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'''Internet evangelism''' is, as the name suggests, the process of [[Evangelism|evangelizing]] and spreading the gospel using the internet.

'''Internet evangelism''' is, as the name suggests, the process of [[Evangelism|evangelizing]] and spreading the gospel using the internet.

Since its inception, [[Christianity]] has seen a consistent and [http://users.adam.com.au/bstett/BChristianIncrease12.htm dramatic increase in its number of adherents].<ref>http://users.adam.com.au/bstett/BChristianIncrease12.htm</ref><ref>http://pewforum.org/Christian/Faith-and-Conflict-The-Global-Rise-of-Christianity.aspx</ref>  In the 1940s the Lausanne Movement was started in order to help Christendom evangelize globally with greater effectiveness and thousands of Christian leaders from around the globe meet regularly to increase the effectiveness of [[evangelism|Christian evangelism]].<ref>http://www.lausanne.org/about.html</ref>  

Since its inception, [[Christianity]] has seen a consistent and [http://users.adam.com.au/bstett/BChristianIncrease12.htm dramatic increase in its number of adherents].<ref>http://users.adam.com.au/bstett/BChristianIncrease12.htm</ref><ref>http://pewforum.org/Christian/Faith-and-Conflict-The-Global-Rise-of-Christianity.aspx</ref>  In the 1940s the Lausanne Movement was started to help Christendom evangelize globally with greater effectiveness and thousands of Christian leaders from around the globe meet regularly to increase the effectiveness of [[evangelism|Christian evangelism]].<ref>http://www.lausanne.org/about.html</ref>  

[[Cru]] is one of the world's largest evangelism organizations within Christendom and has over 25,000 full-time missionaries. In 2006, Alan Beeber of CRU predicted that internet evangelism will result in more conversion that all other forms of evangelism for CRU combined.<ref>http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/pdf/issues/LWP0206.pdf</ref> Internet evangelism is effective at spreading [[Global Christianity|Christianity globally]] - especially in countries where there is [[Christian persecution]] and evangelism is more difficult.  

[[Cru]] is one of the world's largest evangelism organizations within Christendom and has over 25,000 full-time missionaries. In 2006, Alan Beeber of CRU predicted that internet evangelism would result in more conversion than all other forms of evangelism for CRU combined.<ref>http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/pdf/issues/LWP0206.pdf</ref> Internet evangelism is effective at spreading [[Global Christianity|Christianity globally]] - especially in countries where there is [[Christian persecution]] and evangelism is more difficult.  

The Christian internet evangelism organization [[Global Media Outreach]] indicates that it has had over 2.5 billion "gospel visits" to its websites.<ref>[https://religionnews.com/2020/05/18/if-the-twelve-disciples-had-iphones/ If the twelve disciples had iPhones], Religion News Service]</ref><ref>[https://witnesstoall.com/counters/alltime Global Media Outreach - websites visitors counter]</ref> Global Media Outreach works with many Christians around the world (see: [[Global Christianity]]).

The Christian internet evangelism organization [[Global Media Outreach]] indicates that it has had over 2.5 billion "gospel visits" to its websites.<ref>[https://religionnews.com/2020/05/18/if-the-twelve-disciples-had-iphones/ If the twelve disciples had iPhones], Religion News Service]</ref><ref>[https://witnesstoall.com/counters/alltime Global Media Outreach - websites visitors counter]</ref> Global Media Outreach works with many Christians around the world (see: [[Global Christianity]]).

{{Cquote|Launched in 2012, Search for Jesus impacts website users with the truth of the Gospel and relies on a network of over 1,400 trained volunteers who interact with users and answer live questions. With a mission to reach those hurting and in need, Search for Jesus utilizes the accessibility of the internet to reach places otherwise closed to the Gospel.

{{Cquote|Launched in 2012, Search for Jesus impacts website users with the truth of the Gospel and relies on a network of over 1,400 trained volunteers who interact with users and answer live questions. With a mission to reach those hurting and in need, Search for Jesus utilizes the accessibility of the internet to reach places otherwise closed to the Gospel.

Using these digital tools, more than 300 million people have indicated a decision for Christ and received follow-up through the internet ministry. To date, the PeaceWithGod.net websites have welcomed over 100 million online users. With messages in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic, American Sign Language, and Russian, Search for Jesus has been able to expand globally and cross language and accessibility barriers.

Using these digital tools, more than 300 million people have indicated a decision for Christ and received follow-up through the internet ministry. To date, the PeaceWithGod.net websites have welcomed over 100 million online users. With messages in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic, American Sign Language, and Russian, Search for Jesus has been able to expand globally and cross-language and accessibility barriers.

“This is significant because we’re following Billy Graham’s legacy of spreading the Gospel across the globe using every opportunity we have. The average person spends nearly seven hours a day on the internet, so we want to meet these people where they are,” said Mark Appleton, director of internet evangelism for BGEA, in a press release. “Search for Jesus has given us the chance to spread the Gospel like never before.”<ref>[https://nrb.org/articles/billy-graham-evangelistic-association-marks-10-years-of-internet-evangelism-ministry-search-for-jesus/ BGEA Marks 10 Years of Internet Evangelism Ministry ‘Search for Jesus’], National Religious Broadcasters website</ref>}}

“This is significant because we’re following Billy Graham’s legacy of spreading the Gospel across the globe using every opportunity we have. The average person spends nearly seven hours a day on the internet, so we want to meet these people where they are,” said Mark Appleton, director of internet evangelism for BGEA, in a press release. “Search for Jesus has given us the chance to spread the Gospel like never before.”<ref>[https://nrb.org/articles/billy-graham-evangelistic-association-marks-10-years-of-internet-evangelism-ministry-search-for-jesus/ BGEA Marks 10 Years of Internet Evangelism Ministry ‘Search for Jesus’], National Religious Broadcasters website</ref>}}

== YouTube Christian evangelism ==

== YouTube Christian evangelism ==

[[YouTube]] is a popular online video sharing site that provides a method distributing Christian/creationist videos across the world. The YouTube search engine is the second largest search engine in the world.<ref>http://www.tgdaily.com/trendwatch-features/39777-youtube-surpasses-yahoo-as-world%E2%80%99s-2-search-engine</ref> But most YouTube channels gain their visitors through cultivating a following through creating popular/viral videos.

