The internet can be a scary place for many people and is often overlooked as a way to offer praise and glory to our Lord. Today over half of the homes in the US have a computer in there home. Just about any teenager surfs the web every day. The potential to reach the young people is unprecedented. Using the internet is possibly the biggest pulpit any church or pastor can have.
The most popular websites are offering up a place for others to connect and share. You can view videos, listen to music, see pictures, download podcasts and much more. The internet is powerful, as it crosses all boundaries for language, politics, and religion. It reaches and connects everyone in the world to one large hub of information. Our young people are being fed a daily dose of filth and hate, by using the internet you can offer

a place of truth and safe haven.
Ezekiel 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
Video sharing websites like youtube can be extremely beneficial to your ministry. You can upload your sermons, church plays, or offer a weekly show reading the Bible. Use this site to teach our young people and the world what is clean and unclean by example. You will be offering a safe haven and a great teaching to the world. Social networks like myspace and facebook are also extremely beneficial to your ministry. These services allow you to become friends with your young people and allow you to keep them up to date with the happenings in your church. It is also a great way to communicate the Bible with a daily or weekly verse. By using the same things our young use you are setting a standard for them as to what is acceptable to post. Think about it this way, If you knew the church was reading and viewing what you posted, What would you say? What would you post? Not only are you teaching your young members but you are also teaching there friends and family and ultimately the world.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Since the internet reaches the whole world you are spreading Gods word and teaching all nations about him. Your churches website can be read by anyone in the world. With today's technologies your website can be translated into almost any language with a click of a button. You will be able to share with the world what your church believes and teaches, and also what you do as far as activities, outreaches, and general happenings. A church website also offers your members a place to study while at home and catch that Sunday sermon they missed. You would be able to have a prayer center to collect the needs of not only members but anyone seeking prayer and guidance, you could then send out the requests to your prayer chain. Connecting people with God is the mainstay of the church website and your church through your website would be open 24 hours a day.
Acts 4:18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
In our schools and shopping centers the children and employees are being told they are not allowed to pray, read the Bible, or even say Merry Christmas. But by reaching out to our children where they are comfortable you are helping them learn and praise God. By using the internet the teachings and verses they need to read will be made available to them.
Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Your churches website will be teaching and preaching in every home across the world daily and it is open all the time. Other churches will be able to communicate and help each other with prayer and guidance. Jesus walked among everyone equally. He did not shy away from the sinners he went to them. He would seek them out as to teach the way of the Father. By using the internet you are doing just that, reaching and seeking those that need to be saved. Your church website would become a virtual beacon to guide those searching back to the Lord.
Matthew:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
With all that has been said you are probably saying but I don't know how to build a website or our church cant afford to have a website. Let me help with those concerns also. If you are thinking about haveing a website and you have young people attending your church you have the perfect web team already. Start a new group and give them the ok to build and maintain your website. The youth of today know how to do it, just let them know you are to approve all entries and posts. There are many low cost hosts on the internet offering domain names and hosting. By allowing your young people to be involved they are learning and you are teaching them to be teachers. Think of the web team as a newspaper team for your church. You would have a designer, publisher, editor, photographer, and more. You could give these jobs to your youth and even some of your members. This would allow them to be excited about church and proud that they are a part of it. The hosting services I mentioned above also have website building software with there hosting packages. So building and maintaining a website is not that hard anymore. Also Myspace gives you a place to upload pictures, videos, and music for free. They also have a blog section for your posting needs. Myspace is free and would be a great start in having a website.
The internet is an information highway, a place people go to learn, read, and be entertained. By using this highway you are teaching Gods word and setting a standard.
Isaiah 62:10 Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.

Kevin Billingsley - Portage Indiana

Webmaster

www.portagecogop.com