Does anyone know where I can get a list of the number of internet cafes which exist in each country of the world?

Thanks in adance for any help anyone can offer!

In April and May, I will have the privilege of teaching a 5-week internet evangelism seminar in Santa Cruz County, California. I have a tentative outline prepared, and I thought it might be a good idea to post the outline and see if the readers of this website have any suggestions about content to cover (general concepts, links, statistics, etc.). I’m not certain as to exactly what I’m looking for, so feel free to make any suggestions which might occur to you.

Here’s the outline for the first session:

I. Session 1: Introduction To Internet Evangelism

A. Introduction of Facilitator

B. Introduction of Participants

C. The Historic Opportunity
1. The First-Century Opportunity
2. Today’s Opportunity
3. The Modern-Day “Agora”
4. Technological Innovations Throughout History � The Church Has Always Embraced Technology For Evangelistic Purposes

D. Salvation Story #1: Kristi Tuck

E. Evangelism Opportunity #1: Simple First Steps
1. Email signature
2. Online profiles
3. Business Cards
4. Tell others about good evangelistic websites
5. Evangelistic screensaver

F. Homework (choose one or more)
1. Write an email signature
2. Prepare an online profile
3. Find good evangelistic websites
4. Design a business card

The outlines for the second through fifth sessions will follow on subsequent days.

Many churches (and other groups such as Bible colleges) are planning to mark the first Internet Evangelism Day on 24 April. By using a downloadable PowerPoint presentation, video clips, dramas and other resources, they are creating a custom ‘do-it-yourself’ non-technical focus slot, to share with their members the enormous potential of the Web for effective outreach. Part of the program is how to make effective church websites.

For more information, visit InternetEvangelismDay.com.

Darren Rowse of ProBlogger recently interviewed Glenn Fleishman, an authority on entrepreneurial blogging. While the interview was primarily about blogging for profit, one portion caught my eye because I think it has application to online ministry.

People want to read and hear a real voice. This is why marketing is doomed to failure. No one believes it except the marketers. Real voices trump canned voices. That’s part of the Cluetrain Manifesto (paraphrased) and it’s why blogs have taken off in all realms.

This is something I think churches and ministries should heed. If we are perceived as trying to manipulate people through slick marketing approaches, our efforts are doomed to failure. Instead, unbelievers want to “read and hear a real voice.” They are looking for authenticity in our online presentations.

What’s the best way to present a “real voice”? Simple, let your people share their stories.

Brian Bailey, the Internet Manager at Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas. recently blogged on Leave It Behind about the power of the internet (more specifically, of blogs) to facilitate offline conversations and relationships:

I had the chance today to have coffee with Erik Lane, someone I met through the wonder of weblogs….Our conversation confirmed once again that blogs really enable offline conversations as much as online ones. Meeting someone for the first time who you already know through blogs is very unique as a shared history already exists.

Reading what Brian wrote reminded me of a quick exchange (it was so short that I can’t call it a conversation) at our local evangelical ministers fellowship meeting a couple of months ago. A small groups pastor from one of our local churches teased me a bit by saying, “It’s good to see you in person and not just behind your computer!”

He was teasing me, but the teasing had a valuable lesson at its core. Since I am a strong believer in small groups and the power of community that is expressed in small, intimate gatherings of believers, I took what he meant as teasing to be a healthy reminder that internet evangelists should not forget.

All that we do as Christian workers in the digital arena should have as its ultimate goal the facilitation of face-to-face relationships. It’s ultimately the love of Christ revealed in community that convinces the unbeliever of the love of God and of Jesus’ mission (cf. John 17:21-23), and so any evangelism which takes place outside of community should be considered suspect in its effectiveness.

Does this mean that an online chat is ineffective? No, not any more than a face-to-face one-on-one chat is ineffective. But it does mean that we should always be looking for ways to facilitate face-to-face relationships and offline conversations through our efforts on the web.

