UFMCC General Conference July 1999 Workshop: Non-technical Internet Evangelism

by surprisedbyjoy@yahoo.com
www.soulfoodministry.org

Contents: (All email addresses in this document are used with permission)

  1. Welcome and Introduction to Community.Com
  2. Cybersalvation
  3. Our Great Commission, The Internet Spiritual Revolution and Multilingual, Global Opportunities
  4. The Great Commission or the Great Omission?
  5. The Internet Spiritual Revolution is for the Technically Challenged and Technically Gifted
  6. Selected Virtual Realities, Challenges and Responsibilities
  7. Would Jesus use a modem? Reflections with the book of Acts
  8. The Basics of God’s Heartbeat and "Ah, excuse me but what is a gospel?"
  9. Discipleship-Evangelism Paradigm for Internet Seekers
  10. "Link" Evangelism and the Gutenberg-Luther Revolution
  11. Technically Gifted and Technically Challenged People can work together
  12. Training Internet Prayer Intercessors with Internet Resources to Learn From
  13. Writing Cyberevangelism Documents for Seekers, New Babes and Growing Christians
  14. A Few Important Translation Lessons Learned
  15. 21st Century Challenge for Pastors and Lay Leaders
  16. Selected Internet Articles on the Cyberchurch
  17. A Few Good Books on Evangelism

1. Welcome and Introduction to Community.Com

The Internet has begun a spiritual revolution that many in the Church have yet to realize. Seekers, doubters and skeptics are searching for Internet spirituality resources. Literally millions of cyberpilgrims log on around the world. Almost every major world religion is on the ‘Net. With a click of the mouse, we can browse a Roman Catholic reading room, leap to an Orthodox Jewish discussion group and then visit an on-line meeting with Zen Buddhists. The Internet provides global and local virtual hyperspecific community and abundant spirituality resources for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (glbt) readers. Community.Com is today’s reality. The "Internet Café" provided by this year’s General Conference in Los Angeles, California (USA) is a dramatic example of how we are using the internet to stay in touch with our communities.

The Internet brings new challenges and opportunities for both the church and individuals online. How do we provide presence and ministry to searchers and lurkers in this new electronic medium? How do we train our churches and individual church members with resources to empower their faith sharing and spiritual friendship skills? How do we disciple and provide spiritual formation materials for our virtual visitors? How can we help them find local affirming church communities around the world?

As a former military chaplain, part of my ministry responsibilities were to provide spiritual training for lay leaders in the field on the front line. We now have a responsibility to provide some training for our online parishioners who yearn to share what they’ve experienced in God with others through the internet. They are praying with cyberfriends, referring people to web sites of spiritual hospitality and generosity and often engage in informal lay pastoral counseling. The ministry potential of reaching people with the loving and inclusive gospel of Christ is enormous. Through the internet we can live locally while sharing our faith experiences and stories globally. A magnificent spiritual revolution is occurring online. Every online person can be part of it. This is an adventure with God that has only just begun.

2. Cybersalvation

"I found God through the Internet!" Barna research reveals 1 in 6 (in the USA) will eventually have all their spirituality/religious needs met through the Internet. This has enormous implications for reaching people. How can we unleash God’s mighty power through Internet Evangelism? Our understanding of evangelism is immediately evident on the Internet. Here are just a few pictures of what Internet evangelism can look like:

3. Our Great Commission, the Internet Spiritual Revolution and multilingual, global opportunities:

Evangelism is God’s heartbeat and is the cutting edge of the church. Evangelism affects everything we do and has been wisely compared to the Hindu fable of 6 blind men describing the elephant from their limited perspective. Many people have been "turned off" pressured into "making a decision" by homophobic televangelists and marketing techniques. They suffer from what I call "Bible Concussions." Deep spiritual injuries cause many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people to view the Christian church as "an enemy." As a result, we are "evangelism-phobic" and avoid even using this word due to deep spiritual injuries and misconceptions about what evangelism is.

We can begin to reclaim our spiritual great commission by teaching and sharing through a "beloved discipleship" theology of outreach and spiritual formation. This is quite simply based on Christ’s teachings and lifestyle through non-homophobic sacred literature known as the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and book of Acts.

The Internet is an empowering information superhighway and offers us unlimited mission potential for intentional, international and local outreach. Every online Christian and church can participate. If indeed 1 of 6 in the USA alone will be using the internet as their primary resource for spirituality and religious experiences, we are called through the Great Commission mandate and Great Commandments to share our faith experiences with the Jesus of Nazareth with the "searchers and lurkers in cyberspace."

Jesus is our paradigm for evangelism and calls us into a lifetime of discipleship. Christ is the center and content of the gospel. The gospel is more than simplistic "plan of salvation" or "four spiritual laws" approach. Jesus calls us into the Reign of God as disciples with a vibrant spirituality and intensely personal and corporate life in God as the beloved. Belovedness is the core of our existence and message of Good News.

