More later but the word for "today" is:

eVangelism

Here is a website I have used for years:

http://www.e-sword.net

You can download the basic framework, then you can download dozens of Bible translations and commentaries. There are also reading collections and maps.

Brother Chris

There is an article in Minsitry Today that came out last fall called "the Geek Shall Inherit the Church" on how technology changes the way we do ministry. Here is a link to the article:  http://www.ministrytodaymag.com/display.php?id=14034 

I know about it because they actually interviewed us as a church plant and our use of technology as a new church.

Are there websites and various technologies that you find particularly helpful in allowing you to use and develop your spiritural gift for the benefit others?
____________________________________

I'd love to see a final "results list" of websites that people use... Ive done similar research myself, as a web developer, to see where and how Christians are plugging into the internet. 

I have used http://biblegateway.com and I have purchased the preaching library from http://wordsearch.com.  They have some great software.  It has helped me tremendously in my research and preparation for sermons.  I also have their software for my pocketpc so I have the Bible at my fingertips at all times (since I live by my PDA).

I use our church's website, my blog, and now MyChurch to stay in touch with the members of my congregation and give them vital information.  I also use an online calendar (http://calendars.net) to manage my pastoral duties such as counseling, speaking engagements, church meetings, etc.

I love technology and use it to make me more efficient.  I'm also looking at using SMS (text messaging) as a way to send info such as inspiration thoughts or church closing due to weather out to members.

A Guide To Web Outreach

From Barna:

House Church Involvement Is Growing

House churches are using the Internet. I have seen a few here on MyChurch.

Each week I use numerous online sources when developing teaching materials and sermons.

http://www.bible.org/

http://net.bible.org/ 

http://www.raystedman.org/ 

http://www.itanakh.org/

http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/

http://www.followtherabbi.com/

http://www.greekbible.com/

http://www.ntresources.com/

http://www.ccel.org/wwsb/

There's not time to list all the resources I use on a weekly basis that are internet based. I'm taking delivery today of a smartphone so I can always have them at hand. I'll use Google Reader to set up a shared list of feeds to help our congregation on an issue or teaching topic. Currently, I have one up on the Jesus Tomb. http://www.google.com/reader/shared/17736818258604877818

We use demographics available to look at our outreach efforts. We research new studies. We swap materials with other churches. Right now we have materials on loan from a church in CA, and will soon have some from NV.  I'm on a forum with pastors of several denominations spread out all over the country, and we share insights, prayer requests, and work together.

I use videos from You Tube and download others from sites who sell them for help in the sermons or teachings.

I email members about prayer needs, remind them about events, and follow up with visitors. We keep our calendar in Google calendar, link directions to our church using Google Maps. We have wireless access at church and are expanding coverage to all classrooms so as to enable teachers to use the tools they need right there.

We download sheet music and charts- transposed to the key we need. We play suggested songs for the praise team off I-Tunes or off an iPod. We'll watch a video if available to see how the original artist did the tune.

We are behind the curve in some ways. Still need to podcast our teaching, but we'll get there.

Oh and I'm getting a Direct TV setup from FoxFaith soon that will let me preview their movies and other offerings as well as watch the Braves in my office. Sweet!

From the Billy Graham Center:

Internet Evangelism Coalition

I have personally met Brother Andrew Careaga, youth pastor and author of several online ministry books. Some of his websites / info sites are:

http://www.e-vangelism.com/

http://bloggedyblog.blogspot.com/ but now closed...

http://kregel.gospelcom.net/Hooked_Net/author/

http://visions.umr.edu/careaga.html

http://visions.umr.edu/

http://news.umr.edu/news/2003/103.html

Search Amazon Books for his name as the author and you will located the ones that he has written. The biggest problem with books is that referenced Internet links tend to "go away" and some get picked up by scammers, porn artists, etc.

For those who have a Christian web domain - - Do Not Let It Expire!

As for Andrew Careaga, his heart and Calling is eVangelism on the Internet. I don't think I could say enough good things about the man...

Dave

Never hurts to see what Wikipedia has to say about a topic...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_evangelist

I don't know too much about this minister but wanted to mention his website:

http://www.internetminister.org/

And finally (after this I'll sit down and shut up for a while...) LOL,

I don't like to self-promote but I posted some comments in this blog:

http://www.mychurch.org/blog/13373/internet-evangelism-day-is-april-29th

The eClergy group that I mentioned and moderate is found here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eClergy/
although there has been very little activity over the years. I launched that group in July 2001 when I was following Andrew Careaga's and Tony Whittaker's work in Internet Evangelism. I think the group never "took off" because I never really promoted it. MyChurch is a GREAT place for the Internet eVangelists to share info so I am NOT suggesting that anybody here join eClergy. That was a thought 6 years ago and probably should quietly go away. LOL

I do run my own Internet Church at http://datm.org that has been around since May 1999. The website is being revised in a "big time" way right now so there is not much to see. Over the years, I have received and responded to numerous E-mails and participated in many forums and chat rooms as an Internet eVangelist. My intent with the Internet parachurch was to "fish the net" for folks that did NOT attend church. I could talk and reach out to them without them stepping foot inside a church or a pastor's office. Some come annomonously and some reveal their identity but I have been able to minister to them as the Holy Spirit leads. Some have been led to churches in their local area wherever they may be worldwide. My ministry credentials are with the World Ministry Fellowship with Spirit-Filled Full Gospel churches worldwide. Through their network, I have been able to "refer" my cyber-congregation to physical churches once they had gained confidence in Christianity. Some had been alienated by a church but I have been able to show them that the Church still loves them. Keep in mind that when I say cyber-congregation; I am basically talking one-on-one interaction with the lost.

