It was a headline with all the right stuff. Need for Online Missionaries Rises as Web Outreach Booms.
A passion for the Great Commission.
The sizzle of global media.
An urgent need.
The article was a call to make believers aware of the astounding number of people searching for God online, 80 to 90 percent outside the U.S.
Through the power of Internet technology, search-engine optimization techniques, and chiefly, the working of the Holy Spirit, online spiritual seekers are flocking to the ‘electronic’ front door of the church in unprecedented numbers.
Who will answer the call?
25 reasons to help you consider getting involved in online missions
1. Two million people are going online every day to seek help with spiritual issues like loneliness, addictions, suicide, abuse, divorce, hopelessness. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” (Matthew 9:37)
2. God has created a network to reach these searching hearts that are saying, “Please tell me about Jesus.” The Apostle Paul said, “By all possible means (the Internet) I might save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22)
3. Technology has made it possible to travel anywhere in the world without ever leaving home, even to the 64 countries, or about one-third of all nations, with “high or very high restrictions on religion.” (2009 Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life) “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)
4. You have a love for the lost and have always wanted to become more active in personal evangelism.
5. You don’t have to leave your job, take a vacation, go to seminary or raise thousands of dollars to share the Bible, pray, or conduct personal ministry with real people.
6. Any Christian using the Internet can do it — students, teachers, stay at home moms, pastors, business executives, farmers, doctors, soldiers.
7. Training is not difficult and can be done online from home on your own schedule.
8. You don’t have to know who is open to the gospel. Discipleship websites such as LookToJesus and iChristianLife.com and mobile sites share the basics of Christian growth, in multiple languages and then these new believers and seekers come to you ready to take the next step or with questions.
9. The ministry is personal and can go “very deep,” as evidenced by these actual responses:
- “How can I know that God loves us?” M., Philippines
- “I need Jesus so desperately. Indian hemp has taken over my life and I don’t know what to do. I believe it is only God that can rescue me from this bondage. I hope to hear some advice from you.” E., Nigeria
10. You don’t have to be quick on your feet or an expert in evangelism. You will have access to outstanding resources to help you respond like 226,018 Bible Questions Answered! and Search the Bible.
11. You will guide new believers into doing online Bible studies individually or encourage them to join a weekly online small group Bible study. When possible you will get them connected to other Christians and local churches.
12. You will have the privilege of praying for those who are struggling and others who haven’t yet learned how to pray.
13. In your lifetime you would never be able to physically impact the amount of people you can reach online. (submitted by Amanda Sims from LifeChurch.tv)
14. You will join a community of workers doing online ministry from all over the U.S. and world…exchange online evangelism techniques, share stories of God at work and pray for one another.
15. You will be encouraged by personal testimonies from fellow online workers:
- “We see bits and pieces of struggles that people are going through and then think, “Wow this is who God is entrusting to me.” It has really helped me to see a bigger picture in life and do more in other ministries also.” Fred
- “I really feel so blessed to have this tool every day. What could I do that’s more important than this? And I do it while eating raspberries in the comfort of my kitchen while a load of laundry is drying. Amazing, so amazing.” Margaret
16. It’s a way to balance out recreational uses of technology with redemptive ones.
17. It’s safe! No one sees your e-mail address and no one can send you spam. It only takes a few minutes a day to respond to an email inquiry.
18. It’s one of the most cost effective evangelism approaches ever developed. It will enable you to help churches that have been forced to reduce giving to missions and missionaries due to the current economic crisis. (See the Barna Group report.)
19. You will deepen your own understanding of foundational truths and strengthen your confidence for talking about your faith with others.
20. The world is increasingly online and you believe the future of ministry must include some form of digital missions to stay relevant.
21. You could be the catalyst for getting an online missions program started in your church.
22. Your pulse quickens at the idea of partnering with media ministries using cutting-edge technology to share the gospel worldwide through video, text, and mobile phones, in multiple languages.
23. It concerns you to know that if Christians aren’t online to answer the questions of spiritual seekers and to tell them about Jesus, they are vulnerable to false teachings and other destructive forces.
24. The digital “Roman road” has been built and will soon connect everyone on earth, making it conceivable that you are in the generation that will complete the Great Commission.
25. The Matthew 28 mandate, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,” doesn’t leave anyone out.
All nations must certainly include the nations and people that can be reached online.
Internet evangelism doesn’t replace other methods of sharing the gospel. But, let me assure you of four things as you pray and consider online missions. (1) If you have a heart for the Lord and use the Internet, you can be an online missionary. (2) You will touch real lives. (3) The Spirit will help you respond. (4) God will bless you.
Question: How are you using the Internet for ministry?