Each of us is called to be a Christian disciple, while being discipled and actively discipling others through the teachings of Jesus Christ in the Gospels. Whatever we believe evangelism is, it looks like us as we share our faith experiences in the first person singular. "This is my story, this is my song."

The internet is increasingly multilingual. To be culturally relevant, people need cyberdocuments and spiritual friends in their primary languages. The internet is full of international seekers, skeptics and doubters searching for spiritual answers and friendships for their many questions. The internet is one way to help many in their quest for God. Through online relationships, we can help many reclaim their belovedness in God, find virtual worshipping community and discipleship relationships.

4. The Great Commission or the Great Omission?

Let’s reclaim our Great Commission spiritual heritage. "God never called the world to attend church. God has called the church to go to the world." (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24: 45-49; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2: 1-13.) "Make disciples locally and globally." Jesus speaks in the Greek imperative. It is a command and not a suggestion. Discipleship evangelism takes dedicated effort, intention and commitment.

The primary objective of evangelism is discipleship and not church member recruitment. "The church’s main business is to service, reach and disciple people who do not yet understand, believe or follow Christ as Lord…all Christians are invited into a ministry of witness and invitation."

Discipleship defined by Willow Creek Church is "to help irreligious people become devoted followers of Jesus Christ." I would add religious people to this definition. We are "one beggar telling another where to get bread." Jesus is the spiritual bread and water of life people are searching for as we enter the new century. People need soul food and soul care to empower their soul sharing. This is discipleship-evangelism.

Discipleship-evangelism is the task of the 21st church and calling of every Christians throughout the ages. It is the gracious work of the Holy Spirit bringing people into divine encounters for spiritual conversation which lead to spiritual transformation through a personal relationship with Christ. This is a lifelong process.

The Gospels give us many pictures of seekers finding answers to their many questions with Jesus. John’s gospel is especially revealing of Christ’s spiritual hospitality and generosity with individuals. He met everyone with respect and listened closely to their many questions. He lingered in conversation with people. While he preached, taught and healed the crowds, he always took time for the one. I would suggest one is the most important number in God’s vocabulary. When we see Christ, we see God. We see God through Christ in the beautiful gospel stories. All the stories are completely non-homophobic.

John is the beloved disciple Jesus loved above all others. John writes as the beloved describing his Beloved Jesus. He alone describes the dramas of closeted Nicodemus (Nic) and the Samaritan woman (John 3 & 4). These stories give us beautiful examples of the stages of faith in process.

"Nic" met Jesus secretly at night, afraid of being "outed" by peers and colleagues. He was a religious professional. After a profound 1:1 conversation, he tried to defend Jesus without making a commitment. While he is never recorded as "making a decision," his actions speak louder than words at the cross (John 3:2ff; 7:50; 19:39). Jesus invited all into a personal relationship. Nicodemus was cautious.

Other new births/spiritual awakenings can be more dramatic. The Samaritan woman in John 4 is high drama indeed. She immediately became a "convinced Christian." She began sharing her personal Jesus relationship and experience with neighbors. She publicly invited them to meet the Amazing One.

We each begin to say "yes" to Christ through our unique personalities.

Dr. Robert Coleman defines evangelism this way: Evangelism is to present Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, that people shall come to put their trust in God through Christ, accept Christ as Savior, serve Christ as Sovereign, in the fellowship of the church."

5. The Internet Spiritual Revolution is for the technically challenged and technically gifted

The Internet offers unlimited potential for creative ministries for technically gifted church members and technically challenged pastors and lay members in the church. People can work from their home computer or local library through cybernames. People can have a vibrant ministry online as a spiritual friend and prayer intercessor. Together we can copartner gospel outreach wherever one seeker is online.

We can live locally & serve globally in multicultural, multilingual outreach and discipleship relationships. Our 21st Century opportunities abound: 30 countries are in email dialogue with UFMCC Global Missions asking for churches. (Bulgaria, Brazil, Bangladesh, Cuba, Columbia, China, Chili, Fiji, Ghana, Greece, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Peru, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Uganda, Uruguay, Ukraine, Venezuela and Zimbabwe) Spanish outreach alone can reach people in 9 of these countries.

6. Virtual realities, challenges and responsibilities
  1. Veracity: Who are you? Who speaks for the church? Virtual names and real name issues. People want to know who we are and "where do we live on planet earth" before sharing their soul deep questions. Sometimes we need to exchange some biographical information and references. This is especially crucial on the internet where many claim to be theologians, priests and pastors. They may not be who they claim. Be especially wary when asked for money to "maintain ministry." The internet is full of impostors.

  2. Confidentiality? Who sees email? Footprints are a reality in cyberspace and can "out" seekers. USA military are especially vulnerable when they use computers to visit "gay" sites and send email. Internet service providers also have access to email archives. Once an email is sent, it can be forwarded to many people. Often words can be cut and pasted out of context. When email conversations speak of suicide ideation, homicide and incest, other people’s safety becomes a concern and responsibility.

