eMinistry
Andrew Careaga
Kregel Publications, PO Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501, USA
Paperback, 216 pages
ISBN 0-8254-2370-8
Price in US: $10.99
Price in UK: £6.80Andrew Careaga is a journalist and manager of public relations for the University of Missouri-Rolla USA, as well as a writer and youth pastor. He has published a previous book and a number of magazine articles about online evangelism.
Andrew Careaga is uniquely placed to help us understand the times we live in, from an Internet viewpoint. He's a trained journalist, working in the academic and youth-oriented environment of a university public relations department, and is also a youth pastor. So his insights into postmodernism, youth culture and effective communication are informed by firsthand experience. This is not a theoretical abstract book in any way.
Neither is it about technical web issues or even primarily about what Christians are doing to use the Internet for evangelism (the subject of his previous book). The main focus is the modern world and what he terms the 'N-generation' (web-savvy young people) and how we can effectively communicate with them online.
The quotations and footnotes display a wide breadth of research, understanding and insight. At the end of each chapter are topics for further investigation and questions to consider. Some are very appropriate for small group/seminar discussion.
This very readable book deserves the widest possible circulation. There is just no other book which even attempts to cover the same ground. It should be required course reading for Bible college and seminary students. For anyone who wishes to understand the issues of relating to the modern world through the Web, it's essential.
You are welcome to use or modify this review in any Christian publication or church newsletter without attribution. Please also link to this page from any web-site. The 'back to previous page' will return your visitors to the page they came from.
Ordering the book
It should be available in Christian bookshops throughout US, and is in stock at discount from online bookshops. It is also available direct from the publishers. (currency converter) Postage to overseas is very reasonable – usually around $5. Amazon in UK, France and Germany also supply it.
We are advocates
It is still largely true that the church has yet to realize the significance of the Internet and how it is changing society. As Christians, we can so easily be 10-20 years behind in our understanding and methods. But "the past is a different country". We cannot engage with today's culture without understanding it. Unless we do, we may condemn ourselves to being only easily able to reach the 'once-churched' instead of the 'never-churched'.Therefore we must all have an advocacy role in enlightening the wider church about the power and effectiveness of the Internet – something which this book can achieve. I would encourage us all to do everything we can to cause this book to be read as widely as possible:
