Internet Positives International | Internet Christian Center | Institute Of Internet Evangelism |

Social Media a benign engine in Africa

2012-01-17T01:11:00.001-08:00

In the recent time the social media is increasingly becoming benign engine for advocacy,networking,collaboration,synergyand spiritual upliftment.

I had observed that d infomedia communitywith its avanlanche and cacophony of information is also becoming acontinent on its own being bombarded by hundreds of millions of cybercitizens with its unique culture and characterization.

More so,the cyberspace is getting more active for spiritual fundamentalism and religionsyncretism. I hereby submit that evangelism in this digital era meansamplifying the effects of Jesus via the social media. The Church of todaymust be an electronic church.

CHRISTIANIZING THE INTERNET

2011-08-16T02:05:00.000-07:00

CHRISTIANIZING THE INTERNET

Sometimes ago, while in church praying for the youths and children, I was telling the adults that the youths are facing new and greater challenges compared to their own experiences. The youths of today belong to the Digital Generation. The use of the Internet and other digital technologies is growing at an alarming rate in Nigeria, Africa and the world generally. Information Communication Technology has been incorporated into the curriculum of even the nursery school pupils. Admission now is done via the internet, likewise is the checking of results.

It no longer news again that the Internet has taken over every sector of life. The adults predominantly use the net to check their emails, and search for information, however, the youths go beyond that; they use the net to find and build relationships with peers and colleagues from every parts of the world.

What is also disturbing now is the role the Internet, especially, some of the social networking sites are playing in shaping the attitude of the people especially the Youths. The crises in the Middle East, North Africa, UK, etc had been traced to the activities of the youth (people) on some social network sites. I am highly convinced that the new technology had come to stay pervading all spheres of live. However, I am of the opinion, that it is high time for Christians to Christianize the Internet. We can positively influence lives, we can help shape the attitudes of the youths. There is a great need for us to bombard the net with the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

基督教互联网[＃]有时前，而在教堂祈祷的青少年和儿童的，我说的是成人，青少年面临着新的更大的的的挑战相比，自己的经验。今天的青少年属于数字一代。使用互联网和其他数字技术正在以惊人的速度在尼日利亚，非洲和世界普遍。甚至幼儿园学生的课程已被纳入信息通信技术。入场现在是通过互联网来完成，同样的检查结果。[＃] [＃]它不再是新闻，互联网已经对生活的每一个部门。成人主要使用net来检查他们的电子邮件，搜索信息，但是，青少年点到为止，寻找和建立与同行和同事的关系，从世界的每一个部分，他们使用的净[＃] [＃]。现在什么也令人不安的是互联网的作用，特别是一些社交坐[＃]发挥着塑造人民尤其是青少年的态度。在中东，北非，英国等的危机已经追踪到一些社会网络站点（人）的青年活动。我强烈相信，新的技术来留遍及生活各个领域。不过，我认为，这是基督徒的时候，基督教互联网。我们可以积极地影响生活，我们可以帮助塑造青少年的态度。对我们是一个有很大的需要borbard与我们的主耶稣基督的福音净。

2011 INTERNET EVANGELISM DAY

2011-04-25T06:11:00.000-07:00

I will like readers of this blog ministry to know that 2011 INTERNET EVANGELISM DAY is set for Sunday May 15, 2011.....

I implore all church leaders especially in Nigeria to organize events to mark this day.

I will be posting updates on how you can mark this day.

Please, you can click this link to read more......

Internet Communications for Ministries

2010-03-30T04:24:00.000-07:00

2 John 1:12 (New International Version)

I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

Most of the time one medium of communication may not be adequate. The writer of the above scripture found himself in a situation like that. He did not want to make use of paper and ink, that means he had been using that to communicate with his audience….he preferred to see them face to face.

I don’t know your present means of communications, however, if you have not been using the Internet and its tools like twitter, facebook, linkedin, blog, etc, I advice you to embrace it for effective communications.

Importantly, as Ministers of the Gospel, the audience we face today are digital generation. They are digitally conscious, they are adept to electronics. The youths in particular are active on the Internet.

Facebook and youtube for examples allow Ministers of the Gospel to interact with their members/audience, form relationships with them, build new networks across the globe, and see how the youths behave or socialize on the net, post videos and texts. Video clips of messages can be uploaded to facebook and twitter.

So for your joy to be complete, the use of the Internet should be effectively embraced and used for the propagation of the Good News.

Yours in Christ,

Apostle SMB Johnson
Internet Christian Center
www.icc.cfsites.org
www.apostle-smb.blogspot.com

Internet Safety Tips for Pre Teens (6-12 years) I

2010-03-30T04:09:00.000-07:00

Internet Safety Tips for Pre Teens (6-12 years) II

2010-03-30T04:02:00.001-07:00

African Churches Use Mobile Phone to Ring Up Growth in Members

2010-03-10T02:50:00.000-08:00

____________ _________ ____
David Hackett

Mobile phone suspended on a belt round the waist, or from the neck, is a common sight among members of church congregations in Africa. Now, church leaders are heaping praise on mobile phones, sometimes called cell phones, because they say the instruments help congregations grow.

Mobile phone use increased rapidly in Africa about 10 years ago. At that time, however, some Christians on the continent criticised the phones for being "marks of materialism". Now, that has changed.

"It is as if cell phones have come to revolutionise everything, even Christianity," says Anglican Bishop Charles Gaita of Nyahururu in central Kenya. "They are making things happen quickly."

Read the rest of this encouraging article:
http://google. com/gwt/n? u=http%3A% 2F%2Ftinyurl. com%2Fydhqcc4

“Facebook for Pastors”

2010-02-23T06:50:00.000-08:00

How to build relationships and connect with people using the most popular social network on the Internet. This 31 page e-book will help Pastors and other ministry leaders make the most of this great networking tool.

* How to make the most of your profile information
* Tips for Networking with People in Facebook
* All about groups, messages, poking, etc
* Brand Your Ministry
* Meet prospects for your church
* Learn more about the members in your church
* Fine tune your communication skills
* Testimonies from Pastors who use Facebook
* and much more!

Get the e-book here free using this link: Facebook for Pastors
(PC users, right click and select “Save As” for best results)

Start Your Own Radio Talk Show

2010-02-22T02:44:00.001-08:00

by Rich Whittle
http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2007/02/13/start-your-own-radio-talk-show/

Wanna-be radio personalities should checkout BlogTalkRadio, where you can host your own live call-in/interview show without spending a dime.
BlogTalkRadio is a podcasting service that lets you stream your podcast in real time and lets you take telephone callers to your show and put them on the air with you.
It’s a just the thing for podcasters who want to add interactivity to their work. And BlogTalkRadio is clever in its implementation: all audio input is via the telephone. Podcasters get a private dial-in number to the BlogTalkRadio service, from where they are streamed out to the Net (and also archived for later replay). Callers get their own number, too, and BlogTalkRadio provides a Web-based console that the podcaster uses to control the show.
Like standard broadcast radio, BlogTalkRadio podcasts can be supported by advertising. Audio advertisements are inserted, live, in the audio stream; the host gets a warning on his or her console before the ads play, so he or she is able to gracefully cut to the commercial. BlogTalkRadio will split ad revenues 50/50 with the podcast hosts.

Ministry Media - To Charge or Not to Charge

2010-02-08T05:14:00.001-08:00

Ministry Media - To Charge or Not to Charge
By http://ongoministries.blogspot.com/

A wise friend and former leader of many international ministries puts it bluntly: you either believe that money follows ministry or ministry follows money. Of course, we all love to claim that we believe God will provide for our personal and ministry needs, but does our ministry pricing reflect the same?

Case in point: an international ministry which I know and love recently removed almost all free content from their website. Now their only freebies are the occasional YouTube video and podcasts. My ministry veteran friend believes that the leader of this organization would be mortified if he found out about the pay-to-play moves of his staffers.

Case in point 2: Hearken back to the ministry of John and Charles Wesley, one a great evangelist and the other a gifted hymn writer, who God used to fan the flames of the First Great Awakening in 18th Century England. The Wesleys famously never made a single appeal for ministry support. Rather they clung tightly to God in prayer. Lo and behold, God miraculously provided for the Wesleys, including folks dropping literal bags of money at the front gate of the orphanage John and Charles oversaw. At least, that's the way the story was told me by a ministry confidante not particularly thrilled with fundraising.

The reality of the Wesleys fundraising was a bit different. The Wesleys were fervent in prayer and John Wesley kept his cost of living at the same level, when his annual salary was 30 pounds and when it leaped to 1,400 pounds. At the same time, the Holy Spirit often worked through fellow Great Awakening preacher George Whitefield to raise money for the Wesley orphanage. Whitefield's impassioned pleas even persuaded famously stingy Benjamin Franklin to chip in.

So which is it? Does money follow ministry or does ministry follow money? Is it wrong to charge for resources? After all, the Gospel is free.

The answer is: ask God.

I know. It's no fun when somebody answers a question with question. But if the tactic rang true with our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, then it might be the best way to answer this ministry biggie.

The Spirit says through Paul, "Each of us shall give account of himself to God." (Rom. 14:12) You must seek God wholeheartedly about what to charge, if anything, for your resources and events, bearing in mind God's promise that if we first seek His kingdom and His righteousness (found in His perfect Son, Jesus Christ), then He will add food and clothing unto us.

Our God truly will "supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19) That doesn't rule out presenting opportunities for folks to financially partner in the work to which God has called you, or perhaps charging for ministry media. In fact, partners in ministry receive untold blessings, as Jesus Christ said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)

But God's call to seek Him first and trust Him to provide, does demand that your fundraising efforts are rooted in dependence upon Jehovah Jireh, not secular principles of content monetization. Perhaps then, it's not a question of free but of faith.

Dr Martin Cooper Develops the Mobile Telephone

2010-02-04T05:06:00.000-08:00

In 1973, Dr Martin Cooper was the first to demonstrate a hand-held cellular telephone. It had a battery, a radio and a microprocessor (a minicomputer).

New Yorkers gaped in amazement when they saw Cooper making a phone call on the street. But the invention was possible only because back in 1800, Alessandro Volta had invented a reliable battery. In addition, the telphone had been developed by 1876, the radio by 1895 and the computer by 1946. Finally,the invention of the microprocessor in 1971 made cell phones possible.

The Youths and the Internet

2009-10-08T13:37:00.000-07:00

Sometimes ago, while in church praying for the youths and children, I was telling the adults that the youths are facing new and greater challenges compared to their own experiences. The youths of today belong to the Digital Generation. The use of the Internet and other digital technologies is growing at an alarming rate in Nigeria and Africa. Information technology has been incorporated into the curriculum of even the nursery school pupils. Admission now is done via the internet, likewise is the checking of results.

It no longer news again that the Internet has taken over every sector of life. The adults predominantly use the net to check their emails, and search for information, however, the youths go beyond that; they use the net to find and build relationships with peers and colleagues from every parts of the world.

Leonard Sweet, the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey and an acknowledged expert on postmodernism, says that if you were born before 1962, you are an immigrant. Today's culture, with its emphasis on technology, is not your home. You're uncomfortable in a new place. You're learning a new language (gigabyte, megahertz, download, spam, etc.). You're learning new customs (email, surfing the web, shopping online, networking, chatting, linking, blogging, googling).

According to Sweet, if you were born after 1962, you're a native. You're at home in a new world of technology. You are comfortable utilizing new methods and patterns of communication. Your culture is inextricably entwined with the internet and the new digital arena.

By ‘natives’ Sweet is talking about those born after 1962, these group of people are always at home with Information Technology tools, while the ‘immigrants’ are those born before 1962, they are not normally comfortable with the use of Internet and other IT tools.

It should be noted that Sweet admits that this distinction between immigrants and natives is somewhat artificial. There are people born before 1962 who have the characteristics of "natives" and there are people born after 1962 who seem more like "immigrants".

But in general, it is a helpful distinction.

Like the mythical country I told you about earlier, natives are increasing in their dominance in today's culture. Listen to these examples Sweet cites:

• The "Love Bug," a computer virus which wreaked havoc with government agencies, corporations and individuals, causing billions of dollars in damage, was created by two college students living in the slums of Manila in the Philippines.

• In February 2000, "denial of service" attacks were launched against Amazon.com, Yahoo! and CNN.com by a 15-year-old Canadian teenager.

• In early 2000, Cameron Johnson started his second company — SurfingPrizes.com — which, at last report, averages $15,000 per day in revenue. At the time he founded the company, Cameron was 15 years old.

• In 2001, 26,000 credit card numbers (including some owned by Bill Gates) were stolen by two Welsh teenagers.

• Michael Furdyk and an Australian chat room friend he had never met in person started a company called MyDesktop.com. Within a few months, it was making $30,000 per month. Michael and his friend were 17 and 16, respectively.

• The main rival to Microsoft Windows, called Linux, was originally developed by a college student from Helsinki, Finland.

We live in a world where children in some of the poorest places on the planet can do the harm that only governments and generals could do in the past. We live in a culture where, for the first time in history, children don't need authority figures in order to access information — information is available at their fingertips. We live in a culture where, in many ways, children are the authority figures and adults need their help.

Can you now see why adults need to be informed about the technology of today in order to be able to always serve as check on the youths whenever they are using these tools negatively.

Can you see why Pastors must be adept to technology so as to be able to minister to this DIGITAL GENERATION. Especially in places like Nigeria, wee must strive to discourage our youths from perpetrating frauds and other anomalies via the Internet.

Permit me to ask you an insightful question: Who is the most adept in your house at programming the TV, CD, DVD, and VCR? Who is the most computer-literate?

2009-09-21T23:51:00.000-07:00

Good morning,

I am glad to inform the readers of this blog on Internet Evangelism (Africa, Nigeria and worldwide) that articles on this blog will henceforth be in four languages (English, Chinese, Italian and French) for the benefits of the readers from all parts of the world. Thanks for being there always.

Apostle Oluwasesan Johnson
+2348055076378, +23428712251

简体中文版 (Chinese-simplified)

早晨好，我是高兴通知读者在那互联网的福音传道(非洲，尼日利亚和全世界)的这个博克在这个博克的文章从此在四种语言(英语，汉语，意大利语和法语)的读者的好处从世界的所有地区的。感谢总是在那里。传道者Oluwasesan约翰逊 +2348055076378， +23428712251

En français

Bonjour, Je suis heureux d'informer les lecteurs de ce blog sur l'évangélisation d'Internet (Afrique, Nigéria et mondial) cette des articles sur ce blog serai dorénavant dans quatre langues (anglais, chinois, italien et français) pour les avantages des lecteurs de toutes les régions du monde. Merci pour être là toujours.

Apôtre Oluwasesan Johnson +2348055076378, +23428712251

In italiano

Buongiorno, Sono felice di informare i lettori di questo blog su Evangelism del Internet (Africa, Nigeria ed in tutto il mondo) quel articoli su questo blog d'ora in poi sarò in quattro lingue (inglesi, cinese, italiano e francese) per i benefici dei lettori da tutte le parti del mondo. Ringraziamenti per essere là sempre.

Apostolo Oluwasesan Johnson +2348055076378, +23428712251

国际互联网正面 (Chinese-Simplified)

2009-09-21T23:41:00.000-07:00

心爱，

是我的乐趣再次欢迎您到9月。对您以我们的阁下的名义，耶稣基督的问候。

Morealso，它是介绍您的我的喜悦给互联网正面国际性组织， Akobo，伊巴丹，尼日利亚。互联网正面国际性组织是被委任并且承诺给装备，教育和训练男人和妇女关于怎样的特别是青年利用互联网和它postively的一个非营利的组织。也确定我们看互联网和它的工具被用于涂福音书。我们的视觉、使命、项目、研讨会、训练和活动细节是可利用的在我们的网站和博克(www.icc.cfsites.org、www.apostle- smb.blogspot.com， www.smb.lifewithchrist.org)上。

不少次组织现在strugling建立互联网正面中心。中心对我们的社区青年计划使用作为IT/Internet培训中心。确定我们使用中心装备和训练青年我们的关于怎样的社区特别是less-priledged青年做正面用途互联网冲击自己和社会。青年将被训练在MS办公室随员、互联网应用、网发展、图形设计、我们高度确定提供这些服务免费的计算机工程等等，是，绝对任意。我们不设定获得利润中心。
组织在variuos IT/Internet研讨会和训练介入了这里在伊巴丹，尼日利亚。这些的细节在我们的网站也可以找到。

然而，组织未能设置这个提出的互联网正面中心在Akobo，伊巴丹，尼日利亚。限制基本上在为中心的光滑的runings和设备需要的设施。中心是需要个人计算机、膝上型计算机、打印机、放映机、扫描的机器等等。

我们将是高兴的，如果您能通过成为伙伴加入我们与我们这高尚的事业的。我们不介意您是否想要给我们使用了或新的膝上型计算机、个人计算机、打印机、放映机、发电器等等。

个体、小组、部、组织等等是受欢迎的与我们成为伙伴。我激发与做这个项目现实的您的合作posibilities。

上帝保佑您在耶稣名字。

你的在他的服务

Apotle Oluwasesan约翰逊
国际互联网正面
www.icc.cfsites.org
www.apostle-smb.blogspot.com
+2348055076378， +23428712251

Positifs d'Internet internationaux (French)

2009-09-21T23:38:00.000-07:00

Positifs d'Internet internationaux

Aimé,

Il est mon plaisir de vous accueillir de nouveau au mois de septembre. Salutations à vous au nom de notre seigneur, Jésus-Christ.

