Find Others Who Need to Know—on the Internet!
While some people might not feel comfortable walking up to a stranger and asking them questions about the Lord, they might Google a question like “Who was Jesus?” Their inquiries can lead them to web sites full of information about Jesus, how they can begin a relationship with Him, advice for the purpose of discipleship, and real-life stories written by people who have been where they are.
Helpful Information to Include on Your Evangelism Web Site
1. Who Was Jesus?
- Include information on these three things about Jesus:
- prophetic claims about the coming Messiah from the Old Testament and how Jesus fulfilled them
- the character of Jesus
- how Jesus saves/how the reader can be saved
- Include contact information so new believers can write with their questions or prayer needs—and so you can encourage them in their new life!
2. Write Your Own Salvation Stories
- Jesus related to people through stories and parables. Include the real-life stories of people whose lives have been changed by the Lord. A lengthy theological dissertation might not interest visitors to your web site, but a story about how a former drug-addicted homosexual gave his life over to Jesus and became a Sunday School teacher will capture their attention.
- You can easily shadow a good message with confusing or intimidating language—limit or explain the “religious” language you sprinkle throughout your web site. For more information on avoiding “Christianese,” read the tips below.
Pointers for Writing: Avoid Language Barriers
When you write your own salvation story or include a forum or web page with other peoples’ salvation stories, consider what a barrier “religious” language can be for many. Consider these two stories:
1. My Testimony
Before I got saved, I always gave in to my sin-nature. It almost cost me my life one day when I was grieving the Spirit of the Lord, driving drunk down a country back-road. Luckily, when I wrecked my car into a tree, the paramedic who pulled me out was a born-again, Bible-believing Christian brother who witnessed to me, telling me all about being washed in the blood so I could be saved and start walking the straight road.
The next day I felt a burden in my heart for my unsaved friends that I had never experienced before. Not long after, I got the call to share the good news by starting up a ministry to other lost people in bondage to the evils of alcohol. Now my heart’s cry is that God would lead me to share my testimony with sinners, learn the Word, and walk in the Spirit every day.
2. Rock Bottom at Bob’s Roadhouse
Man, I’ve messed up everything, I thought to myself in a haze, hunched over my umpteenth drink at Bob’s Roadhouse. Cindy was getting ready to break up with me, I lost another job, and my brother was mad that I still hadn’t paid back that money I’d borrowed from him. I grabbed my keys off the scratched bar and took off down the road in my pickup. I don’t remember driving my truck into a tree that night, but I do remember the paramedic who pulled me out of my truck.
“Listen, guy,” he said, “do you know who Jesus is?”
I pictured a frowning guy in blue robes who didn’t much want to hang out with a messed-up drunk. I had always figured hanging out with Jesus meant I had to stop having fun. Then I thought about how coming to work drunk had already cost me two jobs, which really wasn’t too fun. I remembered how I’d wronged Cindy so many times and that I owed my brother hundreds of dollars. My life was a wreck—surely Jesus couldn’t make it worse.
Then I heard that paramedic’s voice again, “…you can’t even believe how much He loves you. He’ll forgive you for everything: driving drunk, hurting people you love, there isn’t anything that Jesus won’t take care of. All you have to do is ask Him to forgive you, tell Him you want Him to take control of your life, and He’ll do it.”
I froze when I thought about that. Jesus loved me? He would forgive anything I’d ever done, just wipe me clean, from mistreating Cindy to drinking my life away? Even though I hadn’t cried since I was a kid, tears welled up in my eyes at the thought. I felt such a load begin to lift from me as I cried out, “That’s what I need! Jesus, forgive me!”
These are two different versions of the same fictional story. The first version is written using religious language and might not be understood by people who didn’t grow up in church. The second version is more personal and avoids the “churchy” language that can be off-putting to many. Limit your “Christianese.” Make your story personal, but keep it simple!
What’s Next?
Jesus didn’t call us to “catch-and-release” evangelism; He called us to make disciples. New believers will have questions and some will face the temptation of their former lives. People who make the decision to follow Jesus might want to know the following things:
- Where to get a Bible.
- Your church could create a fund for providing new Christians with Bibles. A special touch would be to write the date of their decision in the front.
- Let them know who can help them if they have questions about what they read. If your church is smaller, the pastor might volunteer for this job. For a larger church, members of a Bible-savvy volunteer staff might help.
- How to get plugged in with other believers.
- Sunday School offers one of the best opportunities for new believers to meet other believers and begin learning God’s Word.
- Introduce them to people who will become their friends and their much-needed support system.
- Where to go with questions about their new life.
- Long-time Jesus-followers who are gifted in counseling can begin the discipleship process by being available for new Christians’ questions.
- A “New Believers” Sunday School class can help them meet other people like them while learning together in an atmosphere of sound doctrine.
- How to get involved in church.
- Encourage new Christians (all Christians!) to serve the church in some way. The Bible teaches that we all have gifts that are to be used to edify our church body. Remind them that God will bless them as they bless others.
- Promote service opportunities constantly, reminding them of needs in the church and community. Use our outreach ideas if your church needs some vision in how to reach your community.
Helpful Evangelism Links
People who come to your web site might want more information about Jesus. View these web sites or link to them from your own evangelism page. (Although it is usually okay to link to someone, they might like to know you’re linking to them—and they might just link back!—so go ahead and let them know you are doing so.)
- Find Jesus
- Evangelism Explosion
- Servant Evangelism
- Effective Evangelism
- Evangelism Toolbox
- Child Evangelism Fellowship
