Often no one knows just where to go for up-to-date information on missionaries, world mission projects, and contacts. MissionNet fills that need with good information on current mission projects and missionary needs. The founder and director, Dr. Ron Smith, was asked to give his story. This is what he said:
Q1) Where did the idea for MissionNet come from? (Make it personal)
A1) What was the motivation behind the project? Why did you start this project and what ministry need do you hope to fulfill with its online presence? About a year ago I started a local bbs called The Mission Board on my home computer. At that time I knew very little of the Internet. I set up the bbs without any help and sent out flyers to every Christian education facility in the country. My decision to start The Mission Board came out of the call for missions in my own life.
Several months later, I dove into the Internet waters without having any knowledge of even what this media was really. Though The Mission Board was minimally effective since most people incurred long distance charges to log on, the Lord used that as a stepping stone for MissionNet, a Christian missions mail list.
MissionNet gained five subscribers the first night I announced its creation. At the present time the subscribership is around 310. MissionNet has been online for just under a year.
The simple underlying goal of this ministry is the facilitation and support of missions activities worldwide.
Q2) Give us a little background about yourself as it relates to the project you would like to share with our readers.
A2) I'm a practicing, board-certified Pediatrician currently living in Decatur, TX, a little town of 4,000 about 40 miles north of the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex. I've been in private practice for nine years. I'm 36 years old, married now 17 years with two beautiful girls, and a lovely wife.
I've been on several medical missions short-term outreaches to Mexico, Guatamala, Nicaragua, and Paraguay. A few years ago I almost went into the mission full time as a medical missionary, but God has had other plans, which include MissionNet.
My parents are retired living in Arkansas, where I was born and raised. My wife's parents live in Alabama on the coast where her father, Gilbert Morris, turns out monthly top-ten fiction works, for Word, Tyndale, and others.
My computer experience began ten years ago when I started my first practice in South Arkansas, and I've continued with it seeing God use it now as tool to till the hearts of men and give them a fresh desire to see people come to Christ as their personal Savior.
Q3) Do you have a mission or purpose statement you would like to share with our readers? Maybe fill it out a little for us?
A3) As I mentioned, MissionNet has a simple goal: facilitate and support mission activities worldwide. I post things in a wide range of topics within that basic underlying quest. I usually don't post prayer requests but do post position needs in the mission field as well and skills people want to use in the mission field.
All postings are fully moderated and have to be approved before the subscribership see them. All subscribers must be approved. I alone do that.
The list is hosted by ICLNet (Institute for Christian Leadership) thanks to Martin Bush.
David Hatch, of Speed The Need, does missionary prayer needs and he and I work together with out lists to support missions.
Q4) What would you like MissionNet to look like say in a year? How are you planning to market its pages and let people know of its whereabouts?
A4) MissionNet is of course free as is Speed The Need. Currently we are expecting our lists to triple or more over the next year. We see our ministries as planned by God, since there really hasn't been a push for missions like this on the Internet that I've ever been able to find.
Currently, Gary Bogart, of Not Just Bibles, and his crew and I are assembling a companion web page, called MissionWeb on the ICLNet host. This project will not only provide quick and easy access to MissionNet archives, but I am believing that it will become THE web resource for missions activities worldwide. Think of being able to point your web browser program and see all the mission organization with their contact persons and addresses and phone numbers as well as their personal missions statements. What a wonderful resource. That is just part of MissionWeb and we hope to have it up and running over the next few weeks. We'll be posting more information when this happens.
Q5) Have any closing comments you would like to share with our readers?
A5) Dr. Smith, says, MISSIONNET..... LIKE THE DINNER TABLE
MissionNet is a blend between a discussion and a news group, a family that chooses to "sit at the table", break bread, listen to each other, and engage in conversation, asking questions, and sharing information. It is a moderated conversation that gently keeps things going in an orderly fashion. Those at the table wish to know one another's names, and fellowship together. 'Tis a wonderful and a growing family. It is a world family, with folks sitting down, coming from far away places. Some have just returned from a journey, others are preparing to go. The centerpiece at the table is not a flower or a bowl of fruit, but the cross. That cross is the pivot point for everyone at the table. They focus on it, and talk of how to take it's message on their journey to far away places. This family has drive, energy, and enthusiasm. They have a deep care for those that do not know of this center-peace, the cross. They gather to speak of taking it's power to folks who hunger. That is neat... slick even. Of late, there has been much conversation at the table! In this family, lot's of chatting means a stirring within... the Spirit at work. There is room at the table for more too. :) Some of them listen for a call to worship over in a chapel...
