DCC Online - Revamping the Digital Presence for a Global Church Community
DCC Online - Revamping the Digital Presence for a Global Church Community
David’s Christian Centre (DCC), a Lagos-based church led by Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo and Pastor Mildred Kingsley-Okonkwo, serves thousands of members both in Nigeria and across the globe. With a combined online following of over 2 million, the church sought to extend its digital reach by building a modern website and mobile app targeted at members in the diaspora and the church’s global online community.
As a member of the Online Church lead team, I was tasked with leading the development of this project to reimagine the church's digital presence and create an engaging experience for both local and international audiences.
David’s Christian Centre (DCC), a Lagos-based church led by Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo and Pastor Mildred Kingsley-Okonkwo, serves thousands of members both in Nigeria and across the globe. With a combined online following of over 2 million, the church sought to extend its digital reach by building a modern website and mobile app targeted at members in the diaspora and the church’s global online community.
As a member of the Online Church lead team, I was tasked with leading the development of this project to reimagine the church's digital presence and create an engaging experience for both local and international audiences.
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
The existing church website was outdated, difficult to navigate, and lacked the modern appeal required to engage users effectively. In addition, there was no central platform where followers of the church’s lead pastors could access ministry resources, watch live services, or engage with church activities in a unified space. Followers were scattered across multiple social platforms, making it difficult to foster a sense of community.
The existing church website was outdated, difficult to navigate, and lacked the modern appeal required to engage users effectively. In addition, there was no central platform where followers of the church’s lead pastors could access ministry resources, watch live services, or engage with church activities in a unified space. Followers were scattered across multiple social platforms, making it difficult to foster a sense of community.
The Goal
The Goal
The primary goal was twofold:
Redesign the DCC website to be clean, modern, and informative, making it easy to navigate for both local and international users.
Build a mobile app to engage members and followers with ministry activities in a single space where they can access live services, watch and listen to sermons, download content, and explore other faith-related resources.
Build a mobile app to engage members and followers with ministry activities in a single space where they can access live services, watch and listen to sermons, download content, and explore other faith-related resources.
The primary goal was twofold:
Redesign the DCC website to be clean, modern, and informative, making it easy to navigate for both local and international users.
Build a mobile app to engage members and followers with ministry activities in a single space where they can access live services, watch and listen to sermons, download content, and explore other faith-related resources.
Build a mobile app to engage members and followers with ministry activities in a single space where they can access live services, watch and listen to sermons, download content, and explore other faith-related resources.
Solution
Solution
To meet the church’s objectives, I led a team that worked on both the website and the mobile app. Here’s what we did:
Website Redesign: The new DCC website was reimagined with a clean, modern interface that is intuitive and user-friendly. We focused on easy navigation to ensure users could find information quickly. This included a well-structured layout showcasing ministry events, sermon series, and community activities.
Mobile App Development: The DCC Online app was designed to be a one-stop platform for all things related to the church’s activities. Some of the key features include:
Live Streaming: Users can stream live church services, making it easier for members worldwide to stay connected with the church.
On-Demand Sermons: The app offers a library of past sermons that can be watched, listened to, or downloaded, allowing members to engage with the content anytime, anywhere.
Notifications: Push notifications ensure members are informed about upcoming events, special services, or new sermon uploads.
Giving: Integration of secure online giving for tithes and offerings, allowing members to contribute conveniently from wherever they are.
Community Engagement: The app fosters a sense of belonging by allowing members to engage with ministry content, interact with others, and access spiritual resources.
To meet the church’s objectives, I led a team that worked on both the website and the mobile app. Here’s what we did:
Website Redesign: The new DCC website was reimagined with a clean, modern interface that is intuitive and user-friendly. We focused on easy navigation to ensure users could find information quickly. This included a well-structured layout showcasing ministry events, sermon series, and community activities.
Mobile App Development: The DCC Online app was designed to be a one-stop platform for all things related to the church’s activities. Some of the key features include:
Live Streaming: Users can stream live church services, making it easier for members worldwide to stay connected with the church.
On-Demand Sermons: The app offers a library of past sermons that can be watched, listened to, or downloaded, allowing members to engage with the content anytime, anywhere.
Notifications: Push notifications ensure members are informed about upcoming events, special services, or new sermon uploads.
Giving: Integration of secure online giving for tithes and offerings, allowing members to contribute conveniently from wherever they are.
Community Engagement: The app fosters a sense of belonging by allowing members to engage with ministry content, interact with others, and access spiritual resources.
The process -
Sketch to design
The process -
Sketch to design
The process - Sketch to design
Owing to time pressures, much of the strategy and preliminary blueprints were crafted during swift conference calls among me, my immediate supervisor, and the engineers. We performed instantaneous evaluations and engaged in real-time collaborations. This accelerated our operations, allowing us to transition from rough drafts to high-quality designs.
