Why God’s Church Uses the Internet to Preach the Gospel

Technology has always been a mainstay of God’s Work. During the twentieth century, preaching the gospel was primarily accomplished by television and radio. With these media, popularity was measured by the size of local markets, ranging from several thousand to many millions. The Internet has forced a shift in thinking. Local markets measured in the millions (or much less) have been replaced with a global market totaling nearly two billion—and rapidly expanding!

Even in the early stages of God’s twentieth-century Work, Mr. Armstrong and his assistants were quick to employ the latest technologies. God’s Church has always been willing to explore and employ the most effective means available—from the early printing press to modern high-speed color printers. This also included additional means of doing the Work, such as public campaigns, which were later replaced by Public Bible Lectures, with the very successful Plain Truth Newsstand Distribution Program still later.

Over time, radio was largely supplanted by television. Once Mr. Armstrong fully understood the power of this visual medium, he moved quickly to take advantage of this new technology. This shift was adopted early—even before television was the primary entertainment source. The pattern of adopting “cutting-edge” technologies had been established. By the time TV blanketed the nation, God’s servants were already skilled in how to effectively use it for the furthering of the gospel. This put them “ahead of the game” in a powerful way!

Over the course of Mr. Armstrong’s ministry, radio and television carried his voice into homes around the world. God inspired His servant to embrace new technologies that were the most effective means of doing the Work at that time—obviously because this was the way to reach the most people.

Today, the Internet has become the most successful medium the world has ever seen. It has grown faster than any before it. In nearly three decades, its “population” is approaching the two billion mark, with many additional millions using it each year. It is now officially the world’s largest communication medium, except for television during primetime.

This technology has already taken the gospel into all 193 countries of the world—and all reachable territories—and in an unprecedented comprehensive way. Unlike radio or television, the costs to reach every country are minimal—not millions of dollars. Never has God’s Church been supplied with a method to preach “all things” to “all nations” both instantly and so inexpensively!

The Internet Today

Some statistics about the Internet will help the reader understand how many people it reaches and how widespread is its use.

Since 2000, the size of the Internet has more than quadrupled—and the trend shows no signs of slowing. As of March 2009, the Internet hosts nearly 1.8 billion users, the majority of which originate from Western nations. However, its popularity is growing rapidly in parts of the world in which God’s Work had been prevented from reaching in the last century (such as China). It is also reaching other prophetically important parts of the world. In the European Union, for example, nearly 50 percent of citizens have Internet access.

However, the Internet’s size is not the whole story. It is also quickly becoming the primary source for knowledge and information.

In 2008, the three major television networks lay claim to about 23 million viewers combined for their nightly news programs. In comparison, in late 2007, 71 percent of Americans received their news online!

Another poll revealed that over 45 percent of 18- to 54-year-olds turn to the Internet for news and entertainment, rather than television. This same poll asked, “If you could select only two media sources, which would you choose?” In every age group, the Internet was their number one choice. Not only do most people prefer the Internet, it dominates their media time. On average, Americans spend 77 percent more time online than watching television.

Further investigation reveals this interesting fact: Approximately 70 percent of those polled watch television while multitasking—doing other things. Of this number, 66 percent are also online. In other words, the majority of those watching television are likely not paying close attention!

Another study indicated that 83 percent prefer the Internet over newspapers for their daily news. Never mind that information online is much more current than any newspaper or most television. The result: Newspaper subscriptions drop each year, but visitors to newspaper websites jumped 21 percent in 2005—and more in 2006.

This has forced major newspapers to shift much of their focus online. Increasingly, other large corporations have come to understand that the Internet is the future of ALL media!

Large organizations such as Disney have begun using their television programs and advertising to support their online efforts. Others, such as Proctor & Gamble and Unilever, are using the Internet to expand their products. They have created specialty websites demonstrating new and interesting ways their products can be used. Like the avalanche of evidence already cited, this is another sign that the world recognizes its focus is no longer on television.

Of course, this does not mean the complete end of video or traditional television programs. Even major broadcast networks understand there is still a demand for these programs.

Radio is also not immune to the Internet shift. A company that measures radio audiences released a report showing listeners could fall between 85 and 94 percent by 2010. This is a catastrophic drop.

Cost savings and the general effectiveness of the Internet should be obvious. And these statistics are not lost on God’s Church, which would be expected to adjust accordingly. The Internet’s potential is nearly endless. Effectively using this tool is one reason God’s Work has experienced unprecedented growth year after year—and for minimal cost!

Similar to popular Nielsen Ratings, the Internet has many rating sites to compare the effectiveness, or scope, of one website to another. The most popular of these rates our site, rcg.org, highly among all Church of God websites.

A Final Look at Television

Imagine if Mr. Armstrong were alive and understood the Internet’s reach. Imagine he could be told there was a method to do the Work that could reach every country in the world—on a daily basis!—and that this medium allowed vast numbers of magazines, books, booklets, articles, lessons, broadcasts and even video to reach those countries. Now imagine his reaction when told this technology was virtually free!

Should any doubt what he would do?

Aside from the staggering costs of television and radio, and the public shift, there are other important reasons these media are antiquated and why it is foolish to value them above the Internet.

Television—like movies—has become a source of entertainment. The major networks feed society’s desire for entertainment, not news! Time slots for purchase are few and far between. This leaves only specialty “fringe” channels selling airtime.

Even if major broadcast networks were available and affordable, the Internet still greatly overshadows them in exposure. For instance, 30 million viewers are considered great ratings. However, that is during the most expensive timeslots, which are far out of any splinter group’s reach.

Consider that the Super Bowl has an average viewing audience of just over 90 million worldwide. Access to that audience comes at a huge price. A 30-second commercial was $3 million in 2010! Albeit the most-watched program each year, the Super Bowl reaches only a fraction of those connected to the Internet.

Then, what television channels are affordable? Only specialty channels with tiny audiences, yet still costing millions of dollars per year. This is a waste of God’s tithes. The splinters continue to focus on a medium that reaches, in comparison, an infinitesimal market at an enormous cost. This is further evidence Christ does not lead these organizations!

The Internet exposure to a vast and growing number of users is not only larger than television and radio, but much more effective. It is the media bias associated with television news that has driven many to the Internet for information. When people want breaking news, they turn to the Internet. When they want world events explained, they turn to the Internet. When wanting to understand virtually any topic, they do the same. By properly utilizing this medium, The Restored Church of God provides over a million answers each month.

The most receptive, responsive person is one who is searching for spiritual information. He is already looking for answers. Our websites literally “have it all.” This is in part because the Internet also permits us to “archive” everything we have ever done in one location—for free!—something never possible in Mr. Armstrong’s time!

God’s Church is not passively hoping people will tune in to a television program that runs in the wee hours of the night at relatively great annual cost. Christ has shaped and directed technology to expand His Work. It is not only the most effective medium the world has ever seen, again, its massive impact costs virtually nothing!

Why do so few grasp this?

Never has God’s Church been blessed with such a comprehensive tool to “preach the gospel unto all nations.” Imagine the potential with even small additional numbers willing to support it.

The way that people find God’s truth has changed. God’s Church must change with it. We have. Truly, God has planned and developed the Internet as the principal tool to finish the remainder of His powerful “short work” (Rom. 9:27-28)!