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by Brenda Klemke
"The Internet is hyped as being a useful consumer tool, but let's face it: buying products or services online is often just an amusing novelty. Why else would you use the Web to order a pizza?" --Canadian, May 1998
Being rather new on the web scene, I am still truly amazed at what is possible through this incredible tool. I can plan my vacation - right down to maps, restaurants, hotels and rental cars - while sitting in my own home. I can check weather, ski and road reports with actual, hourly photos of the road I'm going to take.
As you know, however, this tool can also be used for evil. When we first got connected with cyberspace last fall, I was a little leery about bringing it into our home. But a tool is a tool. It's how you use it that makes the difference.
Let me share a story with you, about how God used my early days on the Internet to show me what a powerful tool it is for sharing the gospel.
It had been a hard day. My husband was out of town (again!). The children were at each other (again!). They were finally in bed and I had five minutes to myself (amazing!). I'd been up most of the night taking a friend of my sister's to the hospital after an attempted suicide. I was exhausted, but too wound up to sleep. I decided to play around for a bit with my new computer.
I signed on to America OnLine and started to explore. It wasn't long before I found a Christian women's chat room. Wow - it was kind of neat. I could sit at home in my housecoat, at my own desk, and have a conversation with someone in Georgia, Maine, New York or wherever else without ever leaving home. I sat and watched the conversation unfold and then eventually joined in. As I was playing around, I discovered a list of the screen names for everyone in the room. As I was scrolling through it, my heart skipped a beat. I came across a screen name that gave the indication that this person wanted to commit suicide.
After the night I'd spent at the hospital, I was immediately concerned. I clicked on her name to bring up her profile and a message popped up asking if I would like to send her an instant message. That was new to me. However, I said "yes" and then typed in a question asking her if there was any significance to that name. She indicated that there was, but mostly in the past. We chatted privately for about 45 minutes and I eventually asked her if I could pray for her. Well that was different. I'd never prayed through cyberspace before, but I signed off truly amazed at how God had used me to encourage someone thousands of miles away in the middle of the night. We agreed to talk again the next night.
When I signed on again the next night looking for her, she wasn't there - but one of the first people to enter the chat room I was in said, "Just stopped in here to see if someone could tell me more about God."
"Wow," I thought. "What an opportunity!"
I sent her an instant message, asking her what she wanted to know. "Everything," was her answer. I began to explain to her how she could get to know Him through the Bible and explained how she could begin a relationship with Him. I typed out the whole 4 Spiritual Laws booklet. She was right with me all the way, answering just like in a real conversation. She had to sign off just before I was about to ask her if she'd like to pray with me, but I know that God will bring someone else into her life to pick the very ripe fruit!
I was never able to get in contact with her again, but was again amazed at how God had used me through this incredible tool. (I've since learned how to hyperlink people right to the 4 Spiritual Laws at www.journeyofjoy.com)
Over the next few days, it seemed that every time I went into a chat room, someone was there for me to minister to. Sometimes, it was just someone who had a need that needed prayer. Once, I found a person whose screen name was "Hope'n'4Heavn." Through an instant message, I asked her why she was only "Hope'n" when she could know for sure! I then was able to share with her how to have assurance of her salvation!
One day I spoke to a lady who was very worried about her baby having to have tubes put in his ears. I was able to share with her my experiences with my own son who has had tubes put in about nine times now. I again was able to pray with her and she was so encouraged. We have kept in contact for six months now and her son is doing great!
As you can see, if you are willing, God can use you to reach many people on the Internet who are asking questions. Sometimes they feel a little more comfortable being honest because they are not face to face. If we're not out there answering their questions and being available to help, someone else will!
I think I'll start a new ministry. I'll call it ChWAP - Chatting With A Purpose! Or maybe SWAP - Surfing With A Purpose! Well, maybe not, but you can bet that when I'm out there cruising around, I'll have my eyes open for opportunities to spread the Good News! How about you?
-Brenda Klemke is a child of God, wife of one, and mother of three. Her passion is to share with the people whom God brings into her life, a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and to encourage and exhort Christians to live a life of holiness, spurring them on to accomplish the tasks for which they were created, all for the glory of God. One of the ways she does this is through teaching people how to get into the Word of God and discover for themselves who God is and what He expects from us.
Learn new, interactive ways you can get personal with God's Word. Brenda Klemke shares How to Have an Inductive Bible Study.
