Author of E-Vangelism: Sharing the Gospel Through Cyberspace
by Trisha Bleau Smith
T4JYM: Where did you come up with the idea for your book? Same question, but for articles you write for the various other cyber magazines and groups.
AC: In the mid-90s, as I was starting to get into the Internet, and discovering the Christian resources available at that time — the volume of which I thought was mind-blowing, but of course was nowhere near what we have today — I noticed that a lot of Christians were sharing their faith over the Internet. But I also discovered in my research of the Christian book and magazine market that no one was writing about this. So I decided to write about it, at first for a magazine article for Charisma. The article was well received, and I was intrigued by the whole idea about Internet evangelism. So I decided to write a book, and came up with a catchy title, “e-vangelism.” Well, I though it was catchy, anyway. 🙂 But now e-verybody’s doing the e-thing, and I suppose we’ve had about e-nough!
As for magazine articles: I don’t know how I find the ideas. I just write about stuff I find interesting, and try to make it interesting to readers.
T4JYM: How much research went into preparing to write it? Again same question but regarding articles.
AC: The research for the book took quite a bit of time, but the great thing about the Internet is that I can do much of my research online. I conducted several virtual interviews — just like this one — and scoured the newsgroups and chat rooms for ideas and help from other cybersaints. Of course, I also read everything I could get my hands on about the Internet — to understand its workings, the trends, the cyberculture, and to apply that to the realm of Internet evangelism and in a broader sense, online Christianity and online Christian activities.
Because magazine articles are often more focused, it doesn’t take quite as much research. Plus, you can “recycle” a lot of your research. I found a lot of good stuff in my research that couldn’t fit in the book, so I used it in magazine articles. For example, one of my earliest articles, “Pastors in Cyberspace,” was based on a lot of research I had done for an earlier writing project that never was published.
T4JYM: How long did it take you to write it? And same again. 🙂
AC: The book took me about six months to write, and another year to tweak and re-check for broken Web links, etc.
Magazine articles take different periods of time. It all depends on the deadline. Because I write for a living, I don’t always feel like writing magazine articles when I get home at night. It’s hard to say just how long a single magazine article takes. Some of my Christian Computing magazine columns take three or four hours, in total, to write. Other articles, requiring more research and more points of view, take longer.
T4JYM: How much editing was involved? Did you do it all alone or did you send it to people to edit?
AC: I edited the main manuscript myself, after having several friends (many of whom also are writers) look it over and critique it. Then the editors at Vital Issues Press (the publisher) edited it to fit their style. Their writing style differs from mine somewhat. For instance, they insisted on capitalizing the “E” in “E-mail,” “E-vangelism,” etc.
T4JYM: Do you ever get criticized for your writing?
AC: It’s funny. I was expecting much more criticism for this book than I’ve received. It’s been amazingly well received! I wish I’d get a little bit of criticism, just to keep me humble!
But yes, I get criticized for my writing all the time — especially at work. Writing is a very public kind of work. If you make a typo or misspell someone’s name, it’s out there for everyone to see. The book ended up with a few URLs that are no longer current. And there were some editing mistakes — in one chapter, the editors changed “baud” as in modem speed to “band” — but most people have overlooked those points.
T4JYM: What is your writing background? Did you take lessons to gain the writing skills you have now?
AC: My background is in journalism. I wrote for my high school newspaper eons ago, then got a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri (go Tigers!), then spend a few years writing for a small daily newspaper in Missouri, where I covered everything from city hall meetings to convenience store robberies, and even a murder trial or two.
T4JYM: How many times did you have to re-edit your works? Were they rejected by publishers?
AC: I am a stickler for editing and re-editing. I don’t believe you should send anything to a magazine editor or a book editor until you have it as perfect as you can make it. I usually edit articles seven or eight times before I consider them ready to ship. (And then the editors edit even more!) The idea is to make the other person’s job as pain-free as possible. And then you’ll get more opportunities to write for them in the future.
My first book was rejected almost 60 times. I gave up on it, decided it was not to be, and began “E-vangelism.” It was rejected by about a dozen publishers before Vital Issues picked it up. My new book, “eMinistry: Connecting to the Net Generation,” was rejected by about 40 publishers before Kregel finally purchased it. (It’s set to come out in January.)
T4JYM: What is the main focus in your ministry? Teens? Adults? The hurting? Why did you decide up on this as a focus?
AC: I am a youth minister in my local church, Salem Faith Assembly. The name of our youth group is the ALIENS, which stands for Army of the Living, Indwelling, Eternal, super-Natural Savior. I have a burden for young people. And they keep me young, too.
T4JYM: If you could ask Jesus any one question, what would you ask and why?
AC: I would ask Him how it felt to know that one of His closest followers, and presumably a good friend, was going to betray Him. (Because, obviously Jesus knew that, right?) And what was it like to live with that knowledge, and how He dealt with it — the whole struggle of being totally God and totally human, divine and frail at the same time. In my ministry I see that many teens feel betrayed — by friends, crushes, parents, the culture — and I try to help them understand that Jesus also dealt with betrayal, even though the scriptures are silent on his reaction to that betrayal.
T4JYM: Who, or what, are your biggest influences?
AC: Since my conversion in 1985, the Bible has been a major influence — particularly the writings of the Apostle Paul, the gospel of Luke, and the Wisdom Books of the Old Testament (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon). Influential Christian writers are Brennan Manning (“The Ragamuffin Gospel”), Philip Yancey (especially “The Jesus I Never Knew” and “Disappointment With God”) and Leonard Sweet. In fiction, I love the writings of Flannery O’Connor, who was a devout Catholic. I often include her among my favorite “Christian” writers, but some people have a problem with that. I also like Tim O’Brien (“The Things They Carried”). My in-laws, Bill and Joan Anderson, have been very influential in my spiritual growth, as has my wife, Dyann Anderson Careaga.
T4JYM: Do you feel you have the gift of evangelism? Teaching?
AC: I’m more of a teacher than an evangelist — but I think the Internet has opened up a new avenue of evangelism for those of us who are not the gifted orators of traditional proclamational evangelists. Ergo, we can preach better with our typing than with our speaking. 🙂 I love teaching and Bible study too. But I tend to bore people, because I go off on tangents that others don’t find all that interesting. 🙂
T4JYM: As an evangelist, do you ever feel fear when you approach someone with the Gospel?
AC: I used to be much bolder about sharing the gospel than I am now. But now I believe I’m wiser. I try to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading, and to share the gospel in ways that are less “confrontational” and in-your-face than I used to do. In-your-face is just not my style.
T4JYM: Are you involved in your own home church? What role do you have there?
AC: Yes, I’m involved as the youth pastor (volunteer) and sometimes I preach in “big church.” 🙂
T4JYM: Are you involved in any other ministries?
AC: Not at this time. I’m busy enough with my writing, my youth ministry, and my day job.
T4JYM: Do you have an accountability partner or prayer partner to keep you encouraged and uplifted?
AC: My wife is my best friend, and we encourage one another. “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor with the Lord.” (Proverbs 18:22) That’s what I’ve found — a good wife!
T4JYM: Do you have any advice to give to the youth of our world?
AC: I do, but are they listening? (j/k) I would sum it up in these words: “This too shall pass.” Oh, and don’t give your parents too hard of a time. They’re as confused as you are, if not more so. 🙂
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