Morealso, c'est ma joie pour vous présenter à l'International de positifs d'Internet, Akobo, Ibadan, Nigéria. L'International de positifs d'Internet est une organisation non lucrative qui est commissionnée et investie dans l'équipement, l'instruction et la formation des hommes et des femmes particulièrement les jeunesses sur la façon dont se servir de l'Internet et de LUI postively. Nous sommes déterminés également pour voir que l'Internet et ses outils sont employés pour répandre l'evangile. Les détails de notre vision, mission, projets, conférences, formations et activités sont disponibles sur notre site Web et blog (www.icc.cfsites.org, www.apostle-smb.blogspot.com, www.smb.lifewithchrist.org).

Pendant quelques fois maintenant l'organisation strugling pour établir un CENTRE de POSITIFS d'INTERNET. Le centre est prévu pour être employé comme centre de formation d'IT/Internet pour les jeunesses de nos communautés. Nous sommes déterminés pour employer le centre pour équiper et former les jeunesses particulièrement les jeunesses less-priledged de nos communautés sur la façon dont faire l'utilisation de positifs de l'Internet de s'effectuer et la société. Les jeunesses doivent être formées dans des suites de MS Office, des applications d'Internet, des développements de Web, des conceptions graphiques, le génie informatique, etc. que NOUS SOMMES FORTEMENT DÉTERMINÉS POUR OFFRIR CES SERVICES POUR LIBRE, OUI, ABSOLUMENT LIBREMENT. Nous n'installons pas le centre pour réaliser des bénéfices.
L'organisation avait été impliquée dans des conférences et des formations des variuos IT/Internet ici à Ibadan, Nigéria. Les détails de ces derniers sont également disponibles sur notre site Web.

Cependant, l'organisation n'a pas pu placer ce centre proposé de positifs d'Internet chez Akobo, Ibadan, Nigéria. Les contraintes sont fondamentalement sur des équipements et des équipements requis pour les runings lisses du centre. Le centre a besoin des PCs, des ordinateurs portables, des imprimeurs, des projecteurs, des machines de balayage, etc.

Nous serons heureux si vous pouvez nous joindre par partnering avec nous dans cette entreprise noble. Nous ne nous occupons pas de si vous voulez nous donner employiez ou de nouveaux ordinateurs portables, PCs, imprimeurs, projecteurs, générateurs, etc.

Les individus, les groupes, les ministères, les organismes, etc. sont bienvenus pour partner avec nous. Je suis excité avec les posibilities de votre association faisant à ce projet une réalité.

Dieu vous bénissent en nom de Jésus.

Vôtre dans SON service

Apotle Oluwasesan Johnson
Positifs d'Internet internationaux
www.icc.cfsites.org
www.apostle-smb.blogspot.com
+2348055076378, +23428712251

Positivi del Internet internazionali Caro, (Italian)

2009-09-21T23:34:00.000-07:00

Positivi del Internet internazionali
Caro,

È il mio piacere accoglierlo favorevolmente ancora una volta al mese di settembre. Saluti a voi in nome del nostro signore, Gesù Cristo.

Morealso, è la mia gioia per presentarla al International dei positivi del Internet, Akobo, Ibadan, Nigeria. Il International dei positivi del Internet è un'organizzazione not-for-profit che è incaricata e commessa alla fornitura, all'istruzione ed all'addestramento degli uomini e delle donne particolarmente le gioventù su come usarlo il Internet e postively. Siamo determinati inoltre per vedere che il Internet ed i relativi attrezzi sono usati per spandere il vangelo. I particolari della nostri visione, missione, progetti, seminari, addestramenti ed attività sono disponibili sul nostri Web site e blog (www.icc.cfsites.org, www.apostle-smb.blogspot.com, www.smb.lifewithchrist.org).

Per determinate volte ora l'organizzazione strugling per istituire un CENTRO dei POSITIVI del INTERNET. Il centro è progettato per essere usato come centro di formazione di IT/Internet per le gioventù delle nostre comunità. Siamo determinati per usare il centro per dotare ed addestrare le gioventù particolarmente le gioventù less-priledged delle nostre comunità su come fare l'uso dei positivi del Internet urtarci e la società. Le gioventù devono essere addestrate nelle serie di MS Office, nelle applicazioni del Internet, negli sviluppi di fotoricettore, nei disegni grafici, nell'ingegneria di calcolatore, ecc. che ALTAMENTE SIAMO DETERMINATI PER OFFRIRE QUESTI SERVIZI PER LIBERO, SÌ, ASSOLUTAMENTE LIBERAMENTE. Non stiamo installando il centro per realizzare i profitti.
L'organizzazione era stata coinvolta nei seminari e negli addestramenti di variuos IT/Internet qui a Ibadan, Nigeria. I particolari di questi sono inoltre disponibili sul nostro Web site.

Tuttavia, l'organizzazione non ha potuta regolare questo centro proposto a Akobo, Ibadan, Nigeria dei positivi del Internet. I vincoli sono basicamente sulle facilità e sulle attrezzature state necessarie per i runings lisci del centro. Il centro è necessitante i pc, i computer portatili, le stampatrici, i proiettori, le macchine d'esplorazione, ecc.

Saremo felici se potete unirli partnering con noi in questa impresa nobile. Non ci occupiamo di se volete darli usaste o nuovi computer portatili, pc, stampatrici, proiettori, generatori, ecc.

Gli individui, i gruppi, i ministeri, le organizzazioni, ecc sono benvenuti partner con noi. Sono eccitato con i posibilities della vostra associazione che rende a questo progetto una realtà.

Il dio lo benedice nel nome del Jesus.

Il vostro nel SUO servizio

Apotle Oluwasesan Johnson
Positivi del Internet internazionali
www.icc.cfsites.org
www.apostle-smb.blogspot.com
+2348055076378, +23428712251

HOW TO CROSS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, RWANDA-STYLE

2009-09-18T02:36:00.000-07:00

HOW TO CROSS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, RWANDA-STYLE
By Sarah Lacy

Whenever I tell someone the countries I’m hitting for my new book, they start out nodding, then the nodding slows, then they just get confused. “China, India, Brazil, Israel and…Rwanda.” Then there’s the inevitable question: “Rwanda? Is there even any technology in Rwanda?” Sometimes I even get asked if I have to stay in a tent when I go there.
The answer to the second question is no. There are plenty of hotels, and I don’t do tents unless they have outlets and wifi.
The answer to the tech question two fold. First: Despite the last decade of covering nothing but tech, I actually consider myself more of a reporter who covers entrepreneurs. It just so happens that’s normally correlated with technology, especially in the U.S. But increasingly some of the best opportunities to build the next great billion-dollar company even in markets like India and China are more tech-enabled service and product businesses than classic high-tech plays. And really, are Web businesses even about the sheer technology anymore these days?
Readers to read the complete story, please, click here

Internet Positives International

2009-09-10T08:15:00.001-07:00

Beloved,

It is my pleasure to welcome you once again to the month of September. Greetings to you in the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Morealso, it is my joy to introduce you to The Internet Positives International, Akobo, Ibadan, Nigeria. The Internet Positives International is a not-for-profit organization that is commissioned and committed to equipping, educating and training of men and women especially the youths on how to make use of the Internet and IT postively. We are determined also to see that the Internet and its tools are used to spread the Gospel. Details of our vision, mission, projects, seminars,trainings and activities are available on our website and blog (www.icc.cfsites.org, www.apostle-smb.blogspot.com, www.smb.lifewithchrist.org).

For some times now the organisation has been strugling to establish an INTERNET POSITIVES CENTER. The center is planned to be used as an IT/Internet Training Center for the youths of our communities. We are determined to use the center to equip and train the youths especially the less-priledged youths of our communities on how to make positives use of the Internet to impact themselves and the society. The youths are to be trained in MS Office Suites, Internet Applications, Web Developments, Graphic Designs, Computer Engineering, etc. WE ARE HIGHLY DETERMINED TO OFFER THESE SERVICES FOR FREE, YES, ABSOLUTELY FREE. We are not setting up the Center for making profits.
The organization had been involved in variuos IT/Internet seminars and trainings here in Ibadan, Nigeria. Details of these are also available on our website.

However, the organization has not been able to set this proposed Internet Positives Center at Akobo, Ibadan, Nigeria. The constraints are basically on facilities and equipments needed for the smooth runings of the center. The Center is in need of PCs, Laptops, Printers, Projectors, Scanning Machines, etc.

We will be glad if you can join us by partnering with us in this noble venture. We don't mind if you want to give us used or new Laptops, PCs, Printers, Projectors, Generators, etc.

Individuals, groups, ministries, organizations, etc are welcome to partner with us. I am excited with the posibilities of your partnership making this project a reality.

God bless you in Jesus Name.

Yours in HIS service

Apotle Oluwasesan Johnson
Internet Positives International
www.icc.cfsites.org
www.apostle-smb.blogspot.com
+2348055076378, +23428712251

Children and Internet Safety

2009-08-25T06:10:00.000-07:00

By Jodie Lawton, Children's Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis, University of Missouri-St. Louis

In a recent report it was estimated that about 17 million children and teens between 12-17 years of age were on the Internet. (See http://www.pewinternet.org/) for more information about teens online.) This represents about 75% of all the young people in the United States. With so many young people online it is important to think about some of the safety issues. Here are some frequently asked questions.

Where are the areas of the Internet that children or teenagers might come across harmful or inappropriate information?

Harmful and inappropriate material can come from just about everywhere on the Internet-- in an e-mail or instant message, through accidentally finding a pornographic website, in chatrooms, bulletin boards, or news groups.

What are some of the dangers for children on the Internet?

To read the full article,please,click here

Internet Television is the Future for Christian Ministries - Lifestream TVs Top Man Tells Why

2009-08-13T04:40:00.000-07:00

By Martin Bertello
Published: 4/2/2008

Martin Bertello is a freelance writer covering religious news, Christianity, politics, current events, movie reviews and much more. He is a regular contributor to http://www.americanprophet.org and for http://www.usareligiousnews.com

Recently WDC Media, the world’s fastest growing public relations firm informed the press of an all new service they call the Big4. It is a cross media combination of the most powerful way to get out the Christian message since the printing press.
Media technology is changing rapidly and searching for TV and radio time for Christian programming is no longer the only choice or even the best choice. Church services, pastoral messages, Christian news programming, entertainment, films and evangelism can be presented to the public on a global scale as never before with live streaming technology. What is it all about?

First it is a chance to carry out the great commission of Matthew 28:19-20. This motive alone is what makes internet TV the most desirable media platform on the planet at this time. This is the media for those who still believe the message of the gospel is the miracle for a troubled and needy world.

Over one billion people worldwide have internet access and 845 million people a day use the internet regularly. By 2010 over 413 million households will be using high speed broadband or similar connections. The real clincher is that the lines between internet and TV are disappearing rapidly. Now anything that can be brought up on the computer can be played on the TV. New technology will be combining all media into single access point. Radio, TV, films, commerce, reference and everything else will be at a single station.

Not just America and Western Europe are experiencing a run toward interactive media through a single source. Third world nations are getting onboard the high speed internet train and Latin America has seen a 70 percent growth since 2004. Africa is seeing a 400 percent increase in broadband use. It is a worldwide phenomenon with implications for the Christian message that cannot be ignored. It may actually be the capstone for the fulfillment of Christ’s declaration in Matthew 24:14 of a time when the gospel would be preached in every nook and cranny on the globe.

To read the full stories, please, click here

Online Evangelists Tap Millions Looking for God

2009-08-12T06:18:00.001-07:00

Like Shopping for Shoes, Many Religion Surfers Turn to the Internet to Find Their Faith

By SUSAN DONALDSON JAMES

June 22, 2009—

Two million people look for God each day -- not in church, but in a search.

"The number is staggering," said Mark Weimer, a self-described techie evangelist whose ministry has tapped the Internet to capture those looking for spiritual answers.

Weimer is CEO of Global Media Outreach, the technology arm of Campus Crusade for Christ International (CCCI), which hosts 91 Web sites in 11 languages to spread the "good news."

Weimer, who previously ran his own Silicon Valley start-up, insists this is not virtual proselytizing.

"We are always up front about the fact that we are presenting the Christian message," he told ABCNews.com. "We don't want to deceive anyone. That would be offensive."

Global Outreach estimates that 1 in 1,000 Internet searchers is looking for information about God. Just last year, their sites had 3 million visitors.

On an average day, sites like Jesus2020 get 150,000 visitors, and about 25,000 of them click a button to say they want to learn more. Of those about 5,000 a day fill in a form so an online missionary can contact them via e-mail.

Their questions are often surprising, according to Weimer: "Now that I have accepted Christ, what do I do next? Do I need to be perfect now? How do I pray?"

Internet Provides 'Anonymous Intimacy'

"One of the great things about being on the Internet is you feel comfortable sharing things you might not otherwise," said Michelle Diedrich, communication director for Global Media. "It's anonymous intimacy."

According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project more "religious surfers" are turning to the Internet.

But the vast majority are "not hurting for God," according to project director Lee Rainie. Most are Sunday school teachers planning lessons, ministers writing sermons and "church shoppers."

"It's a time saver," said Manuela Castro, 20, a marketing major at University of Florida who was raised a Catholic but hasn't been to church in years. She has been exploring alternatives online.

"You can Google God in your pajamas," she told ABCNews.com.

For those who are testing the waters of faith, going online has advantages.

It protects against religious leaders who are overzealous or judge, according to Rev. A. K. M. Adam, a Biblical scholar, technologist and blogger.

Shopping for God

"I don't think that online spiritual inquiry is fundamentally different from online dating or buying shoes online," he told ABCNews.com.

Going online avoids seekers from feeling self-conscious and they can get answers without risking an "awkward, potentially guilt-inducing" interaction with a minister.

And, according to Adam, it's "just plain more convenient than hopping in the car and going to Sunday morning worship, or making an appointment with Pastor Jones."

Religious groups, especially evangelicals, have been "savvy" at using media like radio and television to spread their message, so it's no surprise that they have also tapped into the Internet, according to Michael Kress, managing editor of Beliefnet, which offers information on all the world's major religions and draws 3 million unique visitors per month.
.

"We have always looked to books, magazines and other media to find meaning and deepen our faith," Kress told ABCNews.com. "And the first book off the Guttenberg press was the Bible."

'In its breadth, it can feel impersonal, but it's there to help you find what you want," he said. "Whatever you want, you can find there. The Internet experience is tailor-made for you."

Global Media uses search engine optimization and ads to link surfers with sites that explain Christianity.

Who is God?

Ask, "Who is Jesus?" and CCCI pops up number 8 on the search. "Who is God?" brings up an ad for Global Media's largest Web site, Jesus2020.

After a short introduction to the tenets of evangelism, the site asks if you are interested in more information and directs you to a form providing contact information.

Searchers indicate their religious affiliation, if any, and interest level and can also sign up for a weekly prayer that arrives via e-mail.

One, a man from Tanzania who found the ministry online at 4stepstoGod wrote, "I read and I was comforted. In those days I had lost my family due to war."

A young woman in England wrote that she too, had found solace online: "My five-year-old daughter died a few weeks ago in a car accident. I was raising her alone."

Wanted: Online Missionaries

In 2008, Global Media fielded 649,000 e-mails regarding prayer requests, Bible studies and other issues.

But with those numbers and only 2,900 online missionaries, they are having trouble keeping up with the traffic.

The ministry has enlisted the support from Northland, A Church Distributed, one of Florida's mega-churches to recruit and train 5,000 online missionaries by 2010, but admits it needs about 10,000 to meet the demand.

Many are stay-at-home mothers or retirees, who like not having to travel half way around the world to do missionary work.

"It's the future of the church, and it's fun to be a part of it," said Joel Hunter, pastor of Northland, in Longwood, Fla., who has personally signed on to help.

The Spanish language portal was so "jammed" recently with traffic it was "virtually shut down" when the requests could not be answered, he said.

Hunter has made contact with God-seekers from all around the world, many of whom have never been in a church.

"These are people looking for God but they don't have a clue," he said.

Swedish Seeking God

A surprising number of requests have come from Sweden a country where secularism has dominated for decades.

"I love it because they ask me really basic questions that Americans are too embarrassed to ask," said Hunter. "Is there really a God? In church people's eyes start to get glossed over. But when you do the basics with people it takes me back to why I got into this and it's very invigorating."

But technology can only take humans seeking spirituality so far. Because Northland has so many smaller ministries around the world, it can help religion seekers find a church or give them the resources to start their own group -- wherever they are.

