Mainland Internet Ministry

The Growing Popularity of the Internet
China's economy is growing rapidly and its citizens have had frequent contact with the outside world, contributing to the phenomenal development of the Internet. Having emerged in China in 1994, the Internet has grown rapidly over the past decade and been used for diverse purposes, becoming a very efficient media and means of communication. Consequently, the Internet ministry has prospered in the vast field of the Gospel in the mainland.

According to the 16th Statistical Survey Report on the Internet Development in China published in July 2005, at the end of last June, there were more than 103 million Internet users in China (making up less than 8% of the total population), of whom over 53 million were broadband users. There were 45.6 million on-line computers and the number of websites was nearly 677,000. Compared to 1997 figures, the number of Internet users has grown more than 150 fold, while the number of websites has
increased by more than 450 fold. Within a short span of 10 years, the number of Chinese Internet users has increased so rapidly that China has become the country with the largest number of Internet users after the US. Experts predict that China will become the largest Internet country.

An Important Internet Ministry
The Internet is becoming a natural extension of the oral ministry. Overcoming geographical barriers, it helps spread the Gospel and nurturing messages to different areas. It has become a new channel for spreading God's word. Because of the limited number of preachers and church workers in this vast land, there is insufficient provision for pastoral work. The free sharing of religious resources on the Net also helps fill this gap; a lot of people can be reached, the Gospel spread to distant areas, and the pastoral work expanded through limited resources.

Nowadays, the types and emphases of domestic Christian websites in China vary; some are evangelical in nature (including Gospel films), such as "Gospelfilm" and "Livingwater" etc, while others are information-oriented, providing materials for Bible studies, songs, special features,
books and on-line discussion zones, and other functions. They bear a cultural mission and are concerned with cultural issues, such as in the case of "Godoor.net". Some others, such as "www.21sz.org," focus on the theological building of mainland churches. Some have even launched
on-line journals to have regular communication with the readers and share their vision with them. Also, mainland Christian websites are changing from being personal websites to professionally run ones, with clearer positioning and improved technological support. The level of interactivity
has been improved, and the content is made up-to-date more quickly.

Preaching, pastoral and equipping work outside churches
Many mainland believers are eager to know more about the Lord and His words. Through the Internet, urban believers can access various websites, look for Biblical information, listen to sermons on various topics, study the Bible by themselves, and download useful information, so as to
get additional pastoral care and training outside churches. Our website, "www.cctraining.org", has also uploaded many materials related to Gospel-sharing and nurturing and discipleship training, all written in simplified characters. Due to the lack of spiritual books, some university students who have formed Bible study groups have requested spiritual books from others through e-mails. One sister even told a church worker through the Web about her plan for a divorce. Thank the Lord, the worker
wisely persuaded her to drop her idea, in accordance with Biblical principles. Through the Internet, she was able to receive help and counseling from a fellow believer from afar. In addition, some brothers and sisters had burden of spreading the Gospel have taken on the role of "cyber pastors," discussing issues about Christianity in discussion zones. Likewise, this way the new believers can be nurtured. The Lord is doing His work through the Internet.

The Challenges of the Internet Ministry
The Mainland Internet ministry has just started with inadequacies in various areas. First, there is not enough staff; most of those now are non-professional preachers lacking the truth knowledge. Workers need room for the collaboration. Second, websites lack both vision and clear positioning. Resources are also overlapping. Last, the users are predominantly believers. The evangelical and cultural missions are needed to combine in order to make the Gospel appear relevant and have an impact on
the culture in the society.

The Internet truly provides ample room. May the Lord provide more resources so we can overcome the various difficulties and expand our preaching and pastoral work. May the Lord send his workers to sow, grow and reap on this piece of land and contact more "unreached people on the Net" for Him.

Mainland Christian websites:
www.gospelfilm.com
www.livingwater4u.com
www.godoor.net
www.21sz.org

Thanksgiving and prayer items:

1. Thank the Lord for raising up the Internet ministry to help develop believers' spiritual growth in the absence of adequate spiritual resources.
2. Pray that the Lord will use the various Christian websites in the mainland to save the lost ones, nurture young sheep and spread His might.
3. Pray for the just-started Internet ministry. May the Lord's grace be upon the workers so they can overcome various difficulties and find ways to make the Gospel appeal to the people, and make the Internet the outlet for God's words.
4. May the Lord call upon more workers to sow the seeds of Gospel on the Internet and reap the harvest.

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