The Internet in Mission and Ecumenism ... - Reformiert online

c. Jesus’ Communication
After analysing these perspectives, I would like to highlight the way Jesus communicated to
his audience. In order to have a credible and ideal communication, he accepted his listeners ‘as
they were’ 9 . Communication as a process can occur between two equal beings. He went to the
place where they are. He engaged in the listeners’ communication process. That means, most of
the times he used parables, stories and other types of communication that are familiar to his
hearers which also reflected their contemporary context. At times his communication began by
listening to his opponents or his hearers and thereby engaging along with them in their search for
meanings of life and of God rather than simply asking them to comply with his own search for
meanings of God and of life. Thereby Jesus engaged in the public communication in the way
people expected presenting his meanings among a wide range of meanings that were available to
his hearers. Jesus used different methods, means and forms of communication in his mission. It is
essential to recognise a model that offers such a diverse mission models in Jesus’ teachings and
practice.
I would like to start from these principles of Jesus Christ when setting out to do mission and
ecumenism in and through the Internet. I would like to ask a few questions such as: what kind of
public space or cultural interaction has the Internet created among the Netizens? In what way do
people engage in the Internet? what are they searching for? what are the technological facilities
that a website or net offers to people? how can we engage in different forms of mission? how do
we provide network link for people and churches? Based on these questions I would like to
highlight some ways in which the churches can get involved in mission and ecumenism in and
through the Internet.
4. Internet Scenario in India
a. Internet Availability
The number of people using the Internet in India is expected to rise to 23 million by 2003. At
present, it is estimated that about four million people use the Internet in India (2000 July) 10 . There
is a large number (more than ten million) of temporary net users in the cafes which is often not
counted. At the same time India’s two percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comes through
the IT Software and Services Industry in India 11 . When I came to Bangalore in March 2000 there
was only one Web café near UTC whereas now there are no fewer than six Internet Surfing
Centres around UTC. In my experience in many of India’s semi-urban cities people know more
about fibre optics than underground drainage. That is why The Hindu newspaper says on Sunday,
December 31, 2000,
We are in serious danger of becoming a nation where cable and optics fibre will reach most urban
homes long before potable water and drainage, and where children in remote areas will have
easier access to movies than to schooling.
The price of computers is cheaper than some of the household equipment such as a washing
machine. From 2,000 knowledge IT workers in 1986, the number increased to 222,090 web
professionals in early 2002 12 . There are 18 Software Technology Parks in India. Bangalore is
supposed to be the silicon valley of India. National Informatics Centre (NIC) provides computer
support to governments both at central and at state level, thereby networking the government
9 I have highlighted these principles of Jesus’ communication in my book, ‘Facing the Reality of
Communication: Culture, Church and Communication’. New Delhi: ISPCK, 2001.
10 BBC News South Asia India net users set to soar…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/848832.stm
11 Research, Reference and Training Division ed, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of
India, India, ‘Information Technology’ 2002, New Delhi: Quick Printers, p.160,
12 http://stylusinc.com/internet_potential_india.htm
Internet Potential in India - Sharon Colaco - India's Webspertise
12