[[YouTube]] is a popular online video-sharing site that provides a method of distributing Christian/creationist videos across the world. The YouTube search engine is the second largest search engine in the world.<ref>http://www.tgdaily.com/trendwatch-features/39777-youtube-surpasses-yahoo-as-world%E2%80%99s-2-search-engine</ref> But most YouTube channels gain their visitors through cultivating a following through creating popular/viral videos.

== History of internet evangelism ==

== History of internet evangelism ==

'''4.''' Ethnically Aware – (2005 into the future) Indigenous missionaries and experienced Western missionaries combine to do highly contextualized and appropriate websites in their own languages and cultures without any corresponding English language website being established. These websites then link with on-the-ground efforts by those same agencies. The Western missionary may act as a technical and strategic adviser, but the design is done by national Christians who know that culture and its nuances.

'''4.''' Ethnically Aware – (2005 into the future) Indigenous missionaries and experienced Western missionaries combine to do highly contextualized and appropriate websites in their own languages and cultures without any corresponding English language website being established. These websites then link with on-the-ground efforts by those same agencies. The Western missionary may act as a technical and strategic adviser, but the design is done by national Christians who know that culture and its nuances.

The first three phases were good in their time and place but they occurred with little or no reference to modern missiological insights. Internet evangelists and cybermissionaries are beginning to understand the importance of learning language, culture and contextualization. Thus it is this last Ethnically Aware phase that is the true future of cybermissions.<ref>[https://lausanneworldpulse.com/themedarticles-php/213/02-2006 Contextualizing Cyberspace – Missiology Still Matters When it Comes to Cybermissions and Internet Evangelism]</ref>}}

The first three phases were good in their time and place but they occurred with little or no reference to modern missiological insights. Internet evangelists and cyber-missionaries are beginning to understand the importance of learning language, culture and contextualization. Thus it is this last Ethnically Aware phase that is the true future of cybermissions.<ref>[https://lausanneworldpulse.com/themedarticles-php/213/02-2006 Contextualizing Cyberspace – Missiology Still Matters When it Comes to Cybermissions and Internet Evangelism]</ref>}}

See also: [[Growth of global desecularization#Global scope of indigenous evangelical Christianity evangelism|Global scope of indigenous evangelical Christianity evangelism]]

See also: [[Growth of global desecularization#Global scope of indigenous evangelical Christianity evangelism|Global scope of indigenous evangelical Christianity evangelism]]

Study.com defines the [[Matthew effect]] thusly: "The Matthew Effect is a term that describes the concept in society of accumulated advantage. It argues that people who start from a place of advantage, like intelligence, fame, wealth, or skill, will have the opportunity to accrue more of that advantage compared to others. The Matthew Effect is often thought of by the phrase, "the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.""<ref>[https://study.com/learn/lesson/matthew-effect-definition-application.html What is the Matthew effect]</ref> The Matthew effect's [[etymology]] can be traced to [[Gospel of Matthew]] which declares Jesus as saying: "For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away." (Matthew 25:29, RSV).

Study.com defines the [[Matthew effect]] thusly: "The Matthew Effect is a term that describes the concept in society of accumulated advantage. It argues that people who start from a place of advantage, like intelligence, fame, wealth, or skill, will have the opportunity to accrue more of that advantage compared to others. The Matthew Effect is often thought of by the phrase, "the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.""<ref>[https://study.com/learn/lesson/matthew-effect-definition-application.html What is the Matthew effect]</ref> The Matthew effect's [[etymology]] can be traced to [[Gospel of Matthew]] which declares Jesus as saying: "For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away." (Matthew 25:29, RSV).

Because the religious population is larger than the [[atheism|atheist]]/[[agnosticism|agnostic]] populations and [[Atheist fundraising vs. religious fundraising|raises more money]] for web marketing budgets than the atheist/agnostic populations, they greatly outperform atheist websites in terms of web traffic. In addition, Google tends to rank large websites with a lot of traffic higher at Google for various search terms - especially high volume searches. So large Christian websites with a lot of web traffic have a big competitive advantage over atheist websites. Furthermore, religious groups often have more evangelistic zeal and also have more international cooperation in terms of web outreach efforts.  

Because the religious population is larger than the [[atheism|atheist]]/[[agnosticism|agnostic]] populations and [[Atheist fundraising vs. religious fundraising|raises more money]] for web marketing budgets than the atheist/agnostic populations, they greatly outperform atheist websites in terms of web traffic. In addition, Google tends to rank large websites with a lot of traffic higher at Google for various search terms - especially high-volume searches. So large Christian websites with a lot of web traffic have a big competitive advantage over atheist websites. Furthermore, religious groups often have more evangelistic zeal and also have more international cooperation in terms of web outreach efforts.  

As time has progressed the gap between the effectiveness of religious websites vs. atheist websites in terms of reaching larger audiences has widened and will most likely widen further. For example, Christian websites are greatly outperforming atheist websites in terms of their respective web outreaches.

As time has progressed the gap between the effectiveness of religious websites vs. atheist websites in terms of reaching larger audiences has widened and will most likely widen further. For example, Christian websites are greatly outperforming atheist websites in terms of their respective web outreaches.