As the end of 2006 approaches, it is good to review the year. Numerous requests came in after I started advertising using Google adwords. Some of these were interesting and relatively easy to fullfil. Some were looking for other missionaries or agencies to connect with. A surprising number were looking for finances or funding. This could be due to the fact that I focussed on advertising in sub-Saharan Africa. I didn't know what to do with these, except perhaps advise them to start a website and blog so that, if they did email people, these people would have something to look at.
In looking over at how I operate, I wondered about a few things. Should I use a forum to track requests and answers? The advantage of that is that others could more easily provide answers, other than myself. Also, it would give interested people something to look at before they submitted a request. At present, my privacy policy is that I don't share submitted information with any third party.
A forum could be hosted on a free site such as proboards.com, or it could be placed directly on my website. This option would double my yearly cost for the website, which I don't want to do right now. Also, some of those requesting live in creative access countries and wouldn't want their requests, names or emails published. For this reason alone, it is probably best not to use a forum.
The other option would be to put this blog on my website, but since it isn't essential to the operation of the site, it is probably better to keep it off for now.
I've also found that good, active, missions related forums are in short supply. At least there are few that I have been able to find. One I have looked at recently was Emercy's Discussion Board. OSCAR's forum had to shut down due to spam. On the other hand, there are quite a few email based groups. I just did a search of missions related groups registered with Yahoo. The one that struck me was ACFMissions, which had 2018 members.
There is Brigada, which has a weekly mailing and a subscriber list of about 10,000. This seems to be the most active group I have found so far. The Network for Strategic Missions also has quite a number of groups of the email variety. I kind of like the forum approach myself, as various threads can be going on at the same time and the whole thing can be searchable. But for those with slower internet connections, email is definitely the way to go.
That's all for now.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Sunday, November 19, 2006
How can one help national missionaries?
In advertising on Google using adwords in sub-Saharan Africa I have been getting some requests from African missionaries looking for support. Not knowing what else to do, I have suggested that they start a website describing their work, and perhaps purchase a domain name which they could forward to their (free) website. One roadblock appeared, in that the person said they don't have credit cards in their country. So he couldn't even purchase a $10 domain name over the internet!
A couple of things can be said: (a) national missionaries can be effective because they know the language and culture; (b) they can be cost effective because they live in the host country; (c) they may have large dreams and a visions for their country; (d) they can network with others around the world using the internet. However there are some barriers.
(1) Some lack funding to carry out their work; (2) Even with funding, accountability structures have to be in place; (3) Accountability takes work: personnel, time and energy; (4) Networking on the internet takes some basic computer skills, a reliable internet connection, a computer. These may not always be in place. (5) There are some nominal costs involved to establish a website with a domain name. A credit card is needed for this which may not be available; (6) Even with an excellent website describing the work with vision and a basic accountability structure in place, there is no guarantee that funding could be developed for the national's ministry.
The only ministry I know which raises funds in North America to support native missionaries is Gospel for Asia. They appear to be succesful in what they do and cost effective. There are personnel in place to train, equip and administer in both North America and India. In addition, if Ken from missionresources.com and I are any indication, North American ministries with a web presence already receive appeals from native missionaries looking for prayer and financial support. We are not equipped to handle these requests and so must largely ignore them.
Ideally, some sort of internet ministry could be set up which would help a native missionary set up a website with their own domain name, determine if they are eligible for support, put some sort of accountability structure in place and attempt to raise support for them. The native missionaries website and/or blog could be then used to inform supporters of their activity.
Currently I don't know of any ministry that does this. Although feasible, it would require some dedicated people to make it work. As I am currently running Internet Missions Research in addition to my full-time job, that probably isn't me.
One thing I don't want to do is to start searching for mission agencies which national missionaries can email looking for support. That would likely be a futile excercise anyhow if the experience of one national pastor I know is any indication.
Any comments would be appreciated.
A couple of things can be said: (a) national missionaries can be effective because they know the language and culture; (b) they can be cost effective because they live in the host country; (c) they may have large dreams and a visions for their country; (d) they can network with others around the world using the internet. However there are some barriers.
