How will Web 2.0 impact the Church?

For the first time in history, the Body of Christ can experience universal connectivity.  Not bound by time, location, or costly expense, Christians all over the world can now get together, talk in real-time, and join forces in advancing the Kingdom of God.  This helps bring evangelization to critical mass all over the planet.

Thousands of ministry leaders are now searching for new ways to utilize the internet for mobilizing coalition forces in worldwide evangelism.  They believe that God is using the internet to change the world and transform people’s lives.
 

In 1997, ministry leaders from churches, denominations, and parachurch organizations gathered together at the Billy Graham Center to discuss ways the internet could be used to stimulate and accelerate worldwide evangelism.  Their passion for evangelism gave birth to the Internet Evangelism Coalition in 1999.

 

According to Dr. Sterling Huston of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Chairman of the Internet Evangelistic Coalition,

“The rapid growth, broad international reach and economical cost of the Internet offers individuals, churches, and ministries an unprecedented opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ worldwide.”

 

Today, the Internet Evangelism Coalition (IEC) is facilitating the growth of strategic partnerships among Christian organizations now engaged in internet evangelism.  I had a chance to sit in (video via the internet) on one of their recent gatherings in Chicago this past year.  There was a resounding cry for a Web 2.0 tool that’s designed exclusively for Christians to use. 

 

What are ways Web 2.0 can benefit the Church?

There are a number of ways Web 2.0 can be used by the Body of Christ.  The church now has many new ways to connect, collaborate, and build community – using the internet as a powerful ministry tool.  Ordinary Web 1.0 websites can be transformed into interactive gathering places where people meet and share common interests.
 

The Web 2.0 church website captures attention.

The average attention span of an online user is 10-20 seconds.  Web 2.0 websites are designed to capture a viewers attention in a short amount of time.  The websites are simple, straight to the point, and easy to understand.

The Web 2.0 church website is inviting.

Gone are the days when having a traditional church website was all that was needed to attract new visitors from the internet.  Today, websites must not only look good, they must feel good.  They must look less like a digital brochure, and more like a vibrant community. Web 2.0 websites are welcoming and inclusive.

The Web 2.0 church website offers community.

The recent developments of Web 2.0 can provide organizations with the ability to build their own social network, something I call an online gated community.  These social networks can be customized for personal preferences and needs.  These communities can be both private (with sections for members only), and inclusive (with sections where everyone is invited). 

These benefits throw the door wide open for new and innovative ways for organic transformation – a back-to-basics, natural process for church health and growth.  The Church can now draw closer to people in everyday life. Unlimited possibilities prevail, limited only by imagination!

 

Universal connectivity (on a local and global scale) is now available.  Christians can now take advantage of cost-effective means, connecting with family, friends, and co-workers at anytime, and anywhere.  This means that for the first time in history, the Body of Christ can connect and collaborate in real-time, worldwide.  Mobilization of local, national, and global forces for evangelism is now possible.  This could easily engage millions of new evangelists and draw in millions of new believers.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 10th, 2007 at 11:38 pm and is filed under Web 2.0, Church Growth. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.