Sometime in 2001, I created my first website for my church using Microsoft FrontPage. I learned about web development and how to make a website through self-study. Back then, I had so much passion in learning how to make websites and thankfully, through persistence and diligent self-study, I eventually learned how to do it. I was already about 45 years old when I began to study about website design haha! Yes, I did not go through college and earn a degree on Information Technology. Rather, I learned it through the “school-of-hard-knocks!” And I was a full-time pastor at that time. I am proof that one can still learn in his old age haha!
Content Management Systems
Microsoft FrontPage was eventually phased out by Microsoft but thankfully, I also learned about Dreamweaver, another program used in making websites. That helped me a lot as I studied more and more about web development.
I also learned about Joomla! quite well—a content management system (CMS) as web developers call it. I built several websites using this CMS. I also learned another CMS called Drupal but I found it too cumbersome for me to use. I never created a site using this tool but did encounter a few times where I had been asked to fix a Drupal site.
Nowadays, I stick with WordPress which started out as a website making tool in blog format but has now developed to become a great CMS. I have moved all my Joomla! sites to WordPress because it’s easier to use and more user-friendly — as I see it. Others may disagree of course haha!
On Creating Websites
From time to time, somebody would ask me to make a website for them. I normally would use WordPress to make one for them especially since I have become more familiar with it over the years and I deal mostly with WordPress websites on a daily basis. This personal blog site was made using WordPress. I originally created this site using Joomla! but moved it to WordPress after a number of years.
Web Evangelism, Cybermissions
Currently, I am still maintaining a handful of websites and one of those is a non-profit church-related organization. My sister who is a painter recently asked me to make an artist’s website for her and hopefully I will be able to do that sometime soon as time permits. I also used to maintain the website of the Philippine Missions Association, a non-profit missions organization — which I originally created — but not anymore. I do not earn anything from these non-profit organizations.
Since about 1995 and up to now, I continue to believe that the internet is a good avenue to share the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the whole world. Internet evangelism — it seems to me — will always be my passion for the Lord. Or rather, it is the passion of my heart that God has given to me. So I get involved and participate right there — where the Lord has placed me. So, I keep on blogging as time permits and as the Lord leads me.
Updated: 8/29/17