“For the Church the new world of cyberspace is a summons to the great adventure of using its potential to proclaim the Gospel message.”
In 2002 Pope John Paul II used these words to call for the church to think seriously about how we can better use the Internet to reach all the people of the world with the message of Jesus Christ. He speaks with great optimism about the new forum that the Internet provides for social communication. Here are some of his major points:
- The Internet can offer magnificent opportunities for evangelization if used with competence and a clear awareness of its strengths and weaknesses.
- The church approaches this new medium with realism and confidence. Like other communications media, it is a means, not an end in itself.
- By providing information and stirring interest, the Internet makes possible an initial encounter with the Christian message, especially among the young who increasingly turn to the world of cyberspace as a window on the world.
- It is important that the Christian community think of very practical ways of helping those who first make contact through the Internet to move from the virtual world of cyberspace to the real world of Christian community.
He also issued a warning in his message:
The 411
How Connected Are Young People?
Average number of hours that young people (8-18 years old) spend plugged-in each day:
- 3:51 watching TV
- 1:44 listening to music
- 1:02 using the computer
- 0:49 playing video games
- 0:43 reading
- 0:25 watching movies
- 0:53 talking on the phone
New Media Environment:
- 26% of media content reception is due to multi-tasking
- 64% downloaded music
- 48% stream radio
- 66% instant message
- 39% have cell phone
- 34% have DVR/TiVo
- 43% have personal web page
- 18% have personal MP3 player
- 13% palm internet device
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation Report, “Generation M: Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year-olds,” released in March 2005, available at: www.kff.org under Entertainment Media Studies.
The Internet offers extensive knowledge, but it does not teach values; and when values are disregarded, our very humanity is demeaned and we easily lose sight of our transcendent dignity. Despite its enormous potential for good, some of the degrading and damaging ways in which the Internet can be used are already obvious to all.
The use of electronic media for mass communications is not new to the church and interest did not start with Pope John Paul II. It goes back over seventy-five years to the invention of the radio. Pope Pius XI in 1931 used what he called “the remarkable invention of Marconi” to issue the first Papal message by radio “to all nations and to every creature.”
His successor, Pius XII, wrote an encyclical on “Motion Pictures, Radio and Television” in 1957 saying that these “remarkable technical inventions” could be used for “announcing a message to every man…the message of eternal salvation.” He said this message is the same message that St. Paul was called to “preach among the gentiles—the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8-9). Yet he, too, issued an early warning about the use of technology:
In the past century, advancing technical skill in the field of business frequently had this result: machines, which ought to serve people when brought into use, rather, reduced them to a state of slavery and caused grievous harm.
With these dangers in mind, how can we use the Internet as a practical tool of evangelism, especially for young people? How do we move from the land of e-Babel to the land of e-Pentecost and obtain the gift of the Holy Spirit to speak in new tongues to preach to the entire world about the love of God and hope of human redemption that is offered to all through Christ Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection?
The first thing we have to recognize is what John Paul II said about presenting the “initial encounter with the Christian message” in “very practical ways.”
In order to reach young people we have to talk in a language that they understand—just like the Apostles’ message was heard by people of different nations and tongues. While websites, like the vast library that the Vatican website offers, provide tremendous resources for deepening one’s knowledge about the Catholic faith, they are not going to talk to today’s kids. We are not talking about dumbing-down the Gospel message, but expressing the full Gospel in a tongue that young people can understand…like music and rap and blogs and video shorts and flashy websites!
As youth ministry leaders we need to develop local electronic resources for young people. Get your youth to help you to develop:
- Websites
- Pod casts
- Chaperoned chat rooms
- Prayer chains
- Scripture study Blogs
- Video skits
We can also make sure our young people know about some of the better e-vangelizing resources that are already out there in cyberspace.
Before I log off, here are two of my favorite sites that are attempting to e-vangelize young people:
Enter an online discussion about this article with the author and other NACYML members. In your conversation, you might want to consider or respond to the following:
For Reflection
What are the various ways in which media and technology have enhanced your ministry with young people. How do you utilize technology to reach out to young people you may not otherwise encounter?
1 Message of the Holy Father for the 36th World Communications Day - "Internet: A New Forum for Proclaiming the Gospel," Sunday, May 12, 2002, available on www.vatican.va
2 Ibid., I have added the emphases.
3 Radiophonicum nuntium Qui arcano, 12 February, 1931: A. A. S., vol. XXIII, 1931, pg. 65, cited in Miranda Prorsus below.
4 Miranda Prorsus, Pius XII, September 8, 1957, available on www.vatican.va.
5 Ibid.
6 The essentials of the Apostolic Kerygma is traced through quotes from Scripture as listed in Wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerygma
Email NACYML News at nacyml@nfcymoffice.org