Amazingly, 86% of people in the world today have used on-line social networking (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and 46% use it daily. In China, the numbers are 97% and 54% (North America 83%, 50%). The time people spend using on-line social networking is growing and already exceeds that for email in many countries. Globally, 61% of on-line users access digital content daily, more than TV (54%), radio (36%), newspapers (32%), or magazines (14%). The way that people communicate with others and access information is changing rapidly (www.DiscoverDigitalLife.com).

   500 years ago our communication culture changed from oral to print. 50 years ago it changed from print to TV. Now it is changing to a digital communication culture (www.InternetEvangelismDay.com).

   This has many implications for Christians and how they share the Gospel message. No matter how much the world changes, everyone still has the same problem: our rebellion against God separates us from God. How will people hear that Jesus has fully paid the penalty for our rebellion, offering everyone a restored relationship with God and eternal life in heaven?

   Some thoughts about our digital age:

   1) The digital communication culture is closer to an oral culture, in that it is more story and dialog based (www.InternetEvangelismDay.com). Jesus used story based communication with the many parables he told (example: Mark 4:2-10). Jesus also used personal dialog to tell others about God such as with the woman at the well (John 4:7-30).

   2) Christ’s words about letting our light shine, and not hiding it, still apply in a digital world (Matthew 5:14-16). Christians have opportunities to tell others about Jesus while on-line as well as at other times.

   3) People are coming to faith by hearing about Jesus from their on-line friends. Some of these on-line friends live on another continent and they may never meet in person.

   4) Christians often look on-line to find a nearby physical church at which to worship.