  3. Transference and boundary issues and realities. Be aware and set clear boundaries. Our bodies have a vocabulary which can’t be seen online and our imaginations work overtime as we become involved with internet conversations. Know what is inappropriate and manipulative for you. Some destructive and unhealthy relationships occur very quickly. There are also "predators" seeking to take advantage of well intentioned people. Be care-full.

  4. Pastoral care challenges and concerns: depression, suicide ideation, "saving" dialogue and legalities. When in doubt, "save" conversations on secure files. Some people will ask for a phone number and call troubled individuals personally. Know that these conversations can be used in court. Be prayer-full and care-full. Clergy, counselors and lay leaders: be available for online parishioners who are concerned for such troubled internet relationships.

  5. Email: cautions, concerns, time, maintaining files . Email is time consuming and each person needs to determine how much time to devote to this. Know that email can be forwarded, cut and pasted out of context.

  6. Youth ministry challenges. Children as well as adults like to C*date and are vulnerable. Teach them safety, caution and help them with cyber chat rooms. Address the internet through sermons, youth gatherings and Sunday schools.

  7. Consideration of reader computers, technical abilities and accessibility. Not all computers are equal in capability. Not all users are technically gifted or enabled.

  8. Accountability issues: Essential in this disembodied medium and it’s full of pitfalls and cautions.

  9. Cyberporn: cybersex addictions and spirituality issues. The internet is the world’s largest library. Like all libraries, there is some material not appropriate for Christian witness and spiritual growth. Internet sex with spiritual seekers is as inappropriate as pastoral leaders using their sexuality inappropriately with their parishioners.

  10. Technospirituality and cybertheology is in infancy stages. Get involved and help develop this exciting new medium for the millions of cyberpilgrims searching for spirituality resources.

7. Would Jesus use a modem? Reflections on Acts

Yes! Lyle Schaller, an ecumenical church growth consultant, has said "any church not online is missing a magnificent opportunity." Jesus is using millions of modems through cyberspace pioneers such as the 1st Church in Cyberspace, Internet for Christians, individuals, local churches and many denominational web pages. There are abundant ministries now online that minister to "believers" and outreach seekers. There is an enormous need for pro-Christian, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered affirming virtual web sites and ministry. The internet is here to stay. Let’s use it.

The early church gives us a picture of previously timid and now transformed Christians pulled out of their upper room and into public witness. Pentecost shows us the whole world is to hear the word of God through the ecclesia (Greek word used to describe the church). Ecclesia means "called out" and is a public community. The early church is mentioned 100 times in the New Testament and passionately shared the Jesus story.

We find interesting 1st century and 21st century parallels as we read the book of Acts: The Christian churches of Antioch and Jerusalem in Acts 11 and 15 are worth close study. The early church was passionate about evangelism and eagerly shared what they knew of the Amazing One, Jesus Christ (Acts 4:29, 31; 6:2, 4, 7; 8:4, 14, 25; 10: 36; 11:1, 19; 12: 24; 13: 7, 44, 46, 48, 49; 14:25; 15: 35-36; 16: 6, 32; 17:11, 13; 18: 5, 11; 19:10). Salvation is in Christ alone. This must be preached to all peoples. The early church stressed the centrality of Christ and gives us a 21st theology of world mission and evangelism. They had seen the compassionate face of Christ that hatred, violence, injustice, betrayal and death could not remove from this world. "To see Christ is to see God (Henri Nouwen). We too can become convinced Christians and see the face of Christ through reading the gospels. Our web pages and virtual outreach can help others read a gospel and see the face of Christ for perhaps the first time.

The Holy Spirit marks the beginning of active missionary work promoting the Reign of God (Acts 8:12; 14:22; 19:8, 20, 25; 28: 23, 31). We are empowered by the Holy Spirit in Divine appointments. The early church immediately reached out to outsiders. They made Christ visible, audible and personal in Holy Spirit power. Like the early church, we can expect special HS filling at special online times in our lives and through church/individual web page outreaches (Acts 4:8, 36; 6:3, 5; 7: 55; 9:17; 13: 9, 52). The Holy Spirit brings seekers to our web pages and brings many into online spiritual conversations as well as bringing their prayer requests to us.

From the very beginning, Christianity has been a magnificent lay calling. The believers shared the centrality of the Jesus story everywhere they went. The early Christians through the church constantly taught and proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, rejoiced in obstacles, gossiped the gospel constantly as they scattered in persecution, preaching the kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 5:42; 8:4, 12, 25, 35, 40; 10:36; 11:20). They baptized as they went in the name of the Trinity, approached spirituality seeking people and preached peace in Jesus Christ who is Lord of all. They spoke these words to people they normally would have nothing to do with. They created a spiritual revolution which continues this day. They shared the story from jails, in martyrdom, in their neighborhood, in existing religious institutions. From the beginning, they struggled to include people different from themselves. Sometimes this required reinterpreting ancient, cherished, traditional Levitical rules to let outsiders into the Christian faith. They constantly told the story of Jesus in his birth, life, through the centrality of the cross, his death and resurrection. They preached the drama of the gospel, our sin problem and Jesus as the only solution.

