished several goals including a smoother transition between external sites, the ability to invite friends to watch messages together, and customized content based on user profiles.

While the previous Online Campus site launched with a full-length church service, the new experience points the user to videos snippets that answer common questions for the un-churched. Ultimately these shorter videos will usher people into a church service experience with the added benefit of growing together in their spiritual journey.

One of the greatest features of the redesign is the customization of content based on user preference. Following a similar pattern like Hulu and Netflix, media is recommended and prioritized from Saddleback’s vast library of Top Picks, Weekend Messages, Trending Now, My List, Stories, Kids, Bible Answers, Recently Added, Training, and Special Events.

This funnel toward tailored faith not only encourages deeper personal engagement, but also fosters community for those who want to share the experience with others.

As Web Director, Ryan Carson explains, “We’ve made it very easy for people to invite friends to watch any particular media together. They can simply send out an invite via text or email, with a link to the media, and share details on when and where to meet to watch the message together.”

This sense of building community and a stronger relationship with God extends far beyond the video message, however. Users are provided with intentional next steps that are relevant to each weekend message. They are also connected to the Online Campus staff and other members for support, prayer, and community.

“We place a very high value on making information actionable with an immediate next step,” says Ryan. “This new feature will finally allow us to better support the Online Campus.”

Spanish Translation for Saddleback.com

Saddleback is committed to reaching beyond cultural barriers, whether that’s through translating study materials, visiting unreached people groups, or launching international campuses. Part of expanding our reach to new communities often means speaking a foreign language and stepping outside our own culture.

That’s why Saddleback has invested in creating multi-lingual platforms including a Spanish template for our newest campus’ website, Saddleback en Español. Scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2017, the Spanish template will ultimately allow our Spanish speaking congregation to engage in certain parts of saddleback.com in their native language. Future translated page will include those for ministry, small groups, and media.

To view the website for Saddleback en Español, in both English and Spanish, click HERE.