The narrow road and the superhighway

History tells us of some very major changes that impacted every facet of society. Can you imagine the discussions that centred around the invention of the printing press? I'm sure that the newstellers of the day announced it with gusto, denouncing it as having no practical value. After all, who could read? Why would you want to read when you could listen to the news being sung by a wandering minstrel? Certainly, with the arrival of the press, something of value was lost--but so much more was gained.

We are at the threshold of a similar major change in the way we communicate and do business. It, too, will impact every aspect of our society. This paradigm shift is centred around the ability of computers to communicate with each other. It has been called many things, but the word "internet" has become the common name for it.

The question the church must always ask when faced with change is how we should view it and respond to it. Too often, I fear, we simply let change happen to us or we condemn it. The question is: Can the winding, broad superhighway intersect with the straight and narrow road?

The Saskatchewan MB Conference Christian Education Board began discussing the possibility of operating its own Bulletin Board System approximately two years ago. However, this was not economically feasible until the internet became accessible to the general public. When that was in place, we purchased a membership and hard disk space with the Saskatoon Free Net. After scrambling to learn the appropriate computer code (Hyper Text Markup Language), I installed a home page and other documents for the Saskchewan Mennonite Brethren web site.

The experiment has been very interesting, educational and rewarding for me personally. I am convinced that we have an opportunity to have a strong presence for Jesus Christ in the "world" as never before. We have an opportunity to publish our stories as effectively, or even more effectively, with a substantial decrease in cost. This is how I see the superhighway and the straight and narrow road intersecting.

It has been amazing to find out who has read the Confession of Faith and other articles I put onto the internet, or has used our site to link to other places in cyberspace:

• A person from from Carcross, Yukon wrote: "I am researching the doctrinal and historical connections between the Mennonites and the Baptists of North America, understanding the historical elements of both movements came through certain groups identified as anabaptists. I commend you on your Mennonite Brethren web site--through it, I obtained not only a copy of the latest MB Confession, but I learned of two others which I seek English translations of. . . . I also gained the e-mail addresses of Mr. Abe Dueck and Mr. Alfred Redekopp (Canadian MB Conference archivists) whom I have contacted regarding the needed information."
  
• A student in the US requested information about our use of hymns and choruses.
  
• A young gentlemen wrote asking what the differences were between Forest Grove Community Church and another church in Saskatoon.
  
• A young mother, who would appear not to be a Christian, requested prayer and help due to a very difficult situation.
  
• A pastor in B.C. downloaded the entire Confession of Faith to use with his baptismal classes.

In addition, I have found other uses for the internet:

• I can keep in contact with missionaries who have e-mail addresses, at no mailing cost and at speeds that deliver the letter in minutes or seconds.
  
• Members of the Canadian MB Conference Board of Communications (despite some learning problems and initial frustrations) have begun discussing some agenda items via e-mail-- without leaving home, without spending lengthy hours travelling at conference expense, and without disrupting their personal schedules.
  

Much of the mail that I have received was generated by the information currently published at Saskatchewan MB Conference web site. Besides what has already been mentioned, the site includes "Seven Steps to Peace with God"; telephone numbers and addresses (and some pictures) of all our churches in Saskatchewan; announcements; prayer requests; and links to other Mennonite and Christian sites such as the MB Herald and Radio Bible Class.

Items that are not on our MB internet sites yet, but that could be added, include:

• Articles presenting a Christian viewpoint on current issues in society, with the possibility of reader interaction or response.
  
• sites developed by individual MB churches and schools.
  
• Christian counselling conducted over the internet.
  
• support ministries for pastors.
  
• library resources--at least, the electronic card catalogues of those items that can be borrowed or rented from the libraries in our Bible schools and churches.

I am the servant, my computer is the tool, and the internet is the infrastructure--together, we witness and work for Jesus Christ. That is a paradigm shift!

Wayne Schmidt, Secretary, Canadian MB Conference Board of Communications