Their struggle is ours. How do we communicate a never-changing Christ in an ever changing world? They stayed with the centrality of Christ and the story of Jesus. Theirs was a precise message of death, burial and resurrection. They were the Easter people. They preached Jesus conquered death. Only Christ bore our sins. Our religions cannot compete. There is simply no other name at which every knee shall bow and every tongue confess as LORD (Philippians 2: 9-11).

8. The Basics of God’s Heartbeat and "Ah, Excuse me but what is a gospel?"

This is today’s great challenge for our churches in the 21st century: Help people of all sexual orientations read a gospel, linger with God, develop trust through prayers of the heart in an "agnostic world" where 50% in North America alone have no church memory, don’t know what a gospel is or what Christians celebrate on Easter. The Internet is one way to reach many. Those with computers often print off documents and share them with their friends. God’s Heartbeat and the value of one seeker is the heart of the gospel and seen in Luke 15. One is the most important number in God’s vocabulary. Our online saints virtually reach one by one by one.

The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John contain "80% of what we need for discipleship" (Dr. David Watson, Wesley seminary). Jesus had deep compassion for "lost people" (Matthew 9:36, Luke 10: 2-7; John 17). We are blessed with a magnificent Christian calling in both online and off-line outreach.

Some useful cyberevangelism documents (English and Spanish) for further development of "God’s heartbeat" and "Ah, Excuse me but what is a "Gospel"?" can be found at: http://soulfoodministry.org/docs/God’sHeartbeat.htm and http://soulfoodministry.org/docs/AhWhatIsGospel.htm.

9. Discipleship-Evangelism paradigm for Internet seekers

Discipleship involves growing, feeding and nurturing our seekers, babes in the faith and maturing Christians of all sexual orientations for ministry (Ephesians 4). John Wesley is credited with saying "conversion without nurture is a stillborn child." Bonhoeffer has said "discipleship is joy."

Ephesians 4:12 calls all of us to "equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ."

Eugene Peterson offers this insightful view about spiritual new birth: "It is the most significant event to be born anew, to be a new creature in Christ. But that significance and the excitement accompanying it do not excuse ignorance and indifference to the complex process of growth into which every Christian is launched via this new birth. Because growth involves so much, so much detail, so much time, so much discipline and patience-it is common to dismiss it and turn our attention to something we can get a quick handle on: the conversion event. Evangelism crowds spirituality off the agenda. But having babies is not a vocation; parenting is. It is easier, of course, to have babies. But a church that refuses or neglects the long, intricate, hard work of guiding it’s newborn creatures into adulthood is being negligent of most of what is Scripture (Living the Message. Daily Reflections with Eugene H. Peterson. Harper San Francisco: 1996, p 283).

Jesus took people beyond John 3:16 into a lifestyle of "beloved discipleship." We can help our virtual seekers begin beloved discipleship through our web pages and friendships with spiritual mentoring. Help glbt seekers reclaim non-homophobic sacred literature and belovedness online with care-fully, prayer-fully written bible studies, prayer helps, spirituality links and trained online Christians for follow up. Help them be spirituality empowered as convinced Christians through the gospels.

John’s gospel is a non-homophobic love story between Jesus and beloved John that invites us into a Love story. Love is the primary motive in evangelism. Friendship with Jesus is a powerful spiritual heritage. This friendship is ours through persecution, danger and oppression.

Discipleship can be summed up in two words uttered by Christ in the Greek imperative. "Follow me" (John 1:40, 43; 10:4, 27; 12: 26; 13: 37; 18: 15; 21: 19). The first documented word for Christian seems to be "disciple" (see Philip’s story in John 1: 43-44; 6:5; 12:22; 14:8-10, Acts 8). "Disciples are made, not born."

We can help our people become "convinced Christians" through reclaiming a beloved John and beloved Jesus lifestyle for all sexual orientations. Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes about the "trilogy of discipleship" in The Cost of Discipleship. The trilogy is found in John chapters 3, 13, 15 and involves spiritual rebirth/awakening lived through a lifestyle of humble service and faithfulness as Christ’s beloved in persecution.

God sent Christ to the world. Christ sends us to families, neighborhoods and the secular marketplace. We have a mission to the world that people might believe in Christ (John 17: 21, 23). People are to say "yes" to Jesus Christ. We are witnesses of God’s great love in our lives.

Some would call this "Oikos/Frangelism." Oikos is powerfully experienced on the internet as "community.com" relationships. Oikos is the Greek word for household and this includes friends and families of choice. Expect these Divine oikos appointments while chatting and surfing the ‘Net. People will be genuinely curious about how we became Christians and what Christ means to us. Some will ask us to explain the gospel as we understand it online. If we can train our people with follow up web sites and other Internet resources, they will be empowered in their witness and God will honor our efforts. God delights when the one is found. Heaven celebrates and angels rejoice.

Praise is our primary language in evangelism and this includes the Internet! Please see the article "What Does This Mean?" at http://soulfoodministry.org/docs/WhatDoesThisMean.htm. As we share our faith, expect amazement, criticism and perplexity. Expect the Holy Spirit to empower our virtual conversations and prayers.

