The Crosslinks Web Interview, March 2002

This month we're featuring Peter Cottingham, until mid 2001 a Crosslinks Mission Partner working in Spain. He's now working on the Crosslinks web site.

Crosslinks has had a web site for some years - why does it need to be re-worked?

The existing site was created by my son, David, in 1999 - but little has been done since. A web site can be a little like a church notice board... unless it is kept up to date and fresh it soon loses its appeal - and an give a bad impression of what's inside. To be used properly a web site needs constant updating and development. The web is increasingly the way people find out about things - for many young people print media will not be what they turn to. That's why I believe that Crosslinks needs to invest in its web site. We don't think it is strange to have people working full-time on magazine production - why should it be different for a web page?

Why do people use the web, perhaps in preference to other ways of getting information?

I can give you a whole list straight away - and there's probably other reasons too:

  • You can get information quickly - no waiting for the post

  • There's plenty of information - hopefully easily found

  • The information is up to date - contrast that with much printed material

  • Using a web site can and should be enjoyable

  • There's really no limit to the amount of information that can go on a web site - so one thing that can go on it is background information to (for example) magazine articles

  • You can look at a web site without your name and address being known to the site hosts - no fear of a deluge of propaganda by post for ever more!

  • A web site often has links to other web sites that will be of interest

How do you see the Crosslinks site being developed?

We'll soon have audio available - so, for example, the prayer news will be available in audio as well as printed format. I'm also working on getting some video clips on line - so you'll be able to see extracts from Crosslinks videos. Another big thing I'd like to work on is the Youth section - it hardly exists yet, but we wanted to get the site up and running quickly, and then develop it. There's a lot to be done....

 

Peter, you and the family left Spain in July 2001. Have you been working on the web site since then?

 

No, we've been visiting the churches that supported us for a final time, and getting settled back in the UK. We were in Spain for 15 years, so there's been quite a lot to adjust to, including the rain! Ruth, our daughter has had to get used to a new school here in the UK.  In January Crosslinks asked me to work on the new web site, and I've been doing that, mainly from home. (Useful - it takes 2 hours of Railtrack hospitality to get to Crosslinks HQ!)

 

What experience do you have in this field?

 

In Spain I was involved in a team at the Malaga Media Center helping to produce Christian radio programmes aimed mainly at North Africa. Some years ago we decided that a web site would complement  this, and I started a web site which was mainly in Arabic. (No, there are no immediate plans to have an Arabic section on this site!)  I've also been encouraging Crosslinks to produce an interactive CD to help publicise our work.

How do you see your future?

I'm looking for a job that will keep bread on the table and that doesn't involve moving house - at least until our daughter finishes school in 2003. I believe God led us to work in Spain in 1986, and I believe it was right to leave in 2001 - so I expect He has a plan for now.

(Note: August 2004... Peter is still working on webs and computers for Crosslinks!)

Thanks, Peter

Come back next month for another in depth interview!

back to interview index