Evangelism Rebranded

Greg Stier, from Dare 2 Share ministries, in an article on ChurchLeaders.org presented 5 reasons why evangelism needs to be rebranded. Naturally, my thoughts turned to internet evangelism. Although we have made some gigantic steps forward, internet evangelism can still have several misconceptions about it. So, here are 5 reasons why internet evangelism needs to be “rebranded.”

1. People are seeking for THE good news.

According to a google eBook “Religion online,” religion is one of the most popular online topics. “Three million Americans turn to the internet each day for religious information and spiritual guidance.” Our experience with visitors to Global Media Outreach evangelistic sites is that this isn’t just an “american” interest. India, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries are some of our largest audiences. So, while the term “internet evangelism” may cause some people to cringe thinking it is nothing more than pushy online Jesus marketing, the reality is people are already online searching for spiritual truth and guidance for their lives. If we as christians are not there to answer their questions, and help them, what else might they find?

2. Every Christian can do it. 

We all know that not everyone is a good public speaker. Not everyone can teach on Sundays. Not everyone is outgoing enough to talk to someone on public transit. And for various reasons not everyone is mobile enough to get out of their house and talk to people.  Yet, the internet provides multiple opportunities for these same people to bring the presence of Jesus online. There are no special requirements or degrees needed to bring the message of Jesus to those we encounter online.

3. The internet can offer the largest church connection.

In my email today was a story of two of our online missionaries in two different parts of the world who worked together to help someone find a local church. How amazing is it that someone in the one part of the world was able to help a person in a completely different part of the world find a local church- a church that was ONE BLOCK away from him! Online we can talk to people from ANYWHERE and connect them with other believers. A man who is desperate for a life change in Prague can be given encouragement in Christ by s man in Brisbane. A mom in Nepal can be reminded in her identity in Christ by someone in Germany. Over the internet we can see the body of Christ working across geographic and cultural boundaries.

4. Real relationships are formed. 

Bloggers, Tweeters, Instagramers, and Message Boarders all know this: You can form connections and relationships online. While some people wonder how real these relationships can be, let us remember how powerful the written word can be. Communities don’t necessarily need to meet face to face in order for God to use the encouraging and honest words to build one another up.

5. There is something for everyone. 

Every believer carries the Holy Spirit. If believers are online, and those seeking are online, sharing the gospel is just one comment, post, tweet, video, email, pin, picture, away from being shared. For as many sharing or learning preference exist, there are that many options (and maybe more!) online.  If you are looking for a way to join in the movement of sharing your faith online, one way is to pray for people online. Hundreds of people a day visit the GodLife prayer wall. Take a moment, pray for someone, and see what God will do!

Share Your Favorite Christmas Video!!

Do you remember the Claymation Christmas special with the California raisins? And the waffeling/waddleing/wasling claymation animals?  If not here is a peek:

YouTube is pretty amazing! It allows us to find bits and pieces of movies and songs and allows us to share them with others. What a fun way to stay Jesus focused during Christmas- share videos and songs with your friends and family!  You could probably share a song, memory, or video clip a day for a whole week, and everyone would love it!

We’d love to hear, what are some of your favorite Christ Centered YouTube clips?

Future Evangelism Trends Pt 2

Trends are trendy. People love them. We study them. And, depending on the trend, we follow them. Yesterday I addressed Thom Rainer, the CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources,’s article “5 Major Trends for Churches in America” by looking at how social media can help in sharing the gospel with the Millennial generation. Today Let’s look at another trend he noted:

The Boomer generation will actually be more receptive to the gospel.

They have been there and tried that, and it left them feeling empty. For the Boomer generation, who will not  ”accept their senior status“, they will continue to ride the technology trends of their children and grandchildren. We are reaching the place where everyone has a facebook. Even my  grandmother (I mean that literally). In light of this, we can not give up on a generation who once gave up on the gospel. They are more ready and open now than ever before. The more important trend or online missions to the Boomer generation is simply to be present where they are. They will use their smart phones, we should have apps available. They are on facebook, twitter, and other social sites, let’s engage them in a conversation.

