With 300,000 Christian churches – supported by massive amounts of Christian media – church attendance must be surging, right?

Not according to analysts who have begun describing America as one of the world’s largest mission fields.

“While there is abundant access to Christian information, many unchurched persons in North America are amazingly untouched by the evangelical subculture because the Christian subculture is largely incapable of providing a culturally relevant gospel witness,” says researcher Ed Stetzer.

In short, the numbers are daunting.

It is estimated that 100 million children, teens and adults do not attend church in the U.S. Some believe the number may be twice that. This is a challenging moment in history for the American Church.

A challenging moment for the 1st century church

In John 6, we’re given the account of another challenging moment in history for a small group of new believers.

Five thousand men, plus their families, had followed Jesus up the hillside looking for a word of hope in what seemed to be a hopeless world. It is the lunch hour. Jesus looks out on the sea of people and recognizes that they are hungry.

To the disciples this looks like a huge problem.

Philip runs the numbers and concludes that feeding the 5,000 isn’t in the budget. Andrew gets creative and runs a campaign to solicit help. The idea results in a single gift of two small fish and five small barley loves. One little boy makes a meager contribution, a drop in the bucket compared to the need. The conclusion is, it can’t be done.

“Oh yes it can,” Jesus says, “just give me what you have.” Jesus takes the boy’s small gift, gives thanks for it and, “All ate as much as they wanted.”

Story still preaches

Listening to a sermon recently on this amazing story, it occurred to me that some of us probably share the frustrations of the disciples when we look at the result of our efforts.

We see there is still an incredibly urgent need for more outreach in our communities but…

Our budgets are stretched to the max and just won’t support the funding of more people or outreach tools.

We’re running campaigns, organizing evangelistic projects, and trying some new media things, yet acknolwedge that the results are less than remarkable.

Unwilling to retreat, we draw strength from this miraculous story of multiplication. For churches and ministries using technology and media, there are four applications.

The people realized that God was at work among them in what Jesus had just done. John 6:14

First, Jesus can do a lot with a little. No matter how small your IT team is, or how limited your technology infrastructure, Jesus can multiply your resources. Will you trust Jesus to take whatever tools you have and add to them in ways that you can’t imagine right now?

Second, Jesus constantly challenges us to do things we’ve never attempted. Make a list of all the ways you know that technology is being used to connect with others outside the ministry. Develop a plan and experiment with one or more of these strategies or tools in the next three to six months. Will you trust Jesus to stretch you beyond your technological comfort zone?

Third, Jesus wants us to operate as one. Be open to working with other churches and organizations to create new partnerships and technology driven outreach platforms. Will you trust Jesus to tear down barriers and create common ground?

Fourth, Jesus wants us to get the gospel to every person in every way. The people seated right in front of us are a priority. A Pew Internet report revealed that nearly two-thirds of online Americans use the Internet for faith-related reasons. And another report showed that that 93% of teens ages 12‐17 go online, as do 93% of young adults ages 18‐29.

Will you ask Jesus to give you the eyes of the little boy on the hillside? Will you step forward in faith to engage the unsaved and unchurched online in your community?

Will you watch for a mighty work that only God can do?

Three stories in the news this week brought home again that the world is experiencing change unlike anything past generations have experienced.

1. 1Gbps Wi-Fi coming to a billion devices by 2015

2. What the experts think about the viability of an Internet kill switch

3. Christian broadcaster gets the Canadian boot

Again we see that communication technologies are a driving force of change. Technological change brings social and cultural change. And not all change is good.

You will find plenty to think about in these posts.

Rate of change

There has always been change in the world. The difference now, is that the rate of change is speeding up.

Physician-futurist Richard Swenson explains that progress is biblically normative yet born into a fallen world. “Functionally, it works by giving us more and more of everything faster and faster,” he says.

The change today is explosive and wildly disruptive. The mathematics incomprehensible. Changes that used to take a hundred years to occur, with only word of mouth and slow travel, now with the Internet may only take a few years.

What’s next?

It hardly seems possible, but the pace of change is going to go even faster. So buckle up, hang on tight, and get ready for the ride of your life.

In the Digital Age, contending for the faith will include contending with change. Recognizing these four things can be a help to keeping our feet on solid ground and our focus on aiming for God’s best.