Q6) How can our online readers get in contact with you if they would like to get involved?
A6) I have several addresses. Currently, you can contact me at the two following addresses, my preference being the first. rsmd@metronet.com ronsmithmd@mission.metronet.com
Address subscribe/unsubscribe requests as follows:
Postings can be sent as email:
Date: Thu, 9 Mar 95 21:26 PST
Dear MissionNet,
I recently joined this group and really enjoy hearing all of the
news from around the world. What a Divine use of technology!
I am currently a student, studying in the field of mass communications. A vision that I have had for quite some time now is one of making documentaries--broadcast quality--about world missions, especially pioneer evangelization. Is there anything like that going on now? Who and where? I feel that it could be a great way of spreading the vision of world evangelization by audio/visually demonstrating how Jesus Christ is above culture, and always in the heart.
Thank you,
Mark,
Keith Seabourn, CLM - Field Services
Mark,
You can contact me directly if you want more information. I work with Sara's sister.
Jim Spelman, Prayer Coordinator
NEW MESSAGE Date: Wed, 8 Mar 95 23:05 PST
Brothers & Sisters,
Our work at the US Center for World Mission (a cooperative mission center serving thousands of mission agencies) brings us in contact with many unusual ideas birthed or fueled by mission field experiences. Our own recent newsletter carried the following article, which has been received with a great deal of interest, so I thought I'd pass it on here as well. I think it fits nicely with the helpful thoughts yesterday regarding the Russian Orthodox Church. I'll be very glad for any feedback on what follows:
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
But be warned: Contextualization isn't just in issue "over there." Careful consideration of the following article may radically change your own attitudes toward a variety of Christian groups and practices.
Robby Butler (robby@wciu.edu)
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SAMPLE OF MISSIONNET MESSAGES:
(Feel free to write them)
Re: Media In Missions? 3/9/95
Sub: Mission Video Support in Singapore
From: Mark Miller
Summer Institue of Linguistics Web Site
Mark Miller
ripp000a@frank.mtsu.edu
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Reply From: Keith Seabourn - CLM
The Summer Institute of Linguistics (Wycliffe) has a web server that contains their ethnologue information. Although this information isn't organized as unreached peoples, it contains lots of data. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to connect lately so there may be a problem or they may be very busy. URL: http://www.sil.org
Email: kseabourn@clm.org OR keiths@iclnet93.iclnet.org
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REPLY From: Jim Spelman <jim@lfa.com>
I have friends who are hired by mission organizations to go into remote, sometimes pioneering places, to produce professional video documentaries on the work for use in mobilizing. Their names are Jim & Sara and their company is Mission Video Support. They are based in Singapore in order to be nearer the action. Their email address is 74171.1752@compuserve.com
FRONTIERS INTERNET:jims@lfa.com
How Important Is The label 'Christian?' 3/9/95
From: robby@wciumac.wciu.edu (Robby Butler)
Organization: William Carey International University
Intro: Contextualization is among the most hotly debated mission issues today. It has been at the core of every successful mission effort throughout history, and yet it makes many people--even missionaries--very uneasy. Robby wrote the accompanying article about Islam four years ago for Mission Frontiers. In recent weeks our staff has discussed the application of these concepts among Buddhists. As we travel , we will be looking carefully at controversial efforts to "contextualize" the gospel among Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims. To help you pray for an effective trip, we are including this brief introduction to an argument for contextualization.
(rest of message can be found in the missionnet archives.)
Director of R&D/Assistant to Dr. Ralph Winter, President
William Carey International University/USCWM
1539 E. Howard St., Pasadena CA 91104
(818) Voice: 398-2266 / Fax: 398-2185
Copyright 1995, Webpage produced and maintained by TCM & Associates, Inc.
Email: rgrothe@tcmnet.com, last updated on July 19, 1995.