Online and off-line, we have a three pronged evangelism focus:

  1. For those attending our churches.

  2. For those who would never consider attending church

  3. For those in Christian churches who believe gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people cannot be Christians. This well intentioned belief has caused much harm, hatred and persecution of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Christians around the world. It must stop. Respect is a holy word. Jesus is completely non-homophobic and Christians of all sexual orientations are welcomed into God’s family without prejudice, discrimination or favoritism. The growing global Christian voice of sexual minorities is represented in more than 46 countries at the time this document is written. Jesus never called anyone to change their sexual orientation. All of us are invited into God’s love story as beloved people.

10. Link evangelism and the Gutenberg-Luther revolution (Printing Press and Spiritual Reformation)

"The Internet is like drinking from a firehose." Help them drink through "link evangelism." Here is a small selection of brilliant links worth browsing and learning from. Carefully chosen links can help guide our readers to well chosen web sites of spiritual empowerment, virtual community and seminary level resources and digital libraries. Please note not all selected examples are welcoming or affirming of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered seekers. Take what is useful for your personal ministries.

  1. "Joshua on the World Wide Web:" http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/Joshua. The Biblical Storyteller at www.nobs.org.

  2. Other Sheep. International Ministries with Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Persons, Their Families and Friends. Working in an ever-expanding variety of areas, languages and cultures at www.othersheep.org (English), www.swiftsite.com/otrasovejas (Spanish, pastoral) and webs.satlink.com/users/t/thanks (Spanish academic).

  3. www.billygraham.org. Demonstrates a powerful and well organized, thoughtful conservative internet evangelism presence with ex-gay ministry resources only, but insightful to see how hundreds of thousands, even millions are reached with their gospel message.

  4. Campus Crusade for Christ - Reading the Bible in One Year Home Page at http://www.crusade.org: Internet.

  5. Goshen Internet Evangelism Home page at http://www.goshen.net. This site offers everything from witnessing tools to cyber seminaries with internet prayer chains and pen pals. More than 240 cyber articles on evangelism and discipleship with cyber tracts.

  6. Internet Bible College Home Page at http://www.internetbiblecollege.com. Conservative but well planned international Internet Bible school offering programs in 85 countries with degrees ranging from undergraduate to doctor of ministry.

  7. Internet for Christians. More than two million monthly hits at http://www.gospelcom.net. Here you can subscribe to a free e-newsletter. Conservative and non-affirming of glbt Christians, but a presence in cyberspace.

  8. The Jesus Film Project at www.jesusfilm.org in 15 languages. "Poorly translated" says one Russian critic, "yet powerful multilingual outreach God uses."

  9. transgendered web site with seminary level materials. A million "hits" in first year of internet evangelism.

  10. christianlesbians.com with more than 1500 links to affirming glbt churches of different denominations. An amazing web page demonstrating what one dedicated lay person can do before considering seminary. International readership.

  11. whosoever.org (NOT .com) for quality Christian glbt materials.

  12. Soul Force. The Rev. Dr. Mel Whites Justice outreach with non-violent principles based on the teachings of Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Christ.

  13. Hypertext Bibles and Bible reading resources
    1. Bible Net Home Page at http://www.bible.net.
    2. Bible Studies Home Page at http://www.bible.org with Greek and Hebrew study helps, and a seeker and new believer bible study.
    3. Bible Translation Page at http://www.bible.gospelcom.net/languages. Hypertext Bibles in 47 languages including Russian, Arabic and Chinese. Great resource.

11. Technically gifted and Technically challenged people can work together
  1. TECHNICALLY GIFTED WWW.SOULFOODMINISTRY.ORG WEB MISTRESS INTERVIEW:

    1. Any trials and tribulations, issues with working with a technochallenged minister?
      "The work was greatly facilitated by having the content provider (a.k.a. the technochallenged minister) provide documents via email in electronic format. This meant the documents could be converted directly to HTML and posted fairly quickly. This is much superior to mailing around floppy disks or CDs (which I have had to do elsewhere) or typing in hand-written materials. It didn’t matter much what software people choose to use to type up their documents with (Microsoft Word, Corel, Wordpad, typing stuff directly into the Yahoo message box) as long as the provider and the HTML conversion person are using the same software."

    2. Any lessons learned that would empower participants to be more effective or inclined to start Internet outreach?
      "There are many good "cookbooks" for getting started with a Web page that can have you happily creating HTML documents in one weekend. These are available at Crown Books, Barnes & Nobel, Dalton Booksellers, etc. Don’t be put off by the technology. Once on-line, spend some time looking at different sites and make notes on what you like and don’t like. The browser has a button called "View source" that lets you look directly at any site’s HTML code."

    3. Software?
      "Your content providers need something electronic, like Microsoft Word, and ideally a way to email stuff to the HTML conversion/web master person. The HTML conversion person probably would want to use a tool like Microsoft’s FrontPage, Allaire’s HomeSite (which soulfoodministry.org uses; costs $80 US), Dreamweaver, etc. (There are lots of tools) to convert the initial document to web format.)"

