Contact: Nancy Shuman, Media Relations, World Gospel Mission, 765-671-7261

MARION, Ind., Feb. 3 /Christian Newswire/ -- Because missions is no longer just going to a far away place, World Gospel Mission is opening a conversation about taking missions online. With the advent of virtual online worlds, "doing missions" can mean sitting down at your computer. According to Todd Eckhardt, director of World Connection for missionary organization World Gospel Mission, "The number of 'residents' registered on Second Life alone would constitute the 25th largest unreached people group in the world--the real one that is."

"People have come down on both sides of this issue," said Eckhardt, "so WGM is investigating experiences with online missions and inviting comments on the blog at http://www.unsolvedministries.blogspot.com."  

Christians already evangelize in these virtual realities. Second Life has synagogues, mosques, and churches--some just parodies--that hold worship services.

This relatively untapped online "mission field" presents challenges beyond those faced in person-to-person contact. The search for relationships and community, the ease of access to all kinds of temptations, the relative anonymity and therefore opportunity for secrecy and deception--these are questions that have to be answered by those who are interested in sharing their faith online.

Join the discussion at http://www.unsolvedministries.blogspot.com.

About WGM
World Gospel Mission is an interdenominational missionary organization with more than 300 missionaries and support staff serving alongside national believers on six continents. WGM's strategic areas of service include church ministries, children's and youth ministries, educational ministries, medical ministries, support ministries, and humanitarian ministries. The organization also partners with stateside churches, colleges, and individuals to send 1,100 volunteers annually on short-term missions experiences.

For more information, visit http://www.wgm.org.