Creating a cyberspace ministry in an African American church

This project is about not just cyberspace, but finding creative ways to begin new ministries in a historic African American churches. Many of these churches are steeped in tradition which may bring many unique challenges. This document is about one pastor's pilgrimage through those traditions to try and began a new ministry. Many churches like the Shiloh church have been successful in the past and wrestle with the changing paradigms of the future.; The importance of technology is discussed and how the ministry of Christ can take advantage of this tool in a meaningful way. Some attention is given to those persons who helped to frame the concept of Cyberspace. Also a theological and a biblical foundation for this ministry is to be explored. Although a theological foundation is given much attention, more attention could have been given to what ministry is as it relates to this project.; An over view of the historical context of the Shiloh Baptist Church and Winston Salem community is addressed which maybe similar to many churches in the urban south. The Shiloh church saw major growth in the thirties, forties and the fifties. Many of the concept and paradigms of these earlier years were carried into the sixties, the seventies and eighties.; The project objective was to develop a computer lab with a senior adult learning component which would be an intergenerational program. This would be the place were computer and Internet literacy would be taught as well. The lab would be used as a kind of Cyberspace Cafe and hub for church related internet activity, etc. Because the funding for the computers were slowly received the project begin were resources would allow. So the project started with a youth tutorial program sometime later monies were given to buy computers.; A project or new ministry of this kind in a traditional church can be an enormous challenge unless a strong mandate for its existence is developed. The project was able to come to life, however, a major emphasis was put on the educational aspect of the program and there was a slight move toward a new direction.