CLICK & DOUBLE CLICK: CHURCHES FIND GLOBAL AUDIENCE AND INSTANT ACCESS ON INTERNET (COLUMN 93)

If you type religion in a search engine, you will come up with hundreds of thousands of choices. People with computers and Internet access could start up their own church.

The Internet also provides access to a lot of bizarre religions. You may remember those cult members who died in California were recruited over the Internet.

But mainstream religion is out there too with some top-notch Web sites. Churches have found another way to spread God's word.

Joni: One Cape Girardeau pastor calls himself the "E-mail Evangelist." Every Monday through Friday he writes and e-mails a desktop devotional he calls "Sheep Trax."

Peggy: Bryan Hupperts says he has thousands of subscribers in more than 90 countries. You can take a look at

members.igateway.net/~(tilde)bryanh

Joni: At the site, you can listen to Hupperts reading selected Sheep Trax features. You can also download and read archived Sheep Trax for the past six months.

Peggy: He also provides links to other Web sites dealing with religion. You can subscribe from the site.

Joni: Cape Bible Chapel is one of a growing number of churches that offer religious information online.

walden.mvp.net/~(tilde)cbchapel

Peggy: The church at 2911 Kage Road is in the midst of a massive construction project. You can read the sanctuary report and take a look at the progress from several different views.

Joni: You can learn more about the church, service times and events, such as Vacation Bible School.

Peggy: But what about religious sites globally? As we've told you in the past, when you go to another country on the Internet you will see a two-letter code in the URL. Here's a test. What country is VA?

Joni: Did you guess it? The Vatican, which is a country into itself smack dab in the middle of Rome. You can choose the site in one of six languages.

www.vatican.va

Peggy: The site is very classy. You can learn about the Vatican Museums, which hold a very impressive collection of artifacts and art. Unfortunately you can't see any of the pieces.

Joni: In the Patrons of the Arts of the Vatican Museums, you can see views of paintings and art. Raphael's School of Athens has been admired for nearly 500 years. It's breathtaking.

Peggy: The site also gives the itinerary for the Angels exhibit, which is currently on exhibit at the St. Louis Art Museum. You also get a sample of the 100-piece display online.

Joni: You can also learn lots more about the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, and the past three popes.

Peggy: The Vatican runs its own radio and television stations and newspaper. They offer nine very nice photos of the pope during his audiences. You can also read about the Jubilee 2000, a Holy Year. A three-year preparation is under way.

Joni: Next stop, is the Lutherans. I like this: The site says, "If Luther was alive today, he'd be on the Web."

www.lutheran.org

Peggy: Martin Luther's impact as one of the greatest reformers was due in part to his use of emerging technology. It wasn't quite Cyberspace. It was movable type, but it was very forward-thinking.

Joni: This site links you to Web sites of three Lutheran synods. It also links you to the Aid Association for Lutherans and the Lutheran Brotherhood.

Peggy: On the Missouri Synod page, you can learn who we are and what we believe. You can also get a daily devotion.

Joni: This is interesting. The word synod, in the Greek language, means "walking together." You can read lots of Lutheran news as well.

Peggy: Lutheran.org also links you to the Evangelical Lutheran Church's Web page, which offers much of the same information. You can get audio clips with Real Player.

Joni: The Baptist International Network offers links to other Baptist groups online, including the Southern Baptist Convention. You can find them at

www.baptist.org

Peggy: You can also browse through a list of links to individual Baptist churches online.

Joni: Another big group developing a name for itself is Promise Keepers. It has a Web site at

www.promisekeepers.org

Peggy: You can listen to eight speakers from the recent conference in Detroit, Mich. You need a 28.8 modem connection to listen. These are whole speeches. The one we opened was 33 minutes long.

Joni: You can also read Testimony of the Week or you can submit your own. They also explain what Promise Keepers is and what it is not.

Peggy: Since it started in 1990, more than 2 million men have attended Promise Keepers stadium events. The site also addresses controversial issues facing Promise Keepers.

Joni: Another site with a lot of features is the Christian Community Network

www.christcom.net

Peggy: One of the interesting things about this site is that it links you to the Christian Community Network radio station. CCN Hit Radio, an Internet-only station, plays 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You must have Real Player to listen.

Joni: You can also read news and movie reviews. They also offer daily jokes, quotes and devotionals. There are links to other Christian sites, including one of my children's favorite video series "Veggie Tales."

www.veggietales.net

Peggy: These are computer-generated vegetables with Christian values. The show stars Bob, a tomato, and Larry, a cucumber. If you get confused there are character profiles.

Joni: These are wonderful videos. On this fun site, you can find sound and video clips along with Veggie Tales wallpaper. What's your favorite religious site? E-mail us at click@semissourian.com

See you in Cyberspace.

~Peggy Scott and Joni Adams are members of the Southeast Missourian online staff.