Internet and Culture Trends, News & Links

Q: What is the course called and what is its purpose?
A. The course is called MP 537 Internet Evangelism and Cybermissions, and is an online course that is being designed primarily for students (pastors and missionaries) in the M.A. in Global Leadership degree program. However, other students may also study this course. It can also be part of a Certificate Studies program (more on that later). It is a class in the School of Intercultural Studies (the new name of the old School of World Mission), and it is aimed at Christians with a global outlook and will be very missiological. It is more of a strategy course than a web designer's course, so people won't learn any computer programming but will learn how to minister powerfully and strategically in an online environment.

Q. When is the course running?
A. Fall 2005 - September 20-December 9, 2005. The course will run for ten weeks of lessons with an "exam" week at the end (this course will not have an exam, but will have assignments due at the end of the 11th week, on December 9).

Q. Can you describe the course a bit more fully?
A. The Internet is the place the world finds much of its information and does its private enquiry and thinking. As such, it has become a powerful communication medium for evangelism and missions with one billion people online - including an estimated 400 million "religion surfers" who regularly seek religious information. This course will address questions such as:
1. What is an appropriate missiology of Cyberspace?
2. Can genuine Christian community take place in cyberspace? If so, how can we facilitate such community?
3. What are the most practical and effective methods for Internet evangelism and cybermissions?
4. What online strategies are appropriate for different groups such as postmodern Westerners or Chinese Communities in Asia, and people from other faiths like Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims?
We hope that by the end of the course a student will be able to: 1) articulate a missiological approach appropriate for Cyberspace, 2) think critically about the Internet as a communications tool in the service of the Kingdom of God, and, 3) design a culturally aware and missional online outreach that incorporates the above insights.

Q. Is the course just for missionaries?
A. No, it's for all Christians with a global outlook who want to reach others for Jesus. Since the Internet is a global presence I think that is quite appropriate. It is not a course for people who just want to minister to North Americans - you will need to be passionate about being cross-cultural and globally aware.

Q. Do you have to be a computer programmer to do the course?
A. No, not at all. You do have to be highly computer literate, and it would help if you have been an active Internet user for at least two years - but that is not too much of a problem these days. You just have to be someone who is comfortable with computers and interested in using them to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Q. Who are the lecturers?
A. Myself and Ryan Bolger - who is the postmodern guru at Fuller. I do not have my Ph.D. yet so Ryan is the "professor of record," and I have to check everything with him to make sure it is academically sound. I will be the online facilitator and course designer though. I have been doing Christian ministry online since 1991 - back in bulletin board days before the WWW and I developed Eternity Online Magazine, the Asian Internet Bible Institute and I also now run Cybermissions.Org.

Q. Who can enroll in the course?
A. It is a postgraduate course so you have to have a bachelor's degree - any bachelor's degree, or students can have "significant life experience" which gets too complicated for this article. MP537 can be taken as a regular Fuller Online class. However if someone doesn't want to study a whole degree they can enroll in a 6-subject certificate program. (They can just do this one subject of they like, but they have to be part of a program of sorts.)

Q. Is there a link to this course?
A. No, but the following link will provide the Expanded Course Description for the class: http://www.fuller.edu/cll/dl/ecds/Fall05/MP537_OnlineECD_Fa05.pdf. Also, folk can go to the Distance Learning Office web page that lists study options: http://www.fuller.edu/cll/dl/idlprograms.asp#certificates, and then investigate the Certificate Program, and follow the links to Fuller's Admissions office.

Q. How can people get more information about the course?
A. If they email me at johned@aibi.ph I will happily send them a course outline and reading list. The rest has to be done through Fuller - see the links above.

Q. What impact do you think this course will have on the field of Internet Evangelism and Cybermissions?
A. Huge! The course will help to establish and validate the discipline. Once people see it in a major seminary they then will start to see Cybermissions as part and parcel of how we go about the Great Commission in the 21st century. It will make it a bit easier for us to be recognized as more than "just a bunch of geeks."