"In order to grow in any faith, you need a faith community," he said. "It's true for any faith. You can't do it on your own."

"We don't care what the denomination is," said Hunter. "It doesn't matter to us. Our concern is that they don't walk alone."

Whether modern man suffers from a spiritual emptiness or the Internet just makes the number of searchers more quantifiable is anybody's guess.

"There is more open questioning going on," said Robert Gregg, professor of religion at Stanford University.

"For people with religious and spiritual inclinations, there are troubling discussions going on in the culture that may cause them to want to get a firmer grip on what they believe and who they are," he told ABCNews.com.

Still, Gregg said, searching for God "has been going on since time immemorial."

"Now you don't have to travel as a pilgrim to a holy place to sense power is accessible -- you don't even have to turn on your computer, it's already on," he said. "All you do is take a few minutes and visit a couple of Web sites and you can get an answering service."

Though he concedes it's "less communal and personal" than old-time religion, Gregg says the dynamics have not changed.

"It's an updated virtual revival tent," he said of Global Media's online effort. "A preacher comes in for two nights and stirs folks up and then the people on his team sit down with those called to Jesus and help get them to church."

But, according to Gregg, the questions about God have always been the same: "Are you out there? Do you know my name? Do you care about me?"

ABC's Andrea Alarcon contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2009 ABC News Internet Ventures

Do you know about Twitter?

2009-08-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

The wikipedia defines Twitter as a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to the author's subscribers who are known as followers. Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow open access. Users can send and receive tweets via the Twitter website, Short Message Service (SMS) or external applications. While the service costs nothing to use, accessing it through SMS may incur phone service provider fees.
Since its creation in 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Twitter has gained notability and popularity worldwide. It is sometimes described as the "SMS of the Internet" since the use of Twitter's application programming interface for sending and receiving short text messages by other applications often eclipses the direct use of Twitter.

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Presently, I am trying to explore the use of Twitter for online evangelism. I will post here my discoveries...........

Sharing God’s Message Intimately - Online and On Phone

2009-08-11T06:43:00.000-07:00

By Frank Johnson of http://www.strategicdigitaloutreach.com/

One of my virtual friends, Dave Hackett, recently led a conference call on “Sharing God’s Message Intimately - Online and On Phone.”

During the call, Dave informed participants about the growing influence and practice of digital evangelism and newly emerging issues of online/on-phone evangelism, and also allowed time for questions and answers.

The presentation used an audio conference call and an online presentation which were accessed simultaneously.

Voice Conference Call
The audio call is available for playback by calling 641-715-3443 and entering Access Code 258593#.

Presentation Site
To view the PowerPoint that Dave presented during the call, please have this Google Doc up on your screen while you listen to the presentation:
http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=d3wbggh_3c7z694d8

CAPE TOWN 2010

2009-08-05T05:04:00.000-07:00

CAPE TOWN 2010
By http://www.lausanne.org/cape-town-2010

The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (Lausanne III) will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, 16-25 October 2010. The Congress, held in collaboration with the World Evangelical Alliance, will bring together 4,000 leaders from more than 200 countries to confront the critical issues of our time – other world faiths, poverty, HIV/AIDS, persecution, among others - as they relate to the future of the Church and world evangelization.

Cape Town 2010 (CT2010) is not just a one-time meeting, but God willing, will be a catalytic event in the life of the church – drawing leaders together in purposeful prayer, humble repentance, strategic dialogue and decisive action. Together we will seek the Lord as we examine the world and our culture to discern where the church should invest its efforts and energies to most effectively respond to Christ’s call to take the gospel into all the world and make disciples of all nations . . . lives changed for all eternity, broken families mended, physical and emotional hurts healed, communities transformed.

For complete story..... click here

THE CHURCH AND THE FORMATION OF THE INTERNET IN AFRICA

2009-07-20T05:02:00.000-07:00

The Internet is rapidly expanding at an alarming rate, more tools and areas are continually being discovered and developed.

The World Wide Web with its emergence of new culture coupled with its new languages, styles, attitude, patterns and techniques for communication and cacophony of information has come and will remain to be a colossus.

I was in a local meeting of PFN (Pentecostal Fellowship Of Nigeria) yesterday and one of the attendees was introducing a Multi-media package on Church to us and to my amazement excitement filled the air. With all humility, I want to say, here in my immediate local communities, I discovered that while some ministers of the Gospel are still trying to come into reality with or trying to understand the ‘world’ of mouse, click, browsing, navigation, chatting; the Internet had moved ahead with new concepts such as cyberspace, forum, discussion boards, netizen, jazz, cyber communities, virtual communities, video conferencing, etc.

The church in the developed world had since joined in the formation of the Internet with the developments of GodTube and the likes. I urge IT experts and multi-media technologists in Africa that are Christians to join in the formation of the Internet by bringing up innovations that will aid evangelization and the nurturing of Christian faith on the Internet. These new formation should however bear in mind our (African) culture and experiences.

In conclusion this blessed morning, I urge the church in Africa to further- by entering into MySpace, FaceBook, YouTube, GodTube, Twitter, Internet Radio, WebTV, Internet Conferencing, e-phony, Internet SMS-to-Mobile phone, go-to-meeting, mega meeting and other cyber communities to spread the Good News.

I am highly excited with the prospect of the new possibilities ahead as regards Internet evangelism in Nigeria and Africa at large.

Thanks, see you next time.

EVANGELIZATION: Nurturing Christian Faith on the Internet

2009-07-13T01:59:00.000-07:00

I had been observing with keen interest and great excitement how the use of the Internet for evangelization in Africa is increasing gradually for some times now. However, this increment in the usage of the internet by the Church can not be compared with the way the internet is being used generally for business, trade, commerce, governance, journalism, etc.

The Church had fully embraced the use of website as a tool for evangelization on the Internet. But with keen observation it has been discovered that most Churches are not using their websites effectively as an evangelization tool, though they use the websites to tell more about their vision/mission, profiles of pastors and programs.

I want to urge the Church to use her website to draw people to the truth of the gospel. Millions of people around the globe visit the net to get solutions to their spiritual problems…… so the Church must strive to make her-self available with solutions to human problems.

If the Church refused to nurture her faith on the Internet, web spiritual seekers will definitely find alternate solutions – which are false. Other religious groups like Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, New Age, Ifa etc are readily available on the Internet.

In conclusion, this morning, I am happy that the Church in Africa had started embracing the Internet but I am seeking for more use of it and using it effectively for evangelization.

Thanks

THE CHURCH: THE SALTS OF THE INTERNET

2009-07-03T02:23:00.000-07:00

In the New Testaments of the Bible, Jesus Christ said it categorically that we (Christians) are the salts of this world. ‘Salts’ on its own can not be said to be all that important or valuable until it is added to another substance to add taste, to add flavor and salt-ness.

The Church as the salts of this world must be ready to move out of her old walls. The Church must fully embrace the media (especially the Internet) and make herself available within it with her spiritual goods.

Every second and minutes millions of spiritual seekers are storming the World Wide Web seeking solutions to their spiritual and religious problem and challenges.

In this media age, the Church must make herself available on the Internet as solutions to mounting problems of this world. The Church must be ready to offer helps. The Internet requires the Church to portray what she is, her possessions and her relationships and communion and also offering answers to religious questions, giving spiritual helps and making herself available real time online to answer personal questions and also make available what the Church thinks about some controversial issues and general issues.

In conclusion, I want to say here again that the use of the Internet for evangelization is not a thing of the west alone; it has cut across all the continents of this world including Africa. I therefore urge all Christians and ministers of the gospel in Africa (especially in Nigeria) to consider using the Internet as an evangelization tool.

The Internet: A New Portal For The Good News

2009-06-20T03:09:00.000-07:00

Reading Acts 17: 16-32, I have always been excited by the story of Apostle Paul walking across the streets of the Great city of Athens and how he wondered at the numerous temples that paraded the Greek city. Nonetheless, he went into the AREOPAGUS, where the Greek Philosophers and thinkers discussed and argued out their religious beliefs. Right there in the Areopagus, with great boldness Apostle Paul preached the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

A total deviation from the usual way of preaching the Good News in the Synagogues. Areopagus was a marketplace of public place. Today, the Internet is the most important Areopagus of our time.

For me, I have always advocated for the use of the Media (especially the Internet) to spread the Good News. More and more people are joining various communities on the net. It is high time we Christianize the Internet. The Internet is a veritable tool at this great moment to tell the world about Christ and His amazing powers.

Once again I call on all Christians and Church leaders (especially in Africa) to consider making effective use of the Internet as a new portal for the Good News.

Thank you, and God bless

Secret Christian Church in Mecca

2009-04-29T06:59:00.000-07:00

A growing Christian movement in "the heart of Islam" ?
By Eric Leijenaar / BosNewsLife

MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA (BosNewsLife) -- Christians have set up an underground church in Mecca, viewed by Muslims as the "holiest city in Islam", while tens of thousands of other Saudi Christians are worshipping via the Internet, a mission group confirmed Friday, April 24.

"It is unclear how many people are participating in the church in Mecca, because people are afraid to talk about it openly," said Jaap Bönker, director of Netherlands- based Arabische Wereld Zending, or 'Arabic World Mission,' which has close contacts with believers in Muslim nations.

News of the secret church comes despite strict rules forbidding non-Muslims to enter Mecca where huge 'Muslim Only' traffic signs warn outsiders about these regulations.

In addition, Bönker said, some 70,000 people are worshipping in what has been dubbed Saudi Arabia's 'Skype Church', a reference to an Internet program that allows people to communicate with each other via relative secure connections.

Could God use you in Internet Evangelism? By Rusty Wright, Probe Ministries

2009-04-23T03:12:00.000-07:00

Could God use you to reach people for Christ via the Internet? The answer may surprise you!

I’m no techie!
“How could I ever use the Internet to reach people for Christ?” you might wonder. “I’m no techie. I know how to send email and read the news online, but that’s about it.”

I can identify with that. My technical knowledge is limited. For many years, I was even hesitant to use an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) at the bank, for fear I would do something stupid and it would swallow my card.

Gradually, I overcame my technophobia and began to use computers for word processing. But I used somewhat primitive setups. Only in 1998 did I switch from the rather archaic DOS operating system to Windows because a friend said I should “get with the 90s before the 90s are over!”

What are your talents?
We all have talents and abilities. A key to usefulness is making our talents available to God. Your talents may be in building friendships, engaging in conversations, answering questions, inspiring people, or telling stories. God certainly can use those. Here’s a story that may encourage you.

My own interests involve communication, especially relating Christ to secular audiences. Over the years, I’ve written numerous evangelistic articles to help reach nonbelievers. Several years ago, a couple of friends involved in Internet ministry, Keith Seabourn and Allan Beeber, asked me to send them all my articles so they could put them “online.”

I didn’t understand all that meant, but they said it would make the articles available free to people around the globe. That seemed like a good thing.

Keith’s website, Leadership University aimed to collect thousands of articles supporting the validity of Christian faith. Allan’s Evangelism Toolbox became an online “Yellow Pages” (directory) of evangelism resources. They helped introduce me to Internet outreach.

Are you ready for the digital revolution?
At a convention in Amsterdam a few years ago, I saw a brochure that said, “The Great Commission is Going Digital; Are You Ready?” That piqued my interest. Maybe God wanted me to focus my energies on Internet Evangelism.

The brochure spoke of the then-fledgling Internet Evangelism Coalition. I started to hang out with these folks – wonderful people – and to learn from them. I began to write more for the web and various articles appeared online.

Another friend encouraged me to do a Google search on my name. I was amazed to see page after page of my articles on websites that I had never heard of!

I also discovered a number of other “Rusty Wrights” including …

* a platform tennis player
* a university professor
* a football coach
* a singer
* a rodeo cowboy
* a racecar driver
* a cruise ship captain
* a convict

The simplicity and pervasive nature of the Internet was allowing people to find and use these articles in ways I had never imagined. I could sit with my laptop in my office, on an airplane, or in a hotel room and compose an article that would tactfully nudge people toward Christ or biblical principles. Then, by pushing a button, I could send it to Internet publishers who would make it available to people around the globe.

This seemed almost too good to be true. What a potential for spreading Good News!

Rusty Wright is an author, syndicated columnist and university lecturer with Probe.org who has spoken on six continents. He holds Bachelor of Science (psychology) and Master of Theology degrees from Duke and Oxford Universities, respectively. www.probe.org/Rusty

Internet Evangelism Day In Nigeria

2009-04-23T02:54:00.000-07:00

Next Sunday, April 26, 2009, is the Internet Evangelism Day worldwide. I urge all ministers of the Gospel here in Nigeria and Africa as a whole to please use this day to create awareness and motivate and encourage their members to embrace the Internet to spread the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

I wish you success.

Thanks

INTERNET EVANGELISM DAY

2009-03-28T06:44:00.000-07:00

As I had posted here before, the last Sunday of the month of April, April 26,2009 is the day to mark next INTERNET EVANGELISM worldwide.

I am encouranging all Christian/Church leaders in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, to use the month of April to create awareness about the Internet Evangelism.

Many Church leaders and Christian did not know that Internet can be used for for Evangelism. This is one of the reasons many Christian youths are involved in Internet fraud.

There's a great need to increase the awareness in Africa.

thanks and warmest regards!

The Youths and the Internet

2009-01-15T00:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, while in church praying for the youths and children, I was telling the adults that the youths are facing new and greater challenges compared to their own experiences. The youths of today belong to the Digital Generation. The use of the Internet and other digital technologies is growing at an alarming rate in Nigeria and Africa. Information technology has been incorporated into the curriculum of even the nursery school pupils. Admission now is done via the internet, likewise is the checking of results.

It no longer news again that the Internet has taken over every sector of life. The adults predominantly use the net to check their emails, and search for information, however, the youths go beyond that; they use the net to find and build relationships with peers and colleagues from every parts of the world.

Leonard Sweet, the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey and an acknowledged expert on postmodernism, says that if you were born before 1962, you are an immigrant. Today's culture, with its emphasis on technology, is not your home. You're uncomfortable in a new place. You're learning a new language (gigabyte, megahertz, download, spam, etc.). You're learning new customs (email, surfing the web, shopping online, networking, chatting, linking, blogging, googling).

According to Sweet, if you were born after 1962, you're a native. You're at home in a new world of technology. You are comfortable utilizing new methods and patterns of communication. Your culture is inextricably entwined with the internet and the new digital arena.

By ‘natives’ Sweet is talking about those born after 1962, these group of people are always at home with Information Technology tools, while the ‘immigrants’ are those born before 1962, they are not normally comfortable with the use of Internet and other IT tools.

It should be noted that Sweet admits that this distinction between immigrants and natives is somewhat artificial. There are people born before 1962 who have the characteristics of "natives" and there are people born after 1962 who seem more like "immigrants".

But in general, it is a helpful distinction.

Like the mythical country I told you about earlier, natives are increasing in their dominance in today's culture. Listen to these examples Sweet cites:

• The "Love Bug," a computer virus which wreaked havoc with government agencies, corporations and individuals, causing billions of dollars in damage, was created by two college students living in the slums of Manila in the Philippines.

• In February 2000, "denial of service" attacks were launched against Amazon.com, Yahoo! and CNN.com by a 15-year-old Canadian teenager.

• In early 2000, Cameron Johnson started his second company — SurfingPrizes.com — which, at last report, averages $15,000 per day in revenue. At the time he founded the company, Cameron was 15 years old.

• In 2001, 26,000 credit card numbers (including some owned by Bill Gates) were stolen by two Welsh teenagers.

• Michael Furdyk and an Australian chat room friend he had never met in person started a company called MyDesktop.com. Within a few months, it was making $30,000 per month. Michael and his friend were 17 and 16, respectively.

• The main rival to Microsoft Windows, called Linux, was originally developed by a college student from Helsinki, Finland.

We live in a world where children in some of the poorest places on the planet can do the harm that only governments and generals could do in the past. We live in a culture where, for the first time in history, children don't need authority figures in order to access information — information is available at their fingertips. We live in a culture where, in many ways, children are the authority figures and adults need their help.

Can you now see why adults need to be informed about the technology of today in order to be able to always serve as check on the youths whenever they are using these tools negatively.

Permit me to ask you an insightful question: Who is the most adept in your house at programming the TV, CD, DVD, and VCR? Who is the most computer-literate?

PRAYING AGAINGST INTERNET FRAUD IN NIGERIA

2009-01-08T00:13:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a day I will never forget in the history of my life in Christian journey and ministry. I woke up with a mind to meet a man that I ought to have met about a year ago, but as God will have it - meeting him was postponed till yesterday, January 06, 2009. The man, who happen to be a servant of the most high, fixed the meeting for 2:00 pm, and when it was about 1:00 pm I started preparing to be on the way to his office, but something happened that made me to decide not to attend the meeting again. I quickly sat behind my system and emailed him telling him that I will not be able to attend the meeting again. However, at about some minutes after 3:00 pm the Holy Spirit instructed me to honor the meeting with the man of God which I obliged.

