Friday's seem to be the only day I have for getting around to blogging...and typically I've stored up a lot of thoughts in the mean time. I've heard it would be best to do this in 100 words or less…but motto is, “why use up a hundred when 10’s of thousands are available?”
Essentially, I’ve long been about looking to find ways to expand the outreach of ActofGraceRadio.net. As you might be an ideal candidate to run for one of the current open posts I thought I'd tell you more about ActofGraceRadio.net. As I mentioned in previous communiqué the intent wasn’t to find an outlet for my own “radio-style” program. (I’ve so long been there and done that I’ve thrown away more t-shirts than any one person could ever need.) I honestly think the internet has tremendous potential for every type of outreach ministry. (And as it so happens I’ve been trained in radio with a healthy smattering of theatrical pursuits as well.) And with over a billion internet users already…expected to double with the advent of some new technologies on the horizon, well I mean where are you going to find that many eyes and ears all in one location? By the way, if you like statistics I’ve included a whole section of those below.
Granted, being a ministry on the internet is probably a 21st century equivalent to John the Baptist’s wilderness proclamations…but I know people have and are finding AGR from all over the world (except in Antarctica) and I’m presently not within the “need-to-know” loop on how the Holy Spirit uses what’s being presented. But I do get impatient about “@ the Rock Shop” being all I have to offer right now even though I’ve long been looking for some additions to this Internet-only outreach. (Admittedly I might be too picky, or I’ve just not been in contact with the right people yet, or God’s timing is on a different schedule than mine…hmm, I’ll take C, and that’s my final answer.) Later on I’ll get in to some of the why’s and where for’s concerning this type of outreach but, suffice it to say, I really think there are a good many other talented Christians who might see God using them through what’s begun thus far via ActofGraceRadio.net. (Yuk! That sure sounds like one of those rah-rah sentences that typically put me off, and there I’ve just gone and written one – Sorry, I try to keep the effervescing better in check.)
Ultimately at the end of the day all any writer is left with is a whole bunch of material – just setting on a shelf (maybe in a hard-drive) collecting dust – my thing is why not record this stuff and let’s get it up on the world wide web! Okay, so I realize that my vision isn’t the same as another person’s vision, but what’s so cool about the format (that doesn’t exist yet) with AGR is the parameters are pretty freeing…about the only restrictions I ever put on my show is that I want it to fit within a standard broadcasting time frame of 59:30. But even my wife tells me that I’m the only one who cares about that as I’m wrestling each week with cutting two seconds here or adding twelve and a third over there. (She doesn’t understand that that’s what really excites me about audio production.) Anyway, I think that’s a long drawn out way of saying, if you – creative as you are – see yourself putting some type of program together, or already have some stuff that just needs to be recorded, well then I think I’ve got an outlet where it can be presented. But you'll need to let me know.
FROM HERE ON OUT ALL THIS IS OPTIONAL READING –
(It’s just a bunch of highly philosophical hoo-haw that was the inspiration for ActofGraceRadio.net.)
I see two huge problems that keep getting made in ministry overall and in particular with internet evangelism…everybody seemingly keeps copying what everybody else has already started. As such there sure isn’t a whole lot of helping going on. It’s an admitted pet peeve, but why as creative people, can’t we do something that isn’t a retooling of all the pretty good wheels that are already available ad nauseam? And, I think there’s also a tendency among Christian outreach endeavors on the web not to grasp the world-wide audience magnitude.
READ ON ONLY IF YOU’RE MASOCHISTIC:
I’m seeing the same thing occurring on most Christian websites. 99% have been written with only a Christian reader in mind. Of course, some non-Christians will invariably visit them too. And if they already have an interest, maybe they will stay to read. But this is like hoping that non-Christians will walk in off the street into a church service. Some do. But most don’t. (Website visitors usually leave in 5 seconds, if they can’t relate to a page.) As such you wind up only touching the people who may have a Christian background or interest. Maybe we reach the 'once-churched', but the 'never-churched' are staying that way.
The sad thing is that because some evangelism does happen successfully this way, Christians think we are touching everyone in the society. Beyond that some churches give evangelism and world mission a very low priority in their programs. The Wesley quote, "You have nothing to do but to save souls," fits nicely here.
