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Internet Evangelism Day and the Majority World

Guess how many mobile phones were sold since this time yesterday? Figures for mobile and web usage are mind-blowing. About 4 billion people own a mobile phone, and 1.29 million new phones were sold in the last 24 hours! Over 2 billion use the Web, and of these, 500+ million are regularly on Facebook.

Even more significant: over half these people are in the Majority World, often in very unreached areas.

Since 2005, Internet Evangelism Day (IE Day) has been promoting the potential of digital media evangelism through an annual worldwide focus day for Christians and a year-round online resource guide covering all aspects of web and mobile evangelism.

This year, IE Day is set for 15 May, with the added emphasis of May being Digital Outreach Month. Our hope is that individual Christians, churches, mission agencies, and other groups will examine the growing opportunities to share the good news online. Our free downloads—video clips, PowerPoints, and handouts—can create a group presentation of five minutes or fifty minutes.

Digital Evangelism from a Mission Perspective

Digital communication culture. The Web has changed communications forever. The new digital communication culture is very different from the linear, one-way print and broadcast cultures of previous years. Information, discussion, and relationships across continents are available in real time, 24/7.

Privacy and anonymous intimacy. For the first time, subject to availability in their language, inquirers can easily read evangelistic articles and scriptures in relative privacy. They may also ask deep questions—a web phenomenon called “anonymous intimacy.”

Evangelistic websites in multiple languages can explain the good news clearly, telling real stories of people who have found faith, creating the space to ask questions, and offering online help though e-mentors. The tragedy is that more than fifteen years after the mainstream Web began, there are many language groups in which there are few, if any, sites of this sort.

The Bridge Strategy can engage non-seekers by connecting within common interests, such as popular culture, sport, or felt needs.

Church websites. Church sites can be a window for the wider community. Unfortunately, many websites present the church (using insider language) as a building with a program of meetings, rather than a community of people on a journey who want others to join their family.

Mobile phones. For many in the Majority World, a mobile phone is the only digital device they will own. Increasingly, mobiles can access the Web. Across Africa and parts of Asia, Facebook access is free for pay-as-you-go phone users. Phones prices and call charges are surprisingly cheap in many countries, with good coverage in rural areas. Of course, people may supplement mobile web access with Internet Cafe visits.