The Web and the world

"An incredible new technology enables the transmission of text on a worldwide basis. It rapidly reduces production and distribution costs and for the first time allows large numbers of people to access text and pictures in their own homes."

You've guessed it. The invention of 'movable type' by Gutenberg - the printing press. It transformed education, learning, evangelism and communication. It laid the foundations for the Renaissance, the arts, sciences, and the world as we know it today. The digital revolution is bringing about a similar huge change in evangelism, Christian discipleship and community, in ways which are only just beginning.

"Using a computer for online religious activity... could become the dominant form of religion and religious experience in the next century."
      Professor B Brasher, author: Give me that Online Religion (Jossey-Bass)

Although the Internet first grew in USA and northern Europe, it is now no longer a toy for the rich West. Users in China are expected to reach 100 million in 2004-5. Only one country in the world bans Internet usage – N. Korea.

• Figures for worldwide Internet usage by language
• Overall user figures
• Countries where Internet access is monitored
• CyberAtlas – country-by-country figures and projections
• People Groups – worldwide database

The Internet now provides us with a vital tool to reach into the hardest nations including those in the 10-40 Window. See the case-study on effective web outreach in Poland.

A Roman Road system for our generation

There is an interesting parallel between the Web and the Roman Road system. This vast network was built for primarily military and trading reasons, yet was a key element in the rapid spread of the Gospel throughout the known world.

As the Internet is increasingly used by people in the non-Western world, (and also in sections of the community in the West) who are in an oral communication culture, we must investigate methods of communication which work best for them.

Trends

There are Christian 'future-watchers' who can help us to see the trends in society, culture, and the Internet revolution:

• Global Change – mega-site with views on the world situation from Christian future-watcher Dr Patrick Dixon
• Research links – detailed analyses of the effect of the Internet on the church and evangelism, plus Web Evangelism conference reports
• Christianity Today newsletter – culture, world events, comment [Daily email version]
• Future Church – Tom Hohstadt's occasional newsletter on the way the church is changing
• Christian Futures Network

Teaching IT and Web skills is becoming an effective way of sharing the Gospel.

The needs

The needs of the world [view from space | more] remain as great as ever. The Internet is a powerful and God-given medium to help us fulfil the Great Commission. Even its name reflects the nature of the fishing net which Jesus spoke of in Matthew 13:47 and elsewhere.

Our world today      © IMB Increase today Increase this year Totals to date World population increase People hearing and believing the gospel People hearing and not believing the gospel People not having an adequate opportunity to hear the gospel

Understanding the medium

The Web is a competely different medium to print or broadcasting. It is important to understand its nature, if we are to use it in evangelism.

• Why the Web is a different medium

Unfortunately, it also has a dark side – be aware of how to protect yourself and your family from these aspects. As a medium, the Internet is neutral, but in a fallen world it is inevitably subverted, just as are print, TV, video, and film often are. It is a God-given tool that we can use.

It works!

The effectiveness of the Web for outreach may not often be highlighted in the wider Christian media. But be assured, God is "adding daily to their number those who were being saved" directly or indirectly, though the Internet.

For instance, TruthMedia (CCC Canada) evangelistic websites receive 0.75 million visitors each month! They write, "TruthMedia is a ministry that's dedicated to help people come to know God in a personal way through the medium of the Internet and then helping them grow in their faith through discipleship sites. Our goal is to impact people around the world by using the medium and tools of the Internet. In an average month we'll have about 750-thousand people who visit our sites, of those approximately 1,400 people will indicate that they received Christ or have made some kind of significant spiritual decision like rededicating their lives to Christ." Truth Media has 450 volunteers who are doing the writing, evangelism and discipleship outreach.

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