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GodTube's Popularity Keeps Users Cross-Eyed

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By MATT CURRY, The Associated Press

Published: November 4, 2007

PLANO, Texas - Chris Wyatt is on a mission.

Walking hastily through his cavernous fourth-floor headquarters in suburban Dallas, the founder of the Christian version of YouTube is searching for an available conference room.

He quickly passes reminders of his success: a group of customer service representatives on the phone, animated meetings in progress and extra office space that GodTube.com is preparing to move into. Finally settled, the nattily dressed former TV producer insists he is as surprised as anyone that the site was identified earlier this year by comScore as the fastest growing on the Web.

"I thought I was going to be a seminary student and then work maybe a couple of hours a week," he said.

"Now I'm taking online courses because I can't get over to the seminary, I'm so busy."

GodTube.com, a video-sharing site with Christian content, drew more than 4 million unique visitors during October.

It maintains more than 150,000 registered users with active profiles. Plans for the future include producing entertainment programs at the site's headquarters north of Dallas.

Wyatt, GodTube's CEO, is reaching more people than he could hope for in a lifetime of pulpit appearances. He points out that GodTube.com users on Sunday mornings outnumber megachurch Pastor Joel Osteen's congregation in Houston.
GodTube videos includes music, comedy and heated theological debates. Two of the most viewed include a corny rap remix called "Baby Got Book" and a 4-year-old girl reciting Psalm 23 from memory.
GodTube reviews every video uploaded and rejects those with objectionable content. Members of other religions are invited to participate on the Web site, but they cannot proselytize.

Atheists are welcome, too, and they may share their point of view, "as long as it's done respectfully."

Wyatt, a member of First Baptist Church of Dallas, describes the site as a neutral "Switzerland" open to various theological viewpoints. That doesn't mean shots aren't being fired.

Videos being viewed recently include "Why Pentecostalism is not of God," "Mormonism exposed," and "The papacy is NOT biblical."

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