depaula internet evangelism

Internet Evangelism : 

Internet Evangelism Opportunities and Challenges

Introduction: 

Introduction Andrew DePaula Technical Services Bibleinfo.com depaan@bibleinfo.com (509)838-2761

Outline: 

Outline 40-45 minutes The future of the internet Human contact yesterday and today Applying the Internet to evangelism

Major International Internet routes (2004): 

Major International Internet routes (2004)

Africa and the Internet: 

Africa and the Internet

Africa and the Internet: 

Africa and the Internet Every square inch of Africa is covered by satellite bandwidth... There are 48 satellites with coverage, pointing 36 Ku-band frequency beams and 28 C-band beams over Africa which can be accessed to provide international and national voice calls, broadcasting, data and Internet services. Source: http://web.idrc.ca/en/ev-53486-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

Africa and the Internet: 

Africa and the Internet

Interregional Internet Bandwidth (2004): 

Interregional Internet Bandwidth (2004)

Interesting Trends: 

Interesting Trends US centric Structure of the global net is changing More bandwidth between key European cities than to the US Intra-regional Asian network links growing faster than any other region’s The Internet’s hub/spoke structure is diffusing Web traffic remains the largest share of traffic on most networks Source: PriMetricia, Inc

Growth of the Internet: 

Growth of the Internet

American Internet Users : 

American Internet Users Internet Relevance Power Users Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project

The InternetPresent & Future: 

The Internet Present & Future Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project

Surfer Profile: 

Surfer Profile Nearly 1/3 of Internet users look for religious information 50% of those look for information outside of their faith 21% seek Spiritual guidance via email 38% have made prayer requests Women are more apt to be religious surfers than men 24% of “wired” 18-24 year-olds sought religious information. Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project

Yahoo!’s Informal Study: 

Yahoo!’s Informal Study Cut off Internet access to 13 participating families for 2 weeks

Yahoo!’s Informal StudyFindings: 

Yahoo!’s Informal Study Findings Most participants didn’t realize how tough it would be Many found it hard to do without Internet- fed news, weather, and driving directions Some had completely forgotten how to use traditional tools like the Yellow Pages Many felt lost and disconnected, both literally and figuratively Source: USA Today, Sept 22, 2004

Changing Gears: 

Changing Gears

Human Contact in 1904: 

Human Contact in 1904 Personal Tangible One-to-one Relationship building

Human Contact in 2004: 

Human Contact in 2004 Impersonal Arms-length One-to-many Few relationships

The Importance of Personal Contact: 

The Importance of Personal Contact “The Lord Desires that His word of grace shall be brought home to every soul. To a great degree this must be accomplished by personal labor. This was Christ’s method. His work was largely made up of personal interviews. He had a faithful regard for the one-soul audience. Through that one soul the message was often extended to thousands...”

The Importance of Personal Contact: 

The Importance of Personal Contact “We are not to wait for souls to come to us; we must seek them out where they are... There are multitudes who will never be reached by the gospel unless it is carried to them” Christ Object Lessons p. 229

So what does all of this have to do with Internet Evangelism?: 

So what does all of this have to do with Internet Evangelism?

The Modern Challenge: How to Reach People Where They Are.: 

The Modern Challenge: How to Reach People Where They Are.

“There are families who will never be reached by the truth of God's Word unless His servants enter their homes, and by earnest ministry, sanctified by the indorsement of the Holy Spirit, break down the barriers. As the people see that these workers are messengers of mercy, the ministers of grace, they are ready to listen to the words spoken by them.”Evangelism p. 435: 

“There are families who will never be reached by the truth of God's Word unless His servants enter their homes, and by earnest ministry, sanctified by the indorsement of the Holy Spirit, break down the barriers. As the people see that these workers are messengers of mercy, the ministers of grace, they are ready to listen to the words spoken by them.” Evangelism p. 435

Yahoo!’s Study The Egg Incident: 

Yahoo!’s Study The Egg Incident One participant swore he was a good cook, but unfortunately he had never been called upon to boil an egg. So when he went to make an egg salad, he needed help. Normally, he would have gone to the Internet for the answer.

Yahoo!’s StudyThe Egg Incident: 

Yahoo!’s Study The Egg Incident “...you're not going to call someone up and say, 'Hey, by the way, I'm a dope; can you tell me how to boil an egg?' I would go online. I ended up having to call a friend of mine's wife, and of course she calls everyone else a day later... I'm still living that one down."

People are afraid to make themselves vulnerable.: 

People are afraid to make themselves vulnerable.

Powerful Internet Evangelism: 

Powerful Internet Evangelism Meets people where they are & recognizes who they are Is completely non-threatening (comfortable) Allows the “seeker” to proceed at their own pace & feel like they are in control at all times Brings the “seeker” into contact with a real person and facilitates the forming of a personal relationship

A Real Example: 

A Real Example

Personal Relationships are not optional... but imperative.: 

Personal Relationships are not optional... but imperative.

Slide30: 

“Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’” (Ministry of Healing p. 143)

Slide31: 

“The greatest success attends those who come in as close relation as possible with those with whom they labor, gain their sympathy and confidence, visit in their homes those who appear interested, and pray with them and for them. In this way only will the direction be followed to go out in the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in.” (Manuscript Releases Vol. 7, p. 37)

Powerful Internet Evangelism: 

Powerful Internet Evangelism Meets people where they are Is completely non-threatening Allows the “seeker” to proceed at their own pace & feel like they are in control at all times Brings the “seeker” into contact with a real person and facilitates the forming of a personal relationship Takes time

Internet evangelism is traditional evangelism using modern tools.: 

Internet evangelism is traditional evangelism using modern tools.

New Tools: 

New Tools Anonymity Non-linearity Privacy Instant gratification Ability to transcend time and space

“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecl. 1:9): 

“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecl. 1:9)

Q & A: 

Q & A http://gien.bibleinfo.com Andrew DePaula Technical Services Bibleinfo.com depaan@bibleinfo.com (509)838-2761