    4. Costs?
      "You can get onto the Internet and start your cyberevangelism for as much or as little money as you like. The absolute minimum money in recurring costs is around $400 US a year. This means $35 a year for registering the Internet site with InterNIC; around $200 to find a hosting site (soulfoodministry.org uses hostserver.com), around $180 for a connection to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) (I use www.erols.com; some people use ATT; there are dozens of companies you can connect to). You don’t need a huge monster PC (a 486/60MHZ with a 1 GB hard drive and a 56 Kbit modem is fine)."

    5. Upkeep?
      "None, other than on-going additions of documents."

    6. Virus Problems?
      "Use a virus scrubber like Norton Anti-Virus on your home PC. Your site provider is responsible for protecting your content (but keep a backup at home on floppy that you update after each upload incase they have a hardware problem)"

    7. Links?
      "Check them frequently, especially to other sites. The Internet is very fluid and sites come and go with great speed."

    8. Time involved?
      "As much or as little as you want. I personally spend about 5 hours a week on the site preparing documents and doing uploads."

    9. Getting started, keeping healthy boundaries, etc.?
      "Don’t involve the web mistress in arguments about what to post-when the content providers come to consensus, send the document and explicit instructions to the web mistress/master."

  2. TECHNICALLY CHALLENGED WISDOM AND INSIGHTS FROM A MINISTER: TIME, WRITING, COUNSELING, SPIRITUAL FRIENDSHIPS, DISCIPLESHIP ISSUES, DOING YOUR EXPERTISE:

    1. Time:
      Care-fully, thought-fully, prayer-fully write, edit, field test cyberevangelism documents. Documents take hours, weeks and sometimes months of careful research and preparation for writing. If writing for an international audience, choose words carefully and be as international and ecumenical as possible.

    2. Counseling:
      Be care-full and prayer-full. Keep files and be accountable.

    3. Spiritual Friendships:
      Integrity, commitment and spiritual generosity are essential.

    4. Discipleship Issues:
      Whenever possible, help people get into a local church. Virtual discipleship is time consuming but well worth the effort. Train others and multiply your ministry. Help people succeed in internet evangelism and discipleship. Be available as a resource and provide pastoral care to those online missionaries in our churches.

    5. Prayer Team:
      Critical and essential.

    6. Do your expertise and co-partner the gospel with what you have.
      Rather than struggle in a technical area, I am profoundly grateful to do my area of expertise and let the web mistress/master to theirs. It’s a time management and stewardship issue.

    7. Summary:
      "If you build it, they will come" (Soul Food Ministry web mistress).
      "If you write it, someone will read it, print it off and share it with a friend who is not online" (Surprised By Joy).

12. Training Internet prayer intercessors with boundaries and accountability:

We can train and help our churches succeed in virtual prayer ministry, setting boundaries and learn how other effective virtual prayer outreach is taking place. Prayer is an essential part of our Great Commission calling (Matthew 9/Luke 10/John 17). We are to open our eyes and pray for people to experience God. Evangelism without prayer is arrogant and unproductive. Prayer empowered evangelism transforms lives, opens hearts and is God’s way. When two or three are gathered and praying in Christ’s name, miracles happen in cyberspace. Internet prayer teams are vital for every church web presence. The following URL’s are worth visiting, sending an email prayer to, and are samples of different prayer models to learn from. Each varies in follow-up, suggested prayer length and number of requests, and some are more personal than others.

  1. UCC prayer chapel at http://www.ucc.org Draws 300 requests weekly globally and locally. Many UCC’s around the world take turns on Sundays and pray for their Internet outreach. Many seekers call them a "visible sign of Christ in cyberspace." They publicly post internet prayer requests and but also honor confidential requests.

  2. First Church of Cyberspace avaialble at http://www.godweb.org/sanct.html. Home Page at http://www.godweb.org. Creative Cyber Sistine prayer chapel.

  3. Free Praying Ministries Available from http://www.prayer-warriors.org/Prayer_Links.htm. International Internet prayer page offers praying ministry in French, English, Spanish and Dutch, listing times of intercessory prayers with prayer partners in Australia, Canada, Bahamas, England, New Zealand, South Africa and North America.

  4. Interlude: Prayer Home Page at http://www.interluderetreat.com/index.html; prayers for inspiration from many different traditions.

  5. Icons of our Saviour at http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/icons/saviour_in.html. Using ancient prayer forms with new technology.

  6. Verditas Prayer Labyrinth Home Page at http://www.gracecom.org/labyrinth/ and offers world wide prayer labyrinth locator.

  7. Virtual Jerusalem at http://www.virtualjerusalem.com/sendaprayer/. Home Page at http://www.virtualjerusalem.com with over 5000 links to Jewish resources. Email a prayer to God.

  8. Web Church Prayer Room at http://www.webchurch.org/pray.htm. A carefully planned Web Church of Scotland which welcomes all sexual orientations. Prayers are available for Orthodox, Catholic, General Protestant, Contemporary and non-denominational Christians and those who "don’t know" what their spiritual orientation might be.

  9. Prayer ministry of Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, DC at www.mccdc.com/inside/prayer.html. This prayer ministry is linked with Prayer Warriors Internet intercessors (skyfeather1@aol.com) from the MCC in New Mexico. Spanish, French and Portuguese requests are translated by bilingual volunteers who also send a personal acknowledgment to each seeker. Spanish requests are then directly emailed to MCC Monterrey, Mexico, where a Spanish speaking congregation prays the requests during their midweek prayer meeting. This is a multichurch, bilingual outreach that is easy to do.

  10. MCCPRAYER hosted every Monday night on AOL, 9-10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time by UFMCC minister Rev. Patricia Voelker from MCC Columbia, South Caroline. This is a chance for anyone who wishes to pray together. Often non-MCCers come and pray. This "live" prayer room has been frequented by people throughout the USA. Here’s how to find the room: Go to People Connection, click on Find a chat, then Member Chats, then Search Member Chats. Type MCCPRAYER to enter room. This is a great place to learn Internet prayer and then birth your own church live hour of prayer. "Anyone online can open a room. My hope is that MCCPRAYER rooms will be open at various times/days during the week on AOL and that they are not limited to AOL. Pick a day/time, commit yourself to that hour, and get ready to be blessed! If I can assist you, email AmaSpirit@aol.com."

13. Writing cyberevangelism documents for seekers, new babes and growing Christians:

We can develop church planters, seminarians, missionaries, laity and lay leaders through care-fully, prayer-fully well written multilingual, multicultural Internet documents. A list of glbt accepting seminaries is available through UFMCC HQ. Consider posting these seminaries on your web page. GLBT readers are often amazed that so many high quality schools are available to them. Help people develop and grow into seminary to become quality leaders in the church.

  1. Brigada web page (SOON gospel mission). This is a great resource which teaches people to writecyberevangelismm documents in their primary language. Available at http://www.brigada.org/today/articles/web-evangelism.html.

  2. Internet for Christians, by Quentin Schultze. URL: http://www.gospelcom.net.

  3. Soul Food Ministry examples of multilingual outreach:

14. Important Translation Lessons Learned

English is not the only language on the Internet. Many glbt virtual seekers do not speak English as a secondary language. Our cultural and generational slang and contemporary idiom is difficult to understand for international visitors.

Two examples: The cherished North American college student’s expression "Butt crack of dawn" is both difficult to translate, hard to understand in other cultures and could be offensive to some readers. They may never return. Yet for youth and young adult outreach in North America, it could be highly effective. Later we worked with a Russian translator suggested by a secular non-profit organization via the Internet and found "There is no word for politically correct in Russian." Our soulfoodministry.org cyber evangelism document needed revising. We discovered our cherished inclusive North American language was actually offensive to Russian culture.

Care-fully and prayer-fully consider translation challenges, issues, rewards of multilingual, multicultural, international outreach and costs. Translation is expensive. It costs approximately five cents a word for Spanish, twelve cents a word for Portuguese and fourteen cents a word in French. These economic realities lead many major Internet ministry outreaches to deliberately stay with English for their primary language. Others will use inexpensive software which translates poorly. Some international readers will be deeply touched. Others will be offended at the grammatical errors.

Take time to carefully research advertised translation companies. Perhaps a congregation might be blessed with bilingual or multilingual talent. Check references. We sometimes get what we pay for and cheap is not necessarily the best quality. It helps to have a translator with training in spiritual nuances. Some translation companies will offer a discount with volume work. Translation takes time. If possible, have the materials "field tested" by readers of that primary language. Some use trial web pages for posting materials before putting them out on the world wide web.

The most critically needed languages for cyberevangelismm materials from a UFMCC Global Missions perspective based on seekers’ relationships with denomination: Spanish, French, German, Danish, Tagalog, Afrikaans, Chinese, Japanese and Russian. The Internet is increasingly multilingual. To be culturally relevant, people need materials in their primary language.

As individuals and churches, we can write cyberevangelism documents and raise money for translation, post them on our web pages and donate them for UFMCC Intranet materials and thus serve globally. There is an enormous scarcity of pro-Christian, pro glbt Internet multilingual resources. We have many talented writers and workshop presenters in our churches. Consider putting them up on the Internet in other languages as the Spirit leads.

The Internet never sleeps and posted materials outreach virtual visitors seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day.

15. 21st Century Challenge for pastors and lay leaders:

  1. Develop and teach a cybertheology of outreach and initial spiritual formation for online and off-line people in our churches. Multiply your outreach with a click of your computer mouse.

  2. Consider writing and posting sermons, homilies, devotional material, mediations on prayer, Christian living for people of all sexual orientations and links to good Bible and Homosexuality resources with hypertext Bibles and beginning Bible reading helps.

