Missions and Technology

When I look at how computers, the internet and emerging technology have revolutionized American life, I can't help but wonder if we could use technology to increase our efficiency at mission work.

Between new (and free) services such as YouTube, Facebook, Blogger, along with video chat services and some pay video conference softwares, I have been wondering how to best utilize these resources for the spread of the Gospel.

Some have already begun posting sermon videos on YouTube as well as their church web sites. Others have begin broadcasting their services live online, while others network using Facebook, and post God's truth using Blogger or Wordpress. I applaud the efforts and advancements being made here, but I wonder if we could use these resources to plant churches and win more souls.

Here's a scenario. Church A in MidSizeVille, Texas, has a burden for the folks of Metropolis, Texas. Church A prays for a missionary, but no missionaries answer the call. The church sends letters to all the associational churches inviting prospective missionaries and preachers to step forward for this church planting mission, but none do. Church A even promises to recommend full salary support and pay for housing. Still, no response. (This happens more than you know.)

Feeling the burden more than ever, Church A then strikes out on its own, and sends a group from the church on a "mission trip" to Metropolis. They canvass neighborhoods, shopping centers and parks, and win a few souls to the Lord. Over the course of a week, a few souls are saved, then baptized, and one of the new converts offers to host Bible studies, but is reluctant to teach.

A member from Church A then agrees to travel back and forth once a week from MidSizeVille to Metropolis to lead this Bible study, but all know that this is unsustainable. So, the newly formed Bible study group and the members of Church A come up with a solution. The member of Church A, as well as the pastor, can both lead the Bible studies via an online video conferencing software. Utilizing two lap-top computers, DSL or another high-speed internet connection, and two video cameras with mics and a video projector, the church member, pastor, or other church leader can actually present a lesson, interact, answer questions and disciple the Bible study members via video conferencing. It's a two-way communication.

At the same time, the Bible study host is trained to take on more of a leadership role. Over time, the Bible study group comes together, having been scripturally saved and baptized, and forms a local new testament church, receiving some of its teaching from the Bible study host, and some from the online video conferencing with the sponsoring church. In fact, the two bodies may actually hold "joint services" on Sunday mornings via video.

Over time, with the discipleship of the emerging leaders, routine visits from the sponsoring church, and the hand-up the new body receives from the sponsoring church, the new church eventually finds meeting facilities and calls a pastor. It then becomes self-sustaining without the need of the sponsor's support, and the sponsoring church moves on to the next project.

Granted, this is a fantasy arrangement of things and I have not taken various mission-work challenges into consideration, but I wonder if we could begin using technology to its fullest capabilities. What do you think about using new technologies to spread the Gospel more rapidly?