by Tony Whittaker
“An incredible new technology enables the transmission of text on a worldwide basis. It rapidly reduces production and distribution costs and for the first time allows large numbers of people to access text and pictures in their own homes.”
What is this referring to? You’ve guessed it. The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg. It transformed education, communication and evangelism. It has shaped the world culture we know today. The computer revolution and the Internet are also changing the way we communicate, for ever. This will impact Christian evangelism and discipleship in ways which are only just beginning. Just as the Roman road system in New Testament times enabled the rapid spread of the Gospel, so also the Internet is becoming an effective worldwide channel for evangelism.
But the sad thing is – relatively few Christian groups are using the Web for real evangelism. There are 40,000+ English-language Christian websites, but the overwhelming majority are targeted entirely at Christians. There are over 150,000 church websites, but again, most are written largely for their own members. Yet the opportunities are vast. There are nearly 100 million Internet users in China. 70 million are online in Japan. India will soon have 60 million, Middle East 17 million. Right across the West, the majority of households have access to the Web. . .
FROM: www.churchworlddirect.com/articlesdetail.cfm?ArticleID=171 12-7-04
Dec 7, 2004
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