ICCM '96 Session Notes

"Project Updates 2"

Back to ICCM '96 Program

• Pete Holzmann - Suggestions on introducing someone to the Web:
  It is the largest library of resources, three times bigger than the library of Congress. It is exhaustively indexed word by word, and cross referenced. You therefore just need to find a small number of unique words which would identify a document, rather than second- guessing the compiler of a library catalogue index. They need to be warned that there is far more information available than they can ever look through, and need to be careful. You need to show them how to search to pull out the key resources. Pete demonstrated how to extract information from closed countries. In particular you need to avoid using Christian terms, and then you are more likely to come across key research resources.
  Pete knows of someone who would like to build a library of Christian Clip Art. If you have any ideas send them to Pete!
• Tony Hooley - Computer Assistant. They are putting together a CD together with the Bible Research Association and in association with NavPress containing a number of key Christian books which are currently out of print. They are looking for ways of disseminating this information more widely. In 1989 a Christian left his large library to be made available to the Christian community. This is the source for the CD. There are a significant number of very rare books. A major area of interest was North American Revivals. As the books have generally just been scanned in getting foreign language translations is not so straightforward (and not a current objective). On copyright issues the majority of the books have given no problem. Consideration is being given to getting together a virtual classroom as well.
• Tom Wood - AD2000 & Beyond. Movement focusing on unreached people groups. They have a list of 1739 people groups which they feel are the most needy. They are promoting prayer, mission, etc among these peoples. They need information about which agencies are working among these groups and want to develop a database with Web access so that the missions community can share this info. They would also like to know of others who are working on similar projects.
• Greg Martin - Church of God Prophecy. Many of the leaders around the world are on E-Mail. They are looking at setting up an Internet service. There are plans to put sermons from their forthcoming general conference into RealAudio format and make them available to those around the world unable to attend the conference. This may be extended to build up a library of sermons in RealAudio, and a library of papers written by college students during theological studies. They hope to translate most of this information into Spanish as well. They will make available space for local churches to create their own Web pages, even outside their denomination.
• Russ Licht - CCC (Campus Crusade for Christ). Developing donation processing software in conjunction with PeopleSoft. It is Oracle based, and will be made available by CCC to any non-profit organization. Contact Russ for more information.
  CCC is looking at "Stealth" Web Sites. They want to encourage non Christians to visit Christian Web Sites.
  Their Canadian office experimented by having information on the Temptations (of Christ), Rolling Stones (from the tomb), and Madonna. It reached many people.
• Paul Lay - MAF (Mission Aviation Felloship). Trying to enable missionaries in remote places to get information quickly. In the past their main tool has been the airplane. They are continuing to deliver - today they are delivering information. MAFnet is a private E-Mail network giving access to remote areas. Last month there were 55 hubs, 1400 addresses and 10 million messages.
  Once people have an E-Mail address they can join the MAFxc community. MAFxc had 600 conferences and 1.5 million messages last month. MAF also hosts Web sites for 60 other organisations. This is primarily for organizations who cannot find a site for their Web presence. They also run RadioNet and this gives connection in remote places.