30 Aug 2010 - 9:30
New forum look and new website upgrades on the way.
Posted by CODave, Sep 4 2008, 08:46 PM
I am excited to announce some new forum skins. (designs) We are always working to upgrade the forum... improve it functionally and in design. It is one of our goals that your visit to Christian Outdoorsman website is an ever increasingly personal experience. One way we can help with that is allowing you to pick your design skin. Members have the ability to pick color scheme of the skin. Just go to the bottom left of the forum home page and there is a drop down box, where you can pick the color scheme you like. Our default skin is green. But if you would rather have red or blue, you can make that choice.
Eventually our entire website will be updated, both functionally and in look, in order to better reflect the mission of Christian Outdoorsman. Our current site is about 3 years old... and much has changed in those three short years, and our website needs to reflect that.
As we speak, we are in the process of updating our e-commerce cart functionally to allow wholesale and drop-shipping transactions online.
We are committed to continually improve the website, to better equip the community of Christian outdoorsmen and all those that are in ministry to reach them.
Dave
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Behind the scenes
Posted by CODave, Aug 11 2008, 08:34 AM
Well, I apologize for not keeping up on my blog. I am going to try to do a better job. There is a lot going on behind the scenes, (there always is), and I would like to keep you all abreast of what we are working on. Right now we are working on some site redesign and function upgrades. We need to sit down and really analyze future direction of Christian Outdoorsman and its priorities... that drives site structure.
Seems like a simple task doesn't it... problem is, the day to day urgent business, always seems to get in the way of important planning like this.
I hope to get this done early this fall.
Dave
Christian Outdoorsman Forum Upgrade
Posted by CODave, Oct 23 2007, 10:49 PM
We are pleased to announce the new Christian Outdoorsman Forum Upgrade.
Most of the upgrade features have to do with security, and a much improved Member Profile Interface.... more "My Space" - like. Since the upgrade, profile visits have increased and because of the easier access to forum features from the member profile interface, like blogs, photo galleries and the like, there seems to be a more concerted effort by members to utilize those features. (Me included) All in all I am very pleased with the upgrade and look forward to tracking how this impacts the forum long term.
We are up to 1800 members now and the pace seems to be picking up a bit. Probably a result of hunting season...
The website stats are through the roof compared to a year ago. Last year at this time we were averaging about 300-400 unique visitors a day. Now, we average 1300 unique visitors a day and about 9000 page views.
This is due in large part to the great guys here who are committed to the success of this community, and their passion for using the outdoors for the Lord.
I thank you all... each and every one.
Dave Lingner
1000+ members strong
Posted by CODave, May 3 2006, 09:34 AM
Well, you may have noticed that our forum membership numbers jumped quite a bit recently.... from 200 members to 1165. We made the decision to use the forum database as our primary database for registered Christian Outdoorsmen. Now when folks register, they register on the forum. We had almost a thousand registered Christian Outdoorsmen. Adding them to our forum databse bumped the numbers up. Why did we do this?
The forum has many powerful and effective tools that we wanted to utilize. First, it offers email validation for those who register, so that people cannot give us bogus email information. It offers various communication tools like PM's and emailing... with admin preferences like allowing or not allowing guests to contact etc. Of course we only allow registered users to contact other registered users... guests cannot contact members, they must register first. But we do allow visitors to view the aspects of a registered users profile we think is appropriate. It also has some great admin communications tools we could use for sending emails to members etc.
It was quite a big job writing the code to merge the databases we had in place. We had to hire a pro to do that work. And then we had to write a new CO Search Engine script to search the forum database... and that was a big job too. We are very happy with the results and excited about the future work the Lord will do through this community.
We have added many more profile fields to match what we had in our CO Search Engine... you may want to go back and update your profile. If you would like to be included in the CO Search by state or zipcode, you will want to update that info in your profile, so you may be able to link up with other CO's in your area.
If you have any questions feel free to PM or email me.
Our #1 mission always has been and will continue to be, to build the largest community of Christian outdoor enthusiasts in the world today. ... and to motivate and equip that community to use the outdoors for fellowship, discipleship and evangelism. Sound like a grand idea? Well what can I say.. it is the truth. That is our goal... and we are constantly developing more tools to accomplish this. It is not our goal to be the "end all" for the Christian outdoorsman... there are great minisries doing things we don't not need to duplicate... thus, one of our primary goals to promote other ministries that have tools and resources to help you use God's creation to redeem mankind.
There are ALOT of things going on right now in the background... (that you don't see here on the web), that are moving Christian Outdoorsman further in this direction. I am not going to spill the beans all at once... check up on the blog now and then and get updates. Several new changes are going to be initiated by June 1. (I hope... seems things always take longer than planned). 2006 is going to be and already has been, a big year.
Up to this point Christian Outdoorsman has been primarily an Internet based ministry. That is changing... it is being taken to the streets... it may be coming to your town... more later.