As Thom Rainer pointed out, these two generations can not be ignored. They are the two largest generations in American history. Take a moment to realize that we are talking about real people with real spiritual needs. We can not afford be indifferent about this. We must engage these generations online!

Future Evangelism Trends

As humans, we love trends. We love knowing what will be “in,” marketable, and profitable. We want to know where to put our money, time, and talent. Where can we get the biggest return for our investment. While we might not be hopping on trends like watching bad reality TV, there are others that we don’t want to miss out on. Investors want to know what would be a wise investment of money. Parents want to be aware of what trend their kids think is “cool” (especially to know if running interference is necessary). And the church wants to know what is the best way to share the gospel with people.

In a recent article, Thom Rainer, the CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, lays out “5 Major Trends for Churches in America“. Two in particular stand out as important to consider for the future of online evangelism.

The Millennial generation will be indifferent toward Christianity. 

The very opposite of acceptance is indifference. Some people might be tempted to think it is hate. But if someone hates, they still have emotion and thoughts for a subject or person. If they are indifferent, they simply don’t care. Questions like “where will you go when you die” or “why are you here on earth” are dismissed with “I don’t care.” If someone doesn’t care, there can’t even be a conversation.

While people might become indifferent toward Christianity, they STILL care about their relationships. It is this relationship that will open the doors to conversation.  They are the first generation to share so much personal information online. And though it is less likely that they will live in the same town they grew up in, they will continue to be connected online. Social media then becomes all the more important mode of sharing the gospel.  The key to riding the social media trend is to remain authentic. The Millennial generation wants to know that you REALLY care. They want to engage with a REAL person. Therefore Christians need to continue to build a personal authentic social presence to connect and stay connected with people in their lives. Social media can’t be used just to throw christian ideas out there. The Millennial generation already “doesn’t care” about another idea. The most rewarding evangelism trend will be to build authentic relationships online so that they might be granted the privilege of sharing the gospel.

Join us tomorrow as we discover what the second trend is, and how we can address it…

Jesus: my tailor made savior

I’m Annie. I’m 20 years old and a college student. I sew patches on my jeans and make my own sundresses. My custom beverage at Starbucks is a grande light ice iced nonfat chai latte. I change the color scheme on my Gmail account because I’m not satisfied with the standard.

My generation craves options. We want to be unique, individual, people who matter, specific. We want to break the norm, bust the tradition. We are the “me’s.” It’s funny, a whole generation with the same attitude—wanting to be different. Ironic really, but that’s how it is.

So how can God—my God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever—the ONE, SINGLE, ONLY God we teach about at Global Media Outreach—ever appeal to a generation determined to be one-of-a-kind?

Yes, we do believe there’s only one God, only one way to live a life totally fulfilled, and only one way to salvation. He’s one size fits all. He’s Jesus. But that’s only the beginning…

God made everyone different (this is on purpose—just try finding two faces that match up perfectly) and He relates to us all differently. God is always and forever the same, but while consistent He’s also dynamic. It’s exciting, how He can surprise us in exclusive ways that speak directly to us as individuals. He fits us all perfectly, and each of us as tight as a glove. NOTHING is like Him. He’s the uniqueness we need.

Psalm 139:13-14 reads, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” God created us. He knows how to give us exactly what we need, how to relate completely to our uniqueness. What could be better?

I love being a part of this new generation of customizers. It’s exciting, it’s innovative—just like our God. He’s surprising and radical—He’ll shock you and revolutionize your expectations. If we let Him, He’ll shatter our norms, our boundaries, our traditions. He’ll make us different and indulge that uniqueness.

Jesus died for each of us individually. Remember that beautiful image of the Shepherd leaving the ninety-nine sheep to go after that one? Each one of us matters so much to Him. He sacrificed Himself and His needs for ours. The only thing any of us can do in return is devote our lives to Him.

It’s not about me anymore. God’s love is an individual gift that brings everyone together. Allow Him to use your uniqueness to draw others to Him. You can do this in so many ways: blogs, conversations, art projects, facebook statuses—take what’s unique about you and employ it!

