Millions are finding Jesus in cyberspace

"And then he [Jesus] told them [his disciples], “You are to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere" Mark 16:15.

Two thousand years ago, when Jesus issued this command to a fledgling Christian church, it might have seemed like a daunting task given the fact that the disciples traveled mostly on foot back then. These early Christians were the foot soldiers responsible for spreading the gospel throughout the then known world that included Asia and Africa. Little could they have envisioned a day when Christians could connect with millions of people in Europe, North and South America, Antarctica and Australia via the Internet with one click. Fast forward to the 21st century where millions of seekers are finding God from the comfort of their PCs, tablet computers and smartphones.

The Internet is giving Christians yet another way to deliver the good news of the gospel to virtual millions through online chatrooms, social networking, webcasts and weblogs. The Internet's ability to reach an audience of millions inspired Campus Crusade for Christ to create an online evangelism start-up in 2004. Its success launched Global Media Outreach (GMO) as a viable tool for evangelism. Since going live, over  50 million people have logged onto GMO's  many websites and made decisions for Christ.

In 2011, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) launched "Peace with God," an online evangelism website. BGEA's trained volunteer online missionaries converse with visitors via a chatroom. Visitors can ask any question, but at some point, the conversation always turns to whether they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Currently, over 3 million online visitors have logged onto PeacewithGod.net and made decisions to accept Christ. Another popular online evangelism website is "Need Him." Through its radio and TV spots, "Need Him" encourages listeners to call an 800 number to speak with an online counselor about their spiritual concerns. About the reach of online evangelism, a blogger writes:

"Many people in desperate need of the gospel stop in Christian chatrooms, hoping to meet someone who can lead them to God. They think of Christians as experts in how to be saved and how to live a meaningful life. Some of these desperate people know that they are lost. They want someone to help them become Christians, and they say so as they enter the chatrooms." (From ilovejesus.com)

According to GMO's Michelle Diedrich, online evangelism reaches a wider audience today than any other means of spreading the gospel:

"We are the first generation - ever - to hold in our hands the technology to give every person on earth multiple chances to accept Jesus Christ. More people use the Internet than go to church." 

Sharing Jesus with little ones

Diedrich explains, however, that online evangelism is intended to complement, not replace, traditional church programs and services. Q Place president Mary Schaller favors a [more] traditional face-to-face approach to evangelism. She shares her thoughts on the subject:

"The obvious advantages to digital spiritual dialogue are its convenience, flexibility, accessibility and anonymity. Yet our culture is caught in a problematic paradox: Despite the increasing digital interconnectivity, people continue to grow more socially disconnected and lonely because most of the conversation is superficial. Can you have meaningful, life- changing digital conversations and relationships? I believe to a certain extent you can, but they don’t take the place of being in the same room with people."

Facebook is yet another cyber way Christians have found to meet and connect old and new friends to Christ. Facebook is gaining popularity as a place to share scripture, testimonies, church happenings and invite others to evangelistic gatherings. Likewise, weblogs have expanded the reach of the gospel across continents. When I first started writing my blogs, The Gospel to GO and The Gospel to GO: London,  I didn't know whether they would find an audience. To my surprise, using Google Analytics, I discovered that the blogs have a worldwide audience spanning five of the seven continents--- just shows the power of the Internet. Antarctica and Australia, it's time to come onboard.

But where does all this cyber-evangelizing leave the lowly foot soldier of the gospel in the scheme of things? The Bible says that foot soldiers are still valued as the preferred method for communicating the gospel to others:

"And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good news. Romans 10:15"

Evangelism team at Siloam Baptist Church

Online evangelism will never diminish the local church's role as an evangelizing body of believers. Online converts will always need a physical church to call home where they can practice their new faith, and build relationships. Local churches provide that personal touch, and face-to-face contact that the Internet cannot. The fact is many men and women who have trusted Jesus as their Savior, did so because a friend or a stranger simply took the time to explain the gospel to them. Online evangelism neither eliminates the need nor the responsibility of local churches to engage in vigorous soulwinning efforts in their communities. Siloam Baptist Church in Norristown, PA, USA is an example of  how the local church can embrace the soulwinning aspect of its mission (view slideshow). Every month, members of Siloam's GO!Team take to the streets surrounding the church to engage with the residents and pray for the neighborhood.

