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Here's glimpse into future of Internet evangelism

By Rusty Weller
     The tidal wave of the future has long since surged over our heads, brothers and sisters, leaving us born-again believers witless in its wake as it rolls ahead almost out of reach.
     And the sad fact is most of us are so technically challenged we don’t even know we’re drowning in opportunities or realize how dangerous a position we really face.
     To put it another way, analogy-wise, the devil has carjacked the Internet and is taking it for a wildly wicked joyride. Meanwhile many churches and Christ-centered organizations still are too scared to venture into Cyberspace, even though Jesus repeatedly commands us to "Fear not!" and follow Him. What’s more, many who have mustered the courage to launch Christian sites use them only as high-tech business cards, presenting the most basic of information in an uninspired, matter-of-fact way.
     What we Christians lack today is vision -- especially about the Internet. Well, since God had to take me kicking and whining to the mountain top to impart a glimpse into the near future, let me pass it along to you.
     Right now high resolution TVs are being combined with Internet computers to produce one living-room screen for home entertainment in just a couple of years. That’s good news.
     Here’s why: Your church can be on that screen. Yes, right there on the remote, between R-rated cable and smutty network programming, offering interesting instruction, wholesome entertainment and needed inspiration.
     God is leveling the playing field so our web sites will be low-cost yet impressively viable alternatives on family TV screens. But to get there, we need vision.
     Well, here’s some in the form of potential blessings available even today:
     * Prayer room open 24/7 offering a hotline to a crisis center.
    * Audio sermons to preach the Gospel around the word at a nominal cost.
    * Discipleship study courses for daily lesson feedback with a weekly live online discussion .
    * Start page with search engines and links to go Godly directions and find Divine destinations.
    * Quiet time page with online Bible study materials and devotionals.
    * Daily e-zine offering Christian news to bring today’s issues into a Godly focus.
    * Youth group sector with special information and encouragement in a format attractive to teens.
    * Promise book with members submitting the Bible verses meaning the most to them and why.
    * Picture pages showing the fun being enjoyed at various functions.

     Are you beginning to get an idea of what’s possible? This is just the beginning of what should be a fantastic opportunity for successful evangelism.
    Start now, and there’s no telling what wondrous things the Lord will allow your online ministry to accomplish. Video technology, for instance, almost offers sufficient quality to show worship services and youth meetings online.
    If Paul were among us today, he would be surfing the ‘net to spread the Gospel and disciple believers. He’d tell us again we must strive to be all things to all people so some might be saved.
    Paul also would tell you not to listen to me or any other man, but to ask God what is right for you and your church at this point in time. He’d say follow the Holy Spirit’s lead, no matter what others might say.
    So please prayerfully see what God’s will might be for your ministry and then boldly trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus.