Released on: April 3, 2008, 7:26 am

Press Release Author: Internet Evangelism Coalition

Industry: Internet & Online

Press Release Summary: Churches around the world will hold a \'web awareness\' focus
day on April 27.


Press Release Body: \"How can we use this new-fangled Internet thing to share the
gospel?\" Christians are asking. A worldwide \'web evangelism focus day\' is helping to
provide answers. Sunday, April 27, has been designated as Internet Evangelism Day.
Churches can download free materials from the Internet Evangelism Day website. These
varied materials make it easy for churches to create a short presentation about
online outreach on or near that Sunday. They can choose from a PowerPoint, video
clip testimonies, drama scripts, music and handouts to create their own customized
program lasting from one minute to 50.


Church leaders who have already used these materials are excited. \"This is a huge
help for small churches such as ours,\" writes a church leader from California.


The Internet Evangelism Day team emphasizes that web evangelism is for anyone, not
just the technically gifted. \"There are many ways to share your faith online,
without any technical background at all,\" says IE Day Coordinator Tony Whittaker.


Christian leaders are also enthusiastic: \"I am glad to commend Internet Evangelism
Day,\" says Dr. John Stott.


Churches still have time to plan a focus spot on or near 27 April, or at any more
suitable date during the year. More information is available at:
http://ied.gospelcom.net/index.php



Free Church Website Tool Released

The people behind Internet Evangelism Day also provide year-round resources about
online outreach. The ministry explains many ways that Christians can share the good
news, including through church websites. Churches often find it difficult to create
a site that will engage with outsiders in their area, and find themselves asking,
\"How can our church website help us reach out into our community?\"


A new online tool released by IE Day provides churches with a free 15-page
evaluation report. Users assess their own website by answering 55 simple questions.
Their customized report is immediately displayed online, ready to print or save. The
report\'s recommendations are tailored with specific practical suggestions, based on
the questions that were ticked. View the evaluation tool here:
http://ied.gospelcom.net/church-site-design.php


A church site which has been prioritized for non-Christian visitors can be
remarkably effective in reaching the community. \"Week in, week out, more visitors
turn up at our church on a Sunday because of the website, than anything else,\"
writes one growing church in London.


The tool also provides the parable \'A Tale of Two Golf Clubs\' (which is also
available to republish) to illustrate the principles of effective church websites:
http://ied.gospelcom.net/golf-parable.php


Church leaders have welcomed this new resource. \"This competent evaluation tool
provides a valuable service to churches that will help them strengthen their
effectiveness in outreach through the Internet,\" says Dr. Sterling Huston, director
of North American Ministries for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Gary
McClure of LifeWay Ministries agrees, saying, \"This checklist is an invaluable tool
to identify critical areas for improvement. Every church should study this regularly
and act on it!\"


For more information:
http://ied.gospelcom.net/index.php




IE Day is an initiative of the Internet Evangelism Coalition, a group of online
ministries, at Billy Graham Center, Wheaton. It is completely free with NO
fund-raising component.


Email contact: InternetEvangelismDay.com/feedback
Interviews and contacts: InternetEvangelismDay.com/publicity
Photos: InternetEvangelismDay.com/photos
Leaders supporting: InternetEvangelismDay.com/supporting
More article ideas: InternetEvangelismDay.com/free-articles

Web Site: http://ied.gospelcom.net/index.php

Contact Details: Tony Whittaker
+44 1283 702334 (GMT office hours
Email: InternetEvangelismDay.com/feedback