Blogging Ministry

Over at BlogMinistry, Dan lee has (*unfortunately link no longer works) an interesting interview with Mark Brown who has launched an Anglican Cathedral built in the virtual world of ‘Second Life’. They currently conduct 5 services a week and a Bible study. What an innovative ministry.

Here’s a new link to the Anglican Cathedral website/blog. Also a link to Rev. Mark Brown’s blog.

Second Life may be only a ‘virtual’ world but there is obviously a real opportunity to reach out to real people searching for something better in life. *Top

This is a ministry with a number of different personal blogs and websites dedicated to combating the effects of pornography. The following is his main site with a portal to the rest: XXXChurch.com: #1 Christian Porn Site

Founded by Craig Gross in 2002, the site also features Donny Pauling who is a former porn producer who came to Christ and became part of the ministry. The site features information and access to internet blocking software, an Online recovery workshop, a 12-week program for those struggling with porn, and a ‘Prayer Wall’ with a message board for encouragement and dialog.

The ministry also sponsors workshops at churches called "Porn and Pancakes". It starts with breakfast and features info on the dangers of pornography with speakers from XXXChurch and porn industry insiders.

They also have an outreach ministry to those in the porn industry itself. XXXChurch makes a practice of attending ‘Adult’ industry Expos and conferences and usually sponsor a booth where they give out New Testaments with the tile: "Jesus Loves Porn Stars".             *Top

By Molly Holzschlag and Porter Glendinning (Indianapolis, Indiana: Sams Pub., 2004, 554 pgs.)

See review posted on: The Blogging Ministry/ Movable Type blog.

*Top

One of the comments that I run across time and again when folks are talking about ministry and outreach through blogging is the problem of Christian blogs becoming ‘ghettoized’. So much of the material on Christian blogs is written for and read solely by other Christians.

If you are hoping that your blog will reach out beyond the Christian community, one of the best ways to achieve that possibility is to write articles on subjects that a variety of people might be interested to read. In my own experience I have found that when I write movie and book reviews on my blog that I attract a diverse and even an international audience.

(more…)

By Elizabeth Castro (Berkeley,CA: Peachpit Press, Visual QuickProject Guide, 2005, 127 pgs.)

This is the most complete guide on Blogger that I have found so far. It starts at the beginning and takes you through how to start a blog, how to write a post, how to use the editor, post pictures and format a new Blogger blog. <–See the rest posted on my Blogger site–>

*Top

Here’s an interesting story about different kinds of Christian outreach and evangelism on the internet. Included is a interview of the writer of "Holy Mama" Blog.              

*Top

Until I read this article, I had no idea that thousands of people everyday were confessing their sins on the internet. Thousands sense a lack and a need in their lives and are turning to the internet for answers and absolution?

My first reaction is horror and sadness that so many are really seeking God in their lives and don’t really know it. Instead they find some kind of human band aid to pacify the hurt and receive some kind of justification and faux forgiveness through the comments of other online seekers.

I believe that this points out a potential niche for Christian ministries to participate in on the internet. Individuals could provide ministry through posting comments. Organizations might consider sponsoring a ‘Christian’ confessional site where the importance of seeking God is stressed and approaching him in prayer is emphasized and encouraged.

Here is a report of at least one Christian site that is currently ministering in this way.             *Top

A fine article: “Christian blog evangelism: Strategy for outreach to the blogging world”, about using blogging as a tool for outreach and evangelism.  Full of tips and info. about how to get started.  Also lists the pluses and the key problems faced by blogging ministries.            *Top

There is an interesting article in the Washington Post about Worship on the Web. It starts out talking about how religion in general has become an important part of the web experience. Here is a short quote:

” “The first wave of religion online, in the 1990s, was mainly for nerds and young people and techies,” said Morten Hojsgaard, a Danish author who has written extensively about online religion. “But now it really is a mirror of society at large. This is providing a new forum for religious seekers.”

Hojsgaard said the number of Web pages dealing with God, religion and churches increased from 14 million in 1999 to 200 million in 2004. Religion now nearly rivals sex as a topic on the Internet: A search for “sex” on Google returns about 408 million hits, while a search for “God” yields 396 million.

The boom in online religion comes at a time when people, especially the young, are questioning traditional institutions,…”

The rest of the article is really about India and how religion and worship on the internet has become an important part of daily life among the technically savvy younger set. It also points out that many transplanted Indians in Europe and America turn to the internet for their Hindu worship and for prayers.

I believe that this article really points out the vast potential for world wide ministry and evangelism through the internet. It is time for more Christians to get involved.              *Top