African Christian Guide: online evangelism strategies to reach black Africa with the gospel of God

Reaching Africa using the Internet

Web evangelism strategies for African Christian outreach

"Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle."
Psalm 144:1

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The Internet is a powerful medium to reach the rapidly-growing generation of computer-using in sub-Saharan black Africa as well as the Arab North. At the end of 2002, there were nearly 6 million web users in Africa, which could grow to 30 million in 2005. This may seem small in comparison with the total population, but it is increasing rapidly.

Of course there are great inequalities in wealth and opportunity, with half the continent not having clean drinking water, Nevertheless, students, professional and business-people are turning to the Web in high numbers. These are a key group, often hard to reach by other means. Companies such as Africa Online are building Internet Cafes across the continent. Even school-children with limited income in their mid-teens, living in small market towns, are emailing us frequently!

However, the Web can only be used effectively when we understand the nature of this medium. Just as TV is not radio with pictures, so the Internet is not just a way of delivering tracts on a computer monitor. Unlike radio, TV and literature – which are "push" mediums – the Internet is a "pull" medium which draws people in – but only on the basis of what interests them.

It is therefore a waste of time merely to create web-pages explaining the Gospel – because most Africans are not searching for such pages. Different strategies are explained in this Guide, which are being already being used to effectively reach millions around the world. In particular, we believe that the 'Bridge Strategy' is the one which can best touch African web users, by providing pages within many areas of general interest. Sadly, there are very few evangelistic pages written for African readers in either English or French. This is also an opportunity for African Americans to minister directly to Africa.