Ultimately, the gospel's power does not depend on a particular methodology but rather on its relational ---God2man2man ---connection. Whether that connection is communicated over Internet or over a backyard fence, this is the penultimate message that Christians have to share with the world.

"And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14"

MISSION POSSIBLE

Stone carving at the Hermitage in the Bahamas

When I became a born again Christian, the first thing I wanted to do was to tell everybody about Jesus and how He saved my life. The urge to tell somebody is a natural response after being touched by the divine presence of God. Every person Jesus touched, healed or delivered in the Bible, was gripped by this same urgency to tell others about it.

One of my favorite examples of this is the Samaritan woman, who after a divine encounter with the Messiah at a well, went straight home and told the whole town about her experience: "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ (John 4)?" This woman got saved and went straight to the mission field---her neighbors. As a result of her testimony, many in her town got saved. 

Jesus told His first disciples that He would make them "fishers of men." This struck a cord with these men because back in those days catching fish was hard work with long days, harsh conditions and often little reward. Jesus, however, convinced them to hang up their fishing nets and go with Him to learn a new skill---winning souls for the Kingdom. 

This was God's purpose for His disciples then; it is His purpose for us as His disciples now---winning souls for the Kingdom. When Jesus saves you, He calls you to partner with Him in saving other lost souls. Jesus' instructions are clear and straightforward: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father (God) and of the Son (Jesus) and of the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19)." Some "Christians" develop a case of selective disobedience when they read those words. Perhaps, they think it doesn't apply to them, so they don't do evangelistic outreach; they never invite an unsaved person to church; and they wouldn't be caught dead on the mission field.

Yet out of gratitude, out of love for Christ, every born again Christian will naturally want to see others come to Christ and to be used of God for that purpose. If you do not have a heart burden for lost souls then something is wrong. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, we read: "Test yourselves and find out if you really are true to your faith. if you pass the test, you will discover that Christ is living in you. but if Christ isn't living in you, you have failed." We know that we are in Christ when we care about and do the things Christ cared about and did. Saving the lost was number one on His list. Where does it fall on yours? Is it even on your list to begin with? 

There's a church in Pennsylvania that has at the exit from its parking lot a sign, which reads: "You are now entering the mission field." I remember being struck by the profound truth of that statement. When you leave the comforts of your home in the morning or evening, has the thought ever occurred to you that you are entering your mission field? When you leave for church on Sunday mornings, and you encounter people on the streets or glancing out of windows at you, does it ever dawn on you that you are passing through your mission field?  When you walk or jog through your neighborhood or village on any given day, do you imagine your neighbors as your mission field? 

Funny isn't it how vast the mission field has become. No longer is the mission field some foreign or faraway place that people go off to aid the less fortunate around the world. The truth is, while we have always thought of it as being elsewhere, the mission field has, in fact, always been right at our doorstep. When the Bible talks about loving your neighbor as yourself or giving bread to your neighbor if he is hungry, it's telling us to care for those around us, those whose immediate needs are staring us in the face. Your neighbor is any person that you come in contact who needs help. Often, their need for help is a pathway you can use to help them find Christ. Pray about every situation and ask God to guide you.

God may not be calling you to a foreign mission field [although the need is great] but he does expect you to do the work of a missionary right where you are. This week as you exit the doors of your church or place of worship let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, and say to yourself, "I'm now entering my mission field."

  

4 reasons why we should care about missions

Reason 1 – Because Jesus cares.  Jesus was a missionary sent by God.  A missionary is one sent out to teach, preach and aid others.

Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the Jewish meeting places and preaching the good news about God’s kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness. Matt 4:23

Jesus went to every town and village. He taught in their meeting places and preached the good news about God’s kingdom. Jesus also healed every kind of disease and sickness. Matt 9:35

Reason 2 – Because Jesus established his church as a missionary church. Read the book of Acts, it chronicles Christ’s commission for the church and the early missionary journeys of the church.

But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.” Acts 1:8

Reason 3 – Because every follower of Christ is called to be a missionary. The great commission makes it a commandment.  You would not disobey a direct order from a judge, policeman or military officials, yet many disobey this direct order from Jesus:

Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Matt 28:19

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Luke 14:23

Reason 4 – Because Jesus left the work of missions in our hands

I tell you for certain that if you have faith in me, you will do the same things that I am doing. You will do even greater things, now that I am going back to the Father. John 14:12