ORLANDO, Fla., June 4, 2009 — Millions of people around the world are searching for God. In response, Global Media Outreach (GMO), a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ International, is sending faithful churchgoers … to their computers, training them to become online missionaries out of their homes.
"People are looking for answers. And, not surprisingly, they are looking for those answers on the Internet," says Dr. Allan Beeber, director of GMO's Orlando office.
According to Beeber, about 3 million online searches are made daily that are of a spiritual nature (e.g. "I need God," "Who is Jesus?"). GMO has created 90 themed Web sites – the modern-day equivalent of Gospel tracts – to correspond with those searches. There are sites in every major language on a wide variety of topics: from TalesofNarnia.com to GodLovesMarines.com to whoisJesus-really.com. The results are astounding.
More than 225,000 people visit one of GMO's sites every day. Of those, 30,000 click a button, indicating that they have made a decision for Christ. And 6,000 to 7,000 people every day ask to be contacted about their decision.
"Every person receives a personal contact. So, you have the marriage of high-tech with high touch," explains Beeber, who adds that GMO's goal is to give everyone on earth 5 to 10 opportunities to know Christ by 2020.
GMO boasts a growing volunteer force of 2,400 online missionaries – congregants recruited from churches – who typically spend just a few minutes every day online, replying securely and anonymously to questions posted by seekers. Online missionaries go through a four-week training program at home and receive mentoring from GMO staff and volunteers.
Northland Church is partnering with GMO by providing volunteers, along with resources that will equip anyone to start a "Simple Church" (also known as a "House Church").
One man who came to faith in Christ through GMO says, "I log on every time I want to understand spiritual matters further. I sense sincerity in my prayers, and I am able to surrender completely to God. This must be experienced to be believed."
Beeber adds that the coming of the Google-backed O3b Networks – which will provide inexpensive Internet service to billions of people who didn't have it before – will offer unprecedented opportunities to share the Gospel online. "O3b" stands for "[The] Other 3 Billion," referring to the population of the world where the Internet is not readily available.
Beeber concludes, "In the very near future, billions of people will be accessing the Web for the first time, not just on their computers, but on their mobile devices. This presents an amazing opportunity for those of us who want to share our faith with those who want to listen."
About Northland Church
Started by 11 people in 1972 in the "north land" of Orlando, Northland is a congregation of 12,000 that worships at several sites throughout Metro Orlando and at hundreds of sites around the world via interactive webcast. Dr. Joel C. Hunter has served as senior pastor since 1985. Visit http://www.northlandchurch.net to learn more.
Contact:
Robert Andrescik
Director of Public Relations
Northland, A Church Distributed
530 Dog Track Road
Longwood, FL 32750
407.949.7147 Direct
407.923.4440 Mobile
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http://www.northlandchurch.net
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