30 Years Online: What God Has Done From Dial-Up to Now

January 2026

Hi All,

Happy New Year!

2026 is upon us and looks to be quite a celebratory year. The Winter Olympics will be held in Italy, the FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles, and the year marks several notable anniversaries, such as 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Another noted anniversary is that 2026 marks thirty years since the launch of Come Reason! It was just after buying the family a new computer system for Christmas in 1995 that I decided to learn more about this new internet and build a website. Back in those days, I only had a dial-up connection with a modem, and our service provider was the local newspaper. Still, it gave us some server space, and I wanted to try to create an online “Bible-Answer Man”-type site that took the Bible seriously. However, to do so, one needs content.

Back in those days, there used to exist small, local public message boards known as Bulletin Board Systems, or BBSes. You’d use a floppy disk with the software to dial into the server, where there were different groups chatting on different topics. It was the precursor to online forums. I logged into a Christian board and found a discussion between a Christian and an atheist where the atheist offered his objections to belief. I responded to each objection and sent him my replies. He wrote back, and we had another exchange. Those initial interactions are still part of the site, and you can read them here. Others then wrote in, and the site was off and running.

I hadn’t planned on this becoming my full-time occupation—when I started, I didn’t even know the word apologetics—yet God has graciously blessed the endeavor, and now, thirty years later, I’m still engaging with people all around the world online and in many different formats! It is truly and only by God’s leading and grace that I’ve been able to do what I do, and through His blessing I can continue to do so!

I’m currently studying the book of Deuteronomy. There, Moses recounts to the children of Israel all the Lord has done to protect them in their wilderness wanderings. But he mostly spends his time instructing them on how to successfully establish their new kingdom in the Promised Land. He tells them it is God’s land and they can have great success if they keep moving forward.

That’s my attitude as well. Some of you reading this have been following the ministry since its inception. Others are new to the newsletter. I’m incredibly excited not only to celebrate thirty years of ministry but, more importantly, to see what the Lord is going to do this year. It’s the growth of His kingdom that interests me the most, and while marking the faithfulness of God through the trials and challenges of the past is important, continuing to be faithful to His call is even more important. I simply cannot wait to see what God does next and how His faithfulness will be shown.

MINISTRY UPDATE

One of the areas I truly enjoy is the in-person time I get to meet and interact with Christians at various speaking events as well as our Dare to Defend conferences. I’m discussing possibly three conferences this year at different venues and covet your prayers for these. It would be so exciting to bring top-tier Christian speakers to audiences across different parts of the country. Do you know of a church in your area that may be able to host one of these events? Get in touch! And if you want to experience what a D2D conference is like, you can buy access to stream any of the prior events. See https://www.comereason.org/daretodefend/ for a list of speakers and topics.

HELP ME HELP YOU!

Do you have a winter event coming up at your church, or would you like your group to hear more about how to better understand the times and share their faith? Now’s the time to reach out! I have several openings for winter months, and I’d love to come out and talk to your congregation or group, large or small! Get in touch (just reply to this email), and I can even supply you with ideas and some of the most popular talks I’ve given. I’d love to add you to our schedule!

FINANCIAL UPDATE

First, I want to thank all my supporters so much for standing with me these past decades. (Decades? shudder I’m old!) Without you, this ministry simply could not exist. I’m basically a missionary, seeking to evangelize those who are neighbors, family, co-workers—people with whom we associate daily and who are desperately held captive by the lies of the enemy and this world’s deceptions. But as I seek to reach them, I need other faithful friends who are willing to stand together with me in those efforts. It is an unfortunate truth that as the costs of ministry keep rising, the need for more support rises as well. Last year we had a slight budget shortfall. I want not only to meet our budget this year but also to be able to grow the ministry without worrying about how to pay for it. Your gift, no matter the size, can help this ministry move forward. Just visit https://www.comereason.org/support/ to make a New Year’s gift today.

In an upcoming newsletter, I will let you know more about how we will mark this thirtieth anniversary of ministry. Until then, please feel free to write and let me know how I can pray for you!

Blessings,
Lenny

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