Online social networks like YouTube, MySpace and Facebook, have become popular Web sites for sharing and viewing user-generated content. Religious communities are jumping on the bandwagon with their own sharing site, GodTube.com.

According to Chris Wyatt, creator and CEO of the one-year-old Web site, Godtube.com is the Christian answer to YouTube.

"We have a flavor of something that speaks to the heart of everyone," he said.

Wyatt said his inspiration for GodTube came from realizing religious leaders are having trouble relating to the 18- to 30-year-old crowd.

"I read a report that said in 2025, half of the 80 million people who attend church on a regular basis would not continue going," Wyatt said. "In any other industry, bells would be going off."

In their first year on the Web, GodTube averaged five million to seven million users a month, he said.

ComScore Inc., an Internet analysis company, reported GodTube grew 973 percent in the month of August, Wyatt said. He said these numbers outranked the combined August growth totals of MySpace, Facebook and YouTube.

Such extensive growth has made keeping up with the site a challenge, Wyatt said.

Wyatt said another issue GodTube has faced is getting people to see the site as more than just a religious niche.

"If 2.1 billion (religious) people are considered a niche, I'll take it," he said.

Vincent Gonzales, a GodTube "super user" and pastor of the North Dallas Family Church, Dallas, Texas, said he became involved with GodTube because his church wanted to do more in terms of community outreach but were financially unable to do so.

"We were able to just buy a simple camcorder and upload clips of our sermons. The quality is excellent and it's free so we took advantage of it," he said.

Gonzales said that because of GodTube, his church's own Web site has seen an increase in traffic.

As a bilingual pastor, Gonzales said GodTube officials approached him to help them develop Spanish preaching videos for the Web site.

"GodTube links us to a whole new Christian community," he said, "Before GodTube, Christian magazines, radio and television stations were the only way to get your message out."

Wyatt said that 40 percent of the videos on GodTube are actual teachings similar to the ones Gonzales uploads.

The other 60 percent of the videos include parodies and skits created by users.

"Baby Got Book" is a religious take on Sir Mix-A-Lot's song "Baby Got Back" and has been seen by over a half million viewers.

The top two most viewed videos, a clip of a little girl saying a psalm and a Lifehouse skit, have each been view by around 4 million people each.

While the comedic of aspect of GodTube parallels that of YouTube, Wyatt said GodTube and YouTube are not competitors.

One of the major differences between GodTube and YouTube is that GodTube is a family-safe environment, Wyatt said.

In order to prevent unwanted content, he said each video is sent through an electronic defense system and real people consistently monitor live content.

"Other social networking Web sites have over 29,000 sexual predators. We don't have that," he said.

In order to remain family-friendly, Wyatt said the Web site's advertisements must be appropriate and all objectionable ads are filtered out.

"You won't see videos about a church with a 'Girls Gone Wild' ad running next to it," he said.

Kyle Steven, GodTube's music critic, said the safe environment is one of the major draws of the Web site.

"Families have the benefits of on-demand entertainment without having to worry about what's out there," Steven said.

GodTube has received a lot of attention for people seeking a Christian alternative, he said.

"People are spiritually searching. They might not be able to admit this in their parishes but with GodTube they can look for guidance in the comfort of their own home," he said.

GodTube is not a substitute for church but the site acts more as shepherd to people, Steven said.

GodTube plans on the introduction of live video blogs in the near future, Wyatt said.

"We hope to be far more robust then Facebook by the end of the year," he said.