The Spirit Moving Among Us

      -- Wil Nolen

Wil Nolen is the president of Brethren Benefit Trust

My wife Joyce teaches a Sunday school class in our church on the theme "Making Room for the Spirit." As a behaviorist and counselor to college students, she attests to the power of God's Spirit that can free us in our human relationships and personal growth. There are many other perspectives in her class, but all members acknowledge that astounding things happen when we make room for the Spirit and allow God to work through us.

I believe God's Spirit is also present in our work and in the diligence of our efforts. When we focus on a task and use our gifts and abilities well, doors open and insights come to us. We are creating opportunities for God's Spirit to lead us. As people of faith, we say, "This is truly the Spirit at work."

Challenge to Provide Leadership

Events leading up to just such an experience for Brethren Benefit Trust started last year when Annual Conference delegates approved an expanded role for our ministries. Among our new challenges was to provide leadership for the denomination in information systems technology. Last fall we installed state-of-the-art software and hardware that would position the Church of the Brethren for the future.

At the same time we began looking for the best ways to use the new technology for the church. First we investigated ways to link BBT with congregations and national agencies. To share the power of our financial software, we needed a fast, direct communications link within the denomination. We were stumped until a company in California gave us the answer: Concentric Network supplied us with technology that would let us set up a virtual private network coast to coast. It would be our church's own private "Intranet."

Exploring Possibilities

We were pleased but not completely satisfied. Questions lingered. Were there ways to make the new system even better? Could we tap into the power of the Internet? If we did this, how could we protect our members from the Internet's dark side? Could we do something about the three pages of pornographic sites that automatically popped up when we searched for such ordinary words as "teenage jobs"?

As we pondered the possibilities, Concentric Network introduced us to N2H2, a software company based in Seattle. The dynamic filtering technology developed by N2H2 features a state-of-the-art Internet filter and search engine. By using the two in concert it is possible to screen out objectionable material before it can appear on a computer screen. Forty staff members at N2H2 work solely at monitoring the Internet and updating and reprogramming filtered sites. With the help of Concentric and N2H2 we had found the answer.

An Exciting Opportunity

It was a remarkable moment for BBT. New ideas excited and energized us. We recognized that if we could offer such a service for our employees, we could do the same for all Church of the Brethren members, and for others who share our values. As the number of subscriptions increased, the resulting income stream could be used for other badly needed services. Seeing the possibilities, our board said, "Do it!"

A full product description is available at www.emountain.net.

Birth of a New Product

Out of this process, a new BBT Web operations division emerged, called eMountain Communications. Its first product is ClearViewNet, an Internet Service Provider. Final product testing will begin in February. By late March, eMountain staff will begin mailing software CDs to the first subscribers. You might say this will be our church's America Online, using filter settings and search engine results that will reflect Church of the Brethren values. There will be no pornography, violence, hate, gambling, or alcohol-related content.

Help from a Visionary

When I reflect on the past year, I am acutely aware that ClearViewNet was not a part of our original vision. The idea was propelled by energy of its own. I also believe that as the first vision was evolving, the person who would help us recognize this unexpected opportunity walked into our offices. His name is Michael Addison.

Michael came to us from the Boulder Hill Church of the Brethren in Montgomery, Ill. We initially hired Michael as our controller, but since then have asked him to redirect his energies and focus only on running our Information Systems Department. His work is essential to establishing a position of technological leadership for the denomination.

A Prophetic Frontier

As I reflect on our first "what if" conversations, I recall both the anxiety and excitement I felt when I realized we were onto something big! I have tempered the anxiety, knowing that Michael's talent for building partnerships and his knack for energizing and motivating our staff give us the ingredients we will need to succeed with this project.

I continue to be amazed that a challenge to ratchet up the technological capabilities of our church has also given us an exciting new way to advance our denomination's witness in the world. I see this new Internet presence as yet another prophetic frontier for the Church of the Brethren, an opportunity to define itself in the technological age.

As our Internet portal mirrors Brethren values and beliefs to the world, the church, as a part of this project, affirms the value of technology both for performing its ministries and for quietly but effectively shaping an Internet that believers of all ages can use with confidence. Astounding things do happen when we open ourselves up to the power of the Spirit among us.