Face-to-face conversations lead more naturally to wider exposure for the unbeliever to Christian community. Faciltating that process through online conversations requires a more intentional commitment.

For example, when I am in the midst of an online conversation with an unbeliever who I have never met face-to-face, am I thinking about where they are located and if I have believing friends or acquaintances in that area to whom I can eventually introduce my new friend?

Sometimes, this may not seem feasible (in conversations with people in certain creative access nations, for example), but it should always be our goal.

Neil Cox, the visionary behind IndyChristian.com and several other web-based city-reaching projects, mentioned in his follow-up comment to one of our recent posts that he has written a piece called Why Blog? on his personal blog (LovingChange.com).

Just wanted to give that piece a little bit more prominence. His “Top 50 Reasons To Blog” are certain to spark some great thoughts for those who are looking for a way to utilize modern-day technology to impact their world.

It’s been too long since I’ve posted here (I was going to say it had been a few days, but now that I look, it’s been 9 days!). I’ve been spending some time working with two new clients (one a ministry, one a lawyer), helping them to understand why a blog-type approach to their websites would be helpful for them. Hopefully, their sites will be launching a bit later this month.

That being said, on to today’s assignment:

1. First, read Why this “internet thing” is just starting at Seth Godin’s blog
2. Second, read So, what will it take to succeed? at Seth’s blog
3. Finally, read Rob Williams’ comments on Effective Web Ministry Notes, applying Seth’s wisdom to today’s internet ministry

No further comment is really necessary, but the strategist in me can’t resist just a little bit. Hint: it’s all about people and connections.

Mike Boyink commented on the last post and added that a blog-based church website should have entries which “move past the ‘things are happening at our church, and you really should come to a service’ type posts.” (make sure to read all of his comment, not just the part I’ve quoted!)

It’s such an important aspect of the concept, that I thought I would use this post to draw attention to Mike’s contribution and then add an additional thought of my own.

I couldn’t agree more with Mike’s perspective! Too many churches use their websites to focus on programs, staff, services times, etc. But those things really aren’t the life of the church. The true life of the church happens (or should happen) outside the four walls of the church building (if the church meets in a building) - as believers meet each other over dinner, at skating rinks, on walks around the neighborhood, in classes together, etc. And that’s the life that our websites should reflect - the joys and struggles we encounter in our daily lives and how we celebrate with each other in the joys and support each other in the struggles.

Online conversations via a blog-based church website are a great way to express that life, as long as they eventually lead to face-to-face relationships.

To see a great example of this, take a look at the website of the church Mike and his family are a part of: Manna in Holland, Michigan

JollyBlogger, a personal blog written by David Wayne, the pastor of Glen Burnie Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Glen Burnie, Maryland, has recently written about a new beta website for his church (for those who don’t know, “beta” simply means they are in a testing phase).

The new website uses TypePad, a popular blogging service, and it definitely has a blog-feel to it - complete with a three-column look, lists of recent posts and comments, a photo album, categories, etc.

What is most exciting to me, however, is that the church has decided to take a big leap and leave the commenting system open so that anyone can add a comment (or a trackback) to entries on the front page of the site.

Cybermissions.org has a great page of resources regarding the use of internet cafes for evangelistic purposes.

From their page:

Evangelistic Icafes provide a platform for self-sustaining missionary work among unreached people groups. Operating as a normal business in the community they witness to the unreached via friendship evangelism and the formation of house churches. The income from the icafe helps support the indigenous Christian missionaries who run it. The computers are generally imported donated recycled computers.

Highly recommended reading!

Here’s a very interesting page on the Internet Evangelism Day website: Meet Some Web Evangelists.  Currently eleven web evangelists are profiled. Their stories are very encouraging. What has struck me so far (I haven’t finished reading all of the stories) is how many of these people started out thinking they weren’t prepared to be web evangelists but how God encouraged them and used them as they stepped out in faith.

Also, don’t forget that Internet Evangelism Day is on the way! April 24, 2005! Make plans today to feature The Day in your church, your Bible study, at your college, etc.