The future of the Internet is upon us and Christian web sites are ready to meet the challenge. With the growing popularity of wireless Internet connections, many now "surf" the Internet any place, any time, using their web-enabled digital telephone or wireless PDA (Personal Data Assistant). With these wireless devices, Internet users can check the current price of a favorite stocks while in the airport waiting on an airplane or check the sports news while waiting for lunch. The possibilities are only limited by the sites available to this new technology.
Web-enabled digital telephones and wireless PDAs cannot access the standard World Wide Web site. The web sites that support this new technology are written in one of two formats: WML (Wireless Markup Language) and HDML (Handheld Device Markup Language). These two formats differ from the format used by standard web sites (HTML - Hypertext Markup Language) in that they are designed for small display screens on low-memory devices that have limited computing power and slow connection rates. One will not see a WML or HDML site with a lot of the formatting tricks, special fonts and extensive graphics utilized by most standard web sites. The display screens on web-enabled digital telephones and wireless PDAs could be as small as 3 lines that have up to 12 characters each, so a web site must be specifically designed for that environment.
With more people on the go, forcing them to spend more and more time surfing the Internet from their wireless device, the need to present the message of the Gospel on that technology is growing. Christian web sites like the World Wide Christian Web have made the effort to stay on the cutting edge of wireless technology. Now, while on their telephone or PDA, a person can read evidence for the existence of God, answers to common questions on science and Christianity, Christian editorials on life and the Internet and about the importance of the great sacrifice Jesus made for all mankind. "It is important to fulfill the great commission by getting the saving Gospel message to the people who need it most," claims Mark Harpt, President of the World Wide Christian Web. He continues, "The amount of ignorance about the truth of God is staggering, especially in countries that produce the greatest technological advances. These people need God and wireless Internet technology is a great way to let them know that the God who created the universe wants to enter into a special relationship with them if they will allow it."
The World Wide Christian Web can be found on the Internet at http://www.wwcw.org, with wireless versions at http://www.wwcw.org/hindex.hdml (HDML) and http://www.wwcw.org/wapindex.wml (WML). The World Wide Christian Web can be reached via e-mail at wwcw@wwcw.org.
