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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Nature
of the Problem
The Internet, although still considered new by many, was in fact was conceived in the 1960s.[1] No longer "new," the internet is now commonplace in the lives of the majority of North American, Western European, and Australian youth, as well as a growing number of Asian young people. Today's adolescents are familiar with what we call cyberspace, a concept that was first conceived before many of them were, in William Gibson's 1984 book "Neuromancer."[2] The emerging generation of adolescents has grown up using the internet daily, exchanging email, searching for homework answers and help, talking to both real life friends and online virtual friends via instant messenger, and enjoying the accessibility of information at their fingertips.
In the mid to late 1990s, Christian thinkers started publishing the idea that internet ministry was a viable option and should be embraced by the church as a whole in order to stay culturally relevant, and to avoid being passed by on the information highway. The idea of the Church using technology to advance the Gospel was not a new one (think of radio and television programs, for example). Internet evangelism simply stemmed out of other ways of evangelism.[3]
With Generation X (and younger generations), "it's all about relationships,"[4] and incarnational ministry is important. If we want to reach the young adults and adolescents of today, connecting with them through relational and incarnational ministry is key. Youth today want to see the genuineness that incarnational ministry promotes.
One of the
swiftest growing realms on the internet in the past year or two has been in the
area of personal weblogging, especially among youth. Blogs are "a cross between an
online journal and a list of commented links,"[5]
“a frequent, chronological
publication of personal thoughts and Web links.”[6] Weblogs foster virtual communities online, some on the
internet refer to the entire weblogging community as a whole as the
"blogosphere."[7] Weblogs foster the exchange of ideas,
critical thought, the sharing of personal lives, and, importantly, they
cultivate relationships between writers and readers. Weblogs are journals, thus they often hold the thoughts
and daily activities of the writer, or "blogger". With weblogs fostering communication,
relationships, and community, it would seem that they would be an ideal place
on the internet to do ministry. Relational and incarnational ministry, it
seems, have the potential to flourish via weblogging. The online presence of individual Christians is growing through
the continual increasing numbers of webloggers, and through this, the
opportunity for relational ministry is growing.
But, are Christians grabbing hold of the potential of ministry through weblogs, specifically the potential for youth ministry? How are weblogging Christians online fostering relationships? Are they simply developing relationships with other Christians and alienating the non-Christians? Are they creating a distinct Christian weblogging community and alienating themselves from the rest of the online blogosphere?
My preliminary research led me to believe that many weblogging Christians are, in essence, creating a weblogging "bubble," a closed Christian circle that includes only others of "like mind." The average Christian weblog does not seem to welcome non-Christians. While Christian fellowship is happening amongst the Christians, what about the seeker? How is the world of Christian weblogging ministering to him, and how can it be improved?
Significance of the Study
Although weblogging has been around since the 1990s, it took awhile to be noticed and it is still considered to be in it's infancy stages as a new part of the rapidly developing and swiftly changing internet. Because of it's relative newness, there has not yet been much, if any, research done into how Christians are utilizing weblogging as a ministry medium or means of ministry.
The internet is becoming more and more of a presence in the lives of many, especially adolescents, and weblogging is only one realm of this vast net. The popularity of weblogging is increasing steadily, and I believe the potential for ministry is vast via this new medium.
If indeed 51.5% of blogs are created by those between the ages of 13 and 19,[8] it would seem logical that youth ministers should be there, part of the whole "meeting them where they're at" philosophy.[9] It is possible to build relationships and practice incarnational evangelism and ministry on the internet. Youth are thirsting for friendships with adults[10] who will take an interest in them and who they are, helping them grow to the next level and beyond.
If Christians are not grabbing a hold of this vision for ministry outside the Christian community within the blogosphere, then the potential is lost. If Christian webloggers are not interacting outside of their little community of believers, and are just sticking to their own, then they are missing a very important part of the Great Commission. Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations, not to just remain in our own little towns.
Part of this study aims to discover if and how Christians are interacting with non-Christians via blogging, and if youth ministers or those who work with youth have a different approach to weblogging than the "mainstream Christian weblogger." I also want to know if Christian youth workers are interacting with adolescents in this realm at all.
