First Baptist Church of Saint Louis
WordPress Website | UX Design | ui design | WP BAKERY
Completed 2025
Project Overview
First Baptist Church of Saint Louis, Michigan needed a website that could serve as more than a digital bulletin board. The goal was to create a true online community hub — one that supported connection, participation, and continuity for a small-town church with deep roots and a wide-reaching heart.
This project is deeply personal. My grandfather, Gary, dedicated much of his life to First Baptist Church — not just spiritually, but physically. As a volunteer handyman, he knew every corner of the building and quietly helped sustain the church for decades. After his passing, I dedicated several months to building a digital space that could carry that same spirit of care and service forward.
The Challenge
First Baptist Church of Saint Louis needed a website that could support both in-person and online community life — while remaining approachable for an aging congregation with a wide range of comfort levels around technology.
Key challenges included:
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Designing for users who may be less familiar with modern web interfaces
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Ensuring the site was accessible for members with visual, motor, or cognitive disabilities
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Organizing years of sermons and media in a way that was simple and intuitive
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Supporting events, donations, and video content without creating confusion
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Building a system that church leaders could manage independently
The site needed to feel familiar, calm, and forgiving — prioritizing clarity over cleverness — while still functioning as a fully modern community hub.
Empowering the Community
A central goal of the project was independence.
Community leaders were given individual logins and trained to:
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Publish blog posts
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Upload photo galleries
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Manage events and content
The site is structured so the church can continue to grow and communicate without relying on outside technical support for everyday needs.
Strategy & Approach
Community-Centered Design
The design prioritizes clarity, warmth, and ease of use. Navigation is simple and familiar, with layouts that work comfortably across devices for users of all ages.
Accessibility, readability, and performance were considered from the start, ensuring the site supports the whole congregation — including members accessing content from phones, tablets, or slower connections.
Development & Features
Designed and developed entirely by me, the site functions as a digital extension of the church’s community life.
Key features include:
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A sermon library, organized by chapter and topic for easy discovery
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Video integrations to support online worship and archived messages
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The Events Calendar Plus to manage services, gatherings, and community events
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A secure donation form for online giving
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Blog and gallery tools to share church news, photos, and updates
About First Baptist Church of Saint Louis
About First Baptist Church of Saint Louis
First Baptist Church is a small-town church in Saint Louis, Michigan with a huge heart. Rooted in service, faith, and community, FBC has long been a place of support and connection — both within its congregation and beyond it.
This website was built to reflect that spirit and to help sustain it for future generations.
Outcome
Outcome
The finished site gives First Baptist Church a stable, welcoming online home — one that supports worship, connection, and community leadership.
For me, this project represents the intersection of skill and care: using design and development to honor a legacy, support real people, and build something that continues to serve long after launch.