Let’s look at five building blocks provided by God that have sustained Christian media for nearly 100 years.

Looking back

Five building blocks God provided for traditional broadcasters.

1. The network. God had a redemptive purpose for man’s “harnessing” of radio technology. The U.S. Christian broadcasting network currently consists of 2400 full power radio stations and 100 full power TV stations, and a total audience reach of 75 million.

2. The workers. God always calls people to fulfill His purposes. Over the years, hundreds of thousands have answered the call to work in radio, TV and church media. The National Religious Broadcasters and The Gospel Music Association were formed to provide community and bring unity to these Christian media workers.

3. The content. God’s promises have been the cornerstone of a wide range of faith-based, hope-filled and family themed broadcasting content. Created by pastors, churches, ministries, individual broadcasters, networks and artists.

4. The partners. Through donors and advertisers, loyal audiences, public and private partnerships, God has provided support for the greatest Christian communication platform the world has ever seen (to date).

5. The results. Whenever I’ve asked someone involved in using media for the gospel what the greatest benefit of their work is, they’ve always said, ‘the lives of people changed for Christ.’ It’s the reason we do what we do. Historian Tona Hangen defined the impact this way:

In the latter half of the twentieth century, religious broadcasting made possible coalitions and personal relationships that permanently changed individual lives and revitalized a set of religious traditions that seemed on the verge of extinction.

Looking forward

“I know that everything God does will endure forever. Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.” (Ecclesiastes 3:13-15)

The individual characteristics of the five building blocks will change to accommodate new technologies, globalization, and participants but their fundamental nature will remain intact. “Everything God does will endure forever.”

The network. God has a redemptive purpose for man’s “harnessing” digital technology. The global communications network is providing tens of thousands of Christian individuals and organizations with the opportunity to build local and global outreaches, reaching massive audiences. Some are using both traditional and new media. Some exist entirely online.

The workers. A new breed of worker is being called to jobs such as Digital Pastor and Director of Digerati. Roles are being redefined in traditional media organizations to incorporate an understanding and execution of new media.

The content. Digital technology is making it possible for Christian new media networks like LifeChurch.tv Open to create and distribute ‘free’ libraries of creative materials and sermon series. Faith Comes By Hearing has developed Bibleis, a ‘free’ suite of mobile and social media applications for reading, listening to, and sharing the Bible around the world, in over 450 languages.

The partners. A consensus is forming on the need  for more partnership and collaboration. To break down barriers between organizations by sharing knowledge, skills, experience and financial resources. What new media evangelism, discipling and community service ventures will materialize as broadcast stations, churches and ministries join forces?

The results. Lives are being changed by the gospel, through all forms of electronic media, on a global scale never seen before.

We are the first generation in all of human history to hold within our hands the technology to reach every man, woman and child on the earth by 2020, said Walt Wilson, founder and CEO of Global Media Outreach.

The future of Christian media

The future of Christian media will include revolutionary technology innovations, new workers, attracting younger audiences, greater collaboration and impacting all nations for the glory of Christ.

Success will, to some degree, depend on how well the aforementioned five enduring building blocks, the legacy of religious broadcasters, are kept in place as a firm foundation for constructing the new Christian media platform.

Trusting that, “God will generously provide all that you need,” to accomplish the mission.

Question: What are some other key building blocks of Christian Media in the Digital Age?

Advancements in digital media have opened up unparalleled opportunities.

Digital media opportunities

• Evangelistic, inspirational and educational content can be delivered to more people, in more places, from more sources than at any time in human history.

• Groups of individuals can be located, organized, and coordinated to interact with the Bible (www.youversion.com), interact with sermons (www.sermoncloud.com), connect with churches (www.churchcloud.com), connect with ministries and to their resources (www.gospel.com), and collaborate on mobile/cellphone-based evangelism (https://mobilev.pbworks.com).

• Opinions and ideas can be solicited and shared; community created; and partnerships formed across geographical boundaries.

A spectacular untapped reservoir of potential exists for leaders willing to seize the moment.

Here are four keys to unleashing the potential.

1. Prayer. “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.” (Psalm 2:8) No great Christian enterprise starts or advances without prayer. Organize a monthly prayer breakfast. Invite a local or national expert on technology or media to speak.

2. Networking. To contend with the future of a fully connected world, time must be devoted by senior leadership to networking with leaders actively engaged in using technology for kingdom work. Attend technology and media conferences, like Echo, Biola Media Conference, and Internet Media Conference. I find my status quo thinking challenged and imagination stirred at events like these.

3. Collaboration. Once experts have been located, grow and manage a network of peers. Facilitate collaboration and communication. Share knowledge, such as best practices. Whether just getting started with new media or going to the next level, more will be accomplished by learning and working in community.

