Some Networks are Itching to be Born

Efforts to use the Internet for evangelism among followers of one of the world’s largest unreached religions have been rising almost unnoticed in recent years across a huge swath of ministries. Very little collaboration was taking place. An enterprising group of internet evangelism ministries convened an alliance to bring together these practitioners in a neutral atmosphere with good facilitation. That alliance, now in its fifth year, is a glowing success with practical work groups formed to move forward strategic, but commonly shared, concerns. Many partnerships have resulted – and the gospel is advanced in powerful ways.

Regional Efforts Aided by a Network “Tune-Up”

Even regional evangelism partnerships that have been running for many years can discover that, in fact, participation by regional partner organizations has slipped, connections with funders are fractured, and the need for a large overhaul is necessary. One regional strategic evangelism partnership among an unreached people group is experiencing new life as it rebuilds its network aspects: attaining new levels of openness, jettisoning over control in some areas, and broadening its leadership structure.

Embrace and Extend: Far Better than Duplication

The creative team of a media outreach ministry spent considerable funds and time developing a mobile downloadable Bible in an unreached language – that is, a complete Bible that can be read on a cell phone. A strong effort… except that basic research would have shown them that working models of this had already been done by several other ministries. The gap has prompted a concerted effort for mobile evangelism ministries and agencies to be in touch with each other. A network has been formed – with a large email list group – focused on connecting practitioners in this rapidly expanding field of international digital evangelism.

Conference becomes Network and Multiplies

For years the “Reaching Japanese for Christ” National Conference was an unparalleled gathering of those interested in evangelism among Japanese nationals in the US. But the focus on this “event” did little to connect members to one another other than through informal conversations.

RJC leaders made a commitment to transform RJC into a network, empowering linkages between its members. The practical result? RJC members spawned regional networks in several other locations and more are being formed, more than tripling the reach of the RJC and generating new levels of training and linkages of people in ministry among Japanese nationals.