Church leadership consultant, Phil Cooke has a highly read article that among other things challenges leaders to “explore the media” this year. Here is what Phil said in the segment:
The latest study indicates the average American family watches TV and surfs the Internet an average of 10 hours each day. Compared to your time in the pulpit of a couple of hours each week, who has the most influence? Unless pastors and ministry leaders learn the power of the media and how to use it effectively, we’ll continue our not-so-slow slide into oblivion.
Discuss movies and TV programs with your congregation, and teach them how to properly prioritize the media. And think more about your media outreach – even the smallest church or ministry can create an effective Web site or energize their graphic design. The battle for influence in your congregation’s life has begun, and you’d better get into the fight.
While Phil’s article was written primarily to pastors and church leaders, there are applications for any Christian leader considering their next steps in the use of new media.
Big Vision, Big Goals, Big Faith
Absolutely, if you haven’t already, make it your mission this year to review, analyze and investigate the new media universe. Discovery is essential to helping you determine where it is you want to take your organization and your people.
Next, answer this question:
What’s the single biggest thing you can imagine that will enable your organization to become a leader in the use of new media in the next 12 months?
Think about what role new media plays in your organization right now. Think about where you would like to be. Think lost souls. Think customer access to Christian new media channels.
Think Big. Ultimately, this will lead to a Big Vision, with Big Goals, requiring a Big Faith in God to accomplish.
Things are changing so fast with media now, that you cannot afford to aim for small, incremental steps. You need a game changer. You need to do something that will change the way your organization looks at media from the top down. Something that will force you and all those you influence to reevaluate preconceived ideas about media, to come up with bold ideas, and to develop new methods that make implementation of your Big Goal practical. Next, make a list of your most important steps. Start working the list today.
Young people being targeted
If you need more motivation, keep these stats in mind: Time spent with computers has tripled over the past decade among kids age 8 to 18. The bulk of this group’s time is spent on social media, followed by games, video sites and instant messaging. The average kid packs a total of 10 hours and 45 minutes worth of media content into a daily seven and a half hours of media exposure.
So that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:11
Youth are at the center of an exploding digital culture. Alcoholic beverage and other companies have stampeded into this Wild West environment to create an array of “advertising experiences” to glorify their products to young people
Christian leaders must also provide great online experiences to reach and equip younger generations, or risk being left in the dust.
Like Phil said, it’s vital that you “get in the fight.” This time next year you will have stories to tell of how your team moved far beyond the blackboard to create unique digital approaches.