According to the Scriptures (December 2-6,2007)
Jan 29, 2007:
Updated to v2.0 with a few bugfixes and refreshments, an the usual update of the default content.
The WWL is a first of its kind effort that we hope will encourage the Lord's church to make a more determined effort to capitalize on the Internet’s potential to evangelize the world and edify Christians. From December 2, 2007 through December 6, 2007, the WWL will feature online lectures from five states and eight metropolitan areas. The five-day lectureship will consist of 30 hours of English language and at least 10 hours of Spanish language lectures. Eight congregations and Freed-Hardeman University are joining with the Avondale church of Christ in Decatur, GA to produce this special online event.
In 2000, members from the Avondale congregation started a web-based ministry known as the “Digital Bible Study Network.” DBSN hosts the largest collection of audio and video Bible studies produced by the churches of Christ on the web. It is the archiving host for the video archives of the Gospel Broadcasting Network. The heart DBSN's work has been the use of live audio/video Bible studies conducted over the Internet. Over the passed several years, DBSN has hosted over 1,000 live Bible study sessions, streamed numerous gospel meetings and lectureships, and provided weekly live streaming of worship services.
Our experience with these classes has given us a great insight into both the power of interactive online studies and the methods that make them successful. While the simulcast of lectureships and worship hours is an important part of making use of the web (and something DBSN can provide to your congregation, free of charge), it is not the most effective method in making a connection with the people of one's community or around the world. The Internet is an intimate experience. The audience is generally one person in front of one laptop at a time. Yet, people often come to the Internet seeking to make a connection with another person. The popularity of social networking sites like MySpace.com and Facebook.com attest to this. A streamed worship hour or lectureship simply does not create that environment.
The WWL is intended to help the teaching of the gospel meet the special demands of an Internet audience. Each lecture will be aimed directly at the web viewer. The speakers will be addressing the online audience just as television talk-show host does. The head-shot that the viewers have delivered to them will come with a full 30 frames per second smoothness and broadband clarity for a appealing video experience. Additionally, viewers will be given the ability to interact with each other and ask questions of each lecturer through the use of our integrated chat room environment that will be open during the WWL. DBSN has been utilizing this same approach in its live webcasts with outstanding results. The end result of this approach is a welcoming atmosphere that puts the capable gospel preachers on this lectureship literally at arm's length from truth seekers around the world. It also disarms skeptical viewers through their interaction with Christian friends in our chat room.
It seems increasingly hard to draw people into our buildings or to make personal contact with others through mass media. The Internet is this generation's medium to meet that challenge. Given this unique approach, we believe the WWL has the potential to be a revolutionary development in the lectureship/gospel meeting paradigm the Lord's church has used for so long.