(1) Some lack funding to carry out their work; (2) Even with funding, accountability structures have to be in place; (3) Accountability takes work: personnel, time and energy; (4) Networking on the internet takes some basic computer skills, a reliable internet connection, a computer. These may not always be in place. (5) There are some nominal costs involved to establish a website with a domain name. A credit card is needed for this which may not be available; (6) Even with an excellent website describing the work with vision and a basic accountability structure in place, there is no guarantee that funding could be developed for the national's ministry.
The only ministry I know which raises funds in North America to support native missionaries is Gospel for Asia. They appear to be succesful in what they do and cost effective. There are personnel in place to train, equip and administer in both North America and India. In addition, if Ken from missionresources.com and I are any indication, North American ministries with a web presence already receive appeals from native missionaries looking for prayer and financial support. We are not equipped to handle these requests and so must largely ignore them.
Ideally, some sort of internet ministry could be set up which would help a native missionary set up a website with their own domain name, determine if they are eligible for support, put some sort of accountability structure in place and attempt to raise support for them. The native missionaries website and/or blog could be then used to inform supporters of their activity.
Currently I don't know of any ministry that does this. Although feasible, it would require some dedicated people to make it work. As I am currently running Internet Missions Research in addition to my full-time job, that probably isn't me.
One thing I don't want to do is to start searching for mission agencies which national missionaries can email looking for support. That would likely be a futile excercise anyhow if the experience of one national pastor I know is any indication.
Any comments would be appreciated.
Monday, August 7, 2006
October News
Just a quick note to say that requests have dropped off sharply after initial advertisement. Have implemented cgi into the form so that there is a preview and thank you page. Would like to include count down counter so that form can shut down when maximum number of requests have been received per week. Am not planning to advertise more until this is in place.
August News (II)
Reading a book on keeping the Sabbath. It talks about taking time to notice things, which could be a good practice on any day. Finding it invigorating just reading it.
Got a neat request asking for help in growing mushroom spores. This person wants to grow oyster mushrooms as a means of alleviating poverty in a less developed country. Actually found an organization, Mushworld, which has as its means assisting others to grow mushrooms in less developed countries. Amazing.
A person emailed out of the blue saying he was browsing the internet and found my site. Asked for prayer for his evangelistic work in India. Shows the benefit of keeping a site on the internet for an extended period.
That's all for now.
Clarence
Got a neat request asking for help in growing mushroom spores. This person wants to grow oyster mushrooms as a means of alleviating poverty in a less developed country. Actually found an organization, Mushworld, which has as its means assisting others to grow mushrooms in less developed countries. Amazing.
A person emailed out of the blue saying he was browsing the internet and found my site. Asked for prayer for his evangelistic work in India. Shows the benefit of keeping a site on the internet for an extended period.
That's all for now.
Clarence
August News
Moved my blog from a paid service to here (which is free). (NB: 5/10/08 In original migration, didn't edit dates. Did so now to match more closely to actual posting.)
Thursday, June 15, 2006
July News
Am on vacation for this week, therefore have some time to work on my site. Started a forum for those interested in helping others find missions resources on the internet. Hope it is a help for all. Found a site in the U.K. run by Mike Frith called OSCAR (oscar.org.uk). Well put together. Put together some background work for my site which deals with the potentially large number of requests that could come from offering a human search and research service and was able to map out some of the next steps I could take over the next year. Hope to look for some local help with whom I could actually sit down with over coffee and talk about these things! Will see how it goes.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
February News
The counter is finished. The site now automatically closes when a certain number of requests has been reached. This should help prevent too many requests from being received at one time.
Tried to limit the requests to those from developing countries. Turned out to be too specific. Received only three requests after advertising through Brigada. Will have to keep it more open.
Sent a few emails advertising my site directly to some mission agencies. Will have to see what kind of response I get.
Don't mind few requests right now. Can spend more time in the evenings with my two year old daughter!
Comments received so far have been positive. Ideally would like a few (three to five requests) a week, but that is probably a hard goal to maintain. Will see how it goes.
Tried to limit the requests to those from developing countries. Turned out to be too specific. Received only three requests after advertising through Brigada. Will have to keep it more open.
Sent a few emails advertising my site directly to some mission agencies. Will have to see what kind of response I get.
Don't mind few requests right now. Can spend more time in the evenings with my two year old daughter!
Comments received so far have been positive. Ideally would like a few (three to five requests) a week, but that is probably a hard goal to maintain. Will see how it goes.
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