Christian values on the Internet
In Religious Articles Brabander , in our post today we want to present the revaloria.org page. So that you know it, we reproduce an interview that Antonio Gónzalez, its director, gave to es.catholic.net.
We hope you enjoy it, in future entries we will expand the information.
"Antonio González, director of Revaloria and Catinfor: "My main intention with all this is to help people meet God. And do my bit to "colonize" the continent of the internet, as Benedict XVI asked us last year to Christians in the Day of Social Communications"
- Why did you get "get" on the internet?
In 2006 I started with my first blog. It was a kind of consulting room, in which people asked me about faith, the existence of God, confession, the movements of the Church, vocation, sexuality, etc. I published and answered all the questions that came to me. Those that were "in favor" and those that were acidic or were "going to catch." The latter gave more interest to the blog.
With this blog I realized that many people search the internet for spiritual help that they do not find -or do not even look for- among the people around them. Some went to confession after a long time, others resolved their doubts, others discovered their vocation, others I later met personally and now we are great friends... there was everything.
- How was the idea of Revaloria born?
Then I made another page to read spirituality books online. Through the blog and this page, many people know me. For example, on Facebook I have more than 7,000 friends (I don't know anyone who has more). It is already known that not all Facebook friends are "friends, friends" or "true friends", but rather "contacts", but the data can be useful.
Friends and acquaintances asked me for help with the design and promotion of web pages related to Catholic issues. That is why, naturally, I had been dedicating myself to what I do now for two years.
And I decided to formalize the situation by creating a company called Revaloria, which is dedicated precisely to this: spreading pages with Christian values on the Internet.
From the company we promote existing pages, and we have made new ones on topics that seem especially necessary to me.
Like abortion, year for priests, download of spirituality books, spiritual clinic, catechesis for young people, etc.
We are now working on a project that shows the latest Catholic news to the second, from the main sources of information.
- What was your previous work experience?
Since I finished my degree, I had worked for 4 years as a computer network administrator for a company.
- And personal?
I studied Physics, although it doesn't have much to do with what I do now. I also have studies in Industrial Engineering, Philosophy and Theology. I think that if you keep to yourself what you know, you waste it; but if you put it at the service of others, you can help them a lot... and that's what I try to do.
On the other hand, I really like my work at Revaloria, because I am constantly in contact with people from all over the world. And I enjoy every hour that I spend in front of the computer, while I listen to music and answer e-mails from the four cardinal points.
- Why a Catholic content website: is it a good market or was it a matter of faith?
Matter of faith? Yes. My main intention with all this is to help people meet God. And to contribute my grain of sand to "colonize" the continent of the Internet, as Benedict XVI asked of us Christians last year at the Social Communications Day.
Good market? Not bad. Or, rather, lousy. Because a lot of people ask for help and don't have the money to pay... Usually I can't afford "free" jobs, although I make some exceptions, like when a priest from the Roman Curia wrote to me a few days ago, asking me to lend him a hand with a official page that the Vatican is doing, or when they asked me for help from the Episcopal Conference to spread a Pro-life campaign, or from the organization of the WYD in Madrid 2011. Although the exceptions are few, because if I became a fan of them I could not pay to the people I have employed, the company would disappear and I would not be able to continue serving people with it.
- It can be said that you are a modern preacher (or else, if you had lived three centuries ago, you would have tried to spread the message of Jesus too, how?
Yes. I try to "preach" online, but I don't change my convictions when I leave the screen and I'm with my friends or on the street. If he had lived three centuries ago, I'm sure he would have done something different, but I can't say what.
- Brief description of the economic management of Revaloria (non-profit, donations and works...)
The company started in 2009. Currently 10 people work with me as paid workers and 12 or 15 more as volunteers. We currently manage more than 80 pages, several Facebook groups, YouTube channels, etc.
The income comes from two fundamental sources: donations from people interested in financing the project (having many contacts makes this easier). Although, like everyone else, we have been affected by the crisis and any donation, no matter how small, is not a bad thing for us.
And, secondly, of work that they entrust to us: page design, promotion on social networks, advertising with ads, influencing the results that appear in search engines when typing the name of a person, web page or organization, etc.
- Does it limit a lot from a business point of view having to accept clients based on their values? "They offer these services only to web pages, companies, schools or associations that clearly spread Christian values"
As I mentioned before, yes. Limit. But I have not undertaken this to "rich myself", but to use the new technological means to talk about Jesus Christ. However, as it is something that limits -and a lot-, I am starting with another company dedicated to managing reputation on the internet, focused on a broader audience (not only Catholic), in order to obtain funds for Revaloria.
- A brief summary of your life: school, family...
I was born in Madrid 26 years ago. I am the oldest of 7 siblings. My parents are exemplary Christians and are not from any church group or movement. I owe them everything: my life (thank God, they didn't abort me), my faith, their unconditional support... and so many good times spent together. I studied at Colegio El Prado and at public universities... is the summary enough? If anyone wants to know more, you can write to me antoniogonzalez2006@gmail.com.com This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
I personally read all the messages that come to me -about 200 a day- and I answer most of them, because I make the pages for you and for you.