I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. Jude 3

First, there is no change with God. “I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6) The Internet is not unlocking any mysteries of life for an unchanging, unchangeable God. We can trust a Father who never goes back on His Word.

Second, there is purpose to every change on earth. “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ (Isaiah 46:10) If we are to understand what God is doing through change, we will need to seek Him daily for clarity, guidance and strength.

Third, massive global change brings a sense of urgency. ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.’ (Ezekiel 33:11) There is no way to know for sure if we are living in one of those momentous times of great significance to the advancement of God’s kingdom. However, we do know that there are unprecedented opportunities for using technology and media to spread the gospel. Christian communicators should aggressively pursue every tool while the doors are open.

Fourth, painful changes and setbacks shouldn’t discourage us. “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9) Disappointments will occur. Doors will close.Through prayer and worship and a persevering faith, there are no obstacles that cannot be overcome.

Stay fixed on God’s eternal vision in this ever-changing temporal world. And as you do the work to which God has called you, be strong and take courage in these words of Jesus; “Remember, I am with you always, even to the very end of the age.”

Question: What are some other ways individuals and organizations can contend with accelerating technological change?

[This is a guest post by Tony Whittaker. He lives in the UK where he is Coordinator of Internet Evangelism Day and publishes his monthly Web Evangelism Bulletin.]

To mission executives, field leaders, missiologists, magazine editors, missionaries and outreach teams everywhere

“Online evangelism is strategic and crucial for this new digital century. We commend Internet Evangelism Day’s resources to you.”   – Scott Moreau, editor Evangelical Missions Quarterly

We know that your ministry’s heart is to share the good news of Jesus Christ. May we draw your attention to the potential of new options that can enhance your mission’s objectives: the growing array of digital and Internet evangelism opportunities.

Far-reaching Communication Changes

Digital communication is transforming our world in ways that we are only beginning to discern. There are now over 3 billion mobile phone owners and 2 billion web users, and the majority are outside the West. Facebook has 500 million users in nearly 100 languages, making it (in terms of ‘population’) the third largest ‘country’ in the world.

The impact of the silicon chip is as dramatic and far-reaching as the invention of the printing press. This new ‘digital communication culture’ is superseding the West’s ‘print communication culture’. And remarkably, it has much more in common with the ‘oral communication cultures’ that many of us are so familiar with. Its strengths include two-way interaction and relationship building, visual storying rather than left-brain abstract analytic thinking, and the ability to offer information and help anonymously.

Digital communication has transformed the mission world too. Most mission staff are in instant digital contact with other team members, HQ, home church, and family. Mission support and recruitment is leveraged through websites. Research that only a few years back might have taken weeks, is now achieved online in seconds.

Digital Evangelism: Untapped Missions Tools

However, many cross-cultural missions have not yet really started to use digital media for their raison d’etre – sharing the good news.

There may be various reasons for this:

• Mission web communication has usually focused primarily on publicity (reaching the support base in the West) and communication (linking up mission staff with each other and their admin bases), which offer a measurable return on investment. Technical and design staff have been appointed to fulfill these roles, rather than for a direct evangelism focus.
• Some mission staff may lack background knowledge of the underlying philosophy of digital evangelism or specific potential strategies, especially older staff whose age makes us ‘immigrants’ to digital culture, rather than born ‘citizens’. This is also reflected in the current lack of training modules about these opportunities, in bible colleges and mission training institutions.
• A belief that online evangelism is expensive and always requires a high level of technical knowledge; and that teams on the ground may lack these resources, or the time amidst existing responsibilities to attempt new initiatives of unproven worth.
• A concern that digital media may only reach the rich urban elite, rather than the majority rural or urban poor.
• A right understanding that most effective evangelism is closely tied to long-term face-to-face relationships. This may lead to the conclusion that digital media are inappropriate to share the good news, either because they communicate through supposedly far weaker and impersonal digital relationships, or perhaps due to their having been occasionally over-sold as supposedly magic-bullet ‘automated outreach’ solutions. This judgment may have been strengthened by hearing seemingly exaggerated claims of digital evangelism ‘successes’ based on unverifiable numbers of ‘decisions’.
• A belief that, though a valid means of outreach, digital evangelism is a specialism in the same category as radio or video production: best left to specialist ministries who have the requisite finance and training needed.
• A concern for mission security, and the recognized need to maintain a reasonably low profile in even relatively open countries.