4. Change. The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave and go to the land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1) In some ways, we all resist change, especially when things are going well. I don’t like changing where I park or sit at church. But without change, growth is impossible.

And, it is impossible to stay where we are and go with God.

For that reason, I believe a willingness to change ones perspective of Cyberspace, and how people are engaged with the gospel in the Digital Age, may be the most important key to taking full advantage of the potential that technology is bringing.

A change in perspective

Twenty years ago, the world outside the Church was describing the nature of Cyberspace in geographical terms. Metaphors like “electronic frontier” and “land of knowledge,” were used. Though few understood what it all meant at the time, leading futurists and thinkers challenged everyone to become a pioneer in the new digital world.

Exploration of that land [Cyberspace] can be a civilization’s truest, highest calling. The opportunity is now before us to empower every person to pursue that calling in his or her own way. This exploration brings both greater opportunity, and in some ways more difficult challenges, than any previous human adventure.

(Cyberspace and the American Dream: A Magna Carta for the Knowledge Age by Esther Dyson, George Gilder, George Keyworth, and Alvin Toffler, August 1994)

When a global communications network was only an idea, the builders may not have had Jesus or the gospel in mind. God had a different plan. Through the Internet and emerging technologies, God opened a door for communicating His truth to literally everyone on earth.

“The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Mark 12:11)

A change in strategy

Establishing a strong presence in Cyberspace for the gospel will require changing the way things are done.

In his article published in the June/July issue of Lausanne World Pulse, Dr. Dion Forster talks about how digital media is changing, or should change, the way the gospel is shared.

There is no doubt that the geographical movement of Christianity throughout history has radically changed the manner in which the gospel is shared. Each new context presents challenges and opportunities for the gospel and the faith.

What if the next shift in Christendom is not merely a geographical shift, but in fact a shift into cyberspace—a movement of a completely different kind?

Christians, and the Church, in every age have to make some necessary shifts in order to effectively communicate the gospel to a moving population.

Just as Paul’s letters transformed and built the early Church, and the Guttenberg Press transformed the Church around the time of the Reformation, so I believe the Internet, and particularly social media, is challenging us to transform the way in which we engage the world with the love of Jesus.

If Dr. Forster is right, and I believe he is, even now God is calling leaders to change their perspective on global communications; to see the tremendous potential for expanding the kingdom in new ways.

Ultimately, those transitions will enable leaders to move their organizations forward and drive a wave of digital media innovation.

A change of lives

And when the story is told, “all peoples on earth” will have been given the blessing of hearing God’s unchanging word. Then, the full potential for digital media and the gospel will have been realized.

Question: I’ve only listed four. What are some other keys to unleashing the potential for technology and media in ministry?

In my last post, I mentioned that technology had opened the door for participating in local outreach to people from all walks of life and various professions. Today, even leaders in full-time ministry with packed schedules are volunteering. Meet Dave Sears.

Dave Sears is Pastor of a Network Church with LifeChurch.tv and a member of the Church Online community. Thanks to Brandon Donaldson and Tony Steward of LifeChurch.tv, for allowing us to share Dave’s story about how he got involved in Digital Missions.

Monday morning Church Online team!!

As a Network Church Pastor, I have participated in Church Online for quite some time. I watched the messages and sometimes got involved in the chat. That all changed after Pastor Kevin, another Network Church Pastor challenged us to get more involved in Church Online.

It hit me right between the eyes. Why didn’t I think about that before? What a great way for me to give back to LifeChurch.tv for all of the great things they do for us as Network and Open Church leaders. It was like a light bulb came on and I jumped right in.

I have been serving on the Monday morning team with Church Online for a few weeks now. I never realized the blessing that I had been missing by serving with Church Online. Not only am I building real and lasting relationships with my team, but now I get to share the love of Christ with people from all over the world every week.

I have had transformational conversations with people from numerous countries including the privilege to help a person from Indonesia pray to receive Christ this week.

I live in the U.S., yet I get the privilege to go on a global missions trip every week with other believers from around the world. My only regret is that it took me this long to get involved.

I want to challenge you, if you are participating in Church Online, but not serving, jump in. There is a blessing waiting for you!

Wouldn’t it be spectacular to see hundreds or even thousands of churches using media and technology to present the gospel. That’s the first step. Then these new believers will need to be connected to a local church and helped to grow as disciples.

The strength and vitality of the local church is the future, supported by Internet access to engaging content and clear Biblical teaching.

It’s going to take thousands of volunteers like Pastor Dave Sears to make that happen.

Question: Do you think its a good idea for churches to consider starting a Digital Missions Outreach ministry?