I'm sure that there is more to say but I need to shut up and eat lunch. It is 1 PM local and I am getting hungry.

God bless everyone involved with Internet ministries! Praying for you since 1999!

Dave

P.S. I'm not even going to proof-read this so I hope it comes out OK...

Back from lunch but getting ready to go off-line for an hour or two...

I just "discovered" some eClergy sites that seem to have appeared since I started the eClergy group at Yahoo Groups. Coincidence?

www.eclergy.net I know nothing about this...

www.eclergy.com Appears to be a "parked" domain...

www.eclergy.org The domain is registered but I don't see a website...

Hmmmm... I wonder if I started something back in 2001? LOL

Moral to this blog comment:

If you "coin" any new phrases, be sure to register the domain name if it is available.

It may be the next Google...  ;)

Hey folks! 164 reads and only 2 stars? :confused:

There should be 164 stars ! ! ! !

ALL of you are contributing to the Integral Mission!

After all, you are here at MyChurch, right?

And with respect to verse 15 above, one pastor added this to the command:

Use words if necessary...

(your actions are being watched by the world)

As a website for its content, this resource should be mentioned:

http://www.christianet.com/

Most everyone has heard of David Wilkerson but are you familiar with Times Square Church? Our youth pastor, Pastor Dwayne, interned at TSC after attending Mt. Zion School of Ministry and then served in TSC Missions in Ireland.

I mention all of this because David Wilkerson is using the Internet in a HUGE kind of way with respect to the amount of content that is presented at those websites in a very organized manner. I hope all of you and especially the webmasters take a look at their use of the Internet. It is probably one of my favorite websites to visit just because of the ease of use.

Dave

P.S. I hope I am not boring anybody with all of my comments. I'm just trying to document in this blog of the MyChurch Team a lot of things that are going on in cyberspace. I am sure that a lot of you that have followed this blog also have super-fantastic websites that are making great advances for the spreading of the Good News. Spreading the Gospel comes in many forms. Where else can you "blast" the Good News to the entire world in a few milliseconds for "free" with millions upon millions of potential listeners?

Another website on my list of "Favorites" in my browser although I do not know much about them...

http://www.christiansurvivors.com/

I found these by Googling for some "giving" sites...

http://www.generousgiving.org/

http://finance.christiansunite.com/

We have a lot of sites for teaching and eVangelism, how about some of the other spirtual gifts??

I also did some research on Giving and found these great resources:

www.CharityNavigator.org
www.ModestNeeds.org
www.Kiva.org

My friend Jamie says her spiritual gift is Hospitality she suggested the following sites:

www.FoodNetwork.com
www.AllRecipes.com

Usually just by typing a URL it becomes a link ex. http://www.zoecarnate.com , Otherwise you can use the little "link" icons above unless you are using a browser that doesn't support the rich editor

How can technology be used for the good of the church?  How can it help develop our gifts?

I didn't read all the comments above, but I think for me it has worked a little differently.  Sure there are lots of resources online that allow people to learn to do new things and that is wonderful.  Technology is so much more vital though.  At 28 I lost most of my hearing. Computer technology allowed me to learn to "listen" in new ways, the result?  I was able to continue (with a lot of work) to be a part of the worship ministry playing my flute, singing, and teaching others to do the same. 

Since looking down to read from a bible during a church service means I lose the whole thread of the sermon churches that use power point or songwriter are a huge blessing.  I never feel lost or excluded.  Some churches even use technology to create live real time captions of the sermons!

My gifts are encouragement, teaching, and being a "visionary builder" technology allows me to do all those things with the greatest ease.  The people from my church can log in here to read my thoughts.  My clients (who are my ministry) has instant access to me 24/7 for encouragement and reminders that they are prayed for and loved.  I reach hundreds of people every day with the single goal of being God's light in their lives.  Without technology that wouldn't happen at all.

Virginia

Here is a listing of some of the major gifts hightlighted is scripture to continue the brainstorm: 

* Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor-teacher, Administration, Leadership
* Faith, Knowledge, Wisdom, Exhortation, Discernment, Ministering, Helps, Giving, Mercy, Hospitality
* Healing(s), Miracles, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues

Ministering/Mercy -
I could see a site like http://www.troubledwith.com/ used to help understand an issue someone is troubled with and helping them through it.

Here are some that are great for ministering to kids and youth:

www.yoplace.org

www.biblerhymes.com

Also, I found worship (both learning and practicing) klove.com has been great :) 

Hi MyChurch Team,

This is what your article brought to my mind.

Nothing can substitute for the one on one, in the same room, contact with people. There are positive things about technology of course, but there are negatives as well.  Are these resources sometimes a way in which we can avoid God (spend less time with Him), and personal contact with others?

I remember as a little kid, waiting for the Mennonite wagons to cross the highway bridge so our car could get around them. I've often wondered if this odd bunch had a closer more intimate relation with family and God than we did; and sometimes I imagined they did (and do). Especially the conservative ones, who to this day maintain somewhat of a conservative dress and do not engage in television and radio, although they carefully accept other technology because it is necessary for their survival. Some granted, might do this from a legalistic standpoint, while others enjoy it to the full and will fight to keep it. I always enjoy re-thinking it. 

I guess again though, I need to write over everything I've said; the word "balance."  Regardless, this is what it made me think. Thanks for the memories.

Robert...

P.S. It also reminds me of the song George Beverly Shea use to sing with the Billy Graham crusade; I'd rather have Jesus. Here it is:

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold; I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands; I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand...

Refrain: Than to be the king of a vast domain, Or be held in sin’s dread sway; I’d rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause; I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause; I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame; I’d rather be true to His holy name...

Refrain
 
He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom; He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb; He’s all that my hungering spirit needs; I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

Amen.