Because the standard operating procedure for the Internet being a 'free' resource, and because those involved in online evangelism produce no tangible 'product', the wider church is kind of slow in realizing that online evangelism ministries need support and encouragement. There are surprisingly few Christian organizations primarily involved in any sort of online evangelism.
The Web is a different animal
Print, video, radio and TV are mainly 'push' mediums. They communicate by sending out a consecutive ('linear') prepared message.
The Web however is a 'pull' medium pulling in visitors - albeit only on the basis of a defined interest. People usually go only to pages on subjects they are searching for. And of course, the incredible advantage of the Web is that it is global: anyone, on any continent in the world, can find a page in seconds.
The other unique property of the Internet is interactivity. Not only are users in control of which pages to visit, they can also send feedback to a webmaster. They can easily ask questions, receive help and advice. This option to build 'community' around a website is very important. It helps people feel wanted and that their opinions are valued. It gives them a place where they can ask questions in a safe way, when perhaps they would not do that face-to-face.
For evangelistic websites, this interaction is very important. Very few people become Christians just by reading something. Conversion is usually a long process, and involves friendly interaction with people who are already Christians. Think back to how you became a Christian. For most people, seeing the life of Jesus in someone else, usually through experiencing friendship, is the most powerful witness.
(Here’s where I’d save some words and not continue in my rant…sometimes pictures help. What is it they say about those things?) 
Essentially, I’ve long been about looking to find ways to expand the outreach of ActofGraceRadio.net. As you might be an ideal candidate to run for one of the current open posts I thought I'd tell you more about ActofGraceRadio.net. As I mentioned in previous communiqué the intent wasn’t to find an outlet for my own “radio-style” program. (I’ve so long been there and done that I’ve thrown away more t-shirts than any one person could ever need.) I honestly think the internet has tremendous potential for every type of outreach ministry. (And as it so happens I’ve been trained in radio with a healthy smattering of theatrical pursuits as well.) And with over a billion internet users already…expected to double with the advent of some new technologies on the horizon, well I mean where are you going to find that many eyes and ears all in one location? By the way, if you like statistics I’ve included a whole section of those below.
Granted, being a ministry on the internet is probably a 21st century equivalent to John the Baptist’s wilderness proclamations…but I know people have and are finding AGR from all over the world (except in Antarctica) and I’m presently not within the “need-to-know” loop on how the Holy Spirit uses what’s being presented. But I do get impatient about “@ the Rock Shop” being all I have to offer right now even though I’ve long been looking for some additions to this Internet-only outreach. (Admittedly I might be too picky, or I’ve just not been in contact with the right people yet, or God’s timing is on a different schedule than mine…hmm, I’ll take C, and that’s my final answer.) Later on I’ll get in to some of the why’s and where for’s concerning this type of outreach but, suffice it to say, I really think there are a good many other talented Christians who might see God using them through what’s begun thus far via ActofGraceRadio.net. (Yuk! That sure sounds like one of those rah-rah sentences that typically put me off, and there I’ve just gone and written one – Sorry, I try to keep the effervescing better in check.)
Ultimately at the end of the day all any writer is left with is a whole bunch of material – just setting on a shelf (maybe in a hard-drive) collecting dust – my thing is why not record this stuff and let’s get it up on the world wide web! Okay, so I realize that my vision isn’t the same as another person’s vision, but what’s so cool about the format (that doesn’t exist yet) with AGR is the parameters are pretty freeing…about the only restrictions I ever put on my show is that I want it to fit within a standard broadcasting time frame of 59:30. But even my wife tells me that I’m the only one who cares about that as I’m wrestling each week with cutting two seconds here or adding twelve and a third over there. (She doesn’t understand that that’s what really excites me about audio production.) Anyway, I think that’s a long drawn out way of saying, if you – creative as you are – see yourself putting some type of program together, or already have some stuff that just needs to be recorded, well then I think I’ve got an outlet where it can be presented. But you'll need to let me know.
FROM HERE ON OUT ALL THIS IS OPTIONAL READING –
(It’s just a bunch of highly philosophical hoo-haw that was the inspiration for ActofGraceRadio.net.)
I see two huge problems that keep getting made in ministry overall and in particular with internet evangelism…everybody seemingly keeps copying what everybody else has already started. As such there sure isn’t a whole lot of helping going on. It’s an admitted pet peeve, but why as creative people, can’t we do something that isn’t a retooling of all the pretty good wheels that are already available ad nauseam? And, I think there’s also a tendency among Christian outreach endeavors on the web not to grasp the world-wide audience magnitude.
