Christian Media 2.0

You don’t have to follow the news every day or be a student of cultural trends to know that we’re living in a historically significant time.  It’s being called a “unique moment.”

On the one hand, these are the best of days. Tremendous new communication technologies are rapidly moving the world toward wireless, “always on” connectivity. Along with traditional media (radio, television, print), opportunities for Christian communicators to reach the world with the gospel appear to be boundless.

On the other hand, these are the worst of days.  Dr. Frank Wright, President of the National Religious Broadcasters, has said, “The forces arrayed against the proclamation of the gospel seem better organized, more focused, and more determined than at any time in memory.”  These competing forces of opportunity and peril have produced an uncertain future for Christian media.

A short time back, while doing research for a meeting about the National Day of Prayer, my wife Cyndi and I read the book E.M. Bounds on Prayer.

Pastor Bounds said this much can be known for sure about uncertain times, “God’s work cannot progress without Him.  Praying men and women are essential to Almighty God in all His plans and purposes.”

It’s been that way throughout history. Whenever the children of God have faced great adversity, the greatest opportunity has always been to pray.

The first Christ followers faced conspirators and constant threats.  They prayed together. And, “with great power…continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 4)

Pastor Bounds was just beginning his calling as a pastor when the Civil War broke out. He was made a prisoner of war.  It is said that “prayer was as natural to him as breathing the air, and not since the time of the apostles has a man left such a rich inheritance of research into the life of prayer.”

In the aftermath of 9/11, President Bush issued a call to “pray for healing and for the strength to serve and encourage one another in hope and faith.” The church was a first responder and participation in religious services soared.

This appears to be another one of those crucial spiritual moments.

Sustaining an existing Christian media platform or starting a new one in this turbulent climate seems an impossible task.  Yet, there is an incredible need for teachers, preachers and entrepreneurs to develop innovative ideas, bold strategies and even new business models for proclaiming the gospel.

Jesus said, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” (Mark 9) For Christian communicators that might include reaching more people with the word of God than you ever dreamed; or contributing wisdom and discernment to the discussion that will “bring greater understanding of the times and what ought to be done in the future.” (1 Chronicles 12)

The National Day of Prayer is observed on the first Thursday of May each year. As we talk about ways to preserve and expand Christian media, one of the most influential evangelistic platforms in America’s history, let this sacred occasion remind us to not miss the most essential ingredient of all: to “ask of Him” and “to raise our voices together in prayer.”

Then, let the conversations begin.

Question: What are the main hindrances that might keep an organization or ministry from starting a Christian radio or television broadcast today?