From the Field
Posted by CODave, Mar 20 2006, 06:02 PM
Well, the latest news is that we have started a monthly outdoor column for the Austin (Texas) Christian Journal, called From the Field. In keeping with our mission to promote the community, ideally we want to feature articles and interviews by various Christian Outdoorsmen. If you have an article you would like to submit, we would love to review it. Also, we want to distribute this column to as many Christian publications as we can. If you have a Christian newspaper in your town, please let us know and we will contact them. This could be a great way to promote the community we are building here.
Although we are just in Austin now, we want to write as though we are addressing a national audience, and offer information for a variety of outdoor activities. We will soon need good information for summer outdoor activites and family vacation related stuff, like camping etc.
See our first article... Spring is Bassin' time
Never a dull day here... the big challenge is having enough resources... people and money to do all that God has given us the opportunity and vision to do.
Continue to pray for us.
God bless,
Dave
UPDATE: We just picked up another newspaper to publish our column... The Ozarks Christian News. To see our first article... go to page 23 Trout Fishing Branson Style. By the way... that is not me in the article picture... it is Phil Lilley of Lilleys' Landing. If you have a Christian newspaper in your town... give us the contact info and we will see about bringing the information to your town. It would be a great way to build a Christian Outdoor community in your neck of the woods.
I am serious about wanting you guys to submit articles. I don't have time to write every month. Besides, Christian Outdoorsman is about all you out there.
Hunt in South Africa... and get bagged, by God!
Posted by CODave, Mar 9 2006, 02:33 PM
God is doing a great work in the outdoors. Not a day goes by that I am not excited by some new development, a new ministry we learn of, another Christian outdoor personality, a step closer to a goal, or reports of great things the Lord is doing in outdoor ministries around the world. I am pleased to be able to share these joys with you, though this blog, that my joy may be made complete. Today is a great example.
Rufus Littig of South Africa and his wife Almarie, came down to the Ozarks to visit us while they are in the States. I will post a few pics after I get them uploaded from our camera. Rufus has an incredible ministry going in South Africa, called HuntSA. Rufus is a guide, but in addition to guiding, he is involved in a ministry which attracts hunters from the US to hunt in Africa, and then also evangelize to the tribal Africans. After they hunt, they go up into remote areas... sometimes to places where no white men have been before.... set up a projector and show the Jesus film. Hundreds of people come from who knows where, everytime they do this. When men go hunting in SA with Rufus... they think they are going to hunt game.. and indeed they do, some the most awesome beasts you will ever see. and they think they are going to evangelize, and indeed they do that too. But, in the end many find that they are the hunted ones... the Lord pursuing them tracking them down... And in the wilderness and stillness of Africa, there he finally captures their hearts. Rufus, says that men never come back the same as they arrived.
There is so much going on there.... and so little of Rufus and missionaries to do it. They have started a Bible school with 8 students... make that 9 as one more was just added... native men learning the Word, to take the good news back to their people. They have a missionary they have partnered with who disciples in 13 villages. They want to start a school... and even more now are feeling called to provide an orphanage. Aids is creating orphans... and with it, opportunities to take these poor ones in and train them up in the Lord. God can even use Aids for His purposes. Islam is coming in too, trying to get a foothold. You think there is war in Iraq.... brothers the evil one is waging war in South Africa too. The need is urgent.
If you have ever wanted to hunt in Africa... but didn't think you could afford it... think again and contact HuntSA. It will be the best hunting deal you will ever find, and a most opportune way to be involved in Ministry. It is a beautiful place... not only will you hunt, but also also see some of the most gorgeous landscape of South Africa... places most native South Africans don't even know of. Or if you have been looking for a way to support a ministry that is doing MUCH good... where you know your dollars will be very well spent... will make a difference in the lives of people, and just perhaps lay the groundwork in impacting a nation of people... look no further... contact HuntSA today.
God bless,
Dave
I'm just a guy, warts and all...
Posted by CODave, Mar 9 2006, 02:32 PM
Welcome to my new blog. This is where I will let you all in on the happenings behind the scenes at Christian Outdoorsman.
I wanted to communicate something with all my brothers here. Just because I founded Christian Outdoorsman, don't be afraid to whack me along side of the head if I need it. Remember "Iron sharpens Iron" applies.
I don't want you guys to look at me any differently than anyone else. That's why my signature says, "Your Brother in Christ". We are all brothers on this forum. From the start I pledged that this site is not about me, it is about lifting all the great men here up.... encouraging their ministries and walk with the Lord... To equip and inspire men to use their outdoor passion for the Lord.
I truly look up to you men. You are my heros.
If I ever make statements that you don't agree with doctrinally or otherwise, don't be afraid to call me on it, and please don't take it out on Christian Outdoorsman. This site is not about me... it is yours. This is a community site. I am just trying to supply the tools available to promote and build the community.
Well thats enough said.
God bless... Your brother in Christ.
Dave
on New forum look and new website upgrades on the way.