September 28, 2004

INTERNET EVANGELISM ‘JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE’ Internet evangelism is just scratching the surface. That’s the conclusion of Christian Internet specialists who attended the annual meeting of the Internet Evangelism Coalition (IEC) in Chicago Tuesday-Wednesday, Sept. 14-1 5. Reports indicate that more and more Internet users are exploring religion with 1 billion people expected to be online worldwide by 2005. Dennis Fierbach, vice president of information technology for Campus Crusade for Christ in Canada, reported that the http://www.TruthMedia.com sites alone attract more than 750,000 visitors a month with some 1,000 people a month making a decision for Christ. Some 350 online volunteers and more than 800 prayer supporters assist the ministry. “The strategy of the Great Commission is not that they come to us, but that we go to them,” said IEC Chair Sterling Huston. He stressed the opportunities that the Internet opens up to take the gospel into the international “digital marketplace.” IEC meeting participants heard from several Internet evangelism practitioners, including Andrew Careaga, who pointed out how the trend toward “blogging” could be used to point people to Jesus. Cheryl Wilhelmi, project manager of Focus on the Family’s counseling site, Troubledwith.com, discussed the importance of offering people help in life crises as well as long-term hope in Christ. (Mission Network News/AgapePress)