Some Solutions for You to Consider

Internet Evangelism Day and the Guide Network partnership exist to promote awareness of the many opportunities for digital evangelism that exist, especially in cross-cultural situations outside the West. This is a focus of Lausanne 2010, and the Lausanne World Pulse email newsletter has covered the growing opportunities for digital evangelism (eg. see 6-7/2010, 2/2009): www.lausanneworldpulse.com/archives.php

EMQ and IJFM also cover these issues.

We believe that the Web and digital media are God-given tools that are especially significant for relatively unreached countries and people groups for these reasons:

• Missions rightly stress the need to plant churches within easy geographical reach of target people groups, because we know that it is only through real relationships, with people they can comfortably relate to, that unreached peoples will see biblical Christianity modeled. But in a community, city or country where believers are perhaps 1% or less of population, most people may never knowingly meet a Christian, let alone build redemptive relationships with those in a Christian community. The Web can enable an initial contact.
• The Web is unique as a ‘pull medium’ that can target people based on their language, ethnicity, felt needs, life problems, or general interests. It is not limited to locating and connecting with people who are already seekers or vaguely inquisitive. It can also engage with people ‘much further back’.
• There is a remarkable online phenomenon called ‘anonymous intimacy’: people are often far more willing to share their questions, needs or problems online, than they would with even a close friend. Although it may express itself differently in various cultures, this online behavior seems universal. And in countries and religious systems where there is, at minimum, considerable social disapprobation towards someone seen to be asking even cursory questions about Christianity or reading Christian literature, the Web is a safe and private channel of inquiry. For example, there are many thousands of monthly downloads of the Bible within the Middle East. Mentoring relationships can be established online that would be difficult to initiate or maintain, face-to-face.
• The dramatic growth of mobile phone use is a major opportunity. In poorer countries, a phone may be the only digital device people will own, and they can increasingly use it to access the Web rather than visit an Internet Cafe. Mobiles are transforming trade, development, healthcare and communication throughout the global south.Facebook has made it easy for mobile users to read and update their Facebook pages without incurring online access charges. Mobiles also offer a unique 24/7 channel to share the good news: downloaded video clips or longer movies, as well as books and Bibles. Any Christian with a mid-to-high range phone can load a portfolio of appropriate video clips in various languages, and share them face-to-face with others as part of a conversation, indeed as a discussion starter.If the contact has a Bluetooth-equipped phone, video clips or books can also be quickly passed across to that phone too. (Cheap portable DVD players can also be used to share videos on a personal basis with two or three people.) Read more: IEDay.net/mobile
• Video clip production is now also within the scope of the amateur. A good webcam, high-end phone, digital camera or camcorder can produce video of sufficient quality to post online or install on a mobile phone. Free or cheap editing software, allied to an understanding of the medium and creative thinking, can produce strategic video shorts.Facebook and other regional social networking sites are proving hugely popular in Africa, Asia and S America. For many people, these sites are their main portal for messaging and relationships, obviating the need to use the wider Internet so much. Relational Facebook evangelism and sensitive outsider-friendly Facebook fan pages have huge potential for building dialogue and sharing faith. Read more: IEDay/facebook
• The Web can also enable any returned or retired missionary to continue ministry to their area of service. Many opportunities need no technical knowledge at all!
• There are also huge opportunities for digital discipleship and teaching, using the Web, digital books, audio/video and mobile phones.

How Can We Help?

We know that digital media are already playing a huge role in fulfilling the Great Commission and concur with George Verwer’s statement:

The Internet is one of the most key tools that God has given us in the church today. Internet Evangelism is a dynamic, effective, cutting-edge ministry that more people should get involved in!

Internet Evangelism Day is a year-round resource guide (and annual focus day) about the many ways of using the digital media: InternetEvangelismDay.com

The Guide Network is an informal grouping of ministries to equip and enhance digital ministry online and by mobile phone, especially in the non-western world. Within the network are a number of informal smaller networks for digital evangelism in specific countries and regions. Their strategic significance is to draw together digital outreach teams, radio and BCC ministries, mission staff on the ground, and local church groupings, leading to vital synergy and the ability to link online inquirers with real believers at local level. Digital media often function most effectively when integrated in this way: IEDay.net/guide

We also work closely with Visual Story Network, who focus on using visual digital media for evangelism: VisualStoryNetwork.org

Distance-learning modules are being planned by Biola University, to equip mission staff for digital ministry, and there are other online training resources: IEDay.net/training

We can provide speakers for mission staff conferences, team discussions or colleges, and are freely available for consultation in these areas: IEDay.net/speaker

We would be honored to assist your vital ministry in any way we can. Please contact us at office@internetevangelismday.com (or use our contact form) to discuss any aspect of digital evangelism. Please tell us also of any digital initiatives you plan or are involved in.

