INTERNET EVANGELISM OPPORTUNITIES

THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF THE INTERNET
The growth of the Internet has been phenomenal. It took 38 years for radio to reach 50 million listeners in the world, and 13 years for TV to reach that amount. But the Internet reached 50 million users in only 4 years. By mid 2005 there were One Billion users of the Internet world-wide. 

Amazingly, 75% of Americans (over 204 million) now use the Internet, with over 60% of households having Internet access. It is estimated that by 2010 there will be over Two Billion users world-wide. The explosive growth of the Web provides the Adventist Church with a profound opportunity to use this new media as a means of communicating God’s message of love and truth to the masses of people throughout the world. The potential for communicating the Adventist message over the World Wide Web is truly awesome. And distance is no hindrance. It is as easy to reach a web surfer in Mongolia as it is to reach a web surfer in Malibu, California. And the cost is exactly the same!

POPULARITY OF RELIGION ON THE INTERNET
A research study released by Reuters News Service in December 2001, found that “more adult Americans use the internet for religious purposes than for gambling, banking or trading stocks.”  The survey found that “each day, more than 3 million U.S. adults find religious information online.” 

The researchers discovered that most of the users were involved in serious research rather than chat room participation. In fact, 65% of these 3 million daily adults were searching for religious reference material, 50% were looking for information on other faiths, and 25% were seeking spiritual counseling advice. The study found that those most active online were also most active in their local congregations, with 86% reporting that they prayed or meditated every day. The survey indicates a tremendous potential for using the Internet to communicate serious doctrinal truths. It’s a fact, when most people now look for information, they no longer go to a library or book store-- they go to the Internet. And this is where God’s profound truth needs to be presented.

THE FOURTH NEW MEDIA AND ITS GLOBAL POTENTIAL
Seventh-day Adventists were pioneers in the use of mass media to fulfil the Great Commission. The work began with James White using the print media, and developed into an extensive world-wide publishing operation. Radio was introduced by the Voice of Prophecy, soon followed by The Quiet Hour, Amazing Facts, and Adventist World Radio (AWR). Then came the television ministries of Faith For Today, It Is Written, 3ABN, and now the Hope Channel.

In the last five years there has been an incredible explosion of the Internet as a 4th media to communicate information to the masses. This new media has the ability to reach “into all the world”, by literally reaching into every home having a phone/cable line and computer modem, or a TV equipped with a web-access box. Through the Internet, the Adventist message can potentially reach every airplane seat that has Internet access, and every person with a mobile connected laptop or using a laptop near a hot-spot. The message can be communicated 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week, in every language and to every nation & culture, propagating the crucial Bible truths desperately needed by the world as we enter into the final generation.

AdventWeb believes that the pioneering spirit of the Adventist Church must now be directed to take advantage of this new media that has a tremendous potential for effective and low-cost global evangelism.