CYBER-EVANGELISTS UNITE FOR "VIRTUAL OUTREACH" A SMALL GROUP of "wired" Christians have established what is believed to be the first "virtual" missionary center - designed to reach out to the millions in cyberspace.

Members of the team "meet" together daily on-line to swap updates and prayer requests before "going out" to share their faith in chat rooms, forums and networks.

The evangelistic outpost has been established by missions web expert Allan Carrington, who has linked up with a handful of other Youth With A Mission workers in other parts of Australia, and the United States.

"It's a very small start, but the possibilities for ministry are enormous," he said. "The Internet community is growing all the time, and in many ways it is a whole new mission field that has opened up to us."

While many Christian groups and organizations have turned to the World Wide Web to present the gospel, they do so typically through "seeker sensitive" sites that draw curious browsers to them.

"I am talking about being more proactive and going out into the cyberspace community, much like we do when we send teams out to preach and talk with people on the street," said Carrington. "I know some individual Christians are doing it, but I am not aware of any organization that is."

A former printing and publishing businessman, Carrington has over the past few years helped develop the use of the web by YWAM for reporting events at its international outreach at the Atlanta Olympics, and promoting the training available through the mission's University of the Nations.

He says that the anonymity offered by the Internet makes people sometimes more open to discussing issues - such as religious belief - and also provides an opportunity for Christians who may be unable to take part in face-to-face evangelism for one reason or another to share their faith, too.

World events like last month's shooting at a high school in Colorado, United States draw thousands of people to forums, conferences and discussion groups to swap thoughts and opinions - and provide a good platform for Christians to make their contribution.

"Many people out there on the Web are looking for answers. They may have personal problems or concerns, and we have an opportunity to come alongside and befriend them. I heard of one retired man who led several people to the Christ in just a few months by going on line."

Linking the cyber-evangelists in a "CYWAM" team is important, says Carrington. "A lot of Christians shy away from the Internet because of the negative way it is used for things like pornography. And there is a lot of darkness out there, so Christians need to be able to support and encourage one another - much as we would if we sent a team to do ministry in the red light district of some city.

"But as new communities and cultures are formed in cyberspace we have to be there among them, as Christians. Young people especially are rejecting the traditional infrastructures like the Church and turning to the Internet. One futurist has said that in the new millennium young people will be looking for their spiritual answers on the Web."

CYWAM - http://www.unity.net.au/cywam

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