The Digital Ministry Revolution
A quick review of lessons learned from Christian ministries embracing digital technology
Over the past several weeks, I have researched and talked to a number of Christian ministries to understand how they have leveraged technology through the Digital Revolution to extend the reach and deepen the impact of their mission. This article pulls all those articles together into one place with a brief summary of each:
The Digital Revolution for Christian Ministries
This article kicked off the series. While technology has tremendous potential to be used for good, too often it is used in ways that dishonor God and that harm people. Sometimes the real damage isn’t even seen until years after the technology is introduced. Are there Christian ministries that have done a good job of capturing that power while managing the danger? If so, how have they managed to pull it off?
Digital Church Revolution?
Local churches come in all shapes and sizes. Most have been touched, in some way, by the digital revolution. Each church has chosen its own path through these potentially disruptive changes to match its own focus and realities. The underlying technologies may be neutral, but churches must be intentional in their reasons for adopting technology and must be diligent in evaluating the dangers in each technology’s use. As Christ told his disciples “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16)
Grand Canyon University Rides the Technology Waves
Technology has been at the core of the university’s growth and living out their mission. The university’s Christian mission not only shapes how the technology is used but also in how technology decisions are made. The technology exists to support people, made in the image of God and worthy of dignity and respect. The concepts of love and service are inherent in any technology decisions.
Digital Bible Revolution
While pastor Craig Groeschel started Life.Church modestly in 1996 in a two-car garage in Oklahoma City, that small congregation has grown into one of the largest multi-campus churches in America and serves hundreds of millions through it’s digital outreach. The church’s website says that Life.Church’s mission is “to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ,” and that their mission is “the driving force behind everything we do.” Over the past 25 years, probably no church has more extensively leveraged digital technology to increase the reach and richness of its ministries, all driven by that mission.
Digital Caring Revolution
Technology has clearly been an important part of how God is using Samaritan’s Purse to love and serve many around the world. In addition to it’s U.S. headquarters, the ministry has affiliate offices in Canada, Australia, the U.K., Germany and South Korea, field offices in 19 countries, and works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. The ministry literally has touched hundreds of millions of people at their point of need. It is hard to imagine Samaritan’s Purse being able to operate at that scale without the technologies that have become core to the ministry’s operations.
Digital Teaching Revolution
From its earliest beginnings, Ligonier has been a leader in using technology in achieving its mission of “proclaiming, teaching, and defending the holiness of God in all its fullness to as many people as possible.” From the early years when founder R.C. Sproul just had a lectern and a chalkboard and reached the dozens of students gathered in his classroom, Ligonier has grown to reach millions each month with rich teaching leveraging the latest technologies.
Digital Seminary Revolution
Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary (CBTS) began life as the Midwest Center for Theological Studies in 2005 using the traditional model of in-person education. In 2011 the school embraced digital technology, shifting to a primarily online teaching model. That shift has enabled CBTS to accomplish three primary goals: partnering with local churches in preparing those with a pastoral calling, serving churches and students around the world, and making a seminary education affordable. In 2014 the school changed its name to reflect its broader reach and more focused purpose.
Please let me know if there are additional ministries that I should feature in this series.