Because very little research has been done in the field of Christian webloggers and their practices, this study is perhaps opening up a new discussion. It is expected that this study will contribute knowledge on weblogging in the field of Christian webloggers and their processes and relational endeavors therein.
Practically, I hope through this study to encourage and facilitate Christian webloggers to reach out via weblogging to Christians and non-Christians through relational and incarnational ministry, especially to adolescent webloggers.
Theoretically, I hope through this study to change the way Christian webloggers are currently interacting online, especially with non-Christian webloggers. Encouraging Christian webloggers to step outside their comfort circle of Christian weblogging may be uncomfortable for many, and they may not understand how to go about doing so.
I also endeavor, through this study, to encourage relationship building via weblogging. If weblogging indeed fosters community, then it also fosters relationships. Promoting healthy relationships between Christian and non-Christian bloggers is key, as it is offline amongst all Christians and non-Christians. "Friendship evangelism" is a big thing amongst the post-modern mindset, and should be important online as well.
Lastly, through what is learnt in this study, I hope to encourage incarnational ministry via weblogging. Incarnational ministry occurs when others see faith as a living reality in one's life, when a genuine faith is evident in the way a Christian lives their life. The evidence of Christ's changing work in you should be evident in a believer, and thus this should be especially evident in a personal journal. People want to read about real life, the good things and the bad, the successes and the failures. Sharing your faith through your writing should flow from within, whether done intentionally or unintentionally.
Purpose Statement
The purpose of this study is twofold, firstly to discover how Christian webloggers are interacting online with themselves and non-Christians webloggers, and secondly, to encourage and facilitate online relational and incarnational ministry via weblogging, especially pointed towards adolescents.
The Research Question
How are Christian webloggers interacting online with themselves and with non-Christian webloggers, and how can relational and incarnational ministry be encouraged with Christian webloggers?
Assumptions
It is assumed that input given by those participating in this study's surveys is accurate. It is also assumed that studies previously done that are cited in this paper are accurate as well.
It will be assumed that incarnational ministry can happen through an electronic medium. It will also be assumed that relational ministry is a biblical concept modeled by Jesus and his disciples in the Bible, and that it is one we should in turn follow.
Limitations
The number of survey responses possible for the Christian Webloggers Survey undertaken as a part of this survey is limited to those seeing online requests promoting the survey and then deciding to participate.
The number of survey responses possible for the Blogging Christian Youth Workers Survey is limited to those contacted personally by the researcher and then deciding to participate.
The term "Christian" as used in the survey titles is open to interpretation by the survey takers, and thus it was expected that participants would be from a wide variety of backgrounds, including but not limited to Evangelicals and Protestants.
Definition of Terms
Adolescents. Those junior high through college aged, approximately being between the ages of 12 and 22 years old.
Blogger. Short for "weblogger."
Blog. Short for "weblog."
Blogroll. A list of blogs usually located on the sidebar of a weblog or sometimes kept on another webpage linked from the main page of the weblog.
Comments. Enabled by the "commenting" feature of a weblog, readers can click on a link (usually at the end of a weblog entry/post) and leave comments for both the blogger and other readers to read. Usually a link like "Comments(2)" would indicate that two comments had been left by readers and/or the blogger, but the commenting link can be customized by the blogger to read something else.
Incarnational Ministry. Living a life deeply rooted in the life of Christ, before others.
Participant. Someone who participated in the surveys undertaken as part of this research.
Relational Ministry. Realizing that that long-term influence with lasting outcome comes from significant relationships and input and investment in the lives of others. Respondent. Same as participant.
Weblog. A online journal or diary, often including commented links. Formatted in a series of entries in reverse-chronological order, so the latest entry/post appears either at the top of the page or is the main page. For the purposes of this study, the terms "weblog" and "blog" include online journals (like those housed on LiveJournal), online diaries (like those housed on Diaryland), and blogs (like those created by Blogger and Movable Type users).
Weblogger. One who writes in a weblog.
Continue on to the Literature Review