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An Open Door To The World

Using The Internet To Spread The Word

In the ten years the Internet has been available to the general public, many have utilized its potential to reach out to people around the world. As an early adopter of using the Internet to spread the Word, I stand in awe as I see others building 'highways', using the Internet to teach others.

To illustrate the Internet's use by congregations and individuals, I have compiled the following collection of websites and related resources.

Congregational Websites | Individual Websites | Measuring Success
Getting On The Web | Finding Help

Congregational Websites

Do congregations need a website? I used to think they did not, unless they were in tourist areas where visitors were common. Now I believe it to be important, for at least two reasons: A congregation's website can be simple or complex, depending upon its goals and resources. At the very least, a website can provide information about the church, including times of services and directions. The complexity of the website can increase depending upon the resources it wishes to offer. For example: What can churches offer on their websites today? Depending upon their resources and their goals online, a lot!

Here is a sampling of things offered by various congregations on their web pages:

The challenge for churches is to carefully examine their goals for having a website (local? worldwide?), what resources they have (designers? services?) and design it accordingly. Click here for insights related to websites for churches.

Congregational Websites | Individual Websites | Measuring Success
Getting On The Web | Finding Help

Individual Websites

In many cases the Internet is being utilized by individuals in addition to or instead of congregations. These efforts likewise contribute to spreading the Word.

Several brethren have chosen to collect and organize all sorts of material. Two such examples include:

BibleStudyGuide.org
(Mcnabb)		 Interactive Bible Study
(Rudd)

These two sites have been very effective in developing and directing contacts to a congregation or individual in their area for follow-up.

Many brethren with specialized interests or skills are making good use of the Internet to reach out to those online. Some whose efforts have been brought to my attention:

Bible Questions
(Martin)		 Biblical Studies
(Jenkins)		 Buscad
(Falk)
Gospel Way
(Pratte)		 Gospel Defender
(Martin)		 In Search Of Truth
(Auburn Students)
New Testament Greek
(Smelser)		 Simple Bible Studies
(Scott)		 Study Of Denominations
(Longhenry)
Truth In Love
(Barnes)		 Truth Chasers!
(Felker)		 What Is True
(Carrow)

Individuals who have produced teaching materials are also using the Internet to display and make their products available. Six such examples:

Basic Bible Studies
(Harkrider)		 Bible Class Materials
(Roberts)		 Get Them Talking
(Banning)
JM Bible Helps
(MacDonald)		 Manna Bible Maps
(Hennecke)		 Word Points
(Henry)

Brethren are also using the Internet to either publish or publicize their magazines:

Abundant
Life		 Focus
Magazine		 Expository
Files
Truth
Factor		 Truth
Magazine		 Watchman
Magazine

There are many other fine websites in which efforts are being made to reach the lost for Christ. Perhaps these might help encourage others to do the same. But then some might wonder...

Congregational Websites | Individual Websites | Measuring Success
Getting On The Web | Finding Help

Measuring Success

Has the Internet been a succesful tool for evangelism? To a great extent it depends upon how one defines success. If success is defined by how many souls are baptized, then some may wonder if their efforts would be better spent elsewhere. If it means how many souls are being taught by such efforts, whether or not they are converted, I doubt any can question the potential for success in spreading the Word of God through the Internet.

Brethren have reported souls being being contacted, taught and converted. , who maintains Intereactive Bible Study, provides a record of 'success stories' on his site. One of the most recent:

Thank you Steve. Following your advice I did get baptized on the Lord's day (4th Jan). I feel so grateful that the Lord has blessed me with my salvation it goes beyond words. I pray to live with all my heart how he has instructed, to keep my precious gift. I've learned so much since reading your website and yet so little of how much more the Holy Bible has for me to learn. I look forward to each new day so I can study. Now I am truly a child of God I know now he will receive my prayers. Again thank you and may God bless you! - R.G.
provided me with his latest report:

The update for our sites in December is as follows: Although the holidays slowed Internet traffic to our sites, BibleGuide.org and BibleStudyGuide.org continue to do well in aiding Christians and unbelievers in their study of God's word. In December, I received one request to be baptized from an individual living in Cincinnati, which I turned over to the brethren at the Mill Road congregation. I received requests for face-to-face Bible classes from men in Brooklyn, NY and Driekop, South Africa which I turned over to reliable brethren in their areas. And while we were away on vacation, I received a request from a man wanting to be baptized ---- he and his family, which I'm continuing to pursue at this time.

