Roger, in response to your question: Those of you who have dabbled in these networks, what opportunities do you see for evangelism or Christian community?
I was “dabbling” before I found MyChurch, and always saw it as a ministry, even to the point that my first thought about MyChurch was “Why would I want to go there?” Now that I'm here though I love it and find it to be equally a ministry, but of an entirely different kind, like the difference between ministering in a church and ministering in the “marketplace.”
For example, when I posted my blog on Why Biblical Guidance Doesn't Work it generated the following comments on another site, where I have a fairly wide readershp of both Christians and nonChristians, although most of my posts are about Christian life. (Notice the sharp contrast to comments here on MyChurch to the same blog):
Comment 1: If more ministers (and other titles) spoke of the things you write, I would be inclined to attend church. From me, that's saying quite a lot. I so enjoy your blog!
Comment 2: Now if you'd just move to Florida and start a church I don't think I'd ever want to leave it. Your messages always lift me up, make me think, and cause me to immediately share. I thought I'd grown too cynical, but I was wrong.
I was able to share with both of these readers the names and addresses of churches in their areas with whom I share a similar theology, and #2 responded as follows:
Thanks for the information . . . I discovered today that my daughter lives only two blocks from College Park Baptist Church. My husband and I were driving over to her house this afternoon (she's on vacation and we've been feeding her cats), and just as we turned onto Drive from , I noticed College Park Baptist. I'd seen it before, but never thought of visiting. I checked out their website and listened to some of 's sermon from last Sunday. I enjoyed what I heard. College Park is considered the “hip, young, and bohemian” part of town – my daughter wouldn't live anywhere else ;> We will definitely visit and I'll give a full report. Thanks again.
All that to say, yes, these networks are definitely mission fields, where we can reach all kinds of people, and lots of them, in an environment they find nonthreatening. So many people are seeking spiritual truth but have become disenchanted with the Church as they have known it.
I have noticed many of the trends you mention here, particularly pertaining to age, social status, and site popularity. Thanks for an interesting post, Roger, and welcome to MyChurch!