Lausanne World Pulse – Internet Evangelism and Your Church

April 2006

By Debra Brown

Initiating Internet evangelism in the local church setting is a little like trying to ski uphill—it can be very difficult to get momentum. The best way we have found to do so is to develop an integrated system to support the online ministry. This approach has a number of benefits. First, it provides profile. Once a system is in place in any organization it becomes a part of the “machine.” Information about the system soon gets included in the church bulletin, on the website and in other key communication mechanisms of the church.

Second, it provides legacy. By building a system, the church has an Internet evangelism foundational structure that others can build on. Often there is a high turnover rate in church ministries which can result in a loss of key information, expertise and at times, the ministry itself. A system will maintain the foundation when a key person moves on. 

 
Online Training for Online Evangelists course

Third, it provides integration. Internet ministry should be integrated with the strategic efforts of the church. The goals and objectives of the ministry should align with the vision, mission and values of the church. It should be embedded into structures and systems of other ministries in the church.

In setting up the system at Woodvale Pentecostal Church in Ottawa, Canada, we made extensive use of the free resources available through the Internet Evangelism Coalition (IEC). Our system, which included a weekly class on Internet evangelism, incorporates six building blocks:

1. Training. The best way to embed Internet evangelism in the local church is to engage and educate as many people as possible. Using the Online Training for Online Evangelists course we:

  • Created an implementation/study guide that provides an eight-week training companion to the course. The guide was designed for local churches to assist them in training a team of Internet evangelists. We have made this is available through the IEC to those interested in obtaining a copy.
  • Made extensive use of hands-on experience in the weekly lesson plan by ensuring classes took place where there was access to the Internet and audio visual equipment. This enabled students to see, touch and feel lessons online in real time.
  • Encouraged students to evangelize on the Internet during the course and bring stories, learnings and questions back to share with the class the next week.
  • Obtained certificates of completion from Wheaton College (Wheaton, Illinois, USA) and the IEC for the graduates.
  • Had the church agree to hold this class two times each year.
  • Chose one student from the class to train the next group of students using the course in order to develop another leader and champion for Internet Evangelism at the church.

Debra Brown is president and CEO of Brown Governance Inc. and executive committee member of the Internet Evangelism Coalition. She is a member of Woodvale Pentecostal Church in Ottawa, Canada.