Statistics (average) for our two sites in December:

  • 159,836 web pages viewed.
  • 346,549 Bible Class Books, Bible Study Books, and single Bible lesson outlines downloaded.
  • 1,240 Audio Bible Lessons downloaded.
  • 1,488 +/- interactive Bible lessons and games accessed.
  • 29,140 hosts served.
  • 275 +/- email responses to Bible study correspondents.
Due to the increased demand in the number of Bible questions and requests we receive from the site, we have added two volunteer Bible teachers to the site. These men receive one to two questions per day. I am in the process of looking for a few more reliable men who have the time and ability to help answer the Bible questions and field the requests for baptisms and local studies.
Others have related what they've experienced:

We have a faithful couple here (with 2 daughters), who came to us as a result of another's web work. J & J S. live in northern Maryland. We didn't know them, they knew none of us. But they had been studying with David Pratte, after finding him on the web. This was back around 2001. They left their denomination (methodist I think), and one morning showed up for services here in Gettysburg PA (about 30 minutes north of their home). I happened to be out of town - and another one of the brothers here was preaching. The S. were already taught, and wanted to check us out. After seeing the service, and hearing the sermon, they responded and were baptized. All I did was to hear about it afterward! Well, I have followed up and worked with them of course - but I never even met them till afterwards. J. will be teaching a Sun. morning class soon on Ps. 22. P.S. - perhaps the ironic thing is this - not only did someone else do the work, we are one of the least computer tuned groups around. We don't even have a website :-( Our new building is next to the highway, and we have talked about putting a large webaddress on that side of the building. -

In October 2003, at the North Seattle Church of Christ meeting in Seattle, WA, we had two young men who are in the Coast Guard visit our congregation. They were looking for a church to attend. They had searched on the internet and had come across our website. They were impressed by the continual use of scriptures to document our teaching and to support each point. So one of the young men came on his own to a worship service to check us out. After the service he we was greeted warmly and he asked several good questions. The next week he returned with his friend who had been looking on the internet with him for a church. After that service I set up a class with them for the following day. I studied with them for about four hours and they both asked to be baptised into Christ. I complied immediately, and J. K., and S. S. were baptised into Christ on October 14, 2003. -

Here is a rough abstract from the Gospel Defender site: Weekly Hits range in the 10000 hits range coming from most major countries. Avg daily visitors are around 50-100 the mean being 65. I was getting about 25-50 e-mails a day with questions about the site, but after I added the FAQ section it has dropped to about 10 Since it's inception in 1998 I have had over 70 people referred to local preachers for bible studies, of them I know of 7 who were baptized and continue to be faithful there have been 3 families restored in part do to the site. -

Our website is getting between 45,000 and 55,000 hits per month from various countries around the world. The largest use of the site is the reading of more than 960 articles written by Larry Ray Hafley. Approximately 25,000 tapes and DVD's have been requested from the 1266 sermons listed on the site. Sermon charts are downloaded by preachers and printed to be used in their sermons. As an example, more than 60 individuals downloaded the sermon charts entitled "The Case For Christmas" which was preached Dec. 21 of this year. -

One of our deacons came to us from the world via Steve Rudd's website. He was searching for truth, found us on the congregational list, came to services, expressed interest, was taught and baptized. his wife and sister followed as well. I realize that "visible results" are not the measure of things -- we believe our website teaches many and so pleases the Lord -- but we are thankful for this good brother and for the electronic means that put him in touch with us. -

Many of our visitors at the Centreville church find us via the internet. We had visitors there just this past Sunday who found our website. Also, I have a very good prospect I'm studying with who came to me via www.ntgreek.net. He studied classical Greek in college, wanted to study koine to help in his bible study, and his pastor recommended my site to him. That led to Bible studies that have gone exceedingly well. I'm afraid his pastor may not recommend my site to many more! -

The nature of the Internet is such that one might rarely see the fruit of their online labors locally. A website is certainly a convenient tool that complements a congregation's effort to publicize its location, times of services, etc.

Congregational Websites | Individual Websites | Measuring Success
Getting On The Web | Finding Help

Getting On The Web

At the very least, congregations should make sure they are listed in the more popular online church directories.

This will increase the likelihood that prospects in their area contacted by other websites will be sent their way. Also that visitors will easily find the information they need.

Among churches of Christ, such directories include:

Whether they have websites or not, churches should keep listings updated with correct phone numbers, times of services, persons to contact, etc.

If your ISP allows you to maintain a simple website as part of your subscription, it is possible to have a website with a virtual domain for about $15/year.

For example, I use GKG.net, paying $9.99/year for a virtual domain (KissimmeeChurch.org), and $5.00/year for URL forwarding services and a POP3 email account.

Poorly designed websites can often hinder more than help. Churches and individuals using the Internet do well to give prayerful consideration and research regarding their goals in creating a web presence.

Though written from a denominational perspective, the following insights related to church websites may prove useful:

The following links discuss the concept of usability, creating websites that are 'user friendly': Even if you outsource your web design and hosting, I strongly encourage becoming familiar with the importance of usability in attracting and keeping visitors to your website.

Congregational Websites | Individual Websites | Measuring Success
Getting On The Web | Finding Help

Finding Help

For developing websites, I have found these resources helpful: If you want someone else to create your website, these website designers cater especially to churches of Christ: The following individuals have also expressed a willingness to offer their services: , , , , , , .

Concluding Thoughts

What does the future hold? Only the Lord knows. With rapid advances in technology, especially in wireless, broadband, and miniaturization, the opportunities appear limitless.

I can envision real-time video streaming of sermons and bible classes, broadcast live via the Internet to people logged on with their computers or PDAs around the world. One-on-one personal Bible studies with prospects using video instant messaging (VIM) may also be just around the corner.

The Internet will continue to be "an open door" for spreading the Word of God.

May the Lord give us the wisdom to use this tool to His glory!

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Mark A. Copeland
ExecutableOutlines.com

"Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified..."
(2 Thessalonians 3:1)


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