WHEATON, ILLINOIS (ANS) -- Christians often ask: "How can we use this new-fangled Interweb thing to share the good news? " A worldwide 'web evangelism focus day' is helping to provide answers.

Sunday 27 April has been designated as Internet Evangelism Day. Churches can download free materials from the Internet Evangelism Day website, enabling them to create a short presentation within their activities on that day. A PowerPoint, video clips, drama scripts, music and handouts can be used to create a customized program lasting from one minute to 50.

Churches 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.

One surprising aspect that the IE Day team emphasize: 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 can start planning their focus day now. More information: InternetEvangelismDay.com

Free Church Website Tool Released

Internet Evangelism Day is also a year-round resource about online outreach. It 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.

"How can our church website help us reach out into our community?"

A new online tool has been released by IE Day, which provides churches with a free 15-page evaluation report. Users assess their own website by answering 55 simple questions in the tool questionnaire. Their customized report is immediately displayed online, ready to print or save. Its recommendations are tailored with specific practical suggestions, based on the questions that were checked.

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 UK.

The tool also provides the parable 'A Tale of Two Golf Clubs' (which is available to republish) to illustrate the principles of effective church websites: www.InternetEvangelismday.com/golf

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, North American Ministries, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

"This checklist is an invaluable tool to identify critical areas for improvement. Every church should study this regularly and act on it!" said Gary McClure of LifeWay Ministries.

Interviews: www.InternetEvangelismDay.com/publicity  
Photos: www.InternetEvangelismDay.com/photos  
Leaders supporting: www.InternetEvangelismDay.com/supporting  
More article ideas: www.InternetEvangelismDay.com/free-articles      

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael's involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) -- of ACT International at: Artists in Christian Testimony (ACT) International. His weblog appears at: Michael Ireland Media Missionary.