USA (MNN) ― Doug Hutchcraft with Ron Hutchcraft Ministries says 2009 is taking a new direction in evangelizing young people in the United States.
"What we think is exciting is a concept that will bring lost young people out, who might never have heard of the biggest Christian band out there. What they're excited about, at a live event, is coming there, and we take a video that we post on YouTube later, and we'll actually break a Guiness group record. We'll post it later so they can be a part of being a star on YouTube."
Web-based evangelism is generally connected with evangelistic web-pages, which play a critical role in web outreach.
However, the larger picture of web evangelism could be compared to the reference section of the library. The up-front nature of chatrooms then came into existence, which was like the street evangelism. And finally came the social networking sites -- the community and relationship part of evangelism.
Social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace are among the mos- visited sites on the planet. They are a virtual meeting place. Users can contact other people, post blogs, video blogs,and pictures, or discuss issues and interact in many other ways.
Hutchcraft says using social networking sites and other technology takes the Gospel to where the youth are. "We hope to get lost young people to these live events so they become more the star, and they present the truth rather than the typical model. We're excited about that, and we're praying that the Lord will use that model to bring a lot of young people into His kingdom."
RHM is working on a spring Web site launch that will also encompass a new focus on the business people of the community. Hutchcraft says the partnership is essential to the new direction, because the business community can network and raise funds to support the live events.
The plans for growth, he notes, need to be covered in prayer. "Pray that those people who are involved with connecting with the young people would always stay grounded in the Word of God, and that they would be authentic in their love for Christ."
