Techvangelism Conference: Steve Johnson’s Keynote Address
Steve Johnson is the Group Vice President Americas of The International Bible Society. Steve talked about some of the leading indicators regarding spirituality on the internet. He also talked about practical ways that a person can use the internet and other electronic technology to make God’s Word more available to friends, family, and business associates. Finally, he identified some of the existing resources that people can use for effective outreach using non-traditional methods. My notes of this session, entitled “Internet Evangelism in a Post-Literature Culture,” follow. As with my notes from Walt Wilson’s session, unless specified, my thoughts do not appear in these notes.
The Word of God has transformational power in itself — how can we make it as widely available as possible in as many media formats as possible?
Defining Post-Literature Culture
The developing world is up to 70% illiterate. But the developed world has entered post-literacy. This is evidenced by an increasing dependence on non-printed communication. 74% of (American?) adults carry cell phones. 90% of Americans carry some form of wireless communication. 85% have computers. 67% have internet access from home. 75% subscribe to cable or satellite TV. The average American watches 45 movies a year (in addition to TV). We have become a “sound bite” society. We now watch events unfold in real time and we demand instantaneous information in short bursts.
In the 1800’s, news took days to travel. In the 1940’s, news took hours to travel. In the 1960’s, news took minutes to travel. Today, we watch the news happen in real time.
A post-literature culture is a culture that depends primarily on non-print and non-traditional means of communication for the exchange of information related to commerce, politics, religion, news, etc. Post-literacy is an issue the church must respond to in order to be seen as relevant.
The Internet As An Outreach Tool
In the early to mid 1990’s, the internet became mainstream to culture. It was/is used in commerce, communication, information exchange, and spirituality.
The church is slow to respond in viewing the internet as an opportunity. Early on, many Christians saw the “evil” in the internet. Many Christian ministries prohibited the use of the internet by staff. The internet was vastly viewed as the new “Tower of Babel.”
As time went on, more ministries grasped the vision of the internet as a credible outreach tool. We saw the emergence of Gospel Communications, a vast ministry alliance for outreach resources. We saw the emergence of Crosswalk.com and StudyLight.org, both leading leadership- and discipleship- oriented sites. We also saw the emergence of IBS.org, a comprehensive site for Scripture resources.
The ministry community and churches began to catch up. Parachurch ministries began to catch the vision for the power of the internet in communication of vision, in fulfillment of their mission, in the acquisition of donors, and in commerce where appropriate. Churches began to catch the vision for the power of the internet in communication of community outreach, in online sermons and resources, and in using the web for ministry involvement.
Online Spirituality
One billion people globally are now online (this includes people who have access to an internet cafe). In a favela (Note from Frank: a hillside shantytown) in Brazil, there is no running water, very little food, but there is an internet cafe.
In 2000, research indicated that 23% of internet users used the internet to explore spirituality. Today, 67% of Americans use the internet to explore spirituality. The internet has become a spiritual buffet. People are creating their own hybrid faith by using portions of various religions which appeal to them. Truth has become a relative term based on user definition.
How should we respond as the church?
1. By flooding cyberspace with biblical truth (WhosJesus.com, BibleGateway.com, IBS.org)
2. By pointing others to that truth through:
- email distribution — it’s fast and effective;
- website referral for those struggling with issues
- creating your own websites, chats, blogs, forums, online studies, etc. (the net has no border)
- creating church websites and radio stations (Next Wave Radio Network)
3. By using the net and non-print resources in reaching out, teaching, and discipling
4. By praying for those who are seeking truth online. Parts of the internet are a bastion of truth. Parts of the internet are open deception. We must pray that God will lead seekers to the truth.
I believe that the internet provides today's church with a historic opportunity .... to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love in ways which could only have been imagined in times past. The objective of this website is to explore the various ways in which today's technology can be used to spread the gospel around the world.
