Asian Internet Bible Institute
Presentation for the Encarnacio
Network Conference
Who Am I ?
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John Edmiston – bible-teacher
and cybermissionary.
President of the Asian Internet
Bible Institute.
Married to Minda , a botanist
from the Philippines.
Australian, just spent 3 years in
Manila, now live in LA, spend
lots of time in Asia.
Have interests in Urban
Missions, Globalization, Christian
Politics and issues in Science
and Technology.
Now officially with the
Assemblies of God in Southern
California.
Quick Overview
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Online bible and
theological training –
www.aibi.ph
Internet cafes among
unreached people groups
– self-funding mission
bases.
Web Portal for Holistic
Ministry (under
development)
Cybermissions – using the
Internet for evangelism,
discipleship and missions.
Online Training
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Vision is to enable pastors in
urban areas to access free / low
cost online bible and ministry
training via the Internet.
Can remain in their ministry
context.
AIBI mainly reaches “new
generation” pastors and
Christian business men who are
the “movers and shakers” in
their communities.
The numerous icafes in Asia
provide a ready venue for
delivery of materials.
Ebooks can be hundreds of
pages long and download in just
5 minutes on a dial-up
connection.
Online Training 2
• Harvestime Church-Planting
materials – 21 modules, TEE
format, over 100,000
graduates (from Harvestime
Institute) in 50 countries. In
English, Spanish and Thai,
Tagalog under translation.
• 18 short courses on topics
such as Globalization, Urban
Ministry, Christian Sexuality,
Prayer, PostDenominationalism
• Find online at www.aibi.ph
Internet Cafes
• Icafes of 21 donated
recycled computers.
• 3 –5 workers per icafe
supported by revenue.
• Icafe placed in a UPG as a
small business.
• Friendship evangelism and
community work
• Helps bridge the digital
divide.
• Ideal for urban communities
around the 20,000 to
150,000 mark that need
connection to cyberspace.
Internet Cafes 2
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Can double as a student center
or distance learning venue.
Use Linux on server/firewall to
reduce attacks, client machines
run Windows.
Requires strong entrepreneurial
leadership, plus a good
technician and also someone
focused on ministry to the UPG.
Has operated successfully in a
few different nations and
cultures.
See www.ac4.org or
www.techmission.org
Holistic Ministry Web Portal
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Designed to help local churches
deliver practical holistic ministry
to their local communities.
Centralizes “best practice”
models so they do not have to
reinvent the wheel.
Knowledge, Best Practice,
Practical How To, Connections
Will work in combination with
WEA Global Connect, WIN
International, AIBI and Pangea
Foundation among others.
Still in design stage, hope to
have a prototype in operation
by December
Cybermissions
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The intentional use of
computers and the Internet to
facilitate the Great Commission.
Internet Evangelism – working
with TWR – NEA to reach
China’s 80 million Internet users
with the gospel.
Designing Internet based
follow-up for other radio
ministries.
Creating specialized online
discussion groups for people
reaching UPGs.
Online counselling and
discipleship
Cybermissions 2
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Run a 12-week online course in
Cybermissions.
Cybermissions can reach
“closed” countries for Jesus.
Web based, email, chat rooms,
forums, discussion boards,
egroups etc.
Online-offline synergies can
increase effectiveness.
Tends to reach community
leaders who can then reach
others.
Need both techie types and
ministry types.
See www.cybermissions.org