Jesus Net Japan Exemplifies Internet Evangelism Day 2012, Set for April 29
Seeker-Friendly Web Sites Deliver Hope to Millions Rocked by Disasters
By Michael Ireland
Senior International Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN (ANS) -- Internet Evangelism Day is observed on the fourth Sunday of April each year, and is designed to draw attention to the tremendous role the Internet plays in society.
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Why Jesus? is the third and final seeker-friendly 'stepping stone' web site operated by Jesus Net Japan. The site features a five-week course supervised by 'e-coaches,' and culminates in an invitation to a gospel meeting and connection to a local church in Japan.
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Nearly 400 years ago ruling shoguns martyred thousands of Christians and banned the faith from the island nation.
As a result, today Japan is vaguely religious, yet outwardly secular and materialistic, with a Christian population of less than 1 percent and most churches composed of only a few dozen members.
But following last year's cataclysmic earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, many Japanese who faced life's tough questions that religious syncretism -- a general amalgamation or merging of several religions -- simply cannot answer are open to the Christian gospel.
Now they're finding answers, of all places, online.
Among seeker-friendly websites sponsored by Jesus Net Japan are Hope for Living, Knowing God and Why Jesus?
Jesus Net Japan, a Japan-based Internet evangelism ministry with an arm in the U.S., has crafted a series of web sites specially designed to help meet the massive needs of spiritual seekers who want to know about God. Through this ministry, Japanese Christians connect these seekers to strong local churches.
The powerful example of the Web's ability to share the gospel is the focus of Internet Evangelism Day on April 29, which will be the culmination of Digital Outreach Month.
"People with a heart for Japan, for evangelism and for the application of technology to the furtherance of the gospel really identify with this tremendous cause," said Christian Zebley, U.S. spokesman for Jesus Net Japan.
"The Japanese are a very private people; it's very unlikely that they would ask a stranger -- even someone they know is a Christian -- such personal questions as who God is or how they can be saved," he said.
"The Internet lets them learn about God and His plan for salvation in a way that is comfortable for them and respectful of their culture. We believe this is the long-awaited moment for harvest in Japan."
Hope for Living introduces visitors to disaster survivors' stories that illustrate how they have been strengthened by faith in God, or how they got to know Jesus amid their turmoil. The site also contains prayers and words of hope to encourage those who are afraid, tired, lonely or going through difficult times.
The next web site "stepping stone," Knowing God, introduces inquiring users to the gospel, helping them understand the concept of monotheism and the fact that for Christians, the God of the Bible is the one, true God.
Why Jesus?, the final web site, is an interactive course led by "e-coaches" to assist seekers during the five-week experience, at the end of which they invite them to a gospel meeting and help connect them to a local church.
"One of the primary goals of evangelism is to meet people where they are and introduce them to Jesus," said Andy Game, Jesus Net Japan director.
"The Japanese are huge consumers of digital technology. If we want them to know that they matter to Jesus, we need to meet them where they live. Much of that is online," he said.
Jesus Net Japan is part of Jesus.net, a worldwide movement of more than 40 national and international ministries. The vision of Jesus.net is to use interactive websites to share the "good news" of Jesus Christ with Internet users of the 35 most popular languages on the Internet.
In the coming decade, the goal of this ministry is to expose 250 million people to the gospel and help 25 million people come to Christ.
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| ** Michael Ireland is the Senior International Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can make a donation online under 'Donate' tab, then look for 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' under 'Donation Category' to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' Michael is a member in good standing of the National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Newswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior International Reporter |
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