OUTREACH
Internet Evangelism Day Resources
By Craig von Buseck
CBN.com Contributing Writer
CBN.com – It's nearly here: Internet Evangelism Day is set for Sunday, April 29th this year, with the entire month of April designated as Digital Outreach Month.
Here is a list of resources from Internet Evangelism Day coordinator, Tony Whittaker, that puts the day in context and offers some ready-to-use news items. Feel free to publish these resources in any way – print, newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, blogging, etc.
If you are on Facebook, please share with this one-click link.
And here's a ready-to-use tweet.
Above all, we'd love to see churches devoting a few minutes on IE Day (or at any other time) to share the practical opportunities that are now available. Here are 14 things your church can do on IE Day.
A Changed World
The digital world has changed remarkably in the last year or two. Although a part of Internet Evangelism Day's emphasis has always been to mobilize individual Christians into digital evangelism, until recently the options we could suggest were quite limited. Writers might be drawn to blogging, or create a website if they felt technically competent. Those good at thinking on their feet could share in chat rooms and bulletin boards. But most of these suggestions were time-intensive and intentional initiatives only suitable for a small minority.
What has changed? The emergence of the 'three-fold cord' of social networking allied to video shorts and mobile phones. At last it has become remarkably easy for any Jesus-follower to build relationships and discuss truth appropriately, especially within social networking platforms. Our digital communication culture has become highly visual and dialogue-based, and the sharing of conversation-starting video shorts on Facebook and Twitter is as easy as a mouse-click, though only if we know where to find them
Learn more about using digital video for evangelism.
Phone Apps
There are few smartphone apps that are genuinely aimed at outsiders, that can be shared one-to-one, or in a small discussion group. UK team Damaris has just released a strategic iPhone app called Talking About Jesus (Android version coming soon.)
Download this informal blog-like article about this app for re-use.
A second new evangelism-related web app is called God's GPS. Its purpose is to equip Christians to share faith appropriately and conversationally. It is not intended for non-yet-followers to download or look at.
Learn more about using phone apps for evangelism.
Curation
Pinterest.com allows anyone to create a very visual set of curated recommendations, within their own chosen areas of interest, with no tech knowledge needed. Learn more.
Books
Like last year, we'll be offering normally pay-for evangelism/communication ebooks free on IE Day, plus the chance to win others.
So below I've summarized these as mini news items which can be used individually or together, or adapted in any way you wish. There is also a short general news release.
If you would like a radio or telephone interview with an IE Day representative in US, Canada, Australia/NZ or UK, here are contact details.
With 2.3 billion people online and 4 billion mobile phone users, including increasing numbers in the Majority World, the opportunities are ever expanding!
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Create a Digital Evangelism Focus Spot in your Church
Churches around the world will mark Internet Evangelism Day on Sunday 29 April. Internet Evangelism Day's online resources are a great way to help your church members learn more about exciting ways to share the good news online. It is easy to create a short focus spot in a church meeting, and even demonstrate these options online in real time. Learn how.
New Evangelistic iPhone App: Talking About Jesus
The new Talking About Jesus iPhone app is a new release from UK ministry Damaris. Most Christian smartphone apps offer discipleship help for Christians. Talking About Jesus is directly evangelistic and offers 18 short videos by insightful speakers such as Philip Yancey, Anna Robbins, Andrew White, Krish Kandiah, Nick Pollard and Gary Habermas:
God's GPS phone app
God's GPS equips Christians to share faith appropriately and conversationally. It is not intended for non-yet-followers to download or look at.
Digital Outreach Month's Recommended Book
Viral: How Social Networking Is Poised to Ignite Revival
Len Sweet
Waterbrook Press
229 pages paperback
ISBN 978-0-307-45915-2
Len Sweet's new book, Viral: How Social Networking Is Poised to Ignite Revival was published in March. It is a revealing explanation of the transformation of our culture from 'print' to 'digital', and how this changes everything in our communication and ministry. Sweet's insights are so vital to effective digital ministry that Internet Evangelism Day has designated this book 'Best New Title for Digital
The need for Digital Advocates
Many churches appoint a missions advocate/coordinator to resource the rest of the fellowship. Internet Evangelism Day urges churches to consider appointing a person for the role of a 'Digital Advocate' (by whatever name is appropriate) – someone who can help church members find and use the many digital resources that are now available.
Free Ebooks on Internet Evangelism Day
There will be several usually pay-for ebooks and other resources available for free download on Internet Evangelism Day, 29 April:
 Order your copy of NetCasters: Using the Internet to Make Fishers of Men
Mark Martin of CBN News Interviews Craig about NetCasters
Part One  | Part Two
Learn more about Internet Evangelism Day
More Evangelism Resources on Spiritual Life
More from the Internet Evangelism Network
Craig's ChurchWatch Blog
E-mail your comments and questions
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 Craig
von Buseck is Ministries Director for CBN.com. He represents CBN on the Executive Committee of the Internet Evangelism Network (IEN).
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