COMPUTERS BECOME OUTREACH TOOL FOR CHURCH

Remember when no one seemed to know how to set the clocks on their VCRs? But now, setting the clock on a VCR is about as easy as dialing the phone.

It just takes some time to get comfortable with new technology, and ood Baptist Church is helping to alleviate some fears of computers and the Internet with an eight-week class for families.

Between 75 and 80 people attend the class each week. Only 10 of them, on average, are church members. The course is a basic tool for beginners learning about the World Wide Web.

"You get more comfortable as you learn more about it," said George Brewer, minister of education at the church, who is teaching the course.

The class answers questions about how to set up a Web browser, finding sites, searching for information and setting up e-mail. It also addresses finding filters from offensive Web sites or material that may not be suitable for children. It is about mid-way through its curriculum.

As Brewer scrolls through an e-mail message sent to the class, participants sitting in four rows of tables can see his actions on one of three television screens. Most also follow along with his presentation in their workbooks.

As Brewer toggles between screens showing a PowerPoint presentation and the Internet, he answers questions about where he's been or how to find addresses on the Web.

He uses simple analogies as explanations of computer terminology, like seeing folders on a desktop much like you would find them in a file cabinet drawer or bookmarks keeping a Web location much like they keep your place in a novel.

Computers are by no means a miracle for ministry, but they are another tool that churches can use to reach communities, Brewer said.

Lynwood has realized that there are new ways of reaching people with the biblical message, he said. "We know that it is necessary to make changes but that the message doesn't change."

But the church doesn't want to take those new methods too far that other members would feel alienated. "You can't reach a baby boomer who has grown up on pop and rock with music that he doesn't identify with," Brewer said. And people today don't use the King's English when speaking, although technically they would still be speaking English, he explained.

Since computers have become an everyday tool in the business world, it seems logical for churches to offer similar options. Some churches use the Internet to search for the best deal on office supplies or educational materials; others keep in touch with missionaries abroad.

Families using a home computer usually don't have the technical support businesses offer, nor do they have anywhere to turn with questions. So Lynwood is offering a training seminar of sorts for members of the church and the community.

"We are partly reaching people because of a need that they have," Brewer said.

Kenneth Bender has just gotten started on his adventure along the Information Superhighway. He's getting some direction from the class at Lynwood, though.

Up to now, "it's been trial and error, learning from friends who were a page ahead," he said after leaving class Wednesday.

Other class members stay behind to ask questions of Brewer. Their inquiries range from how to find a virus-scan program suitable for a home computer to ethical issues of downloading information found on the Web.

As people from the community trickle into the church to learn more about the Internet, they are also learning more about the church and ultimately the good news of Jesus Christ.

"This opens the door to building relationships so that later we can earn the right to tell them more," Brewer said.

Brewer hopes to offer the course again, possibly in the fall.

INTERNET INFORMATION

The Internet for Families class is offered each Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. through July at Lynwood Baptist Church. The course is offered free of charge. For details, call the church office at 334-4600.