READ ON ONLY IF YOU’RE MASOCHISTIC:
The same old story about the Great Old Story
Let’s call it a "99% problem"
In practically any Christian bookstore you’ll see 99% of the materials targeting Christians, using Christian language, thought-forms and assumptions. Christian radio essentially is playing all the same music, many of the same programs, and their spending money on internet bandwidth along with everyone else. Why? Are they really offering something that special? In the same vein I don’t hold out much hope that Christian television will ever become a viable alternative to anything. Plus tv and movies just costs so stinking much money to produce and requires so many people to do the most elementary projects…that I have some stewardship issues about. Anyway, I am pretty sure though, that Christians believe that "because it’s Christian, it is evangelistic". Sadly however, I don’t think this the real message that’s coming through.
I’m seeing the same thing occurring on most Christian websites. 99% have been written with only a Christian reader in mind. Of course, some non-Christians will invariably visit them too. And if they already have an interest, maybe they will stay to read. But this is like hoping that non-Christians will walk in off the street into a church service. Some do. But most don’t. (Website visitors usually leave in 5 seconds, if they can’t relate to a page.) As such you wind up only touching the people who may have a Christian background or interest. Maybe we reach the 'once-churched', but the 'never-churched' are staying that way.
The sad thing is that because some evangelism does happen successfully this way, Christians think we are touching everyone in the society. Beyond that some churches give evangelism and world mission a very low priority in their programs. The Wesley quote, "You have nothing to do but to save souls," fits nicely here.
Because the standard operating procedure for the Internet being a 'free' resource, and because those involved in online evangelism produce no tangible 'product', the wider church is kind of slow in realizing that online evangelism ministries need support and encouragement. There are surprisingly few Christian organizations primarily involved in any sort of online evangelism.
The Web is a different animal
Print, video, radio and TV are mainly 'push' mediums. They communicate by sending out a consecutive ('linear') prepared message.
The Web however is a 'pull' medium pulling in visitors - albeit only on the basis of a defined interest. People usually go only to pages on subjects they are searching for. And of course, the incredible advantage of the Web is that it is global: anyone, on any continent in the world, can find a page in seconds.
The other unique property of the Internet is interactivity. Not only are users in control of which pages to visit, they can also send feedback to a webmaster. They can easily ask questions, receive help and advice. This option to build 'community' around a website is very important. It helps people feel wanted and that their opinions are valued. It gives them a place where they can ask questions in a safe way, when perhaps they would not do that face-to-face.
For evangelistic websites, this interaction is very important. Very few people become Christians just by reading something. Conversion is usually a long process, and involves friendly interaction with people who are already Christians. Think back to how you became a Christian. For most people, seeing the life of Jesus in someone else, usually through experiencing friendship, is the most powerful witness.
All mediums are not the same. TV is not just radio with pictures. Print is not just speech written down. So too the Web should not be seen as just another way of delivering tracts or sermons. It is a revolutionary, interactive, medium where the user is in control.
(Here’s where I’d save some words and not continue in my rant…sometimes pictures help. What is it they say about those things?)
Done looking? I found the information presented by that graph staggering: (Why are so many efforts targeting the top 10%?)
The Engle evangelism scale seeks to place people’s openness and receptivity to the truth in Christ on a scale as follows:
-10 Awareness of the supernatural
The Engle evangelism scale seeks to place people’s openness and receptivity to the truth in Christ on a scale as follows:
-10 Awareness of the supernatural
-9 No effective knowledge of Christianity AGR works within this target range
-8 Initial Awareness of Christianity
-7 Interest in Christianity engaging people in an intelligent,
-6 Awareness of basic facts of the Gospel entertaining discussion about the
-5 Grasp of implications of the Gospel validity of a Christian worldview, but
-4 Positive attitude to the Gospel
-3 Awareness of personal need don’t just take our word for it - examine
-2 Challenge and decision to act
-1 Repentance and faith the evidence, facts, and that Bible for themselves.