The meeting turns out to be God ordained meeting. We talked about a lot of things ranging from Prayer/intercession for Nigeria and Africa at large, M2M Ministry, the role of Africa in world leadership to Internet Evangelism in Nigeria and Africa, the list was not exhaustive. The meeting really blessed me; I learnt some of the ways ministry could be run effectively to affect lives positively. The man of God is a man of experience, vision, insights and power of the Holy Ghost, we also prayed.

He gave me some of the books written by him, one of the book is titled ‘‘PUSHING’’ –Pray Until Something Happen In Nigeria. The book is a prayer guide for our dear Nation, Nigeria. I saw something on page 58 of the book which I want to share with you; it is a set of prayers we need to pray as a Nation to arrest the anomalies that are ranging on through the Internet.

Excerpts from the Book (page 58-60)

The Internet is the greatest breakthrough in ICT as it is packaged with unlimited information and makes global communication virtually effortless. However, like all good things, Satan has hijacked it for many evil and immoral things – pornography, financial and economic crimes etc.

Many criminals have become so versatile and skilled in ICT that use the internet to commit many terrible frauds sometimes to the tune of millions of dollars, Pounds sterling and other international currencies. Internet fraud (or scams) is a world-wide phenomenon but Nigerians are fingered to be the master in this high-tech fraud.

We need to pray against it in Nigeria because it has made many prospective multi-million dollars investors to avoid doing business in Nigeria and it could also be a hindrance to Nigeria fulfilling her prophetic destiny. Many international businessmen fear to partner with Nigerians fearful that they could be internet fraudsters.

PRAYER

• Bring repentance for the wickedness, deception, greed, covetousness, fraud and mercilessness of the internet fraudsters popularly called yahooboys.
• Declare the Sovereignty of Jesus Christ over Nigeria, over the air, over the Internet, over the cybercafé operators, over all websites and over the minds of all the people involved in internet frauds.
• Pray that the fraudsters will encounter God in a unique way. Acts 9:1-9
• Most of the people involved are youths. Pray that the Lord will take over the hearts of the Nigeria youths that the skills they use for defrauding people will be used constructively.
• Take authority over the principality, mammon that causes them to defraud people. Command this principality to loose its grip over these young ones by the authority in the name of Jesus Christ.
• Pray for prospective victims that they will have wisdom and discernment not to fall into their traps. Pray against greed in the hearts of these victims.
• Pray that the internet will be used by God to reach many people for the salvation of their souls rather than being used to defraud or for pornography. (Many sons of the bondwoman have been saved through internet chat rooms)

NOTE: About the author of the book: ‘‘PUSHING’’

Debo Daniel is a professional Chartered Accountant of over 25 years and is the President of Total Armour International Ministries, a missionary organization involved in mobilization, training and practice of strategic spiritual warfare, territorial intercession, personal and territorial deliverance. He has ministered in 17 Nations spanning three continents of the world.

He currently serves as National Coordinator, International Prayer Council (IPC) and Coordinator, City Prayer Network of Intercessors for Nigeria in Ibadan. He also heads the Spiritual Warfare Track of Fintask 2010 and is a member of an Intercessory Team coordinated by World Vision International that God is sending to nations to carry out prayer initiatives for the healing of nations.

He is married with three children.

EVANGELISM IN NORTH AFRICA PARTLY DUE TO TV & THE INTERNET

2009-01-05T01:38:00.000-08:00

Christian missionaries stir unease in north Africa
By Tom Pfeiffer
Reuters
Monday, December 15, 2008; 12:00 AM

RABAT (Reuters) - A new breed of undercover Christian missionary is turning to Muslim north Africa in the search for new converts, alarming Islamic leaders who say they prey on the weak and threaten public order.

Missionary groups say the number of Moroccan Christians has grown to 1,500 from 100 in a decade and that Algerian Christians number several thousand, although no official figures exist.

They say their message is reaching thousands more, thanks partly to satellite TV and the internet. (emphasis mine)

The Koran states no-one can be forced to follow one religion, but many Muslims believe that to abandon Islam is to shun family, tribe and nation and bring shame upon relatives.

"Many Muslims told me 'If I find you I will kill you'," said Amin, a young man from northern Morocco who did not want to give his full name for fear of reprisals.

Amin said he became aware of Jesus Christ after dreaming that a figure dressed in a white robe approached him in a forest and handed him a Bible.

"When I told my father I had become a Christian he just stared at me without speaking. Then he said: 'From now on, you are not my son. Go to those people, let them feed you and give you a home -- we'll see who cares for you'," said Amin.

He left town, stopped his studies and now lives from translation work offered by a Christian missionary group.

Mission groups in North Africa range from broad alliances such as Partners International and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to small Baptist and Pentecostal churches based in the Americas and Europe, according to their Web sites.

Their activity is growing as churches turn their focus to places where the Christian message is rarely heard, said Dana Robert, world Christianity professor at Boston University.

"With the internet and the increase in travel, you have a democratization of missions where anyone who feels like it can go anywhere they want," said Robert. "The new breed of missionary doesn't have the same historical training as the older established denominations, nor necessarily the cultural training, so there's a bull-in-a-china- shop effect."

PERSECUTION, EXPLOITATION

Converts recount stories of persecution as evidence of the risks they run. These are impossible to verify, but one said he heard a newly converted Moroccan was thrown from a balcony in a shopping mall by two acquaintances, leaving him paralyzed.

Another said people of a town in eastern Morocco threatened to decapitate a convert unless he renounced his faith.

Islamic leaders say missionaries exploit people with a weak understanding of their religion, target the poor and the sick and try to win over north Africa's Berbers by telling them Islam was imposed on them by Arabs.

"These are unethical methods," said Mohammed Yssef, general secretary of the Superior Council of Ulemas, Morocco's highest religious authority. "Islam is the religion of God. It is neither Arab nor Berber.

"When people respond positively (to missionaries) , it is when they don't have their full freedom," said Yssef. "Once they recover their normal health and situation, they recover their ability to decide."

The missionaries deny exploiting the weak. They say their clandestine status means they have to set up businesses or language schools at which converts are sometimes employed.

"Three years ago I began praying about parts of the world that had not taken up the Gospel," said Tyler, a member of an Ohio Baptist church who set up Project North Africa in Morocco. He said that his work could be disrupted if he gave his surname.

"The goal is to give a clear presentation of the Gospel and address things people might have been told -- for example that the Bible is corrupt or that we worship three gods."

He said he was preparing the ground for colleagues, mostly from South America, who would learn Morocco's dialect and seek to set up small businesses to fund the group's evangelical work.

The convert Amin said hundreds of Moroccan Christians gather every year in Sale near the capital Rabat to celebrate Christmas, protected by police. But the meeting is an exception and indigenous Christians say they worship alone and in secret.

FAILURE

Christian communities existed in north Africa until Arabs arrived from the east from the eighth century, and most of the local population adopted Islam.

Attempts to re-Christianise the area were a failure that came to be symbolized by Frenchman Charles de Foucault, who tried to establish a Christian community in the Algerian desert.

His example of abject poverty failed to inspire the local Tuareg to convert, and Muslim insurgents shot him dead in 1916.

French settlers built striking churches in Casablanca, Rabat, Algiers and Tunis to symbolize their imperial "civilizing mission" but congregations dispersed after independence.

Morocco's government says it practices religious tolerance but the Christian presence is low-key. St. Peter's Cathedral in Rabat does not ring its bells and churchgoers are all foreign.

Moroccan Christians worshipping there would risk arrest and Archbishop Vincent Landel told Reuters he would not baptize a Moroccan convert as it is against the law.
He said U.S.-funded missionaries had made life harder for the Roman Catholic church in north Africa.

"It upsets everything because all these evangelical converts lack restraint and discretion -- they do any old thing," he said. "And to Muslims there's no difference between a Catholic, an evangelist or a Protestant, so in their minds the head of all the Christians must be the Catholic Archbishop."

"ONE WAY TO HEAVEN"

Outside the cities, the visible Christian presence is limited to small communities from Roman Catholic orders who lead charitable work including medical and wealth-creating projects, but avoid preaching.

They rely on smooth relations with the authorities, but in Algeria the climate has soured in recent months after a series of trials against local Protestants accused of proselytism.

The constitution of Algeria, the birthplace of St. Augustine, a Berber, allows freedom of conscience but a 2006 law strictly regulates how religions can be practiced and forbids attempts to convert Muslims.

"We shouldn't kill one another in the name of religion," Algerian Religious Affairs Minister Bouabdellah Ghlamallah told Liberte newspaper. "That people come from the U.S. and France to spread ideas contrary to national unity, that's the danger."

A Christian community that employs 70 women making embroidered Berber ceremonial clothes in Algeria's restive region of Kabylie works toward cohabitation among religions.

"We are in the service of beauty which is a quality of God, and that is also mentioned in the Koran," said Sister Elizabeth Herkommer, who runs the project.
Missionaries like Tyler take a more radical line.

"If there is just one way to heaven, it is my responsibility to show it," he said. "If you had the cure to the AIDS virus, would you not want to take it to the people?"

(Additional reporting by Algiers and Tunis bureau; Editing by Tom Heneghan and Sara Ledwith)

© 2008 Reuters

INTERNET EVANGELISM TIPS ON MINISTERING TO PEOPLE OF ALL LANGUAGES

2009-01-03T00:52:00.000-08:00

These tips are provided by Rob McDonell
Business Manager, Global Recordings Network Australia
"Telling the story of Jesus in every language"
http://globalrecord ings.net/ au

Many such people groups will not necessarily be highly literate. (Obviously the people on the internet will be, but not the whole population.) Audio and video resources are better for such groups that written materials.

There are already materials available in thousands of such languages from several sources:
• EveryTongue. com (http://www.everyton gue.com/) is a comprehensive catalogue of Christian audio files, with the aim of "Putting a recording of every language on-line.". Ninety five percent of the world's population can hear their own language on this site. They in turn get most of their links from these other sites...
• Faith Comes By Hearing (http://www.faithcom esbyhearing. com/) offers downloads of audio Bibles in nearly 300 languages, and other audio-related ministry tools.
• Global Recordings Network (http://globalrecord ings.net/) has audio for evangelism and basic Bible teaching in over 5700 languages and dialects.
• Inspirational Films (http://www.inspirat ionalfilms. com/av/watch. html) allows you to watch or listen to the "JESUS" film in any of more than 800 languages.
• SPARK (http://www.vernacul armedia.org/) is a Scripture Promotion And Resource Knowledgebase. It can help you reach the lesser-known language groups with God's Word through the use of oral strategies.

What you'd need would be a basic site in the language that contained information and links to whichever of these other sites had materials in that language.

HERE IS AN INTERNET EVANGELISM IDEA FOR AFRICAN VILLAGES AND SMALL PEOPLE GROUPS

2009-01-03T00:37:00.000-08:00

Here is an internet evangelism idea for African villages and small people groups as posited by Chris Priebe (chris.priebe@gmail.com).

When the internet first comes to a town or a village, or when it comes
to a group that is a very unique people group or language, the
following approach may be useful.

Perhpas one of the first thing they would look for is materials in
their own language. Here we have a great possibility because when the
internet first comes to a people group there will be 0 materials in
that language. Imagine if we were the first to write materials in
their native language. Sort of like how years ago we discussed making
web portals for cities (like the one for Kamloops, BC, Canada) there
could be portals for languages as they come along. This would also
give them an entry point to other positive resources in their
secondary languages.

A tie in to this would be the missions groups that have already
invested in putting the Bible in their language, that could easily be
the first resource for every people group coming onto the web. Of
course for those that are still working on the full Bible in their
language it would be great if the translator acquired a satellite
internet and then posted the translations to a closed-wiki (I know
that is an oxymoron but thanks for the grace). The translator can
then integrate with other retired missionaries to that people group.
In addition the translator can share the satellite as an internet cafe
and expose the village to early readings of the text for Quality and
cultural assurance as well as guiding them as they come online and
providing an asset that may bridge into a ministry opportunity.

Chris

2008-12-31T00:30:00.000-08:00

TEN PRACTICAL STEPS INTO WEB AND MOBILE EVANGELISM IN NIGERIA, AFRICA & THE WORLD

2008-12-26T00:28:00.001-08:00

Today is December 26, 2008….the Boxing day. I hope you had a good day yesterday celebrating the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We should know why He came to this earth. He came to redeem us (the whole world) and take us back to GOD, who He Himself is. Jesus Christ is GOD. He decided to come to this world in form of man in order to render the great sacrifice for our sins.

Today which is the Boxing day…. I woke up thinking of the kind of box I will give to you, the readers, of this blog and I decided to post these Ten Practical Steps into Web and Mobile Evangelism posited by (my mentor in Internet Evangelism) Revered Dave Hackett, an associate Director of Vision Synergy (dhackett@visionsynergy.net) in his web presentation to an Internet Evangelism in Nigeria & Africa Seminar held November 16, 2007 at Ibadan, Nigeria

1) Browse through an extensive introduction to Web evangelism. Explore the "Online Evangelism: A Guide to Web Evangelism" at
http://guide.gospelcom.net/index.php
2) Be trained as a caring, compassionate, biblical evangelist in the Internet context. Take the free Online Training for Online Evangelists offered at http://iec.gospelcom.net/otoe/
3) Explore mobile evangelism on these two key Web pages:
"Using Cell phones for Online Evangelism" - http://guide.gospelcom.net/resources/mobile.php
Mobile Evangelism Wiki - "MobilEV" - http://snipurl.com/mobilev
4) Make a free, java-based evangelistic mobile application to share with the world - for free! Use the tools at http://gotzapp.com/
5) Attend The IEC Annual Conference - the premier North American conference on Internet Evangelism. See info at www.internetministryconference.org
6) Join an online Email group
IEC Global Forum email group:
IECGlobalForum-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Mobile Evangelism email group:
mobilev-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Global Use of Internet and Digital Evangelism: guide-network-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
7) Subscribe to the Web Evangelism Bulletin
bulletin-subscribe@web-evangelism.com
8) Read through the immense past issue library of Web Evangelism Bulletin at http://guide.gospelcom.net/resources/
bulletin.php
9) Read the Lausanne WorldPulse online magazine features on web evangelism
www.lausanneworldpulse.com/04-2006
www.lausanneworldpulse.com/worldreports/735
10) Subscribe to Christian Computing Magazine (free) at http://www.ccmag.com/

THE INTERNET LANGUAGE

2008-12-23T00:18:00.000-08:00

The Internet or Cyberspace has its own language. Here are examples of common abbreviations used on the Internet:

• c u l8tr - catch you later
• u – you
• r – are
• lol - laughing out loud
• rofl - rolling on the floor laughing
• brb - be right back
• bbl - be back later
• oic - oh I see
• ttfn - ta ta for now
• btw - by the way
• pic - a digital picture
• bc – because
• ugm - you've got mail
• wb - welcome back
• k- it’s okay
• nop- no problem
• l8er- later
• asap- as soon as possible
• ty – thank you
• GBU – God bless you
• afk – away from keyboard

INTERNET EVANGELISM BOOK in Africa and Nigeria

2008-12-06T03:31:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Good morning to you. I hope you are doing fine in the Lord,Jesus. I have been working for some times now on a book on Internet evangelism in Africa and Nigeria.

The book will be out by the grace of God this December.

I hope it help the body of Christ in Nigeria and Africa on how to go about effective Internet Evangelism in Nigeria and Africa.

I will get you posted on how you can get this book in your area or city in Nigeria and other Africa countries.

God bless.

Senetor Ayo Arise presented the Cyber crime law for the second reading at the floor of the Nigeria National Assembly

2008-11-04T00:36:00.000-08:00

Last week I was listening to Senetor Ayo Arise presenting his bill on Cyber Crime Law for the second reading at floor of Hallowed chamber of the National Assembly of Nigeria. I could see serious in the voices and faces of the various senetors that contributed that day. They all agreed that Nigeria must do something drastic to curb the menace of this criminals on the Internet and others using electronic devices.

Laws when put in place and properly implemented will go a long way.

I want us to go a step higher by involving parents, guidance, and religious leaders in the fight. Most of the yahoo-yahoo guys carrry religious names. They should be taught how to use this technology positively.

At the Internet Christian Center,www.icc.cfsites.org, we train and eduate youths how to use the Internet, computer and other electronic devices positively

CHECKING CYBER CRIME IN NIGERIA

2008-10-27T04:30:00.000-07:00

The Last Time Here

The last time here, I did promise that I will give you full information on how to cheaply get connected to the Internet just with the aid of your GSM and computer system. However, I have not been able to see someone to rightly convince me out there and I don’t want to tell you of a system I have not personally tried and confirmed that it is working. Anyway, as the development is going on, I will keep you posted.

CYBERCRIME IN NIGERIA & AFRICA

The other day, some weeks back, I read on the front page of one of the Nigeria dailies, of how an Australian was duped in an ‘internetly’ arranged marriage. This is totally an anomaly, a crime and sinful act to The Most High GOD. This is the reason, this center (Internet Christian Center) has been in the vanguard of the campaign against fraud and other abnormalities perform via the Internet, not only in Nigeria and Africa but also in the all part of the world.

