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IEC ENewsletter - March 2008
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| Robby Richardson New IEC Executive Director |
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By Naomi Frizzell
Robby Richardson, former Director of Internet Ministries for Gospel Communications, Inc., has been named Executive Director of the Internet Evangelism Coalition (IEC). The appointment of Robby to this newly-created position was unanimously approved by the IEC Executive Committee during its quarterly meeting in February in Charlotte, NC.
Dr. Sterling Huston, Chair of the IEC, says he is pleased with Robby's appointment because, "His passion for evangelism and his vision for using the web for ministry will significantly advance the mission of the IEC in stimulating and accelerating Web-evangelism within the worldwide Body of Christ." Dr. Lon Allison, Director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, and IEC Executive Committee Treasurer, says the appointment of Robby is an encouraging development and that, "His knowledge of the area and his tremendous networking skills, make him the perfect choice."
In accepting the position, Robby said the last decade has brought great progress in the way ministries and churches understand and use Internet technology. He added that he's, "excited about the role that the IEC can play in seeing those advancements applied to the way that we communicate the Good News of the Gospel online. There are so many open doors right now, and if we really work together, I am convinced that we can see a remarkable impact from well-thought-out and strategically implemented Internet evangelism."
Around the world, Christians are waking up to the unprecedented opportunities for evangelism that have emerged through the Internet and mobile digital devices, according to Rev. Craig von Buseck, Director of Ministries for Christian Broadcasting Network Digital Media. He added that as these "NetCasters" begin to harness the Internet to reach souls for Christ, "there is a great need for mature, experienced leadership to help guide this burgeoning move of God. As a result of Robby's extensive ministry, Internet and pastoral experience, he is uniquely qualified to be a mentor to Internet evangelists around the world."
As Executive Director, Robby will focus on three major priorities:
- Establishing and maintaining relationships with key individuals and organizations involved in Internet evangelism;
- Facilitating networking and collaboration for the purpose of stimulating Internet evangelism;
- Coordinating the development of training materials, seminars, research projects, tools, etc., that promote Internet evangelism.
IEC Executive Committee Member, Mr. Keith Stonehocker, who serves as Chief Strategy Officer for Christianity Today International, believes that "Robby's many years of experience leading Gospelcom.net and playing a key role in the IEC, combined with his pastor's heart and deep passion for Internet evangelism, make him the ideal person to expand IEC's strategic impact."
Dr. Bill Gordon, from the North American Mission Board, and a member of the IEC Executive Committee, says he is "thrilled that Robby Richardson has been appointed as Executive Director of the Internet Evangelism Coalition. Robby brings a unique mix of technical and ministerial experience to this position."
The IEC was formed out of a 1997 consultation on Internet Evangelism convened by the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, and serves to stimulate and accelerate web evangelism within the worldwide Body of Christ, encouraging collaborative efforts and connecting partners and resources for Internet Evangelism.
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| Internet Evangelism Day |
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 To help churches, ministries and individuals discover the potential of the Internet for evangelism April 27, 2008 has been designated as Internet Evangelism Day. Tony Whittaker (Web Evangelism Guide editor), along with a team of others from around the world, has given leadership to the development of IED and a web site (www.InternetEvangelismDay.com) that provides resources, training and other ideas for a successful IED.
Learn more:
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| Registation Now Open for IMC 2008 |
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 Registration has opened for the 2008 Internet Ministry Conference (IMC). Again this year, the IEC will provide speakers for the Internet evangelism track at the IMC, to be held October 20-23, 2008 in Grand Rapids, MI.
If you are a member of the IEC, you may register to attend the IMC at the early-bird rate of $300.00 per person. (Please note that this cost reverts to the standard rate of $375.00 on June 1.)
To receive your IEC membership code to use when registering for the IMC, please email iec@webevangelism.com. Topics for the IEC track include, among others:
- Discipleship in SecondLife.com
- The Convergence of Media for Effective Internet Evangelism
- The Social Media Revolution
- Innovate and Collaborate to Set Your Web/Mobile Evangelism Ministry on a Growth Curve
- Ministering to Muslims Using TV and the Internet
- Designing Internet Evangelism for a Postmodern Generation
- NetCasters: Web 2.0 and Internet Evangelism in 2008
To learn more about the IMC:
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| Evangelism Explosion Announces Appointments |
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 The Evangelism Explosion International Board of Directors made two key leadership appointments during its annual Board of Directors meeting earlier this month in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
The Board of Directors named Dr. Sterling W. Huston as Chairman of the Board, a position held by Dr. D. James Kennedy for over 40 years. Dr. Huston has been a member of the Board of Directors for Evangelism Explosion International since 1991, and has served as the Chairman of the Executive Committee. Dr. Huston is Director of Special Ministries for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He is also the Chair of the Internet Evangelism Coalition Executive Committee.
The Board of Directors also named Rev. John B. Sorensen as President. John was led to the Lord through Evangelism Explosion and was trained in the ministry in 1991. He joined staff in January 1997 and was appointed as EE's Director for Development in October 1997. In January 2004, Sorenson was elected as Executive Vice President, following Dr. Tom Stebbins in that position. John also serves on the Executive Committee of the Internet Evangelism Coalition
These leadership changes were made necessary by the passing of former EE President and Chairman of the Board, Dr. D. James Kennedy, who died in September 2007.
Evangelism Explosion began as a ministry in 1962. Its mission is to equip people to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ who, in turn, equip others. Throughout its 46-year history, EE has equipped millions of people with the Gospel. In 1996, EE became the first Christian ministry to be planted in every country on earth.
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| Pew Report: Mobile Access To Data |
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 Some 62% of adult Americans have taken advantage of mobile access to digital data and tools, according to a new report from the Pew Internet Project. The report, entitled Mobile Access to Data and Information, examines mobile access in two ways and finds that:
- 58% of adult Americans have used a cell phone or personal digital assistant (PDA) to do at least one of ten mobile non-voice data activities, such as texting, emailing, taking a picture, looking for maps or directions, or recording video.
- 41% of adult Americans have logged onto the Internet on the go, that is, away from home or work either with a wireless laptop connection or a handheld device.
"People's growing reliance on their cell phones, together with wireless Internet access from laptops, suggests a shift in expectations about cyberspace," said John B. Horrigan, Associate Director of the Pew Internet Project and author of the report. "For many people, access to digital information and resources is an 'always present' utility for answering questions and documenting what is going on around them through photos or video recording."
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| Thou Shalt Not Steal From The Internet |
| (Ecumenical News International) Poland's Roman Catholic priests have been warned to stop using the Internet to plagiarise sermons for their Sunday Masses. "A sermon is a composition - as such, it comes under the law on authors' rights," said Professor Tomasz Naganowski, an expert on media law at Poznan's Higher School of Social Learning. "If someone's preaches someone else's sermon and fails to say it isn't his own, he commits a crime. Such a priest is telling a lie and stealing." The professor was speaking after the publication of a book, "To pinch or not to pinch," saying that Polish clergy should be instructed on the legal situation as part of their seminary training. |
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