Owing to time pressures, much of the strategy and preliminary blueprints were crafted during swift conference calls among me, my immediate supervisor, and the engineers. We performed instantaneous evaluations and engaged in real-time collaborations. This accelerated our operations, allowing us to transition from rough drafts to high-quality designs.
Website sketches and site structure
Website sketches and site structure
Demographic Considerations
Understanding the church’s wide age range, we ensured that both the website and the app catered to different tech preferences:
For Web Users: Those who preferred the familiarity of a website could access live services, downloadable sermons, and other essential features, maintaining a simple yet modern experience.
For App Users: Younger users were given a feature-rich app with audio streaming, event notifications, and a more interactive, social experience.
Understanding the church’s wide age range, we ensured that both the website and the app catered to different tech preferences:
For Web Users: Those who preferred the familiarity of a website could access live services, downloadable sermons, and other essential features, maintaining a simple yet modern experience.
For App Users: Younger users were given a feature-rich app with audio streaming, event notifications, and a more interactive, social experience.
Design Considerations
Consistency in Branding: The website and app both reflected the church’s brand, ensuring consistency in colors, fonts, and imagery, creating a seamless experience across platforms.
User-Centered Design: We tested prototypes across different age groups to ensure the design met the needs of all members, optimizing for mobile responsiveness and ease of use.
Easy Navigation: With a clear information architecture, users could easily find live services, past sermons, and other church activities without feeling overwhelmed.
Consistency in Branding: The website and app both reflected the church’s brand, ensuring consistency in colors, fonts, and imagery, creating a seamless experience across platforms.
User-Centered Design: We tested prototypes across different age groups to ensure the design met the needs of all members, optimizing for mobile responsiveness and ease of use.
Easy Navigation: With a clear information architecture, users could easily find live services, past sermons, and other church activities without feeling overwhelmed.
Previous Website
Previous Website
Website new look
Website new look
Owing to time pressures, much of the strategy and preliminary blueprints were crafted during swift conference calls among me, my immediate supervisor, and the engineers. We performed instantaneous evaluations and engaged in real-time collaborations. This accelerated our operations, allowing us to transition from rough drafts to high-quality designs.
Owing to time pressures, much of the strategy and preliminary blueprints were crafted during swift conference calls among me, my immediate supervisor, and the engineers. We performed instantaneous evaluations and engaged in real-time collaborations. This accelerated our operations, allowing us to transition from rough drafts to high-quality designs.
Home Page
Resource Section
The resource division was structured for straightforward navigation, with resources sorted into three primary groups: video sermons, audio sermons, devotionals, and podcasts. This arrangement provides church members with comprehensive access to resources. Sermons are further sorted into series for ease of location and convenience, enabling members to find the precise sermon they wish to view or listen to.
Other Pages
MObile app
MObile app
The mobile app played a crucial role in this project. My team and I explored ways to quickly develop a minimum viable product (MVP) while ensuring the app remained user-friendly and visually appealing to keep users engaged. Based on our insights into the church and target audience, we decided the app should feature content and tools designed to help members deepen their spirituality and strengthen their relationship with God. Additionally, we prioritized push notifications as a key feature, enabling the church to share timely updates on upcoming events, live services, and messages from the lead pastors and leadership team.
The mobile app played a crucial role in this project. My team and I explored ways to quickly develop a minimum viable product (MVP) while ensuring the app remained user-friendly and visually appealing to keep users engaged. Based on our insights into the church and target audience, we decided the app should feature content and tools designed to help members deepen their spirituality and strengthen their relationship with God. Additionally, we prioritized push notifications as a key feature, enabling the church to share timely updates on upcoming events, live services, and messages from the lead pastors and leadership team.
LOW fidelity
LOW fidelity
MObile app designs
Media Sermons & Events
Push Notification & Online Giving
results
results
The new DCC website and mobile app have significantly improved the church’s digital presence, enabling it to reach a global audience more effectively. Members of all ages now have easy access to live services, sermon libraries, and ministry resources, regardless of their preferred platform. The integration of features catered to both tech-savvy app users and website-preferred members, creating a unified, community-driven experience.
This revamped digital experience has allowed DCC to better engage its members while fostering a sense of belonging across its diverse audience
NEXT STEPS
NEXT STEPS
We are currently planning to introduce additional features, and in doing so, we're gathering user feedback to enhance the website and app experience significantly. It's important to note that the initial project didn't adhere strictly to a proper design process due to the need to meet the church's 28th-anniversary deadline. Steps are now being taken to involve the users more actively in the app's design and development process, to ensure we create an application that delivers the best experience for the church members.