So I’ll still sew those patches on my jeans. I’ll try to say things in ways nobody else does. I’ll paint crazy pictures on my apartment walls, and I’ll love it all. But I’ll use those special things about me to point to God’s glory.

~Annie Josey (SVSP Intern, 2011)

Dream Generation

I love adventure.  I’m a Carolina girl spending my summer as an intern in California, I dream of moving to Europe after I graduate, and my career possibilities seem endless.  Most would say that I’m just young and naive about the real world, but I prefer using my mom’s saying that the world is “my oyster.”  I’m not alone in this “oyster” mindset.  My generation is full of big dreamers and adventurers; we are visionaries.  This could be attributed to pop culture or political changes, but I think that the truth behind the vision is technology.

My generation has grown up with the entire world at our fingertips through emerging technology.  Social media, search engines, and smart phones have equipped us to become world-changers.  This technology not only allows, but obligates, twenty-somethings to dream big.  New technology and the Internet are practically coded into our DNA. So what are we supposed to do with it?

In order to harness our potential, I believe that we need the help of older generations.  In the book of Acts, Barnabus encourages Paul and helps him to develop his ministry.  Barnabus enabled Paul to make an impact in the world for Christ by his example.  Barnabus and Paul traveled together, taught together, and lived out God’s purpose for their lives.  My generation needs people like Barnabus; people to guide the way and share their journey. We have a lot of dreams, but in order to bring them to fruition we need enablers.  We need teachers and mentors to show us the way.

If you look at your community, you will see the potential that these young adults hold.  My generation will soon become the world’s leaders, and you have the opportunity to make an impact.  Connect with them through new technologies and embrace the shift that they are creating in society.  The way people interact is being revolutionized through social media, and it is important that we know how it works.  Allow my generation to show you the future, and then share some of your wisdom in exchange.  If you are an online missionary with younger disciples, then don’t underestimate the power that your e-mail encouragement holds.  Become a Barnabus and enable the younger generation to make a difference in the world for Christ using the tools they have been given.  Encourage them to develop their vision and encourage them to utilize technology to pursue it.  Embrace the dreams of the dreamers.  Embrace the incredible knowledge they hold.  Embrace your opportunity to enable the world changers.

 

~Amber Marshall (SVSP Intern 2011)

Making an impact, a world away

Aggie Hertel is the Community Leader for the 32 online missionaries at her church, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. As the Community Leader, Aggie doesn’t leave the hard work to the missionaries at her church; she gets her hands dirty by working in the spiritual “trenches” as she communicates with seekers all over the world. Aggie has had some very interesting interactions with her contacts. One of those contacts is Laddha, a handicapped woman from Cambodia. Confined to a wheelchair, Laddha e-mailed Aggie nearly every day last summer, as she wanted to learn more about the Bible. After five months of communication, Laddha asked Aggie for help to teach young children about Jesus. She aimed to create a retreat for children who are AIDS victims or children of AIDS victims. Last fall, 120 children attended the retreat Laddha hosted, and 60 children accepted Christ as their Savior. Aggie continues to talk to Laddha, who plans to baptize those who are now in relationship with Christ in Cambodia.

“This ministry allows you to have a deep impact on people’s lives,” Aggie said. “ Some people might ask, can there be serious discipleship and multiplication on GMO? Without a doubt!”

The gospel…stylish?

Today, this is popular:

It’s not profound, it isn’t meaningful— it’s not even that clever. And yet, it still explodes on the internet. It has hundreds of thousands of views, clogs our news feeds, and it easily comes up in conversation.

This is just one example of the power of social media, and more specifically youth through social media. They are the ones who have the influence. They make random and pointless videos, pictures, and words go viral in a matter of hours—FOR NO REASON. They start the trends.

So what would happen if instead of watching Nigel Thornberry remixes, tweeting about double rainbows, and changing profile pictures to celebrity lookalikes, the youth started buzzing about…Jesus? What if we gave them a reason to stop taking that quiz to figure out which Disney princess they are, and instead spread the message of God’s love for everyone? Can you imagine what would happen if THAT caught on?