For the umpteenth time, I want reiterate that all Nigeria Internet users are not fraudsters, there are numerous Nigerians doing genuine business and communication transaction on the Internet. However, I agreed there are few ones damaging the image of the country and if they refuse to change for good, the mighty hands of GOD will arrest them.

For your reading pleasure, please, find below the editorial comment of the Guardian Newspaper dated Tuesday, October 7, 2008.

Three cases of what may rightly be construed as cyber crime in the country has thrown up a critical aspect of the revolution in information and communication Technology (ICT) in the global arena, and particularly in Nigeria. First, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a news wire service owned by the Federal Government reviewed its news dissemination procedure in response to an embarrassing and false information that purportedly emanated from it, and which subsequently led to the closure of Channels TV by the authorities.

Second, The Punch newspaper recently had cause to issue a notice of disclaimer to its online readers, following the invasion of its website by some faceless persons who posted authorized editorial material there. Next, there were fears that hackers might have invaded the computer system of a leading telecom service provider. Indeed, the Police reportedly picked up three persons for allegedly stealing the password of a mobile phone service provider and defrauding it of airtime worth about N10.5 million. These are serious and alarming developments.

There can be no denying the fact that the quantum leap in ICT has directly triggered the corresponding changes, and largely for the better, in virtually all aspects of life. Our country and its people are beneficiaries with the effect that there is not a thing done hitherto that is not, and cannot, for good or ill, be done better and/or faster with the aid of technology. The effect can be seen in virtually every aspect of life, most especially communications, research and electronic and financial transactions. The consequence is that society changes, it may be said without exaggeration, by the minutes. But there are challenges as well, for which Nigeria appears relatively unprepared.

The flip side of the hugely beneficial ICT revolution is the rise of cyber crime. The widely known advance fee fraud known here as ‘419’, is largely perpetrated through the Internet. In institutions of higher learning, there are regular references to students who are known as ‘the yahoo boys’, a euphemism for cyber criminals: in corporate Nigeria, there are also regular reports of electronic crimes; the entire country is full of cyber cafés with no adequate e-policing infrastructure. The damage to the country’s image and to institutions is imaginable.

Cyber crime, simply defined, is any illegal act committed within a computer network or facilitated by the use of a computer or electronic system. it is committed essentially by ‘hacking’ i.e. gaining unauthorized access to a computer system and it comes in many forms that ranges from password sniffing, hacking, web cramming, spoofing, which the local GSM company apparently suffered, credit card fraud, identity theft, data kidnapping, through industrial espionage, software piracy that is common in developing countries, to cyber fraud that involves stocks manipulation or fraudulent business deals, computer sabotage and even cyber-terrorism.

Cyber crime is progressively as sophisticated as modern technology gets. Given its capacity to massively disrupt social, economic and even political order and stability- as exemplified by the recent hoax of a planned resignation by the president of Nigeria- there already exists, for good and understandable reason, an International Convention on Cyber crime agreed to by a number of countries.

Perhaps because Nigeria’s use of ICT is in infancy, it would appear we have, in this part of the world embraced the ICT with inadequate, if any at all, safety measures to monitor and police the system and its processes. Attempts to design a legal framework for cyber crime in the last eight years have yielded little result. But this we must put in place if the use of information and communication technology is not to endanger personal, corporate and social well-being, and ultimately turn into a nightmare. It is still so easy in these parts to infiltrate systems, tamper with equipment and clone devices.

Given the exponential rate at which ICT and its use spread, coupled with the amazing capabilities of our youths to manipulate related devices, our nation cannot be over-prepared on the management of cyber space. Cyber criminals are increasingly active in Nigeria especially with regards to money and social matters.

In 2004, the Federal Government had set up the Nigeria Cyber Working Group (NCWG), an inter-agency body made up of the National Information Technology Development Agency, law enforcement and intelligence agencies, ICT-related professional associations, the private sector and others. The body was mandated to educate the public about cyber crime, liaise with the National Assembly for the formulation of a Cyber Crime Act, provide technical assistance and build consensus on identified challenges, and network with similar groups in other parts of the world. But what has become of this well-intentioned agency?

Now is the time, more than ever to re-invigorated that body, and ensure that it is strengthened with the necessary men and means to monitor, police, and propose legal measures to check crimes committed by electronic means. Because the current laws do not seem to address the problem of cyber crime directly and decisively, (even the EFFC Acts 2004 is not specific, except, perhaps, in relations to Section 15 on terrorism) Senator Ayo Arise has now presented a bill to the Senate for law that is specifically targeted at this new type of offence. This is useful.

The activities of cyber criminals are a threat to all honest users of electronic means of communication and data transfer. We suggest a broad based collaboration between business, government, and profesional bodies and with technical assistance from international stakeholders to strategize on the way to successively check this type of crime. Two, the EFCC, and the Special Anti-Fraud Unit of the Police Force would require more than physical means to combat cyber crime. They will need appropriate electronic devices manned by trained personnel to counter it. Indeed, this should be addressed in the proposed law.

It is difficult to see any obstacle to the passage of Senator Arise bill. When it becomes law, culprits must be tried without delay and, if found guilty, they should be swiftly visited with condign punishment. To this end, the law should prescribe a time limit for trial.

In the meantime, public enlightenment will also be necessary. Given the somewhat open-minded nature of access to the information superhighway, persons and organizations would have to be more careful, and refrain from using ICT in an unsecured manner. A simple precaution is the need to be careful with the password to systems. What, for example would become of examination results issued by national and international bodies but tampered with and in turn found untrustworthy? Or even financial data turn out to be false having been altered to achieve sinister ends? Or, imagine an agent of a hostile power hacking into the computer system of the Presidency to gather otherwise restricted correspondence?

‘The Guardian editorial’ seriously enumerated how and why we must fight this specially committed crimes. Yes, law will go a long way; more also, EFCC and other related bodies have been trying their best to combat the perpetrators of cyber crimes.

However, it is our solid belief at the Internet Christian Center, Akobo, Ibadan, Nigeria, that, there is need for religious bodies to be involved in this fight against cyber crimes.

What do you think? Should religious organizations and leaders be left out of the fight against cyber crime? I will like to have your comment…………… Thanks, God bless!

CHEAPER INTERNET TARRIF AIDING INTERNET EVANGELISM in NIGERIA

2008-07-04T04:52:00.000-07:00

Getting connected to then internet has been the bane and challege fac by Internet evangelists and pastors in Africa and Nigeria in particular.

Most of the internet evangelists and pastors I had come in contact with (both online and face-to-face) make use of the public Cyber Cafes. They pay about say #100-#120 (approxiamately $1) per hour. Since this ammount is avergely expensive in Nigeria, most of the pastors and evangelists spent lesser hour than they intend to use to spread the gospel online. Also, most of the cyber cafes are not well equipped for effective Internet evangelism. This is one of the reason i always say in any internet evangleism seminar that internet evangelist should strive to have thier personal internet connection for effectiveness.

The good news is that with a GSM SIM card, a Nokia phone and a PC (prefferably a Laptop) one can begin to enjoy an un-interrrupted internet connection. From the information at my disposal, it is vey CHEAP, I mean very very CHEAP.

I am still trying to see how it works. Trust me, I will get you posted here on this blog.

sEE YOU NEXT WEEK, please, do have a wonderful WEEKEND.

SORRY! IT'S A LONG TIME HERE

2008-07-04T04:45:00.000-07:00

To readers of this blog, I am highly sorry that it is a long time I had 'blogged" here. The simple reason is that my personal Laptop is faulty and all efforts to bring it back to life had proved abortive. I am praying to God for money to buy another one.

Believe you me, I am writing this piece from a public Internet Cafe, here, in Akobo, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Internet Evangelism Day

2008-04-09T00:38:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

As I had posted here before, April 27,2008 is the day to mark INTERNET EVANGELISM worldwide.

I am encouranging all Christian/Church leaders in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, to use the month of April to create awareness about the Internet Evangelism.

Many Church leaders and Christian did not know that Internet can be used for for Evangelism. This is one of the reasons many Christian youths are involved in Internet fraud.

There's a great need to increase the awareness in Africa.

thanks and warmest regards!

FEAR GOD AND MAKE NO JOKE ABOUT HIM

2008-03-14T02:20:00.000-07:00

Many are fond of making jokes even when it’s not necessary. Some do make joke out of elders and some go to extend of cracking jokes about sacred things.

I have even heard some preachers cracking jokes on the altar.

I advice that under any circumstance (positive and negative), you are not allowed to joke about GOD or say anything negative about HIM.

'Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Here are some men and women who mocked God.
- Bible (Galatians 6:7):
Please, read on to see examples of people that have joke or say something negative about the Most High, GOD.

John Lennon (Singer): Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said: 'Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him' (1966). Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.

Tancredo Neves (President of Brazil): During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency. Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died

Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet): During A show in Canecio (Rio de Janeiro), while smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said: 'God, that's for you.' He died at the age of 32 of AIDS in a horrible manner.

The man who built the Titanic: After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone he said: 'Not even God can sink it' The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic.

Marilyn Monroe (Actress): She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show. He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her. After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said: 'I don't need your Jesus'. A week later, she was found dead in her apartment.

Bon Scott (Singer) The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang:
'Don't stop me, I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell'. On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead; he had been choked by his own vomit.

Campinas (IN 2005) In Campinas, Brazil: a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend... The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter holding her hand, who was already seated in the car: 'My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You..' She responded: 'Only If He (God) Travels In The Trunk, Cause Inside Here.....It's Already Full ' Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died, the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact. The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken .

Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer) said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written. In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle.

Youth Empowerment Seminar

2008-03-14T01:57:00.000-07:00

Good morning to you.

Craft Unlimited will be holding a seminar tommorow, March 15,2008 on Youth Empowerment.

I (SMB O'Johnson)will be one of the speakers and I will be speaking on various ways youths can make positive use of the Internet to improve their lives and impact their generation positively.

The venue of the seminar is Cinema de Baba Sala, Agboowo,UI,Ibadan, Nigeria and the time is 10:00am.

For enquiry the organiser can be reached on +234 08054930903

BIRTHDAY, INTERNET EVANGELISM PLUS SENIOR PASTORS

2008-03-08T00:45:00.000-08:00

Today, March 08, 2008 marks my birthday. I give GOD all the glory and thanks for keeping me alive till today. Counting His blessings in my I can see GOD has a special love towards my wife, family, my folks and me. Hallelujah to His holy name.

I want to also seize this opportunity to say Happy Birthday to everyone born on the 8th day of March.

By the way let me reiterate it here that more people are using the net. I want you to consider the result of a survey below:

A comprehensive survey in 12 countries of more than 7,600 young people ages 16-29 shows that 77% of today's online youth would sooner live without television than live without the Internet. China has the most devoted young Internet users, with 87% choosing the Internet compared to 13% favoring television. In the United States the figures were 77% for the Internet and 23% for TV. The survey was conducted by New Paradigm, a Toronto-based think-tank headed by Don Tapscott. The survey is part of a $4 million study of today's digital-savvy youth - whom Tapscott calls the "Net Generation (N-Geners)" - who have grown up "bathed in bits."
Other survey findings included:
· When asked to choose whether they want to be smarter or better looking, 69% of the world's N-Geners choose being smarter
· 56% of the world's online youth would prefer to make the world a better place than to improve their local community
Commenting on why so many N-Geners choose the Internet over TV, Tapscott said that "television is unidirectional and passive, and doesn't allow meaningful participation by the viewer. In contrast, the Internet enables users to find and share information and take action."

Eight Things Every Senior Pastor Needs to Know About E-Ministry/Internet Evangelism

By Terrell Sanders

1. Your target audience for church growth is Internet-savvy

Most church growth comes from what we call the 18-to-18 range – people from 18 years old to families with 18-year-old children. This also happens to be the group with the highest Internet usage. According to research by the US government, teenagers and families with children at home are the biggest Internet users of any demographic group. Using the Internet to communicate with families and young adults is a natural.

2. Your Web site will be your “first impression” for many people

Most people under 40 grew up with technology and they automatically go to the Internet for information. We have found that many families relocating to a new city will research both where to live and where to worship over the Internet. They will often make their “first cut” shopping list before they ever come to town.

3. If you’re not on the Web, you don’t exist to many people

As a corollary to the previous item, people who use the Internet as their primary research tool will not know you exist if you don’t have a Web site.

A 20- or 30-something person is much more likely to use the Internet to find church service times than to look in the yellow pages or newspaper. Our informal surveys have shown that many young college graduates don’t even have yellow pages in their homes. My teenage daughter didn’t know theaters listed movie times in the newspaper – she gets them off the Web!

4. Seekers will visit your Web site before attending your services

The Internet provides a perfect tool for people wanting information anonymously. Seekers who are not ready to “come to the building” will visit your Web site to see what you believe and why. Savvy organizations are using the Web to educate visitors and encourage them to take the next step. Online sermons and photos of services and events go a long way toward making a seeker feel secure enough to make a first time visit.

5. A whole generation exists that will seek “religion” online

In his book “Boiling Point”, George Barna projects that 10 percent to 20 percent of the population will rely on the Internet for all of their spiritual input and output by 2010. Whether you like it or not, the prediction seems to be right on track. When these people go to the Internet with spiritual questions, who will be providing the answers? What will they be taught?

6. The Web site is too critical to be run by a volunteer

I can tell you stories of churches from New York to California who were disappointed or burned by volunteers who built their Web sites. What happens if your volunteer Webmaster gets transferred out of state or leaves the church angry?

How do you gracefully fire a volunteer when the church’s need exceed his or her abilities?

Church leaders frequently ask me to help them justify why they should pay large amounts of money to develop a professional site when they have a volunteer who will do it for free. I ask them if they use free volunteers to install and maintain their roof and plumbing. In three years, no large church has ever admitted it used volunteers for their roof or plumbing – it’s just too critical to depend on volunteer help.

7. You can’t afford a cheap site
With a high percentage of your potential visitors viewing your Web site before they visit your congregation, you can’t afford a poor quality site. All the time and money you have spent building your congregation’s resources and reputation are worthless if people won’t visit the first time. Visitors are judging the values and programs of your church from your Web site. Are your key programs properly represented? Can a Web visitor see how active your youth group is from your site?

8. People are viewing your current Web site right now

I can almost guarantee you that people are viewing your current site every month. People moving into your city are researching churches before they move. People interested in changing congregations are viewing your site. Seekers who have been made aware of your church are looking for more information on your site. You may not be providing the information, but people are looking for it.

Start asking your visitors how they found out about your church. You’ll be surprised how many young families found you on the Internet. Good or bad, your Web site is generating impressions every week. The big question is – are you satisfied with the impression they are getting?

Terrell Sanders is president of Main Street Enterprises.
Mainstreet Enterprises
P.O. Box 2921
Edmond, OK 73083
888-765-MAIN or 405-330-0800
info@MainStreetNet.com

New Website Reaches Out to Lift People in Prayer

2008-03-06T03:15:00.000-08:00

OurPrayer.org Fills A Growing Need for Online Prayer and Community

Local Volunteer (Apostle SMB Johnson) Wants To Share Exciting News.

Pawling, New York, February 2008 … The Outreach Division of Guideposts, with over 50 years experience interactively answering tens of thousands prayer requests weekly, is dynamically restructuring the online component of its prayer ministry by launching OurPrayer.org, the largest and most unique site of its kind. Combining the attractiveness of a Niche Social Network with the benefits of high-quality, highly relevant content, plus proprietary functionality for direct prayer, prayer response, real time prayer and personalization, OurPrayer.org will be the premiere destination for online prayer and prayer community.

Lots of people have a favorite place to pray. For some it may be a quiet room, or outdoors someplace beautiful and secluded, or maybe even in the car. Increasingly, though, people pray online. Reverend Doctor Peola Hicks, Prayer Department Manager, sees great potential for OurPrayer.org. “The internet hasn’t really changed what people do, just how we do it. It’s truly transformed the ability to reach out and connect with others around the world,” she said. “It is our desire to inspire and unite the people visiting OurPrayer.org, and help them to enrich their prayer life.”

The most innovative and unique features of the new site put OurPrayer.org on a par with many of today’s most popular online destinations. Using state-of-the-art social networking technology, there are simple, user-friendly tools to provide interactive functionality for individual interests and group activities. Among the popular features incorporated for social networking are: Chat with video, IM with video, designing and setting up a Personal Prayer Space page, Group prayer, Photo sharing and Prayer Journals. OurPrayer.org will also provide users with exclusive site content, downloadable content, more audio and video, devotionals, prayers, prayer tips, inspiring articles, a daily email and weekly e-newsletters for members and more.

OurPrayer.org will also be the hub for special prayer activities, such as our annual Good Friday Day of Prayer on March 21, 2008 and our Thanksgiving Day of Prayer events in the fall.

