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Asian Internet Bible Institute. Presentation for the Encarnacio Network Conference. Who Am I ?. John Edmiston – bible-teacher and cybermissionary. President of the Asian Internet Bible Institute. Married to Minda , a botanist from the Philippines.
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Asian Internet Bible Institute Presentation for the Encarnacio Network Conference
Who Am I ? • John Edmiston – bible-teacher and cybermissionary. • President of the Asian Internet Bible Institute. • Married to Minda , a botanist from the Philippines. • Australian, just spent 3 years in Manila, now live in LA, spend lots of time in Asia. • Have interests in Urban Missions, Globalization, Christian Politics and issues in Science and Technology. • Now officially with the Assemblies of God in Southern California.
Quick Overview • Online bible and theological training – www.aibi.ph • Internet cafes among unreached people groups – self-funding mission bases. • Web Portal for Holistic Ministry (under development) • Cybermissions – using the Internet for evangelism, discipleship and missions.
Online Training • Vision is to enable pastors in urban areas to access free / low cost online bible and ministry training via the Internet. • Can remain in their ministry context. • AIBI mainly reaches “new generation” pastors and Christian business men who are the “movers and shakers” in their communities. • The numerous icafes in Asia provide a ready venue for delivery of materials. • Ebooks can be hundreds of pages long and download in just 5 minutes on a dial-up connection.
Online Training 2 • Harvestime Church-Planting materials – 21 modules, TEE format, over 100,000 graduates (from Harvestime Institute) in 50 countries. In English, Spanish and Thai, Tagalog under translation. • 18 short courses on topics such as Globalization, Urban Ministry, Christian Sexuality, Prayer, Post-Denominationalism • Find online at www.aibi.ph
Internet Cafes • Icafes of 21 donated recycled computers. • 3 –5 workers per icafe supported by revenue. • Icafe placed in a UPG as a small business. • Friendship evangelism and community work • Helps bridge the digital divide. • Ideal for urban communities around the 20,000 to 150,000 mark that need connection to cyberspace.
Internet Cafes 2 • Can double as a student center or distance learning venue. • Use Linux on server/firewall to reduce attacks, client machines run Windows. • Requires strong entrepreneurial leadership, plus a good technician and also someone focused on ministry to the UPG. • Has operated successfully in a few different nations and cultures. • See www.ac4.org or www.techmission.org
Holistic Ministry Web Portal • Designed to help local churches deliver practical holistic ministry to their local communities. • Centralizes “best practice” models so they do not have to reinvent the wheel. • Knowledge, Best Practice, Practical How To, Connections • Will work in combination with WEA Global Connect, WIN International, AIBI and Pangea Foundation among others. • Still in design stage, hope to have a prototype in operation by December
Cybermissions • The intentional use of computers and the Internet to facilitate the Great Commission. • Internet Evangelism – working with TWR – NEA to reach China’s 80 million Internet users with the gospel. • Designing Internet based follow-up for other radio ministries. • Creating specialized online discussion groups for people reaching UPGs. • Online counselling and discipleship
Cybermissions 2 • Run a 12-week online course in Cybermissions. • Cybermissions can reach “closed” countries for Jesus. • Web based, email, chat rooms, forums, discussion boards, egroups etc. • Online-offline synergies can increase effectiveness. • Tends to reach community leaders who can then reach others. • Need both techie types and ministry types. • See www.cybermissions.org