Yours in His Service,

Tony Whittaker | Coordinator, Internet Evangelism Day

As we enter the fourth decade of the Digital Revolution, the vast opportunities for technology to help advance the kingdom are beginning to take hold.

I am encouraged by two trends. One is related to world evangelization. The other to how the implementation of New Media is being fit into the picture.

Each was put under a national spotlight recently in Orlando, FL.

Missions & Media

The first positive trend is a renewed focus and passion for the Great Commission.

At their annual meeting June 16-17, the Southern Baptist Convention adopted the recommendations of its Great Commission Resurgence Task Force.

The result was a decision to become more aggressive in presenting the gospel to underserved and unreached people in North America and around the world. ”We are a Great Commission people,” said Ronnie Floyd, Chairman of the task force.

It’s exciting to see God’s renewing energy at work in America’s largest Protestant denomination. This will be an example to denominations, churches, pastors and Christians everywhere for years to come.

The second trend that excites me is the new focus of national Christian organizations on how to think biblically about New Media and how to use it for advancing the kingdom.

While technology wasn’t featured at the SBC event, as if by design, one day later, it was the focus of the Pre-conference for Ligonier Ministries’ National Conference.

In his talk “The Brave New World Of New Media,” Ed Stetzer said,

For Christians…to not use [New Media] for the agenda that God has for such tools is problematic at best and irresponsible at worst.

The great challenge

There has always been hyperbole associated with the Digital Revolution. But it is no exaggeration to say that technology has been woven into every aspect of our lives.

That is not going to change. It’s roots will grow deeper.

What can and must change is for Christian leaders to come together to prayerfully consider how to respond “to the most fundamental shift in terms of human relatedness since the development of written language and the development of the printing press,” as one speaker put it in Orlando.

• To determine how to bring the Internet and all emerging technologies under the Lordship of Christ.
• To determine how to effectively integrate the most appropriate technologies with existing efforts to reach this and future generations with the gospel. Until the whole world hears.

That is a great challenge facing the church in this time.

God is in the distance closing business

The distance between where the church is in its mission today [the people that remain unreached / least reached by the Gospel], and where it wants to be [all people reached] … 2.74 billion people.

The distance between the two recent conversations in Orlando — one about the possibilities for completing the Great Commission, and one about the possibilities for using New Media to carry out God’s agenda … 8 miles.

Metaphorically speaking for the church at large, my prayer is that by this time next year the 8 mile distance is closed. The vision is to see the two discussions brought together, putting New Media and innovative technology initiatives on the front lines of reaching the unreached.

When I consider the distance closing synergy that God can bring from a Spirit-filled church, purposefully united in using New Media to proclaim the gospel, the finish line to the Great Commission is truly in sight.

Question: What trends do you see for the use of the Internet and technology for evangelism and gut-level personal ministry?

This was the day for Global Media Outreach (GMO) to host its Webinar in observance of Internet Evangelism Day. It was also a day to talk about the tools God has given the Church for sharing the gospel online.

This and other takeaways from an online seminar looking at the impact of the Internet on missions and ministry.

In a way, the GMO seminar felt like a virtual session of the Ministry Internet and Technology Summit, occurring at the same time in San Diego.

Over 200 packed into the room online for the GMO workshop.

Eight takeaways

1. One-third of countries closed to missionaries (Pew Research)

“(The rulers, elders and teachers of the law) called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” — Acts 4:18

Of the world’s 15,958 Major People Groups, 6,415 (numbering 1.8 billion persons) are considered unreached. (Joshua Project)

Fulfilling the Great Commission in these countries may be forbidden but it is not impossible.