A key element of OurPrayer.org will be maintaining and enhancing the ability to take prayer requests with the unique commitment to pray by name and need for each individual request received. Anyone with a prayer request can go to www.OurPrayer.org
Everyone submitting prayer requests to the OurPrayer.org site will have a variety of options including: requests can be private (only OurPrayer trained volunteers will see and pray for it) or public (requests will go to the main prayer page for the general public to see and pray for). Members will also have the ability to send prayer requests to friends and/or groups so they can pray for them, as well, and users requesting a personal prayer response will receive a personalized prayer sent directly back to them. One of OurPrayer’s special features, real time prayer, provides the ability to have a one-on-one real time prayer session with one of our volunteers.

Free to join and easy to use www.OurPrayer.org will be the place to meet others with similar interests and unite in prayer. Part of the Ruth Stafford Peale Prayer Power Network, OurPrayer.org is seeking hundreds of volunteers to help handle the increased number of prayer requests that come in through the site. Anyone wishing to become a prayer volunteer can find out more by visiting www.OurPrayer.org or calling 1-800-935-0158 ext. 4347.

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About Guideposts
Guideposts, a non-profit organization headquartered in Carmel, New York, was co-founded in 1945 by the husband and wife team of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and Ruth Stafford Peale. Dr. Peale’s landmark book, “The Power of Positive Thinking” is an all-time bestseller that has motivated and inspired millions around the world. Guideposts is a trusted and forward-looking force for positive change, helping others by providing life-changing information, products, and services for all in need. Guideposts is America’s pre-eminent publisher of inspirational books and magazines with annual book sales of over 6 million copies and a combined paid magazine circulation of over 4.3 million. The flagship publication is Guideposts magazine, one of America’s top 15 largest monthly magazines with a circulation of 2.4 million and a readership of nearly 8 million. Guideposts Outreach initiatives touch people around the world, meeting the needs of so many with the ability to make a difference in individual’s lives during difficult times.

Commissioned to the Internet

2008-02-20T03:25:00.000-08:00

The Great Commission challenges us to serve the Lord Jesus in a new "reality," the cyberspace. Also this new computer-based reality belongs to the Lord of all the Universe.

The web provides new, effective, and strongly personal tools for evangelism through e-mail, news groups, web pages, Internet Relay Chat (IRC) etc. Often you will find people surprisingly open to discuss religious issues and share their own questions and problems about life and faith.

Start by building a team for prayer and support. Try to find people with various interests and skills, and make them partners in the project. A strong foundation of prayer support and people willing to do "follow- up" work to counsel people is a must. If at all possible, try to establish face-to-face follow up in the real world!

Carefully define and monitor your target group and repeatedly consider new ways to communicate with the people you are working to reach with the gospel. Keep in mind that you often cannot "control" who your audience is, for example the readers of a web page. Always try to be culturally sensitive to people from a different cultural and/or religious background than yourself.

The Internet is all about relationship and interaction. Concentrate on finding virtual places to build fellowship and community; invite to e-mail conferences, chat groups, etc.

The Net is strongly personal and, in a strange way, very emotional. Therefore, use your head and communicate to the heart! Remember, you are always a part of the message you communicate.

Aim at an open, nonjudgmental dialog, not confrontation. Always encourage people to ask questions and even disagree. Then you may prevent misunderstandings about what a Christian life is all about and also give yourself additional opportunities to communicate the love of Christ to a very unique person.

As an Internet evangelist, you are commissioned to communicate Christ not only by word but by representing (even sometimes, virtually embody) Christ for other "Netizens."

Be honestly and genuinely interested in the other persons life, ideas, experiences, and opinions. Help them understand that you care about his or her life. The Internet has an exciting history of giving and sharing tools and knowledge. Continue this tradition by a humble, friendly approach.

Internet Evangelism Is ...
• challenging us to find new friends. Joining news groups or e-mail conferences discussing topics of interest is one option. Or, use our hobbies and personal interest to start our own group?

• challenging our creativity to find new ways to communicate the gospel using various tools with a lot of humor and imagination.

• challenging us to be personal, sharing our life and our history with the Lord Jesus Christ with other people

• challenging us to have the same attitude as Jesus Christ (Philippians 2, 5-11) This may be particularly hard in the tempting anonymity of the Net where gender swapping, immorality and all kinds of temptations are flourishing.

Copyright, Arne Fjeldstad. This article is used with permission.

Arne Fjeldstad is president of Gegrapha, which calls all journalists who are Christians—Protestants, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox—at all stages of their career, to pursue integrity and excellence in their workplace, neighborhood, family, and faith community. Arne has been a newspaper journalist and editor for more than 20 years as well as a part-time professor teaching journalism and communications.

Technology is the root of all evil: is it?

2008-02-12T04:45:00.000-08:00

Philip Emeagwali: Technology has brought disasters as well as benefits. Africa has been particularly unlucky.

According to history books, gun-wielding European slave traders kidnapped one in five Africans and transported them across the oceans to the Americas. A less visible, but no means less drastic technological tool of suppression, is the compass, a device used worldwide for navigation. In the same way that Britain used its maritime knowledge and the US harnessed its intellectual capital to rule the world, the early slave traders used the simple compass to wreak havoc on civilization. It is a sad fact that the innocuous navigation tool originated during and was fuelled by the Atlantic slave trade.

The technological development of the innocent compass, invented in China for religious divination 2,000 years ago, allowed Africa to be ravaged in unspeakable ways. It was the compass that created the Atlantic slave trade, enabling the early colonial navigators - and their blood merchants - to chart an accurate course from Gorée Island, off the coast of Senegal, to Brazil; paving the way for the trans-Atlantic slave trade, which began on August 8, 1444. This trade in human merchandise covered four continents and lasted four centuries, and serves as a shameful beacon for the depravity of human greed and conquest. The compass became the de facto weapon of mass destruction, which led to the de-capitalization and decapitation of Africa. It created the African Diaspora with one in five people taken out of the motherland. It was the largest and most brutal displacement of human beings in human history.

Today, it is hard to imagine that such destruction and the wholesale abduction of a race could result from a tool as common as the compass. Yet, as a people who survived the slave trade, we must draw our strength from lessons learned from the past and draw our energy from the power of the future. And the power of the future lies in "controlling" technology and harnessing it for the benefit of mankind, not for his destruction. The people of Africa must take note that the Internet is our modern-day compass, and within it resides our own clay of wisdom.

As we prepare for our great journey into the cyberspace of the future, with its technological promise - its clay of wisdom - we must understand the strategic value and potential of this all-important tool. Our image of the future inspires the present and the present serves to create the future. Africa’s lack of substantial technological knowledge of the Internet and its potential may lead it to be assaulted or manipulated in unexpected ways, just as it was devastated generations ago for the lack of a simple compass. We didn’t recognize the power of the compass then; the danger is that we don’t recognize the power of technology today. While Africa merely contemplates the future, the West, the quickest off the mark to wield technology’s weapons, actually makes the future.

This fact, and how the power of technology can be wielded against the poor, was brought home to me clearly when I received the following email recently: "About a year ago, I hired a developer in Africa to do my job. I am paying him $12,000 a year to do my job, for which I am paid $67,000 a year," the sender wrote. "He’s happy to have the work and I’m happy that I have to work only 90 minutes a day. Now I’m considering getting a second job and doing the same thing."

Technology in the hands of others has been used to exploit Africa for centuries. But now it's time for Africa to grasp technology and finally embrace the modern age’s clay of wisdom and advancement. Africa has the chance to show the world how technology can be used for good, not evil. And the people of Africa can use today’s technology, not to mimic their own exploitation, but to right the wrongs of the past and empower themselves with the same tool that has been used to oppress them in the past.

Africa can provide a shining example for the world in using technology for its own upliftment and the benefit of mankind.

Nigerian-born Philip Emeagwali won the 1989 Gordon Bell Prize, the Nobel Prize of supercomputing. He has been extolled as "one of the great minds of the Information Age" by former US president Bill Clinton.

WILL APOSTLE PAUL USE THE INTERNET?

2008-01-29T00:51:00.000-08:00

Beloved. Welcome! My name is SMB Ogunbowale O’Johnson. I have been an Internet strategist for approximately seven years; I have been involved in web developments, Internet communication strategies, and Internet marketing techniques in the business world and more importantly in Christian Ministries. The more I learn about the Internet, the more I discovered that Internet could be used excellently for GOD.

The Historic Opportunity

Some would say that we should abandon the Internet because it is used for evil purposes. But I'd like to suggest to you that we really couldn’t do that. I believe the Internet presents the church with a historic opportunity.

The First Century Church

The first-century church often used a particular strategy to spread the gospel. And that strategy took advantage of the circumstances and technology of the day.
The Roman Empire had built a series of roads to enable them to quickly deploy their armies throughout the empire. Koiné Greek had become the common language throughout the empire. And the widespread use of writing had become the cutting-edge technology of the day. The (then) church's strategy was to use all those things to spread the gospel.

While the Roman Empire built their road system to allow their armies to move quickly, Christian missionaries took advantage of that road system to spread the gospel. They would travel the roads from city to city, and when they reached a city, they would very often go to the "agora," the marketplace — the location in each city where the majority of the residents, as well as the community's most influential thinkers, gathered on a regular basis to obtain information and for social interaction. And it was there, in the midst of the "agora," that Christian missionaries would declare the gospel.

And then the apostles employed written communication in the form of letters or epistles to encourage and teach existing believers. And these letters were delivered to churches via the Roman system of roads.

Today's Opportunity

Today, the church is faced with a similar historic opportunity.
The cutting-edge technology of the day, the Internet, provides us with the means of communication to reach the entire world.

The Internet (consisting primarily of the World Wide Web (websites), emails, newsgroups, forum, blogs, Digitracts, Chat Room (instant messaging), etc) is the new "agora," the "place" where an increasing number of people, and certainly where some of the world's most influential people, gather.

The Internet can also be described as a place where people come to search for information, make enquiry, do their thinking, make contribution and take their decisions- including spiritual/religious decisions.

The usage of the Internet in Nigeria is cutting across every areas/spheres of life, be it education, religion, military, politics, governance, employment, research and what have you. Not only the youths are using the Internet, its usability cuts across all age groups, social status etc

This is just the beginning of a wrenching change that is racing throughout the world. The term used to describe this change is radical discontinuity - change so fast that we have no explanation for it. If you think that all of this comes out of Silicon Valley, you're on the wrong track. This is not about human inventions or creative schemes. These developments are about something much bigger and far more dramatic. In fact these events are not about technology at all - they are about the Great Commission. Change (this big) is being orchestrated by God, not by man.
God is doing something big, and we had best be clearheaded about what is going on around us. The church is in the information business, and we should not be surprised that God has raised up information technology to communicate His Word to the entire world. Christians again must travel the network, only this time it is electronic. This time it is the information superhighway.

From a Silicon Valley perspective, we think we're changing history with our technology, but nothing could be further from the truth. From a Christian perspective, God is doing something historic, and we need to pay serious attention to the tools He is giving us. There is no doubt he intends for us to use them to spread His Word.

Today, the church has been given the opportunity to travel the world via the Internet and declare the gospel in the midst of today's marketplace. The Internet is therefore a core component of what the church's strategy should be to reach the world with the gospel.

Internet Evangelism Day

2008-01-16T04:08:00.000-08:00

I will like readers of this blog ministry to know that the last Sundays of April of every year have been proclaimed INTERNET EVANGELISM DAY worldwide by the Internet Evangelism Coalition.

The next Internet Evangelism Day will be coming up APRIL 27.

I imploy all church leaders especially in Nigeria to organize events to mark this day.

I will be posting updates on how you can mark this day.

Cheers!

Happy New Year

2008-01-15T01:33:00.000-08:00

l will like to seize this time to say Happy New Year to all of you. This year is going a Blessed one for all of us in Jesus' Name.

Keep in touch with this blog there are lots of things in stock for us.

YEAR 2007 REVIEW

2007-12-13T02:47:00.000-08:00

We decided to review the year 2007. We will start by giving praises and sincere thanks to GOD The Most High, who inspired and commissioned us to start this not-for-profit organization.

During the year under review among other things we were able to

Actively participate in chat rooms and forums telling others about the love of God. We make use of every opportunity to discourage web users especially the youths from using the net for negativities like pornography, frauds, etc.

We were able to create and manage three (3) blogs to spread the gospel
1. www.smb.lifewithchrist.org
2. www.apostle-smb.blogspot.com
3. www.smb1.blogspot.com

We fervently pray for at least 30 people a week online. These are people from different continents of the world that sent in their prayer requests.

We were able to train individuals and group of individuals on how to use the Internet and using it positively.

We were actively involved in the recently conducted Internet Outreach Seminar by the Internet Outreach Coalition For Africa on November 16, 2007 at Grace Hall off Ring Road, Ibadan, Nigeria. At the seminar we were able to teach, train, and equip attendees on how to effectively use some e-tools (email, chat rooms, blogs, websites, email marketing and e-newsletters) to spread the good news and unleash their potentials.

We also train and equip some Christian Ministries on how to excellently use email marketing communication strategy and e-newsletter

With the grace of GOD The Most High we did all these. Most of the training and other services were freely offered.

We were able to finance our programs by the grace of God and goodwill of people that He touched to donate to this great cause.

We believe GOD will complete and perfect all what He has started in and through us even unto the day of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Warmest regards!

VISION 2020: “The Great Commission is Going Digital; Are You Ready For The Digital Revolution?” :

2007-12-12T02:25:00.000-08:00

he use of the Internet has taken over every aspect of life –governance, military, sciences, researches, religion, security, administration, marketing, advertisements etc. Christians had begun to share their faith with others in cyberspace; Internet evangelism and cybermissions were born. I, please, permit me to jump ahead to 2020 and consider what Internet evangelism and cybermissions might look like in thirteen years.

DO YOU WANT TO BE TRAINED AND EQUIPPED FOR INTERNET CHRISTIAN MINISTRY? INTERNET CHRISTIAN CENTER IS THE BEST PLACE FOR YOU, YOU ARE WELCOME!!!!!!!!

The Internet is rapidly moving from the personal computer to the cell phone and it is predicted that the number of Internet users will go from the current 1.14 billion to over three billion by 2010, mainly due to this growth of Internet-capable hand-held devices (e.g. cell phones, PDAs and the Blackberry). Indeed, Microsoft has just announced Phone+, an initiative to bring television (as well as everything else) to your cell phone. Hand-held devices will soon have really useful screen sizes.

The May 2007 Popular Science magazine showcases a five-inch Polymer Vision flexible screen that “rolls-up” inside the unit. By 2010, this flexible screen will be larger, in color and capable of handling web browsing and video. Of course your hand-held device will also dock with your wide-screen digital television, your laptop or any other viewing platform. The included video camera will be augmented by higher processing power and bandwidth to enable quality video conferencing from your lounge room. Sophisticated, computer-generated personalities known as “avatars” will be capable of sharing the gospel with hundreds of people at once. So we see that highly sophisticated content will be downloadable to three billion personal handheld devices by 2010.

The personal communication device will be how people interact with friends, family and colleagues and likely the first place they turn to find information about the gospel. It will likely be the main way people accept information into their lives and therefore the main way we will have to communicate the gospel. The hand-held device will allow streaming video (or text or audio) of gospel presentations. Enquirers will be able to contact the mission agency via the Internet, or by SMS (text), email, fax, VOIP (voice over internet protocol, e.g. Vonage or Skype) or by normal mobile or landline voice call.

Progress in information technology is exponential.

My friends, Missions via the Internet Has Already Begun

INTERNET: Using It For Evangelism

2007-11-19T01:24:00.000-08:00

During the Internet Outreach seminar that was held November 16, 2007, attendees and participants all agreed that the Internet must be used to change our world positively.
During the seminar various speakers gave reasons why Christians must embrace the Internet to spread the gospel. Internet tools like Chat room; email, websites and blogs were used to show how one could use the Internet to spread the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Highlights of the seminar include a presentation from Rev’d Dave Hackett of http://www.visionsynergy.net/ and Internet Evangelism Coalition

I will be posting more details of events and activities that occurred during the seminar on this blog.

Are you an attendee/participant at the seminar? You are free to share your comments.

Do you want to be part of the next seminar?

I am young....... and so what?

2007-11-08T01:37:00.000-08:00

Life is in Phases. There is a phase when you are young, there is a phase when you are middle aged. There is a phase when you are old. There comes the phase when you are very old. No one can really help not going through these phases, except the one who die. But you can determine, in partnership with God, what you do with each phase of your life.

When you were young, you were able to do as you liked and go wherever you wanted to; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and others will direct you and take you where (John 21:18 TLB)

Now that you are young, you can decide how you will live your live. Young people should be ready to live their lives positively.

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.
Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity. (Eccl 11:9-10 NKJ)

On the Internet many young people are involved in lots of anomalies like pornography, lesbianism, homosexuality, same sex marriage, frauds and others. Young fellows should try to make use of the net to impact their generation positively.

There are lots of positive things youths can do online. What do you think?

Do you know some positive stuffs young girls and boys can be involved in? Do have any word of wisdom for the youth? I will like to have your comments and contributions.

Thanks.
Be blessed.

