GodTube’s Virtual Flock; Christian Web Site Similar to YouTube and Facebook is Growing Fast

By TOM HEINEN

GodTube, whose Internet viewership has soared in the four months since its debut – it already claims to be “the largest Christian Web site on the planet” – is reaching higher.

It isn’t casting aside popular videos such as the little girl reciting Psalm 23 (more than 4.8 million views) or the rap parody “Baby Got Book” (more than 625,000 views).

But the video-sharing and social-networking site is launching some higher-tech features this month that will help churches and individuals get their messages out into the world.

Chris Wyatt, chief executive officer and co-founder of GodTube, projects that those and other efforts will boost traffic and attract 5 million to 7 million unique viewers in December.

GodTube’s new Godcaster program, already tested by a few hundred churches, allows churches to stream live video of their services, sermons and testimonials over GodTube for viewing anywhere. Then the viral software lets churches take that video from GodTube and embed it in their own Web sites, said Wyatt, whose company is based in Plano, Texas.

Using its new viral video blog, individuals and churches can easily record up to 30 minutes of video directly to Web pages on GodTube, leaving video messages much like voice-mail messages for friends or a more general audience, he said.

Those services will be free at a basic level; those who want more recording time will pay a fee.

Wyatt, 38, is about one year into a four-year program to get a master’s degree in theology at Dallas Theological Seminary.

But he’s having trouble carving out time for studies because GodTube took off so quickly after its launch in August, becoming one of the fastest-growing Web sites in the United States, according to comScore, a company that measures Internet use.

Prior to starting GodTube, Wyatt spent about 10 years as a producer on daytime shows and “reality” shows for CBS and other networks, and then designed video file-sharing systems for social- networking and other purposes.

Q: Is there anything significant about GodTube that is being overlooked?

A: A lot of attention gets paid to the growth of the Web site. A quarter of a million people, approximately, have signed up to our social network, and we launched it (about two months) ago.

That’s pretty significant. Who it is, I think, is even more significant. We have about 25,000 churches that are signed up. It’s individuals and pastors.

So, really, we are acting as the infrastructure for a lot of churches right now in terms of their online video and delivering their online content.

I think that’s really important. People aren’t picking up on the fact that a good portion of the 800,000 hours of video that we have is being uploaded by churches and embedded into their church Web site or their church blog.

There’s kind of a huge church growth in that area that people really aren’t seeing. They’re more interested in the little girl in Psalm 23, but they’re not really seeing what I think is a ripple which will become a tidal wave of churches going to GodTube.

Q: Anything else?

A: Something else that’s overlooked is we are a family-friendly YouTube, a family-friendly Facebook rolled into one.

We watch every single minute of every video that’s uploaded (screening for inappropriate adult content).

Plus, we’re getting ready to launch the viral video blog, which everybody will have.

So we’ll review all that material, all the live streams.

Q: With this video blog, anyone will be able to do up to 30 minutes for free and post it on their personal Web page within GodTube?

A: Or any Web site on the planet. It will allow missionaries to communicate with one another.

It will allow Christians to have a window to the world to see the good works being done around the planet.

It will allow military families, for example, to stay in contact with their loved ones around the globe.

It’s very simple to use. It’s like a video recorder. That’s basically it. People could leave video messages: “Hi, Mom. How are you doing? I’m in Iraq. I’m doing OK today.”

Q: Much like voice mail, only with a video recorder?

A: Exactly.

Q: GodTube offers nondenominational forums for people of any Christian background or no faith to discuss and explore issues from all viewpoints. You have video sermons and, now, live services. Are you becoming a church?

A: We’re not a substitute for church. Our goal is to get people interested in the faith, to get into church ultimately.

I mean, we’re not going to send out a pastor to officiate a funeral. We’re not going to send out a lay person to help get grandma’s car out of the snow. I wish we could do that.

We’re here really to help the church move into the digital age.

Q: You say that GodTube has the most technologically advanced social network, and that millions of dollars were invested in technology before you launched. Where has the money come from?

A: We’re privately financed, initially with my money to do all the development. I kept funding it until the investor group came together, all individuals, no corporations.

The largest investor is Norm Miller. He’s chairman of Interstate Batteries. But we have a number of other guys in there as well.

Q: When do you expect GodTube to make a profit?

A: Next year, sooner than later.

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