I have the privilege of introducing another innovator to you this week. He is working with Campus Crusade’s Family Life ministry in Australia. His name is Eric Skattebo.
Eric responded to the blog entry I wrote about Innovation Combos (the idea that we could create new innovations by combining various traditional ministries in new ways). Eric is working on a very promising media ministry combo that I think you will enjoy reading about. Take a moment to read what he sent in and feel free to connect with him through our facebook group.
RADIO AND WEB MINISTRY IDEAS - Eric Skattebo
How can a radio program, website and online follow-up ministry work together to form one cohesive evangelism strategy? Well, let’s start at the end and work backwards.
1.ONLINE FOLLOW-UP MINISTRY
TruthMedia is an example of a follow-up ministry that connects people who are seeking spiritual truth with Christian mentors who correspond with them. The ultimate aim is for them to lead non-Christians to the Lord and disciple new believers. This ministry is having wonderful success – leading 2,000 to 3,000 people to the Lord each month (or to rededicate their lives).
2. WEBSITES
But how do you get religious seekers to contact you in the first place? One way is to design “seeker sensitive” websites that can be found easily when “seekers” do web searches (on Google or Yahoo etc.). These websites provide information along the lines of “What is the purpose of life?,” “Does God exist?” or “What is truth?” etc.. “Seekers” come to these sites and are given opportunities to contact the site and be assigned a mentor.Another way is to design a website using the “Bridge Strategy.” Basically, this means that you select a topic that is of interest to non-Christians (like sports, movies or hobbies etc.) and you design a website around this topic. The topic becomes a “bridge” to spiritual content.On all of these websites, visitors are given opportunities to contact the website (i.e. “For Prayer, Click Here” or “Questions About God, Click Here” etc.).
3. RADIO PROGRAM
But how do people find your website besides finding it through a search or stumbling upon it? The answer is by making it known to as many people as possible (i.e. advertising or publicity). This can be done in a variety of ways: TV commercials, billboards, posters, T-shirts etc.One way of making a connection with people is by establishing a relationship with them through a radio program. Radio is unique in that it can provide companionship and have the listeners feel as if they “know” the hosts and guests. This “personal” medium, if done right, can earn the right to be heard on spiritual issues.Once again, a “Bridge Strategy” can be used to attract non-Christians and “bring them over” to spiritual content. Examples of “Bridges” being used are: teaching English as a second language, advice on family issues or finance and news/cultural insights.
BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
This can all be brought together by having a radio program that is designed to attract non-Christians (with topics like: family advice, movies, culture, cultural insights, human-interest stories, current events etc). This type of program would “bring listeners over” to spiritual topics (i.e. the “Bridge Strategy”).Listeners would be given ample opportunities to contact the program directly or go to its corresponding website. Once at the website, listeners would be able to find out more information on the topics covered and also spiritual information. The website would also provide opportunities to ask questions or make comments and interact with the program/website.Whether the listener contacts the program directly or goes to the website, they would be put into the follow-up program and contacted by a trained mentor. Thus, providing personalized contact. The Lord willing, this will result in a discipling relationship and another member of the Kingdom of God.The goal would be to have this program played on as many radio stations as possible and, thereby, expose the maximum amount of people to the spiritual content of the program, website and mentoring emails.
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