CHRISTIAN WOMEN SPREADING THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD

2007-11-02T02:12:00.000-07:00

The women skilled in sewing and spinning prepared blue, purple, and scarlet thread and cloth, and fine-twined linen, and brought them in. Some other women gladly used their special skill to spin the goats' hair into cloth.
(Exodus 35:25-26TLB)

Many Christian women are professional in their chosen fields. Some are medical experts, engineers, business moguls, prolific bankers, seasoned accountants, editors, computer analysts/programmers, broadcasters, sound administrators etc just like the Israel women as stated in Exodus 35:25-26.

They are very skillful and they use these skills for the progress of GOD’s kingdom. Christian women who are experts and professionals need to use their skills and expertise to spread the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

I quite agreed with you that this category of women is the busy type. Despite their tight schedule they can still be very useful for the kingdom. Internet provides them the opportunity to use their skills and professionalism to tell others especially their gender about Christ-the reason for their success. Through your black berry, PCs, notepads and laptops at home, in offices, even on the run in the plane, in your car, on a holiday in London, Dubai, or South Africa you can still fulfill the great commission handed over to us by the Lord, Jesus, Himself.

For emphasis sake, Internet is not only a place to consume, it’s a place to contribute to life and do some thinking. There are billions of women on the Internet every day. Research has shown that the number of women making use of the Internet is far greater than that of men. These women will only consume any kind of information that is available whenever they are surfing the net. Therefore it is very imperative for Christian women to embrace the Internet to spread the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ. There are several millions of pages of information on the Internet and more are going online even at this point in time. Many people especially young women come to the net to seek for information to make some decisions including religious decision. It’s the duty of Christian women to populate the Internet with the right kind of information that these Internet surfers need in order to make the right kind of decisions.

You don’t need to be a technology expert to spread the gospel on the net. With little or no IT skills you can begin doing this. There are several ways or strategies to spread the gospel online. These Internet methods or strategies include: website, blogs, email, chat room, wiki wiki, RSS, Internet radio, Webcast/podcast, Digitracts and others.

Many women are familiar with e-tools like website, blogs, email communication and chat rooms. This column has been commissioned to give you more information and also to educate you further on how you can best use these e-tools and others effectively to propagate and spread the gospel of Lord, Jesus Christ on the Internet.

If you are a Christian woman and you are thinking of ways of doing Internet evangelism or simply telling others especially women about Jesus, this column is for you.

All Christian women must join hands to put a stop to all the atrocities and anomalies (lesbianism, pornography, ‘yahoo-yahoo’ business, same sex marriage etc) being spread on the Internet.

Christian women must be educated and trained in the proper ways of going about this. GOD has called everyone including women to spread the good-news even to the end of the world and Internet provides us the opportunity to reach any where in the world without being there physically. Jesus Christ said we are fishers of men so let’s use the Internet as our own net. One of the most important advantages of the Internet is that messages on the Internet will continue to speak even while we are at sleep.

"Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle."(Psalm 144:1)

SMB O’Johnson
(+234) 08055076378, 02-8712251

Real Church Website Design Tips

2007-11-01T01:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday,I was in Lagos, I promised to post the remaining Church Website Design Tips. I am back at Ibadan. I hope you had a good night sleep.

Please,here are the tips:

13. Add Scripture to your home page.

Between the beginning of 2007 and the date of this writing (mid June
2007), I’ve added 100 churches to The International Directory of Church Website Design, of which I am the editor. These represent some of the best of church website design today. Only nine of the 100 newly added home pages included Scripture. Ninety-one didn’t. For shame!

14. Include both an HTML submission form on your website and email addresses for individual staff and ministry leaders.

HTML submission forms are harder to use — don’t you get tired of entering comments or requests in those little 1 inch by 1 inch text entry fields that web designers provide because they don’t know any better? Or entering your email address in a 1-inch wide email text entry field? (Emails are invariably twice as long as the space provided to enter them.) However, people browsing your site on a computer other than their home or office computer don’t have access to an email program.

For them, it is essential to include an HTML submission form on your site to allow them to communicate with your church or staff or ministry leaders of your church.

If your site uses PHP, then try the Ultimate Form Mail script (www.ultimateformmail.com) developed by Jack Born of Surefire Website Design. This script makes it easy for you to set up an HTML submission form that sends the collected data to the recipient as an email (and CC’s the sender) and also saves the data, if desired, to a mySQL database. (Purchase the one-client license if you’re a church; web designers may wish to purchase a multi-client license.)

Now, having said all that, also include the email addresses of staff and Ministry leaders on your site. Afraid of getting spam as a result? Get over it! Enabling visitors to your site to easily contact staff and ministry leaders is more important than your staff’s personal convenience.

But, you can do something to alleviate the problem: obfuscate (yes, there really is such a word), that is, disguise, email addresses on your site to lessen the possibility of their being collected by so-called spambots. Try the one provided on www.spamspan.com.

15. Make your website more than an online brochure.

I’ve read criticism before that church websites are just fancy brochures. Never have I appreciated the wisdom of that as I do now. To be sure, a church website should be at the very least an excellent online brochure, with well designed, easy-to-read, and easy-to-get-to pages. But take it to the next level, folks! A church is not a building; it’s not even its many ministries. It’s people. So use your website to tell member’s stories through words, audio, and/or video.

16. Where possible, avoid dropdown menus and slide out menus.

These popular navigation systems force the user to constantly revisit a menu to choose another submenu item. That wastes time. Moreover, so many drop-down (especially) submenus are hard to use: Items on the dropdown (or slideout) submenu are tricky to get to with the mouse, or the submenu disappears before the user reaches the desired link. The better websites that I have reviewed employ a static submenu display of some sort: The submenu (which changes according to which item on the main menu was clicked) remains statically displayed, making it easy for the user to see all the items or links on the submenu, and to reach them with his or her mouse at any time. (However, see next item.)

17. Don’t confuse visitors with your interior navigation links.

Let’s say that in the Ministries section of your site, you list a number of links to various ministry pages. One of the links, however, takes the user out of the Ministries section and leads them to the Missions section, with its wholly different submenu. This is very confusing to the user. Therefore, provide some indication or warning that a link in one section of your site will take the user to another section of your site.

18. Use generic, easy-to-understand labels for links to ministry pages on your site.
It’s OK to title your actual ministry pages with the real names of the ministries. But use generic links such as Men’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry,
Teen Ministry, College Ministry, etc., to get your visitor to the ministry pages in the first place.

19. Underline links in text.

Underline links in text even if you think it’s ugly to do so (and it is). Web users expect links to be underlined — that is the web standard. I recently reviewed a website in which links displayed an underline only upon mouse over. Not very helpful! The user can’t scan a block of text with his or her eyes to find the links but has to physically move the mouse over all the text to locate links.

Also, because underlined links are the web standard, do not underline words or phrases that aren’t links. There is an exception to the underlined links rule, however: links in a row under or over the banner, or links in a left- or right-hand column, generally do not have to be underlined because web users understand these to be navigational links.

20. Show, don’t just tell!

I recently reviewed a church website with a wealth of information on the inside pages — but not a single photo of the different ministries offered by the church. With the ubiquity of inexpensive digital cameras, this is inexcusable.

21. Include captions (identifying information) with photos.

It’s not necessary (and possibly unsafe) to identify the people in the photo, as would be the case with a magazine or newspaper photograph. But you should include information for each photo identifying the ministry, the ministry event, the location, and date. The only exception for this would be if it’s abundantly clear from the photo or by the context in which it’s used what’s going on in the photo. The reason you should add captions to photos is that, on a website, photos are seen by people who are not familiar with your church, its ministries, and its members.

22. Don’t call your sermon audio downloads podcasts — even if your downloads use iTunes.

Podcasting by definition means not having to download — manually anyway. Podcasting uses special software, including, for example, iTunes, to periodically check for the latest available files from a site and download any new files for the user in the background automatically. The key term is “automatically.” So, if you put links to audio files on your website with the intention that users will click to hear or download files, then you’re not podcasting.

23. Don’t add an audio background song or tune to your website.

Adding background music would probably violate copyright law, to begin with — and the audio usually is more annoying than beneficial. Unless you have a license (e.g., from ASCAP, the performing artists organization — your CCLI license won’t help), the only music you legally can add as background audio to a site are songs in the public domain performed by a musician in your church, original songs, or so-called royalty free songs created with Sony Acid (www.acidplanet.com) or Sonicfire Pro (www.smartsound.com)
You can’t use a Michael W. Smith recording of a hymn, for example. The hymn may very well be in the public domain — though not all hymns are — but the recording isn’t. Nor can you add a song by The Newsboys — both the song (melody + lyrics; two separate copyrights) and the recording are copyrighted.

Regardless, if you include background music (or sermon) on your site, then provide a button to enable visitors to turn off the sound.

24. Include time zone information if you broadcast your services live over the Internet.

In order for someone on the other side of the country — or the world — to watch your worship service live from your website, they have to know when the service starts, right? Don’t expect them to try to figure it out by themselves. Help your visitors by providing the name of the time zone you’re in, including standard time or daylight savings time. But don’t stop there. How would anyone in, say, the Philippines know how many hours ahead or behind Eastern Time or Mountain Time they are? Provide the time zone offset relative to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

25. Include the alt = “[description of graphic here]” attribute in the underlying HTML code for every photo and graphic on your site.

This is read aloud by the screen readers that blind people use to browse websites. (It also helps to increase your church website’s ranking by search engines.)
There are many steps you have to take to ensure your website is fully accessible (to the blind, motion-impaired, deaf, etc.). But this is one step that’s easy to understand and easy to implement, which is why I list it here. See www.edtech.vt.edu/edtech/accessible/disabled.html, among many similar resources on the web, for information about how to implement this suggestion.

I hope to hear any comment about these tips. You could also chat with me on (smb1ogunbowale:yahoo IM)

Is you want me to email you the PDF format of these tips,please reach me on smb1ogunbowale@yahoo.co.uk

Have a blessed day!

Thanks for reading

The Church website Design Tips .............

2007-10-31T06:22:00.000-07:00

I promised here in this blog that I will post the remaining 15 Tips, trust me...... I am presently in my Lagos office at Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. Despite my busy schedule, I am writing this.....you will pardon me for posting just 3 additioonal tips.

I promise you, I will make up.....many thanks.......

11. Add a “what to expect” page to your website.

Church is scary to unchurched people. Provide a page of information telling potential visitors what to expect 14 September 2007 Christian Computing® Magazine when they visit. You’ll certainly want to talk about your services (type of music, how long, format or typical order of service, what to wear) and provide information about childcare. But don’t use churchy terms. For example, “contemporary worship” is meaningless to those who haven’t experienced even traditional worship.

12. Include on your home page the following essential information (in easy to find locations):

Church address (including city and state)
Phone number
weekend service times
location of services (or link to the webpage that includes
this information) email link to webmaster
Why make your visitors hunt all over your website for this information? The best church websites put this information in plain sight on their home page, with the exception of the email link. The email link to the webmaster
is to enable visitors to report problems. You wouldn’t believe how few church websites include this. This link (when present) generally is put at the bottom of the home page in small type.

13. Add Scripture to your home page.

Between the beginning of 2007 and the date of this writing (mid June
2007), I’ve added 100 churches to The International Directory of Church Website Design, of which I am the editor. These represent some of the best of church website
design today. Only nine of the 100 newly added homepages included Scripture. Ninety-one didn’t.

see next time........best regards!

INTERNET OUTREACH SEMINAR

2007-10-30T07:04:00.000-07:00

Internet Outreach Coalition For Africa is organising an Internet Outreach Seminar for Christians, Pastors and church leaders.

The seminar is coming up Friday, November 16, 2007 by 9:00am at the Grace's Global Multipurpose Hall, No 9 M.K.O. Abiola Way, beside Vitas Bakery, Ring Road, Ibadan, Nigeria.

It promises to be a good time to learn and be equipped for online evangelism and outreaches.

For your information my humble self (SMB O'Johnson) is one of the speakers at the seminar. I will be pouring out my mind about various Internet commmunication strategies for spreading the good news on the Internet.

For more information or enquiry about the Internet Outreach Seminar, please, contact the organnisers on info@epfgroup.org, +234 08053830136,08033594694,08053258060.I hope to see you at the venue of the seminar.

Top 25 Church Website Design Tips

2007-10-30T05:05:00.000-07:00

My Top 25 Church Website Design Tips

By David Gillaspey, president, Great Church Websites (a not-for-profit corporation)

1. Don’t include a splash screen or an intro page on your site.

That is, don’t have an intro page that requires or allows visitors to “Enter” or “Skip intro,” Splash screens and intro pages are outdated techniques that waste bandwidth and waste user mouse clicks. (The most important content on your site should be reachable in three mouse clicks or less.) Here’s another, particularly audacious example of a splash screen: http://www.thehopeconnection.org/. (However, the designer of the site had the good sense to program a browser cookie to be set so that the splash screen is bypassed the second time someone visits the site.)

There is one legitimate use for a splash screen, however, and that’s when you need an inviting-looking home page that provides paths to several different related sites. One example would be a situation where a church runs a Christian school. The home page or splash screen, then, would include links to the church’s website and to the school’s website. Another example is the home page of Mountain Lake Church of Cumming, Georgia. The church’s home page provides paths to a “Visitors & Newcomers” version of the site, a
“Members & Attenders” version of the site, and a third site for church lanterns.

2. Don’t make an all Flash website.

Don’t make visitors wait for your site to download every time they visit it. Don’t make them scroll down to see the last three lines of a block of text. (That “dinosaur” — as one designer disparagingly called it — known as HTML has the amazing ability to dynamically accommodate any amount of text vertically because the web page can expand vertically.)
Don’t make them squint to read text on your all-Flash site because you set the text to 8-point font size and gave visitors no way to increase the size.
Instead, make your site with HTML and embed Flash movies to do what Flash does best: animations and audio/video.

3. Don’t make visitors to your church website see the same animations over and over again in Flash movies.

Figure out a way, using cookies and/or session variables, to turn off your fancy animations (once you’ve impressed visitors with your incredible skills and talent) and stop wasting visitors’ time. They’ve come for information.

4. Don’t use frames.

Frames have fallen out of favor among website designers, and further, cause problems for the screen readers that blind people use to browse websites.
Here’s an example website. Notice that the bottom right quadrant scrolls up and down, while the top and left stay put. That’s done with “frames.” Now, you might think there’s some merit to this concept, and indeed there is.
However, just trust me when I say that use of frames is out of date. Don’t do it.

5. In menus, don’t use buttons — beveled, oval, square, arty, etc., especially buttons separated by some space.

This is an outdated technique. Use text links instead, as much as possible. Text links download quickly, and can be read by the screen readers that blind people use to browse websites.

6. Don’t use strongly patterned page backgrounds
(e.g., tiled backgrounds).

Strongly patterned, tiled backgrounds are an outdated technique that makes your site look dated. However, subtle background patterns have made a comeback. I think this is great—patterns exist everywhere in real life, after
all. There’s also a new trend of using large paisley or vine-like patterns or figures in the background. If you choose to do this, ensure that the patterns don’t call attention to themselves.

7. Don’t use animated gifs, visitor counters, or rainbow colors on your church website.

All three are outdated techniques that make your site look dated. Also, don’t credit your hosting company. It’s OK to give credit to the web designer, however — just keep the credit line subdued.

8. Don’t include your denominational logo in the banner.

Sorry, but denominational logos were created decades ago and simply don’t reflect current graphic design standards. Because of this, it’s difficult to include them in a banner in a manner that’s appealing. I’m not saying don’t include the denominational logo at all on your home page — just keep it small and away from the banner. In fact, your church ought to have its own unique logo, one that reflects the mission and purpose of your church. The church logo can go in the banner.

9. Don’t put a photo of your church building or your pastor (or pastor and spouse) on the home page.

Two reasons for avoiding the building photo:
1) Photos of people are by nature more interesting than photos of buildings (even scenic photos are more interesting than building photos);
2) A church is a body of people meting together in community — not a building. Therefore, use photos of people on your home page, not building photos. By “photos of people” I do not, however, mean photos of your pastor, priest, minister, or bishop.

10. Don’t fill your home page with ads for ministries or church events (and especially, don’t allow ads for secular products).

Advertise your ministries and special events to people who already attend your church, by putting ads in your worship folder/bulletin or including them in your projected announcements. Save the valuable “real estate” of your home page for communicating with people who have yet to enter through the doors of your church.

(I’m not saying don’t use any ads; just use them sparingly and wisely.)

Remember these tips are 25 in numbers. Be in touch. I will post the remaining 15 tips on this blog.

See you next time… Have a blessed day!

Chat Room Evangelism continues............

2007-10-30T05:03:00.000-07:00

The last time on this blog, we were discussing How To Use The Chat Room to spread the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

When I was first starting out sometime in 1999, I first learn by visiting different types of rooms without saying anything. Watch how people write and the abbreviations they use. Some chat rooms are just for teens or students. Others are for different age groups, special interests or those of a national or ethnic background.