First, there would be the phenomenon that is the message of love. Over 1.5 million people have watched Rebecca Black’s music video “Friday.” The song includes lyrics like this one: “Fun, fun, think about fun, you know what it is.” If they were to be infused and inspired by the gospel, they could be listening to, and sharing lines like this instead: “God loves you, and wants to be close to you.” Now that would be a trend with lasting power.

So here’s the challenge: let’s see how fast God’s love can catch on! Let’s saturate the young people with Jesus’ love so they can spread it in exponential ways. It’s like when you have a cold, and you sneeze on a communal bowl of mints. There’s almost no limit to how far those germs can spread. Just in this case, Jesus is the only infectious REMEDY.

~Annie Josey (SVSP Intern, 2011)

Pentecost: God’s Supernatural Provision

When the church was born (Acts 2), God poured out His Spirit on a group of unqualified, unequipped men who would later turn the entire world upside down with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. In this moment of uncertainty, the first Christ followers in History, cried out for God to meet them in the midst of their weakness and confusion, and on the day of Pentecost, God answered their prayer with the might of His Spirit.

In their time of greatest need, God took the little they had to offer and multiplied it above and beyond what they could have asked or hoped for. In this moment of weakness, God supernaturally moved through them in power to begin what we call the great commission. Now, two thousand years later, God has poured out His Spirit yet again on the day of Pentecost during our moment of uncertainty and weakness.

We had made plans to reach 1,000,000 people with the Gospel On Sunday, June 12^th. This is done through blitzing the Internet with ads containing a simple Gospel presentation designed to meet people in their moment of need.

As the market grows, advertisement is becoming more and more expensive. On Friday, June 9, 2011, we were in the midst of a moment of uncertainty. While we believed God for 1,000,000 opportunities to share the gospel on Pentecost Sunday, we thought we lacked the funds to support it. In fact, we believed we would be limited to reaching about one third of that number.

Despite the dismaying odds, we pressed on by faith, and, on Sunday, God miraculously provided. Not only were we able to meet the original goal to reach 1 million, but also we managed to set a new record in GMO history by reaching 1,917,885 people with the Gospel.  Out of these, 185,000 individuals indicated decisions for Christ. In a single day, almost 200 thousand individuals, whom we know of, were welcomed into the kingdom of heaven.

This is a miracle of epic proportions. Praise God for taking the little we have and using unqualified, unequipped people to turn the world upside down. Praise God that His Dominion reaches not only the natural, but the virtual as well. Praise God that His Spirit is not limited to our physical reach and that He is actively reaching individuals through their computer screens.

Please continue to pray for each individual that receives Christ through one of our websites. We are not called to simply reach the entire world, but we are commissioned to make disciples of all nations. Pray that God would strengthen the online missionaries as they take time to love and disciple each person that responds. Out of the millions of contacts we make, each person is an individual with specific needs and a specific destiny. God knows each one intimately and is willing to leave the many for the one. Our ministry should not be defined by large numbers but by our ability to make true disciples of Christ and mature sons and daughters of God.

Thank you for your prayers and support!

GMO Staff

Africa!

While mobile technology is reaching out into all different parts of the word, it is still true that computers and high speed internet connections are luxuries in many parts of the world. We wanted to introduce you to two Campus Crusade staff members who have decided to do something about this, and set up a communications center in Francophone Africa. Please meet:

Kennedy Nsom (and his family):

Kennedy not only works as Campus Crusade for Christ’s  Virtually Led Ministries Director for Francophone Africa, he is also one of our Community Leader Shepherds.  This means that he oversees many different online communities who are reaching the world for Jesus.

Also, meet Augustin Tchenkoua (and his family):

Augustin has just become our overall GMO coordinator in Francophone Africa.

Together both of these men oversee The Communications Center, which provides a place where Christians can conduct online ministry- including volunteering as Online Missionaries (OMs) with GMO.  They also use this facility for training new OMs.

Here is a picture of the Communication Center:

Here are a few Online Missionaries going through training:

And last, here are the OMs hard at work, reaching people for Jesus on the internet:

(If you are can’t see the pictures, try going here)