Faith FEED Mar 2015

Ministry Innovation Awards

FE D E

@ F ith

The Church of YouTube They’re bigger than you think

Be the Church

T

own Square. Throughout history,

it’s the one place where ideas and people meet. It’s where solutions

tackle problems with innovation and boldness. That’s what you do as a

creative Christian. That’s what we do as a community of believers.

Welcome to Faith FEED. Welcome to Christianity’s Town Square.

F@it h FE D E

Chief Editor Assistance Editor Editorial Staff

Linda Pintus Rebecca Hines Stephen Crawley Tim Robinson

Contributors Production

Jason Hunt Jamiel Cotman Will Doniker Lance Cummins

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804-833-7628

Seeing YouTube for the evangelical tool it really is?

51

Why Kent Hams event earned him a MIM

32

Editors Feed

K

founded. We wanted to curate, create and concentrate all of eeping your mind on God

the world’s most creative

isn’t as simple as it used to be.

Christian content into one feed.

Think for a moment, just 10

Because let’s face it, in a world

years ago, there was no

where BILLIONS of none

Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or

Christian material is circulated

YouTube. All four are social

daily, only the truly creative will

media giants that changed how

stand out. And to proceed upon

we connect. Now, millions of

that mission, of highlighting

post, tweets and videos are

faith and innovation, we

shared every minute. And most

developed the, ‘Ministry

of it has little to anything to do

Innovation Awards’ [which

with our LORD and savior

we’ve come to call MIM here at

Jesus Christ, His system of

the office], rewarding the

values or proposed way of life.

creative Christianity we

That is why Faith FEED was

realized is needed in a world

faith person aching to see of so many voices screaming

some innovation, look no

for attention [p22].

further, we’ve never faulted on

Whenever innovation comes into a thing, be it family,

our mission.

You’re welcome.

business or ministry, that particular thing moves forward.

Think about the invention of the wheel, or computer.

Creativity and innovation surges people ahead, and likewise, its creative Christians like you, our reader, that’s going to be the standout today and into the future.

So whether you’re a Christian business leader, blogger or

-Linda

Building

Digital

the

Church

Why you should develop an evangelical presence online

What’s the problem your ministry solves?

Build a web presence around solving that problem?

Get active online solving it with your team

H

ow do we build a church, that really

doesn’t have to be built at all? Oh you know what I mean. How do we establish a ministry that exists solely online, while still having the sort of in depth impact that a brick and mortar ministry can establish?

There was a time where, the only thing a website couldn’t do for you was provide face to face interaction. But now that has changed.

People can talk face to face, chat, and interact just as they do in real life online.

At least not at the level we should be. Secularism reigns, with anti-God topics populating platforms like Redditt, Facebook and YouTube. your

To ignore web presence is to ignore your ministry’s capacity

Sure, everyone has a voice, my concern is that the church, you and I, isn’t the centerpiece it once

was.

My concern is that thousands With the exception of actual touch, the connectivity the internet and software has provided, allows Gods word to reach more and more people, change more and more lives, and allow others to live the full life He intended. But there’s only one problem,-we’re not accomplishing that.

upon thousands of young people, gen x and y, won’t learn the ways of Christ, and lose something they’ll never know they’re missing.

Christendom No More While America is a post Christian society, it once had a very Christian [though not perfect] foundation. That is why everything today, in a sense, revolves around church.

When a child is born, he’s christened at church

I’m finding, more and more, the answer is no.

Though there are plenty of

When someone gets baptized, it’s done at church

Christian sites and systems to log onto, secularism, belief without God, has risen as an

When you give to Christian causes, it done at church.

authority!

People today aren’t

When you marry, it’s done at church

thinking, “What’s Gods Word

Even when you die, they roll your body to the church This was once our cultures

say about this?” they now think, “Is this a good or smart thing to do?” whether or not it’s biblically consistent.

effort to centralize Christ in all

The New Design

they did. But when over

Here’s the thing, the

2,000,000,000 are online

church, as we know it,

,church, notthe theonline offline one, every day,

isn’t really online.

still matters.

So offline now the church, not the one, question becomes,- are qquestionquestions

Where’s

people keeping becomes,are Christian people

Christianity’s

values theoffline centerone, keeping notatthe innovative

of their internet lives? every day, the

online church, not the offline one,

presence online?

We really haven’t logged on our convictions, values

and rationale. In person, we’re

generations didn’t have a

great at witnessing to others,

Facebook, Google+ and

walking the walk and for the

YouTube on which to

most part, behaving within the

represent. So Generations x

framework of expectations.

and y just didn’t do it.

However, because gen x and y

sum total of believers living

Christian groups

their values shamelessly

must treat their web properties like churches.