  3. Consider multilingual Internet outreach: Enormous scarcity of available materials and they are greatly needed for Internet/intranet readers. Soulfoodministry.org is now a primary "Ligas de Internet" for Spanish speakers as "El Ministerio del Alimento para el Alma," and has a similar abundance of material for French and Portuguese speakers. Any church can do this with prayer-full, care-full hard work, dedication and a nickel and dime ministry for translation funding.

  4. Help seekers find local churches through links whenever possible.

  5. Know when to refer and limit pastoral care: especially suicide ideation and depression.

  6. Mission presence and ministry for our online people: Prayer, care and share.

16. Selected Internet Articles on the Cyberchurch
  1. Barna, George. "The Second Coming of the church.", 2 July 1998; Internet. Available at http://www.enrichmentjournal.ag.org/200001/012_second_coming.cfm. Barna Home Page at http://www.barna.org. The Internet has enormous influence on public opinion and he begs the Church to be culturally relevant.

  2. Boell, Robert. "Home Page has many Benefits." Presbyterians Today Online. Available from http://www.pcusa.org/today/archive/features/feat9811i.htm; 5 November 1998; Internet. A growing number of churches have home pages on the World Wide Web and they daily grow in usefulness.

  3. Brinton, Henry G. "Is the church in Cyberspace Promising or Problematic? An Online Pilgrimage." Presbyterians Today Online. Available from http://www.pcusa.org/today/archive/features/feat9811e.htm; 5 November 1998; Internet. On Sunday mornings some people turn to a church for spiritual nourishment. Others simply turn on their computers.

  4. Hacket, David. "Plumbing the Net-Expanded Version." Presbyterians Today Online. Available from http://www.pcusa.org/today/archive/features/feat9811f.htm; 5 November 1998; Internet. This is an invaluable list of Web resource pages with annotated list.

  5. Harting, Don. "Computer-Assisted Spirituality." Presbyterians Today Online. Available from http://www.pcusa.org/today/archive/features/feat9811j.htm. 5 November 1998. Computer networks are being used for online chat rooms, weekly Bible studies, prayer groups as well as the individual devotion. For some, online spirituality meets a real need.

  6. Miller, James W. "Presbyterians in Cyberspace." Presbyterians Today Online. Available from http://www.pcusa.org/today/archive/features/feat9811a.htm; 11 November 1998; Internet. Prayer, information, outreach is all online. Numerous links available to a series of articles on building the cyberchurch.

  7. Stimson, Eva. "First Church of Cyberspace." Presbyterian Today Online. Available from http://www.pcusa.org/today/archive/features/feat9811h.htm; 5 November 1998; Internet. The Internet mission field awaits evangelists. For many, the First Church of Cyberspace is many seekers only religious experience.

17. A few good books on evangelism
  1. Internet for Christians, by Quentin J. Schultze. Gospel Films Publications, ISBN 1-55568-209-(toll freenumber 1-800-253-0413; Internet URL http://www.gospelcom.net)

  2. Crusade Evangelism and the Local Church, by Sterling W. Huston. World Wide Press, ISBN 0-89066-283-5. A Billy Graham School of Evangelism textbook.

  3. Church for the Unchurched, by George G. Hunter. Abingdon Press, ISBN 0-067-27732-9.

  4. How to Reach Secular People, by George G. Hunter. Abingdon Press, ISBN 0-687-17930-0.

  5. Biblical Perspectives on Evangelism, by Walter Brueggemann. Abingdon Press, ISBN 0-687-41233-1.

  6. Cross-Cultural Conflict, by Duane Elmer. InterVarsity Press. ISBN 0-8308-1657-7.

  7. The Gospel in a Pluralist Society, by Lesslie Newbigin. Eerdmans. ISBN 0-8028-0426-8.

  8. The Logic of Evangelism, by William Abraham. Eerdmans. ISBN 0-8028-0433-0. (One of the best)

  9. The Cost of Discipleship, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. MacMilian Publishers. ISBN 0-02-083850-6.

  10. Behold the Beauty of the LORD, by Henri J. M. Nowen. Ave Maria Press. ISBN 0-87793-356.

  11. Christian Mission, by John R. W. Stott. InterVarsity Press. ISBN 0-87784-485-2.

  12. So You Can’t Stand Evangelism? A Thinking Person’s Guide to Church Growth, by James R. Adams. Cambridge Cowley Publications, 1994.

  13. The Faith Sharing Congregation. Developing a Strategy for the Congregation as Evangelist, by Shirley F. Clement and Roger K. Swanson. Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 1996.

  14. Rethinking Evangelism: A Theological Approach, by Ben Campbell Johnson. Westminster Press, 1987. Good reading for the evangelism-phobic.

  15. Speaking of God. Evangelism as Initial Spiritual Guidance. Ben Campbell Johnson. Westminster Press, 1991.

  16. Reinventing Evangelism. New Strategies for Presenting Christ in Today’s World. By Donald C. Posterski. InterVarsity Press, 1989.

  17. Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary. By Lee Strobel. Zondervan, 1993.

  18. Unfinished Evangelism. More than getting them in the door, by Timothy Wright. Augsburg press, 1995.



Home Back