“God’s Power, The Church and Cyberspace” 

The hospital informed June, a young single mother that her nine-year-old Melissa contracted a rare virus that affects the heart. Usual treatments would not be effective. Without a miracle her precious child could die within the next few days. Later that night, alone and feeling especially vulnerable, June gave in to her fears and began to sob uncontrollably. What would she do? Where would she go? The closest relatives were over 500 miles away and she had few friends.

Kathy, a nurse at the same hospital heard about June's situation and after returning home, turned on her computer and went online. First she contacted a regular chat group and asked for prayers. Within minutes a reply appeared suggesting that she take the request to a national prayer web site that would literally reach thousands. Over the next few hours, hundreds of email offers of prayer and support arrived. Kathy printed each one to bring back to the hospital.

John, a pastor in the same community came home and checked his email. One message was from the same web site asking prayers for a young girl. Noticing the similar location, he called a church leader and asked her to contact other members of the church prayer chain. Then he slipped on his coat and rushed to the hospital to be with the little girl and her mother.

Sharon, a virile disease specialist stationed at a hospital in Venezuela also saw the prayer request and had a hunch that she could help the little girl. She emailed her reply to the message: “Please send the phone number of her doctor. An experimental drug just released for testing may be helpful.”  Within minutes she received the phone number and was talking to the doctor. Within an hour the hospital received her fax including detailed treatment instructions.

Early the next day, it was evident that the treatment was beginning to work. Melissa was now in a regular room and was sleeping peacefully. Her mother, June was sitting nearby reading the stack of email notes offering support and prayer. Also in the room were John and several members of the church prayer chain. The atmosphere as if by magic was now full of the healing spirit of God.   

This amazing story describes God’s power at work in a new medium called cyberspace.

The business world has been mesmerized by the profit potential of the Internet, but few people realize how much the digital world is also transforming the nature of the church and how we do ministry. Andrew Careaga, author of E-vangelism: Sharing the Gospel in Cyberspace writes: “On the ‘Net,’ any Christian with a home computer, a modem and access to one of many available online services can be a missionary to thousands of people without ever leaving home.”

Here are some common examples of Christian Cyberspace Ministry:

†       A pastor continues to keep up with those who have moved through email.

†       A Bible Study web site can give thousands a chance to understand God’s Word.

†       A student beginning to explore her faith finds love and acceptance in a cyber chat room.

†       My own devotions reach thousands instantly but also within a few minutes I can answer individual feedback and even offer counseling support.

†       A Single Adult uses a Christian based Singles Ministry Website to meet new friends.

In the early days of the church, the book of Acts reports: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” (2:42) The reminder is that our mission as the church should never change: only our method of transmission. 

Can a Christian web site or email prayer chain ever replace the intimacy of personal contact? Of course not! What the Internet represents is a powerful tool that allows our church to teach, offer fellowship and be in prayer in creative new ways. Just as in the book of Acts we can be filled with awe at the many wonders and miraculous signs being done in the name of Christ. A single mother and her healthy child can certainly attest to that and are no doubt… very grateful.