Watching the web

As is well known, traditional mainstream media, such as newspapers, are on the wane.

When it comes to being informed, the internet is increasingly king for younger generations. This is old news (in an old medium) and many quarters of the church are already wise to this. There are plenty of online Christian news, review and opinion sites but perhaps none that yet carry the same weight online as the most established evangelical newspapers and magazines do offline. This goes against the grain of the culture at large.

Reformation 21

Into this mix, the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals (http://www.alliancenet.org) — a Reformed organisation that includes R.C. Sproul, John McArthur, Don Carson and many other renowned teachers — has launched a serious monthly ezine (online magazine) that promises, in its own words, to become a ‘go to’ place for pastors and intelligent laypeople. Positive and pastoral, http://www.reformation21.org combines editorial comment on topical matters with related articles, sermons, reviews and — a prerequisite for any new website — a daily blog (weblog). Young as it is, October will see the third edition of the magazine — reformation21 is not yet as comprehensive as it might aspire to be but it will doubtless grow if it proves popular.

Some of the contributors to reformation21 are also involved with IX Marks ministries, a US-based organisation that exists to provide practical resources for pastors and equip leaders and congregations for biblical ministry. Its website, http://www.9marks.org, is a real strength. Among much that is useful, it contains a series of audio interviews with leading evangelicals.

The IX Marks interviews come endorsed by pastor John Piper who listens to them while working out. Mr. Piper is no stranger to good web design. His own site, http://www.desiringgod.org, is a good model of how individual churches can provide sermons, radio, news, and encouragement online.

Stephen J. Doggett

© Evangelicals Now - October 2005
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• The Third Degree
  Forum 2005 - essential
• Monthly media and arts column
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• Letter from America
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• Rising to the challenge
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• To my Muslim friends
• Opening up Ecclesiastes
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