July 2005
IN THIS EDITION IEC Annual Meeting - A Message from Sterling Huston Internet Evangelism Course at Fuller Internet and Culture News & Trends

IEC ANNUAL MEETING A MESSAGE FROM STERLING HUSTON
	The diverse family of people who have attended past IEC Annual Meetings over the past five years have shared two common convictions among others: (1) that the need and opportunity to share Christ with a needy world has never been greater; (2) that the Internet with its growing reach and evolving media formats offers great potential for meeting that need. This combination of a spiritual burden for lost people coupled with a vision for the Internet's potential of enhanced and extended communications has brought together highly motivated people.
The Internet Evangelism Coalition's annual conference offers a variety of benefits to attendees. The synergy and stimulation of like-minded people will provide renewal of vision and refocus on the Great Commission. Helpful information on existing and new ways to effectively use the net will be shared. A purposeful time for networking-a major benefit of these conferences - is also an important part of the schedule. And, as has happened often in the past, collaborative efforts will be born and good times of fellowship with current and new friends will occur. This year's conference will cover a wide range of relevant topics including advice on strategic legal issues we face in using the Internet. Karen Schenk will cover the scope of the 22 websites in twelve languages she manages for Campus Crusade for Christ Canada's Internet ministry. John Edmiston, President of the Asian Internet Bible Institute which promotes evangelistic Internet cafes, will be sharing with us. Dave Hackett, Associate Director of VisionSynergy, will focus on the potential of collaboration for the growth of Internet evangelism internationally. Our featured speaker will be Dr. Walter Wilson, President of Palo Alto Research Group and author of The Internet Church. Dr. Wilson, who is leading a strategic review of future technologies for fulfilling the Great Commission, will bring an engaging and informative presentation at our annual dinner. I warmly and earnestly encourage you to attend. Not only will you gain new information, insights and inspiration, but you will contribute the same to others who are in need of what you can share. Help us make this year's annual meeting the best yet by your prayers and your presence. I look forward to seeing you there. Sterling Huston Chair, Internet Evangelism Coalition
MEETING DETAILS
The Internet Evangelism Coalition Annual Meeting will be held September 14-15, 2005 at the Westin Hotel in Rosemont, IL. Registration for the meeting is $95 and includes two meals and refreshment breaks. (Due to increased hotel costs this year, the IEC has reduced the Annual Meeting registration rate to coincide with last year's rate.) The deadline for making hotel reservations is August 20. Rooms are $129 per night plus tax. Hotel reservations for the Westin Hotel must be made through the IEC Office. Please do not contact the hotel directly. Online registration is available at http://www.webevangelism.com/registration.php. A downloadable registration form is also available http://community.gospelcom.net/iec/assets/IEC%20RegistrationForm2005.pdf. Questions? Please email iec@webevangelism.com.

A Cybermissions Course At Fuller by John Edmiston
An Internet Evangelism and Cybermissions course is being developed in the School of Inter-Cultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. The course designer is John Edmiston of Cybermissions.Org, and in this brief article he answers a few of the main questions about the course.

