Once you've brought them in, inexpensive technology can keep a new congregation informed and provide a presence in the community that will keep new members flowing in through the door.

It goes without saying that you'll be meeting in members' homes or in any public venue that might allow you to do so for free or for a modest fee.

You don't need to spend extra money on a newsletter mailed directly to members and in fact with the on line publishing technology now available there are probably better options for outreach to help interest others who might want to become involved in your organization.

A blog with a title and URL suggesting both the locality and kind of religious group you've formed might be the best option. Free platforms include:

• Blogger, connected with Google

• Wordpress, another free platform

• Soul Cast, offering, like Blogger, the opportunity for earnings through Google AdSense

• Roobeo, which actually allows you to donate earnings from the site to non-profit organizations

If you've got a member or two with business websites ask them to include an RSS feed via or a comparable service there.

Social networks like MyBlogLog and MySpace are designed specifically to help visitors find new sites and groups. Both are also free.