Important things to do while you are in a chat session
Pray while you are online – for those you speak to, and how to reply effectively.
Respect and understand other people's views, cultures, and religions. Even if you disagree with something they say, try to identify with part of it.
Be ready to share how you became a Christian, and how God helps you in your life right now. Remember, you are offering other people a relationship with the living loving God. You are not trying to sell them a religion or even a set of morals or beliefs. Non-Christians do not understand this – they think that trying to obey certain rules or going to church is what makes people 'Christian'.
Many chat rooms offer the facility to jump from the main room to a 'PM' (private meeting) in a 'one-to-one' room. This can be useful when a chat room is crowded. It may well be wise to limit 'PM' sessions to those of the same gender as yourself.
If someone wishes to talk again about issues later, exchange email addresses so that you can maintain contact.

If you can think quickly “on your feet,” and can discuss issues in a sensitive and non-confrontational matter, chat evangelism may be for you.

Make good use of Chat room to tell others about the love of Christ. If you want to learn more about chat room evangelism, please, visit: http://guide.gospelcom.net/resources/chat.php
Thanks…see you again.

Chat Room Evangelism

2007-10-23T08:32:00.000-07:00

Using chat to reach the world

What is a chat room?

Allow me to start by defining chat room. A 'chat room' is simply a web page, which can display typed messages in real time. When several people are logged on to the same chat page via the Internet, each can type short messages of a few words (often with accepted abbreviations) onto an area in the web page. Each message, and replies from the others in the chat room, are immediately visible to all the participants as sequential lines (with identification of the writer).
Most chat rooms are un-moderated - that is, there is no one in control. Some chat rooms, particularly for children and young people, have a moderator who can guide the flow of discussion, rebuke rudeness or profanity, and remove someone from using the chat room if such guidelines are broken.
It is important that people wishing to use chat rooms take time to learn the protocol, and what is an appropriate strategy for online witness.

Using chat to reach the world

Chat rooms are also a valuable method of sharing faith in cross-cultural situations - because there are chat rooms for almost every country, ethnic community and language in the world. If you wish to do chat room evangelism, it is important to understand the culture and religion of the group of people you are targeting.

Sharing your faith in chat rooms

Several millions of people around the globe visit chat rooms every day. They are ready to communicate – so this gives Christians many opportunities to share their faith.

However, we must tell others the Good News in the right way or we may actually turn people away from Jesus. 1 Pet. 3:15 stresses the use of sensitivity when we share the Gospel with others: "As Christians we must always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that we have. But we must do this with gentleness and respect..." (NIV) An insensitive or argumentative attitude will completely compromise the message we are trying to communicate.
Christian ministries and churches should begin to teach the youth and children how to use the chat room to spread the gospel of Jesus, who is the hope of tomorrow. We all know these youth and children are good and regular users of the chat rooms. In Nigeria, chatting is one of the first things a young girl or boy will first learn about the Internet. Often, they use it for negative things like searching for Internet boyfriends/girlfriends. To be frank you will find out that many Christian youths are involved in these sinful acts. Do you know where the problem is? These Christian youths are not taught or educated on ways they can use this powerful tool of online communication to preach JESUS.

Pastors and Christian youth leaders must begin to acquire knowledge about Internet evangelism and also start teaching the youths and in fact all Christians both old and young.

If you are thinking of going into chat room evangelism, it is wise to ask your Christian leaders for their opinion as to whether you are suitable for this sort of ministry. Even if they say you are, it is in any case good to do this sort of witness with the encouragement and prayers of your church's leaders. They may also be able to help you with classes on personal witnessing.We must also understand the potential personal dangers, especially for younger people.

I will continue from here, next time.......

EMAIL PRAYER

2007-10-17T03:07:00.000-07:00

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18) NIV

Email prayer is simply receiving prayer requests through emails and responding by praying by writing via the email. It may sound funny or uncultured, but I had personally seen it working. For example, a person in the US had once emailed me asking me to pray for him concerning an aspect of his life, which I did by praying for him and sending the prayer through an email, the results was tremendous. I am an Email Prayer Mentor/Volunteer to some online evangelistic group and this has given me the boldness to advice Christians and pastors to embrace email prayer. Brethren, the medium of prayer does not matter, God works through the email prayer.

Every day we all receive emails from people who are struggling with issues and pain in their lives. It is often difficult to know what to say. There are times when all we can do is pray. Including the text of a prayer in the email response has proven to be a very effective way of ministering to hurting people. I have discovered that a personal prayer can be tremendously encouraging - even for those who are going through a hard time. You may want to consider praying for your friends in this way to let them know that you are thinking of them.

Some Christians and pastors have been doing this email prayer without knowing, but there’s need to utilize and maximize its use. Encourage your church members, family members and friends to make prayer request through their email. Assure them of confidentiality and when you act not only by praying for them during your prayer time but by also emailing the prayer to their email addresses, I assure you, the result is going to be spectacular and outstanding.
Praying in an email is a very effective way of presenting needs to the Lord while encouraging the person who has given the prayer request. Initially, this method of praying can seem a little awkward; however, with practice, you will soon find it to be effective and comfortable.

INTERNET MESSAGE FROM THE VATICAN

2007-10-17T02:35:00.000-07:00

MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER
FOR THE 36th WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY

THEME: "Internet: A New Forum for Proclaiming the Gospel"

Sunday, May 12, 2002

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. The Church in every age continues the work begun on the day of Pentecost, when the Apostles, in the power of the Holy Spirit, went forth into the streets of Jerusalem to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in many tongues (cf. Acts 2:5-11). Through the succeeding centuries, this evangelizing mission spread to the far corners of the earth, as Christianity took root in many places and learned to speak the diverse languages of the world, always in obedience to Christ's command to preach the Gospel to every nation (cf. Mt 28:19-20).

But the history of evangelization is not just a matter of geographic expansion, for the Church has also had to cross many cultural thresholds, each of which called for fresh energy and imagination in proclaiming the one Gospel of Jesus Christ. The age of the great discoveries, the Renaissance and the invention of printing, the Industrial Revolution and the birth of the modern world: these too were threshold moments which demanded new forms of evangelization. Now, with the communications and information revolution in full swing, the Church stands unmistakably at another decisive gateway. It is fitting therefore that on this World Communications Day 2002 we should reflect on the subject: “Internet: A New Forum for Proclaiming the Gospel".

2. The Internet is certainly a new “forum” understood in the ancient Roman sense of that public space where politics and business were transacted, where religious duties were fulfilled where much of the social life of the city took place, and where the best and the worst of human nature was on display. It was a crowded and bustling urban space, which both reflected the surrounding culture and created a culture of its own. This is no less true of cyberspace, which is as it were a new frontier opening up at the beginning of this new millennium. Like the new frontiers of other times, this one too is full of the interplay of danger and promise, and not without the sense of adventure that marked other great periods of change. For the Church the new world of cyberspace is a summons to the great adventure of using its potential to proclaim the Gospel message. This challenge is at the heart of what it means at the beginning of the millennium to follow the Lord's command to "put out into the deep”: Duc in altum! (Lk 5:4).

3. The Church approaches this new medium with realism and confidence. Like other communications media, it is a means, not an end in itself. The Internet can offer magnificent opportunities for evangelization if used with competence and a clear awareness of its strengths and weaknesses. Above all, by providing information and stirring interest it makes possible an initial encounter with the Christian message, especially among the young who increasingly turn to the world of cyberspace as a window on the world. It is important, therefore, that the Christian community think of very practical ways of helping those who first make contact through the Internet to move from the virtual world of cyberspace to the real world of Christian community.

At a subsequent stage, the Internet can also provide the kind of follow-up which evangelization requires. Especially in an unsupportive culture, Christian living calls for continuing instruction and catechesis, and this is perhaps the area in which the Internet can provide excellent help. There already exist on the Net countless sources of information, documentation and education about the Church, her history and tradition, her doctrine and her engagement in every field in all parts of the world. It is clear, then, that while the Internet can never replace that profound experience of God which only the living, liturgical and sacramental life of the Church can offer, it can certainly provide a unique supplement and support in both preparing for the encounter with Christ in community, and sustaining the new believer in the journey of faith which then begins.

4. There are nevertheless certain necessary, even obvious, questions which arise in using the Internet in the cause of evangelization. The essence of the Internet in fact is that it provides an almost unending flood of information, much of which passes in a moment. In a culture which feeds on the ephemeral there can easily be a risk of believing that it is facts that matter, rather than values. The Internet offers extensive knowledge, but it does not teach values; and when values are disregarded, our very humanity is demeaned and man easily loses sight of his transcendent dignity. Despite its enormous potential for good, some of the degrading and damaging ways in which the Internet can be used are already obvious to all, and public authorities surely have a responsibility to guarantee that this marvellous instrument serves the common good and does not become a source of harm.

Furthermore, the Internet radically redefines a person's psychological relationship to time and space. Attention is rivetted on what is tangible, useful, instantly available; the stimulus for deeper thought and reflection may be lacking. Yet human beings have a vital need for time and inner quiet to ponder and examine life and its mysteries, and to grow gradually into a mature dominion of themselves and of the world around them. Understanding and wisdom are the fruit of a contemplative eye upon the world, and do not come from a mere accumulation of facts, no matter how interesting. They are the result of an insight which penetrates the deeper meaning of things in relation to one another and to the whole of reality. Moreover, as a forum in which practically everything is acceptable and almost nothing is lasting, the Internet favours a relativistic way of thinking and sometimes feeds the flight from personal responsibility and commitment.

In such a context, how are we to cultivate that wisdom which comes not just from information but from insight, the wisdom which understands the difference between right and wrong, and sustains the scale of values which flows from that difference?

5. The fact that through the Internet people multiply their contacts in ways hitherto unthinkable opens up wonderful possibilities for spreading the Gospel. But it is also true that electronically mediated relationships can never take the place of the direct human contact required for genuine evangelization. For evangelization always depends upon the personal witness of the one sent to evangelize (cf. Rom 10:14-15). How does the Church lead from the kind of contact made possible by the Internet to the deeper communication demanded by Christian proclamation? How do we build upon the first contact and exchange of information which the Internet makes possible?

There is no doubt that the electronic revolution holds out the promise of great positive breakthroughs for the developing world; but there is also the possibility that it will in fact aggravate existing inequalities as the information and communications gap widens. How can we ensure that the information and communications revolution which has the Internet as its prime engine will work in favour of the globalization of human development and solidarity, objectives closely linked to the Church's evangelizing mission?

Finally, in these troubled times, let me ask: how can we ensure that this wondrous instrument first conceived in the context of military operations can now serve the cause of peace? Can it favour that culture of dialogue, participation, solidarity and reconciliation without which peace cannot flourish? The Church believes it can; and to ensure that this is what will happen she is determined to enter this new forum, armed with the Gospel of Christ, the Prince of Peace.

6. The Internet causes billions of images to appear on millions of computer monitors around the planet. From this galaxy of sight and sound will the face of Christ emerge and the voice of Christ be heard? For it is only when his face is seen and his voice heard that the world will know the glad tidings of our redemption. This is the purpose of evangelization. And this is what will make the Internet a genuinely human space, for if there is no room for Christ, there is no room for man. Therefore, on this World Communications Day, I dare to summon the whole Church bravely to cross this new threshold, to put out into the deep of the Net, so that now as in the past the great engagement of the Gospel and culture may show to the world "the glory of God on the face of Christ” (2 Cor 4:6). May the Lord bless all those who work for this aim.

From the Vatican, 24 January 2002, the Feast of Saint Francis de Sales

JOHN PAUL II

LET'S BLOG FOR CHRIST

2007-10-08T03:56:00.000-07:00

BLOGGING FOR CHRIST

Weblogs, or "blogs" for short, are the latest low-cost medium for creating buzz on the Internet.
Blogs give you another Internet communication strategy to build public awareness for your ministry, programs and services.

The author of a blog is called a ‘blogger’

Pastors can use blogs to achieve so many aims, take for instance, if a Pastor wants to know the knowledge base of his members or audience about a topic before embarking on the teaching of same topic, the pastor can build a blog for this and ask members/audience to make comments on the topic.

It could also be used get feedback. It can be used for collaboration on a certain team project of the ministries.

Christian professionals and pastors who are experts or professional before answering the call of GOD upon their lives can build blogs around their expertise or skills to express their views or offer advices to people for free. Through these free support and contributions to life, they will be able to win more souls for Christ.

The use is endless. Christians and Pastors can be creative and maximize the use of this great Internet tool. For your information, you can create blogs for free.

To create a blog, please visit: www.blogger.com/start
Examples of blogs are
http://www.apostle-smb.blogspot.com/ - on how a pastor can minister online.
http://www.yomifavour.blogspot.com/ - built around the topic ‘favour’.

Together let’s train our hands and fingers to wage war against all the vices and anomalies (yahoo-yahoo business, pornography, same sex etc.) being propagated on the Internet.
‘Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle’.(Psalms 144:1 NIV)

And if you need any support/training (spiritual and technical) about this great Internet strategy and other Internet communication strategies for spreading the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ on the Internet, please, do not hesitate to contact me. GOD has given my team and I the commandment to train and train others to use the Internet to catch men and women for HIM. Jesus said we are fisher of men, so let’s use the Internet as our net.

Best regards!

SMB O’Johnson
Kings & Priests Christian Forum
http://www.smb1.faithweb.com/
http://www.apostle-smb.blogspot.com/
+234 (0) 805 5076 378, +234 (2) 871 2251

The Need for Internet Evangelism.

2007-09-25T07:17:00.000-07:00

The Great Commission of Matthew 28: 19-20 instructs believers to "Go make disciples of all nations." Technological advancement should always be used to fulfill that commission and spread the gospel. Once every few hundred years the Lord gives His followers a unique opportunity to excel as fishers of men.

The succession that began with Roman roads includes the printing press, the telegraph, airplanes, telephones, television, video tapes, CDs, DVDs and now the Internet. Each of these tools has proven to be helpful for intentional evangelism. God has allowed the development of these marvelous technologies to assist believers with sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is time for believers to take greater advantage of the potential of the Internet for global evangelization.

The Acts 1:8 commission includes instructions to go to "the ends of the earth." Jesus went wherever there were people that would listen to the gospel. There are a lot of people online, many of whom are seeking a relationship with the Creator God. The Internet allows us to fulfill the Great Commission in areas not otherwise accessible: gated communities, exclusive condominiums, public libraries and in almost every country on earth. Internet Evangelist Siam Rogers (A Southern Baptist Missionary appointed in 1999 with full time responsibilities in Internet Evangelism) makes several important points at Evangelism Response Center Manual. He says that evangelistic presentations on the Internet never stop communicating. They are available every day, all day, on every holiday and with no breaks. These messages continue to share the truth about how to begin a relationship with Jesus. Online evangelistic approaches are working when we are not even online.

The research indicates that millions of people have used the Internet to find religious and spiritual information and to connect with others on their faith journeys. They call them "Religion Surfers."

Twenty-five percent of Internet users have gotten religious or spiritual information online at one point or another. This is an increase from their survey findings in late 2000, which showed that 21% of Internet users, between 19 million and 20 million people, had gone online to get religious or spiritual material. More than 3 million people a day get religious or spiritual material, up from the 2 million they reported in 2000.

Why bother with strategy?

2007-09-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

Why bother with strategy?

"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."– George Bernard Shaw

Some people might ask, "Why do we need evangelistic strategies at all? Surely we are just called on to preach the Gospel, plain and straight, and leave God to do the rest?" Even the words "communication strategies" may seem to imply worldly marketing methods rather than a dependance on the power of the Gospel through the Holy Spirit.

There are a number of answers to this very reasonable question: · The word 'preach' does not just mean 'one-way verbal communication' - as in a sermon or evangelistic address. It has a much broader sense - 'to effectively communicate'. If the receivers have not understood the message, real communication has probably not occurred. · The word 'communicate' also has a root meaning that helps us: that of 'communing' or interacting over 'common' ground.

"You cannot teach people unless you have their attention.... by using illustrations, questions and even humor। Most people don't like to be preached at, but most people like to be talked to।"(Firm Foundations, Trevor McIlwain, New Tribes Mission) We can see in both OT and NT, many different strategies used by Jesus and God's servants to communicate effectively in various situations। We see OT prophets using visual aids, the Lord Jesus using short stories (often containing humor), while Paul spent two years in a daily dialogue discussion ministry

DAILY MORAL OBLIGATION

2007-09-17T06:54:00.000-07:00

Give to GOD - Devotion and worship
Give to yourself - respect
Give your wife - affection
Give to your husband - faithfulness
Give to your children - good example
Give to your parent - obedience
Give youremployer - loyalty
Give to your subordinate - encouragements
Give to your enemies - forgiveness
Give to your friends - sincerity
Give to your fellowmen - humility
Give to your country- patriotism

Christians and the Internet

2007-09-17T06:17:00.000-07:00

I believe the Internet is not only a place to consume but a place to contribute.

And as a christian, a true follower of Christ, I need to make use of the power of the Internet to reach many souls telling them about the love of GOD through Jesus.