Q: What is the course called and what is its purpose? A. The course is called MP 537 Internet Evangelism and Cybermissions, and is an online course that is being designed primarily for students (pastors and missionaries) in the M.A. in Global Leadership degree program. However, other students may also study this course. It can also be part of a Certificate Studies program (more on that later). It is a class in the School of Intercultural Studies (the new name of the old School of World Mission), and it is aimed at Christians with a global outlook and will be very missiological. It is more of a strategy course than a web designer's course, so people won't learn any computer programming but will learn how to minister powerfully and strategically in an online environment. Q. When is the course running? A. Fall 2005 - September 20-December 9, 2005. The course will run for ten weeks of lessons with an "exam" week at the end (this course will not have an exam, but will have assignments due at the end of the 11th week, on December 9). Q. Can you describe the course a bit more fully? A. The Internet is the place the world finds much of its information and does its private enquiry and thinking. As such, it has become a powerful communication medium for evangelism and missions with one billion people online - including an estimated 400 million "religion surfers" who regularly seek religious information. This course will address questions such as: 1. What is an appropriate missiology of Cyberspace? 2. Can genuine Christian community take place in cyberspace? If so, how can we facilitate such community? 3. What are the most practical and effective methods for Internet evangelism and cybermissions? 4. What online strategies are appropriate for different groups such as postmodern Westerners or Chinese Communities in Asia, and people from other faiths like Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims? We hope that by the end of the course a student will be able to: 1) articulate a missiological approach appropriate for Cyberspace, 2) think critically about the Internet as a communications tool in the service of the Kingdom of God, and, 3) design a culturally aware and missional online outreach that incorporates the above insights. Q. Is the course just for missionaries? A. No, it's for all Christians with a global outlook who want to reach others for Jesus. Since the Internet is a global presence I think that is quite appropriate. It is not a course for people who just want to minister to North Americans - you will need to be passionate about being cross-cultural and globally aware. Q. Do you have to be a computer programmer to do the course? A. No, not at all. You do have to be highly computer literate, and it would help if you have been an active Internet user for at least two years - but that is not too much of a problem these days. You just have to be someone who is comfortable with computers and interested in using them to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Q. Who are the lecturers? A. Myself and Ryan Bolger - who is the postmodern guru at Fuller. I do not have my Ph.D. yet so Ryan is the "professor of record," and I have to check everything with him to make sure it is academically sound. I will be the online facilitator and course designer though. I have been doing Christian ministry online since 1991 - back in bulletin board days before the WWW and I developed Eternity Online Magazine, the Asian Internet Bible Institute and I also now run Cybermissions.Org. Q. Who can enroll in the course? A. It is a postgraduate course so you have to have a bachelor's degree - any bachelor's degree, or students can have "significant life experience" which gets too complicated for this article. MP537 can be taken as a regular Fuller Online class. However if someone doesn't want to study a whole degree they can enroll in a 6-subject certificate program. (They can just do this one subject of they like, but they have to be part of a program of sorts.) Q. Is there a link to this course? A. No, but the following link will provide the Expanded Course Description for the class: http://www.fuller.edu/cll/dl/ecds/Fall05/MP537_OnlineECD_Fa05.pdf. Also, folk can go to the Distance Learning Office web page that lists study options: http://www.fuller.edu/cll/dl/idlprograms.asp#certificates, and then investigate the Certificate Program, and follow the links to Fuller's Admissions office. Q. How can people get more information about the course? A. If they email me at johned@aibi.ph I will happily send them a course outline and reading list. The rest has to be done through Fuller - see the links above. Q. What impact do you think this course will have on the field of Internet Evangelism and Cybermissions? A. Huge! The course will help to establish and validate the discipline. Once people see it in a major seminary they then will start to see Cybermissions as part and parcel of how we go about the Great Commission in the 21st century. It will make it a bit easier for us to be recognized as more than "just a bunch of geeks."

MISSION NETWORK NEWS: Technology in Creative Access Countries. GO: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/7488 YOUTH SPECIALTIES: Virtual Community, the New Frontier. Reaching young people where they are, an article from Youth Specialties. (article opens as a PDF) GO http://www.youthspecialties.com/articles/topics/community_building/virtual.pdf ASSIST NEWS: Main Sessions of Baptist World Congress to be Streamed Online. GO: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s05070080.htm INFORMATION USE MANAGEMENT & POLICY INSTITUTE: Public Libraries and the Internet. GO: http://www.ii.fsu.edu/plinternet.cfm CLICKZ: Has Internet Use Stalled? GO: http://www.clickz.com/experts/crm/actionable_analysis/article.php/3517561 BBC NEWS: Mobile Phones Boom in Tanzania. GO: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/4706437.stm _

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