0 A Disciple is Born!
+1 Evaluation of decision
+2 Initiation into the church
-8 Initial Awareness of Christianity
-7 Interest in Christianity engaging people in an intelligent,
-6 Awareness of basic facts of the Gospel entertaining discussion about the
-5 Grasp of implications of the Gospel validity of a Christian worldview, but
-4 Positive attitude to the Gospel
-3 Awareness of personal need don’t just take our word for it - examine
-2 Challenge and decision to act
-1 Repentance and faith the evidence, facts, and that Bible for themselves.
0 A Disciple is Born!
+1 Evaluation of decision
+2 Initiation into the church
+3 Become part of the process of making other disciples
+4 Growth in understanding of the faith
+5 Growth in Christian character
+6 Discovery and use of gifts
+7 Christian life-style
+8 Stewardship of resources
+9 Prayer
+10 Openness to others/Effective sharing of faith and life
Obviously AGR’s goal is to see people grow to a +10! But I see my primary service in “pulling” -10's to the +2's in to a discussion that would prayerfully lead them to a point of repentance and faith resulting in salvation.
AGR’s seed planting and watering is intended to move people up the negative part of the scale and provide them the opportunity to trust in and receive Christ as their Savior. I also realize, in mission work, I’m invading their turf and remain ever cognizant that the listener on the other end may not have an interest in spiritual things whatsoever…but will they come back and listen in again?
Now about those stats:
Over half of the world is illiterate. An obvious challenge to the internet overall – but if a person were only functionally illiterate well, maybe radio programming would have a chance…and how does Romans 10:17 go?
36% of the world already uses English as their primary or top secondary language. 44% of Internet users are English speaking and the majority (over 60%) are male, which must mean 40% are female.
Talk-radio is the second most popular format worldwide. It’s only surpassed by country and western. (And I just ain’t going there!)
North America comprises only 5% of internet users. Asia, at close to 60%, is far and away the biggest user and Europeans use the internet more than twice what we in the Americas do. The biggest growth in Internet usage this decade has occurred in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America respectively…but remember the U.S. already had a lot of internet prior to 2000.
Okay, enough already! This is only a snippet of my passions about the potential the internet affords and might explain how I got into doing what I’m doing. You’re hereby invited to participate, but think and pray about how God might want you to be involved in an outreach like this…Seriously, I’m open to practically any and all ideas that fit within that target range above and brings glory God in the process. If you think you’d like to take another adventure in email reading…then reply accordingly.
Ever yours regardlessly,
Mike Roberts
+4 Growth in understanding of the faith
+5 Growth in Christian character
+6 Discovery and use of gifts
+7 Christian life-style
+8 Stewardship of resources
+9 Prayer
+10 Openness to others/Effective sharing of faith and life
Obviously AGR’s goal is to see people grow to a +10! But I see my primary service in “pulling” -10's to the +2's in to a discussion that would prayerfully lead them to a point of repentance and faith resulting in salvation.
AGR’s seed planting and watering is intended to move people up the negative part of the scale and provide them the opportunity to trust in and receive Christ as their Savior. I also realize, in mission work, I’m invading their turf and remain ever cognizant that the listener on the other end may not have an interest in spiritual things whatsoever…but will they come back and listen in again?
Now about those stats:
Over half of the world is illiterate. An obvious challenge to the internet overall – but if a person were only functionally illiterate well, maybe radio programming would have a chance…and how does Romans 10:17 go?
36% of the world already uses English as their primary or top secondary language. 44% of Internet users are English speaking and the majority (over 60%) are male, which must mean 40% are female.
Talk-radio is the second most popular format worldwide. It’s only surpassed by country and western. (And I just ain’t going there!)
North America comprises only 5% of internet users. Asia, at close to 60%, is far and away the biggest user and Europeans use the internet more than twice what we in the Americas do. The biggest growth in Internet usage this decade has occurred in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America respectively…but remember the U.S. already had a lot of internet prior to 2000.
Okay, enough already! This is only a snippet of my passions about the potential the internet affords and might explain how I got into doing what I’m doing. You’re hereby invited to participate, but think and pray about how God might want you to be involved in an outreach like this…Seriously, I’m open to practically any and all ideas that fit within that target range above and brings glory God in the process. If you think you’d like to take another adventure in email reading…then reply accordingly.
Ever yours regardlessly,
Mike Roberts
1 comment:
Web evangelism that reaches those that are not seeking, is an essential sort of ministry.
Our Internet Evangelism Day aims to offer ideas and strategies for this.
Blessings
Tony
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