IEC ENewsletter - January 2008

Stimulating and accelerating web evangelism within the worldwide Body of Christ

Plan now to attend the 2008 Internet Ministry Conference (IMC) October 20-23 in Grand Rapids, MI. 

Again this year, the Internet Evangelism Coalition will be providing the speakers for the Internet Evangelism Track at the IMC.  While the details are being finalized, speaker topics may include mobile evangelism, social networking websites and videos and evangelism, among others.

Learn more about the 2008 IMC online:

• Who Should Attend   
• Keynote Speakers  
• IMC Schedule 

Just a reminder that videos from the Internet Evangelism track at the 2007 IMC are available on the IEC website. Also, the Conference Blog provides various links to video and audio from other IMC sessions. 
 
IEC members are eligible to receive a free or discounted registration to the IMC (dependent on membership level).  Learn more. 

Internet Evangelism Day (IED) has released an updated free online tool to help churches evaluate and plan for a website presence that will engage those who don't attend church.

The 55 question evaluation tool helps churches spot areas where their website may not be meeting the needs of its intended audience, and gives a final report at the end with suggestions on areas of improvement based on the questions asked and answered.  Churches have the opportunity to read the analysis of their evaluation online or to print or save to share with others.

The online tool at http://www.internetevangelismday.com/ helps individual Christians and churches and ministries learn how to use the Internet to more effectively share Jesus Christ online.  The IED website also offers information on blogging, videos and podcasting and more.

The 2008 Internet Evangelism Day is scheduled for April 27.  The IED website offers free downloads such as news releases, presentations and videos to encourage churches and ministries to emphasize the importance and potential of Internet Evangelism. 

GodTube.com has launched a Virtual Video Bible and a Virtual Video Prayer Wall.  Organizers call the Virtual Video Bible, "Bible 2.0," where visitors can experience the Bible through videos, photos and real life experiences share by other visitors.  When a user scrolls over a verse or passage in the Virtual Video Bible, videos, pictures and comments related to that part of the Scripture are made available.

GodTube.com has also unveiled the Virtual Video Prayer Wall which allows users to post a text prayer request or add a video prayer blog.  Other visitors can then respond to the prayer request and pray for the need.

GodTube.com
Virtual Prayer Wall
Virtual Bible
GodTube.com in the Media

More teens are creating and sharing material on the Internet, according to a recent report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.  Some 64% of online teenagers (ages 12-17) engage in at least one type of content creation, a figure that is up from 57% of online teens in 2004.

New technologies, websites, and social network domains such as Facebook and MySpace offer many opportunities for teens to share and create materials online.  The Pew Internet Report also found that:

• 39% of online teens share their own artistic creations online such as artwork, photos, stories, or videos
• 35% of girls blog, compared with 20% of online boys
• 54% of girls post photos online compared with 40% of online boys
• 41% of the teens who use MySpace, Facebook or other social network sites say they send messages to friends via those sites every day

The survey found that content creation is not just about sharing creative output; it is also about participating in conversations fueled by that content.  Nearly half (47%) of online teens have posted photos where others can see them and 89% of those teens who post photos say that people comment on the images at least "some of the time." 

The Pew Internet Report also highlights a new segment of "multi-channel" teens.  These teens are "super-communicators" who have a host of technology options for dealing with family and friends - traditional landline phones, cell phones, texting, social network sites, instant messaging and email.  They represent about 28% of the entire teen population and they are more likely to be older girls.

These "super-communicator" teens have all kinds of interactions with their friends at levels equal to or greater than other teens, including face-to-face visits and phone chats via traditional landlines.  And as with all teens, email is selected only as a last resort to stay in touch with friends.

"Access to social networks and cell phones has opened up new channels for today's teens," said Mary Madden, Senior Research Specialist and an author of the report.  "New technology increases the overall intensity and frequency of their communication with friends, with email being the one glaringly uncool exception in their eyes."

Asked about the communication they have every day with their friends, the multi-channel teens say:

• 70% talk daily with friends on a cell phone 
• 60% send text messages daily 
• 54% instant message 
• 47% send messages daily over social network sites 
• 46% talk to friends on a landline phone 
• 35% spend time with friends in person daily 
• 22% send email every day to friends

News Release
Report (opens as a PDF)

HarperTeen has announced a partnership with MySpace.com to launch MySpace/HarperTeen, "an interactive community for teen readers."  Visitors will have the opportunity to connect with one another, read author blogs and chat with authors, interact on message boards and forums, learn about upcoming releases and post photos.  Teens can also submit their own creative writing and getting feedback from their peers in the HarperTeen community.

FastCompany.com: Blog Boom
 

CNN.com: In-fight Internet
 

BBC: Cyber Crime and Social Networking Websites
 

CBSNews.com: Open Course Ware 
 

FastCompany.com: Sleep Pods
 

Forbes.com: Give Like An Entrepreneur 
 

Baptist Press: Churches and Online Videos

AGnews.org: Cowboy Church Now On TV
http://cowboychurch.tv/ 

CNET.com: Las Vegas Tech Show Photos
 

Six Minute Style: Web-based "Lifestyle Show"
 

National Geographic: High-Tech Trash