A week before, we blogged on the creative use of technology for Church Announcements. This week, I want to highlight that some of the leading growing churches in the West use technology to conduct simultaneous services through video every Sunday.

When we were in New Life Assemblies of God Church in Chennai, I was told that they have successfully been able to project their service in the new grounds simultaneously. Yet talking to some other leaders they seem to have some worries on how it might work for them.

There are many reasons for the same. Some do not believe in it. Many of these areas do not have fast internet connections. And yet some others have never given it a thought.

Is it wrong? Is it wrong for someone to reach more people via video simultaneously?

Biblical Reasons

  • After the resurrection of Jesus, we see how He appears to His disciples constantly. I am sure the speed in appearing and disappearing in different places according to their specific need was not a human thing. But thank God for technology now we have the opportunity to bring the gospel to many more people irrespective of the distance or time.
  • The New Testament epistles were written to networks of churches across cities like Galatia, Philippi, Corinth, Thessalonica. They did not just gather in one location. Timothy, Titus, Paul and the others were using their technology(writing letters) of their era to reach out to multiple congregations. (1 Cor. 5, 1 Peter)
  • 1 Cor. 9:20-23 says, “20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Notice the verse 23 says, “So that by all possible means I might save some.” Could this be another possible means? Yes, of course, yes!

Here’s an interesting video to watch. Pastors, James MacDonald and Mark Driscoll preach for multiple campus sites at once through video every Sunday. The other Pastor, Mark Dever preaches in one location with one service.

In this video, MacDonald and Driscoll seek to convince Dever that he should adopt a multi-site strategy. This might answer some of our questions.

 

(Interested to know more on why Multi-Sites? - Video 1hr :15mins by Mark Discroll on why Multi Sites)

What do you think? What are your thoughts or concerns? Will your culture or church accept this kind of a development? Comment below.

There are many reasons for the same. Some do not believe in it. Many of these areas do not have fast internet connections. And yet some others have never given it a thought..

Is it wrong? Is it wrong for someone to reach more people via video simultaneously?

Guarding The Heart [GTH]

Posts Twitter Facebook

Have a thought or a comment?

Discuss with the GTH community here in the comments box below! We value your comments, even your disagreements, as long as you are courteous.

Thank you for adding value to this post!

Want your picture next to your comment? Sign-up for free at Gravatar.

[©SMM. In using this article, link back to this blog, do not alter wordings or charge for it.]

  • Marilenafackerell

    I was in a church in Brisbane Australia and the minister from New Zealand who was supposed to be the speaker could not come for some reason. Then they arranged a Skype connection where he was sitting in front of his computer, connected through Skype video, preaching to the congregation and he could see the congregation in one screen on his computer while the congregation could see him very well on a big screen like in a cinema. It worked very well.

    It can also work very well in cases where a pastor is denied entry to a country – I know a few who were denied entry into India  – and they could still be an encouragement this way.

    While I know that it can be used marvelously in many ways and should be so, one negative I can see with this is that it can limit the number of people trained to be preachers since the job is done by just one man.  As long as the pulpit is not highjacked by just one minister, but he makes disciples who can also preach and be allowed exposure, and does not seek only his own influence to grow, then it works very well. I guess it comes down to this – the technology is wonderful, but are we using it in a godly way, to build a name for ourselves, to act in a spirit of control over more than one campus while stiffling the potential rising preachers from those places or are we using it to make more disciples and empower the church people to become all they can be. 

    • http://www.shyjumathew.com Shyju Mathew

      That’s a valid point. But if u noticed PST. Mark does address that concern in the video. The branch churches continues to function & develop a system & leadership of their own. Yes it’s brilliant for those who can find a balance.

  • http://twitter.com/musiqchild007 Jherrel Peters

    The issue then boils down to not whether we should use this technology but whether we have enough trained individuals in the Kingdom to use this to it’s fullest potential. I’m all for this but I wonder if we’re capable to effectively pull it off, if not it’ll be more of a hindrance.

    What IRRITATES me is when a church doesn’t have a good website..I don’t know if that’s irritating to you Shy but it is to me. I mean, if we can’t even manage a simple website can we really hope to run technology as vast as what Mark Driscoll uses? SMH! We gotta get our act together and realise that the church needs to stop playing church and actually make an impact not only in the pews but in every other system (in this case the technological system) out there…and we wonder why the world doesn’t respect our opinion…

    • http://www.shyjumathew.com Shyju Mathew

      Hmmm. I think someone has to educate us all professionally the need & objectives of a church website. (someone needs make that a post)

      About man power. I think doing is a good way of knowing what r requirements & then go on to develop those areas right.

  • Blossom

    Its always good to know about advances in technology, and as a church/ministry tune itself with the latest tools that the world is using for a Godly cause. My concern is not the resources (technical or in terms of the manpower) because that’s too trivial for a God who goes by the name Jehovah Jireh. 

    My concern is the overdo of it. Are we moving towards seeing  a point where technology keeps the preacher or the congregation at home tuned to their monitors for their dose of the word of God? 

    With technology making “all things possible”, are we gonna see days where the essence of meeting together, encouraging one another, praying together is lost in the geek-world? (Noticed these days people are more busy on Facebook than meeting face to face!!).

     

    • http://www.shyjumathew.com Shyju Mathew

      Hello Blossom, the multiple site video is not going to be aired to their houses but in local places. It has their own set of leaders & worship team & week day meetings too.

      And I agree, anything overdone is trouble for sure. But here is one more opportunity that can benefit the Kingdom if used with wisdom as like any other technology for church.

  • Esther

    Dear Readers,
    I am not against Technology. However after having lived a little longer than ( am in my 50′s now) I have noticed something about the younger generation.  The social skills that existed in the previous generation is gradually eroded and I have to keep adjusting to this new generation who do not have a clue.  Meeting in a church, working together as a worship team, cell group, prayer meetings foster a social connection/bond which technology can seriously erode.  It is already taking place.  I cannot even call this generation rude, because they are not aware.  We in the west call them daycare generation.  It is  something that will take place when human beings are raised in secular child care centres which operate like factories.

  • Esther

    Dear Friends,
    Technology will eventually have its place.  It is a lot of fun and I enjoy the full benefits of same the least of which is this blog which allows me to share my thoughts with folks all around the world.  However I am at a stage in my life,  where I would rather see the THE ACTUAL POWER OF GOD manifested whereever believers gather.  Having lived in India in the in the late 70′s-early 80′s, and later residing for the past 22 years in the western culture ,  I have realised, that only the POWER OF GOD will , have an impact on this postmodern, humanistic,  antiGod culture of death.  NOTHING ELSE WILL DO IT FOR ME.  I would give anything to experience GOD just the way MOSES, ELIJAH, ELISHA AND ALL OF THE EARLY DISCIPLES DID.  THERE IS NO HIGH LIKE THE MOST HIGH.  OH HOW WONDERFUL IS THAT ?  No tongue or pen can describe it!!!!  May God give us the wisdom to use this great tool to bring GLORY TO HIS INDESCRIBABLE NAME !!!