October 7, 2002
East Texas pastor keys in to global witness through Internet evangelism
___By Marv Knox
___Editor
___MARSHALL--Any Christian with access to the Internet can become an international evangelist, an East Texas pastor insists.
___Sitting at his computer in Marshall, Bob Williford has explained his faith in Christ with people around the globe.
___Williford, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, has presented the gospel to people from as far away as China, Japan, Jordan, Russia and Thailand in the seven months he has practiced what he calls "Internet evangelism."
___Williford's tool is instant messaging, a computer program that allows people to "chat"--to write back and forth to each other in real time--on the Internet.
___Internet messaging programs are free, easy to use and can be downloaded over the Internet, he said.
___"Internet evangelism is possible over any instant messaging program if done prayerfully and under the leadership of the Holy Spirit," Williford said. He spends about 16 to 20 hours a week online, primarily in evangelistic chats with people around the world.
___Williford advises prospective Internet evangelists first to become proficient in conducting instant messaging conversations and then to pray that God would "lead you to the person with whom he has already dealt."
___The major instant messaging programs provide directories that allow participants to locate other prospective chatmates in other countries, he said, noting Americans often receive a positive response to an invitation to chat. ___"Many (people overseas) are trying to learn English, and chatting with an English-speaking person helps," he reported.
___Patience is a virtue in Internet evangelism, Williford said. "Once you make contact with someone overseas, it is vital that you become friends, which may take several chats," he explained. "Remember, all they have to do is click a button and break the contact, cutting you off completely. You must be careful to maintain your friendship in order to be a witness to them."
___Making and maintaining that friendship happens through the same channels as normal friendship, like discussing common interests, affirming the friendship and showing interest in the cares of the other person.
___And perhaps even more than in face-to-face friendship, demonstrating trustworthiness and earning the confidence of a chatroom friend is important, he said. "There are a lot of kooks out there, and many computer users are skeptical at first."
___Williford developed a chatting friendship--and evangelistic opportunity--with a young man from Shanghai, China, because his new friend wanted help learning English.
___"After helping him on several occasions, I offered my congratulations on his ability and use of English," Williford recalled. "Then I asked if he had any books in English. I asked if he had a Bible. He said he had neither."
___Williford offered to send the young man a Bible in contemporary English, which he accepted. The pastor sent the man a copy of "Good News for Modern Man," a New Testament in easy-to-understand English. He keeps his own copy on his computer desk so he can find passages quickly when the two friends discuss what the Scriptures mean.
___Williford recommends offering English Bibles to overseas chatroom friends. He also usually includes a simple gospel tract with the Bible.
___"It is important for them to understand that what I am going to send them is a Bible, not just some book in English," he said. "By their knowing this, they begin immediately to anticipate receiving the gift, and the Holy
Spirit begins to deal with them in a more positive way as they wait."
___Although some countries ban the importation of Bibles, Williford always lists the contents on the customs form as "book," and he has not had any packages intercepted.
___Chatroom friends who receive Bibles usually are eager to begin reading, he said. And often, they ask where to start.
___"I always favor the Gospel of John," he said. "Watch out for those genealogies, the 'begats' (in the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew). They will quickly cool an interest."
___The Holy Spirit provides a sure guide to discussing eternal issues of faith and salvation with chatroom friends, Williford said.
___"Remembering that they may be part of some other religion, I try never to discuss 'religion,'" he said. "I just let the Holy Spirit speak to them through the Scriptures. He does a wonderful job of that. Just give him room."
___After he sent a Bible to a student in Jordan, the young man's English teacher asked his class if anyone had books in English. "He told her about the book from America, in English," Williford recounted. "He was permitted to read to the class from 'Good News for Modern Man.'"
___Williford suggests keeping a copy of the Sinner's Prayer near the computer so it can be typed out for a chatroom friend to pray when he or she wants to receive Christ as Savior. Some want to read the prayer in their native language. "This is all right, he said. "God understands all languages."
___Even when a chatroom friend becomes a Christian, the work of the witness is just beginning.
___"There is more to the Great Commission" than evangelism, he advised. "Jesus also said we must teach them. ... Follow-up is vital, and you may very well be their only contact with Christianity. They will need your help, possibly for a long time.
___"Be loving, be patient, be helpful. Babes in Christ need tender food. It is up to you to nourish them in their new life in Christ. Helping them understand the Scriptures will be the best way to help. Keep in touch with them, and always be ready to answer questions."
___Williford conceded Internet evangelism also can work with chatroom friends from America. "It just seems," he said, "that people of other countries are more hungry for the word of God."
___Like any missionary anywhere, Williford requests prayer for his ministry. "It is definitely a work in progress."
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