Lee Rainie, Director, Pew Internet & American Life Project, spoke on "Spiritual Life Online: How Americans use the Internet for Religious Purposes." Lee discussed who's online, what they do, how they feel about it and what impact it has had on them. He described the three major pieces of research his organization has done into how people use the Internet to get religious and spiritual information, how churches have begun to move their missions and evangelical work online and how private piety has become a part of the email world. In addition, he discussed the Project's findings about how people use the Internet in times of great national stress -- such as after the 9/11 terror attacks and at the dawn of the Iraq War.

Lee Rainie is the founding Director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Since December 1999, the Washington D.C. research center has examined how people's Internet use affects their families, communities, health care, education, civic and political life and work places. The Project has issued more than 70 reports based on surveys and other research on these social issues and important public policy questions such as trust and privacy online, e-government, intellectual property, broadband adoption and the digital divides.Prior to receiving the grant, he was managing editor of U.S. News & World Report. He is a graduate of Harvard University and has a master's degree in political science from Long Island University.

View his presentation here.

Andrew Careaga, www.e-vangelism.com

From diverse directions and interests, millions of online users — message board flamers, weblog pundits, eBay addicts and chat room cruisers alike — flock to the Internet daily in a common quest for community. But is the Internet the appropriate "place" for community? What are the benefits of online communities? Are there any pitfalls? As author of three books about Internet ministry — E-vangelism: Sharing the Gospel in Cyberspace, eMinistry: Connecting with the Net Generation and Hooked on the Net: How to Say Goodnight When the Party Never Ends — Andrew Careaga has examined online communities from every angle. In his presentation, he shared his thoughts about creating community in cyberspace — the good, bad and ugly.

Andrew Careaga is the author of three books on Christianity and the Internet: E-vangelism: Sharing the Gospel in Cyberspace (1999, Vital Issues Press), eMinistry: Connecting with the Net Generation (2001, Kregel), and Hooked on the Net: How to Say Goodnight When the Party Never Ends (2002, Kregel). He also is the creator of e-vangelism.com, a weblog and online resource for Internet evangelism. He also is a bivocational youth pastor for Salem Faith Assembly in Salem, Missouri, and director of communications and marketing at the University of Missouri-Rolla. He and his wife, Dyann, reside in Rolla, Missouri.

Eric Celer, Head Manager, Top Chrétien, presented his ministry, Top Chretien - a French-language web site that seeks to spread the Gospel using new technology.

He made his first steps on the Internet in 1997 when he created a web site for his church. In 1999, he developed the Top Chretien portal through which more than 1,100 people are now involved in prayer and 300 persons from 33 countries are designated as online spiritual counsellors to help new believers follow Christ. Top Chretien has had millions of visitors and thousands have decided to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Eric Celer has been a pastor through the Assemblies of God denomination and has a vision to reach all nations for Christ. Eric is a member of Campus Crusade for Christ International. He lives outside of Paris, is married and has 3 children.

Richard Post, http://www.eo.nl/, gave an overview of "Why Jesus?" a four-week online Alpha Course based on the Dutch Alpha Course. In its fourth year in 2004, "Why Jesus?" is beginning to spread to other countries and a youth version will be launched in 2004 in cooperation with Youth for Christ. Richard is Editor-in-Chief of "Why Jesus?" and Internet Counselor for the Evangelical Broadcasting Organization in the Netherlands. He has been involved in Internet Evangelism for the past 7 years and oversees "Why Jesus?" (http://www.waaromjezus.nl/), the counseling ministry of www.eo.nl and is responsible for the aftercare during the national Dutch Christian Youth Day.

View his presentation here.

Robby Richardson, GospelCom.net, reported on the developing relationship between the IEC and the National Religious Broadcasters.

Robby is the Director of Internet Ministries for Gospel Communications International (GCI). Before coming to GCI, he served as a pastor and the director of a Christian conference center in South Carolina. Robby is married with three college-age children.

Debra Brown, Brown Governance, gave an update on World Evangelism Day and presented the strategic plan for the Internet Evangelism Coalition.

Debra is President and CEO of Brown Governance, a corporation that builds customized corporate governance and risk management systems, assists clients with goal setting and visioning, aligning and resourcing strategic objectives and selecting the right performance measures.

View her update on World Evangelism Day here. View her presentation on the IEC's strategic plan here.

Cheryl Wilhelmi, Project Manager, Troubledwith.com - Focus on the Family

We often hope that witnessing will be as picturesque as a poignant scripture and a simple prayer of repentance. The "perfect opportunity" however, frequently comes in moments of crisis-a husband who just discovered his wife's affair, a couple struggling to conceive, a neighbor facing the death of a child-and in these moments, a helping hand, empathy and wise advice can be more timely than that perfect scripture or salvation message. Cheryl spoke about how Troubledwith.com is using those inevitable moments of change, challenge and crisis as openings for extending immediate help and the long term hope of Christ.

View her presentation here.

Dennis Fierbach, VP of Information Technology, Campus Crusade for Christ, Canada

TruthMedia has about 750,000 visits a month and sees around 1,000 people indicate making a decision for Christ monthly. Dennis shared an overview of TruthMedia and then talked about how it involves people personally through chat, email mentoring and newsletter emails.

Dennis graduated from the U of Alberta with a B Sc in Electrical Engineering and after two years in industry joined the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, Canada in 1978 along with his wife Janet. He has been involved in many of the ministries of Campus Crusade, including serving overseas for 5 years, developing the Information Services area and directing the administration of the organization. Since 2001, he has focused his efforts in using the Internet as tool to reach people for Christ and develop the Campus Crusade Internet ministry called TruthMedia. Dennis has been married to Janet since 1977 and they have 3 children.

View his presentation here.

Greg Outlaw, CEO & President, AllAboutGOD.com Ministries, Inc.

Discover the Vision, Strategy, and Tactics AllAboutGOD.com is currently using to win and disciple souls on the rapidly changing web. No fluff - just the facts for engaging people where they are, with the information they need, when they need it - Discover what's working today and what's not and where we believe the future is heading...