Christianity.org.uk: Digital Evangelism for a Modern Age

By Simon Woodman

In many ways I’m an old-fashioned Baptist Minister. What I mean by this is that I read stuff, I write stuff, I talk to people, and I move a lot of furniture. Oh, and I preach sermons and lead worship. Oh, and I help people with asylum and refugee issues. Oh, and I get involved in local community organising. Oh, and I campaign on key justice issues… You get the picture: like most clergy I’m a hands-on kind of minister. And yet, when I ask new people why they’ve come to my church, how they heard about us, what inspired them to seek out a faith community, almost all of them tell me that the journey started online. For some it was a quick search for a ‘church near me’, but for others there has been a substantial online faith journey preceding their actual visit to a congregation. This speaks to the growing significance of online platforms for evangelism in the UK, and indeed there are a variety to choose from. Some persuade you to sign up, some to attend a course, some push a particular theological line. In this blog I’d like to introduce the one I’m involved with, as I think it will be of particular interest to readers of Modern Church.

Christianity.org.uk is, firstly, a cool URL. We’re very proud of it! But this is just the beginning, because Christianity.org.uk has a unique role to play in the digital evangelism space, particularly in answering questions and providing resources about the Christian faith. With over 10,000 visitors a week, and with a global reach, we offer enquirers firstly a rich resource of carefully edited and curated articles and videos to help them explore the Christian faith. But we also offer an opportunity for people to message us, either asking for prayer or with an enquiry, and we guarantee that they will receive a personal reply. Through this we are active in helping many people find a local church where they can worship, and in mentoring them into getting started at attending church, through recommending articles, offering advice, or suggesting courses. Our approach is thoroughly ecumenical, and as an organisation originally started by Churches Together in England we take seriously what it means to represent broad Christianity. We are a trusted, accessible digital resource, meeting seekers where they are, offering informed, respectful engagement.

In my pastoral ministry I often receive enquiries from people beyond my congregation – emails from the developing world, or people who have contacted me via the church website asking for guidance or help. I have frequently found that there is an article on Christianity.org.uk to which I can point people as they explore faith, and it has a particular value in opening up the gospel for people hesitant about face to face conversation, but curious about Christianity. I have also found it a valuable resource for use in church groups – whilst the main focus of Christianity.org.uk is those beyond the church, many of its articles and resources are useful for sparking meaningful discussions between Christians. So, for example, I’ve recently recommended an article on ‘The sense of the sacred in all things’ for people to read in advance of our online homegroup discussion. It is also useful as a resource for engaging in community organising, as many of the articles on Christianity.org.uk align with themes of justice-orientated ministry, potentially inspiring collective action.

The ecumenical basis behind Christianity.org.uk is crucial in its success and in setting its ethos. In a world where many outside the church are put off by what they perceive as in-fighting over irrelevant issues, our approach is to offer a unifying platform for Christians of all traditions. Respecting difference, celebrating diversity, but prioritising that which unites Christians over that which divides them. In this way, the site has potential to complement local church outreach efforts, both digitally and in person. I would love to see every church in the UK carrying the Christianity.org.uk URL on their website, with more articles from across the breadth of Christian witness. To this end, I would like to challenge clergy and church leaders to spend a few minutes familiarising themselves with the resources on the site, from articles on key issues, to opinion pieces exploring more controversial topics, to spiritual support for those suffering with poor mental health, to the video resources from Alistair McGrath explaining the basics of the Christian faith. And then I’d love to see people integrating the use of the website into the ministry of their local congregations. Why not promote the site through newsletters, sermons and social media?

We live in a digital age, and this isn’t going to change any time soon. The rise of AI and other online resources will open up the digital mission field ever further, as people go to their browser or phone to find the answers to everything from a recipe for dinner, to the existential questions of humanity. If Christians are not there, in that space, offering a joyful, positive, and compelling presence, then we will be missing out on what God will do next in this brave new world that is still opening before us. Christianity.org.uk is going to be part of that mission, and I’d like to invite readers of Modern Church to engage with us on the journey, as we work with you as partners in the Gospel, bringing the good news of Jesus into the digital space.

Revd Dr Simon Woodman is the Minister of Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, and the Baptist Chaplain of King’s College London. Previously he lectured at Cardiff University and was a tutor at South Wales Baptist College. He holds degrees in theology from Sheffield, Bristol and Cardiff universities. Simon is not afraid to mix politics with theology and to push boundaries. He champions radical values and inclusivity while collaborating and engaging widely to bring about transformation.