This is a guest blog post by Francis Tuffour.
What do Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Rex Humbard, Oral Roberts, Pat Robertson and Jim Baker have in common? The answers can vary, they are Christian preachers, what is most obvious is that they used the power of television to beam their messages to their audience around the world. The use of medium of their time helped them to bring their ministries from ‘box’ to ‘mountaintop’. Before the advent of television Christian leaders had used print medium and radio to reach other people with their messages.
It is undeniable fact that we live in an era of change, and this world is changing faster than it used to be, by just a brink of an eye. How do we position ourselves as Christians to take advantages of these changes and overcome its challenges?
Daniel predicted about increase of knowledge in Dan.12:4.
One thing that has brought much change is an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) whose ripples are felt on almost all sectors of the society. Let us cast our minds back in the past era where we were using typewriters, telephone lines, we could not withdraw money outside the banking hall, or when there was no price scanner machines, no colour TV, digital cameras and computers. Today because of ICT, our tasks are reduced and we do things better and faster. ICT has changed how we work, learn, play and relate with each other. That is what ICT is doing.
Nations have realized the importance of ICT on the socio-economic development of the people.
No one can separate the relationship between media and religion. Their actions and reactions will continue to permeate. So Christians should learn the dynamics of the new media and how to use it to advance the the work of God. The Internet unlike television and radio does not require sophisticated skills before one can use it. More people can use it in diverse ways, it is not for only few church leaders. From blogging, chatting, social networking, twittering, uploading videos, podcasts, Internet radio, and more. The options to use are becoming many and exciting. The rate Internet is becoming common makes it more interesting, it is cheapest to use. All theological curriculum should be reviewed so that that Internet ministry technology or web evangelism technology to be inserted. Church leaders who have become used to conventional media need to be kept abreast with the trends of the new media through seminars and workshops. Church organizations and members presence online should be promoted. We should not be technophobic at all, people’s online presence these days are increasing daily. Jesus went to where He could find people. We should not forget that. We should move with the Internet technology. The secular websites are gaining more grounds, we should not rest at all when it comes to Internet.
I live in Ghana,in West Africa. As a religion professional and a professional counselor, my over-riding passion is to employ information and communication technology tools to present Jesus Christ to the world. Media ministry is an area of emphasis in my work.I am a simple man, I love to meet people irrespective of their gender, race, color, religious affiliation, social or economic status. My personal values are: God, Family, Friends, Health, Education, Information and Communication Technology. In this life I have learnt not to ask people:”Do you know who I am?” because the best answer I can get is: “Who are you?”
