The Internet as Today's Mission Field

By EMILY BRANTLEY
Lifeword, lifeword.org

When Lifeword began in 1965, our voice traveled the airwaves, reaching people with the hope of Jesus through radio broadcasts. At the time, radio was the most effective medium for mass communication—and we used it to its fullest, believing that no matter the tool, the message must be clear: Jesus saves. Over the decades, the tools have changed. We’ve embraced print. We stepped into television. And today, we find ourselves fully immersed in the digital age, proclaiming the gospel through the internet and social media.
 
Why? Because that’s where people are.
 
The internet is not just a place of entertainment or information—it’s a culture, a community, and for millions around the world, a constant companion. Nearly 5 billion people are online. Social media alone draws billions daily, and many of them are searching. They may not even know what for, but we do. They need hope, peace, truth—and the good news of Jesus Christ.
 
Lifeword sees the internet and social media not as distractions to avoid, but as a mission field ripe for harvest. We’ve devoted our time, energy, and resources to stepping into that space—not just to be present, but to be purposeful. Through gospel-centered videos, devotionals, podcasts, and culturally relevant content in over 170 languages, we are telling the story of Jesus in the very places people scroll, stream, and search.

​This digital mission field is our current assignment. But like radio and television before it, it may not be our forever home. Technology will evolve. Platforms will change. New frontiers will open. That’s why our strategy may shift—but our vision never will.
 
Lifeword’s long-term vision has always been clear: use every available tool to make Jesus known. Whether through static radio waves, printed pages, glowing screens, or tomorrow’s innovation, we are committed to going where people are and speaking the truth they need.
 
Today, it’s the internet. Tomorrow, it might be something we can’t even imagine yet. But no matter where the mission field moves, we will be there telling the story that never changes with the tools that do.
 
Short-term mission. Long-term vision. Lifeword remains faithful to both.