We have to change our way of thinking about outreach and communication in a post Christian age. Traditional methods must be transformed. –Michelle Diedrich, GMO Communications Director

2. The Internet is the new mission field

1.8 Billion people, 26% of the world’s population, is on the Internet. (Internet Usage Statistics, December 2009)

67% have a cell phone. (Mobile Marketing Watch, February 2010)

According to the 2010 Kaiser Report, the average youth in the U.S. consumes 10:45 hours of media each day. If they’re not asleep or in school, they’re using Facebook or texting. They’re going online in a variety of ways, getting information from their friends, consuming media.

Apple sold more than 300,000 iPads on the first day. More than one million apps have already been downloaded. In 2009, China passed the U.S. as the largest user of mobile broadband.

More people use the Internet than go to church. Over 2 million people conduct spiritual searches through the Internet each day.

“This is not a passing fad,” Diedrich confirmed.

3. Internet evangelism is a ministry option not a technology option

Diedrich pointed out, “The church is now in bits as well as atoms. The network is the market.”

Churches around the country are taking notice and introducing their members to online evangelism.

Pastor Rob Jackson, Forestville Baptist Church (Greenville, SC) uses GMO’s Always Ready program as a safe way to introduce online evangelism to his church. Jackson even integrates his congregations online missions activity into worship services. Online missionaries are giving testimonies about the people they are connecting with and ministering to all over the world.

In this video Pastor Jackson talks about his church’s online mission program. Churches of all sizes are developing online missions strategies that are deliberately evangelistic.

4. Online evangelism is easier than you think

“You don’t need to be seminary trained to share the gospel online,” according to Amy Gross, a Christian blogger (Mom’s Toolbox) and online missionary with GMO. “It opens your eyes to the needs of the world, without ever having to leave home. With GMO, I can go on a short term mission trip every day – in my pajamas!”

Diedrich’s personal experience has been similar. “I had no idea how easy it would be to share the gospel with people. It has really enabled me to do what we’re supposed to do. Sharing online has definitely made it easier to talk face to face with people about my faith.”

Online missionaries come from every background and range in age from 21-90.

What’s been the biggest surprise of being an online missionary? Gross said, “I have time to pray over questions asked and can get resources from GMO to help me reply.”

It’s a place where missionaries must be.

5. Online evangelism changes lives

“Can you really have a personal relationship with someone online?” is the question Diedrich says she gets asked the most.

To find out if online evangelism really changes lives, GMO conducted a survey of 8,500 people, six months after having made a decision for Christ online.

The results:

a. Are you certain of your salvation? 87% Are Assured
b. Has your thinking/view/life experience changed? 72% Worldview
c. Do you read the Bible daily? 44% Bible
d. Do you attend church regularly? 63% Worship
e. Do you set aside time to pray daily? 58% Pray
f. Are you sharing your faith with others? 57% Share

Can you really have a personal relationship with someone online? “Absolutely you can!” Diedrich exclaimed.

GMO has recognized the need for connecting new believers to local Christian movements and has created the church partner program to strengthen its local church network.

6. Additional key benefits from online evangelism

A challenge for churches is how to encourage, train and equip people to talk about Jesus with others.

In a study, GMO online missionaries said gaining “More confidence to talk about my faith face-to-face” was the number one benefit of online evangelism. Survey participants also said that being an online missionary “Increases my vision for world missions” by 50%.”

7. Christians aren’t the only religious group online

Other religious groups are flooding the Internet with information and making an effort to dominate search engines.

According to Pew Research, “There is every indication that the Internet is a major source of religious information where people of many cultures and languages collect their spiritual facts and opinions in private.”

Many of these individuals are at risk of adopting a potpourri of religious ideas.

If Christians aren’t there to help people find Jesus,” Diedrich asked with concern, “what will they find? We want to make sure people know the real Jesus and how to have a relationship with Him.”

8. Why Internet ministry as opposed to other great works

God can do anything through anyone using any tool.

For Global Media Outreach, its online missionaries and ministry partners, the vision is clear, as Diedrich shared. “We are the first generation – ever – to hold in our hands the technology to give every person on earth multiple chances to accept Jesus Christ.

We don’t want to miss our opportunity!”

The complete webinar online (it’s about an hour in length)

http://webinars.globalmediaoutreach.com

Additional reports on the webinar can be found in this ChristianPost.com article, and in Paul Steinbrueck’s blog post The Internet’s Effect on Online Missions – Available Online.