The digital church is the

online, and while that might sound fanatical, I’m convinced it’s quite the opposite. We’re not to lash out bible verses during every tweet, post and

is now the dominant online force, a generation whose unfamiliar with the older tenets of Christendom, the transition didn’t take. Nobody told them how to live for Christ on the

weblog. The biggest need is for the following constructs to represent Gods body throughout the web: Digital Christians, - Simply put, we

need regular believers, who have

digital landscape, well,

regular interactions about regular

because nobody knew. Older

things. Their goal isn’t to

generations didn’t have a

evangelize, but, like everyone

Facebook, Google+ and

else, they just want to connect and

YouTube on which to

meet new people. This is hard for

else, they just want to connect

our representatives don’t know

and meet new people. This is

how to explain things rationally.

hard for most evangelicals to

Basic questions like, “Where is

grasp because they believe in

God?” and “How did we get

being either hot or cold. Always

here if not by evolution?”

about the bible or always

shouldn’t be answered

secular. However, you won’t

unapologetically. We need

get real opportunities to pierce

seasoned believers who know

the hearts of others, unless you

how to explain their faith with

agree on common ground,

practicality to do that.

discuss mutual concerns and overall, are comfortable with

Innovative Christians, - These are

both spiritual and natural

our leaders. They are the Christians

subject matter.

who understand programming, design or just know how to think

Apologetic Christians, - Too

many Christians don’t know how to debate and defend their beliefs from a position of rationale and logic, also known as apologetics. This explains much of the atheist complaints about Christian values, since there representatives don’t know how to explain things rationally.

outside the box enough to be truly creative. They’re finding new ways to apply the same ol bible, fresh insights into the same ol passages.

They’re what we like to call, Christian Creatives. And the demand is becoming higher and higher for them in this lost and dying world.

The Facebook Evangelist With over 1,350,00,000 users, Facebook is filled with many voices, however, only few are standing out as the solution to the world’s biggest pain.

I

ts 11 P.M. in Detroit

Michigan. Justin Coppegdge is preparing to preach, but not at any church, on Facebook.

I don’t see any rational reason for accepting Jesus or even believing in God. Can you tell me?

J

ustin’s Facebook group,

‘Intellectual Christian’ is home to thousands of believers and atheists who want to hear a

Atheist: If God is real, why doesn’t he just wink his eye and end all of the suffering?

Justin: Because God has given us freewill and power to do it ourselves

reason for God, not sermons.

“That’s our specialty, to join,

Secular companies and

you have to be seasoned in

atheist organizations already

apologetics, an atheist willing

know about this, the power of

to debate apologetics or a

social media [SM]. It’s not so

Christian who will be respectful

much the power of SM as

of our dialogue and debates”

much as it is the power of

Every Friday they do just that.

interaction, namely, interactive

A hashtag hangout where the

learning. People don’t just want

battle is on.

to read a book anymore. They want to interact with experts on the matter” Justin pleas.

Thursday-Polls for who amongst all of the rebuttals are worthy for a one on one Facebook debate.

Justin’s group, ‘Intellectual Christian’ divides the agenda up like this: Monday,- Rationale Day, during which only his group moderators will put forth rationale explanations for God, the bible and its teachings.

Fri-Allow the two winners to debate the topic while others listen in but are unable to comment.

“This is Jesus” Justin tells our editors. “This is how he taught. It

Tue-Wednesday,allows remarks, responses and rebuttals.

He

wasn’t’ a one way thing. Everybody, even the unbelievers had a voice with him and still do. With Jesus

Unanswered questions turn into doubt. The internet, especially Facebook, is filled with it.

Like Jesus, how many pastors are doing Q&A’s today?

Those are the areas where doubt lives. How can Gods way be true when He’s left us no way to do it? My Facebook group, gets in there, answers

everyone was learning in real time.

questions and builds real

They were witnessing mental eyes

relationships you know. We

being opened. Just like at all of the

make real time, talent and

Q&A’s in scripture. How much of that

treasure investments into

are pastors doing today”

people who are hurting and for the most part, rejected by the

Internet’s the New Grey

modern church. “ Coppegdge believes the

Justin agrees that the real

biggest hurts are no longer at

messes in life and ministry aren’t in

church. “That’s what the book

the black and white zone, it’s in the

[Nobody Wants to Go to

grey areas. “Nobody’s going to tell

Church Anymore] is saying. But

their pastor that they have to

here’s the good news, the

fornicate and sell drugs or else their

building, was never the church

girlfriend will kick them out, with

to begin with. “

nowhere to stay.

Justin retires from a day online with a conference call of

real conversations about God

his group’s chieftains. “We

and the ailments of His people.

always chat for fifteen to thirty

We see ourselves as his

minutes a week about where

conduit.

we want the group to go, say

More and more, people

and do. It’s sort of a vision

are looking to the church, not

refresher. I’ll never forget the

the building, to clean up life’s

day I was posting and some

real messes. And that often

guy asked me, “Give me a

take places online.

rationale viewpoint of God, and I’ll believe.” That’s what we’re there for. The debates are just an opener. We’re there to have

How many of your “friends” on Facebook, truly know Jesus?

W

e searched far and wide,

from websites to museums all to find Christianity’s most innovative.

And here it is, our 2015 Ministry Innovation Awards!

Ministry Innovation

Awards

15

Rachel Evans Youth Category

H

er Twitter profile says,

“blogger, speaker, doubt-filled believer.” But we all know it doesn’t do her justice. She shook the world creatively with her raving comments about failed youth outreach attempts in 2012 but has continued to produce books, blogs and beyond to assist leaders in that arena.

Rachel wants to return her generation to the true sacraments of faith.

We want to be known for what we stand for, not what we are against.

Moss is known for answering tough academic questions such as, “What was Jesus real name?” or “What is hell for?” in the public eye?

Candida R. Moss Academic Category

I

f she’s not out exposing the

destruction of Jonah’s tomb or discussing Christians in Iraq, Moss specializes in the study of martyrdom in the early church and has appeared on CNN and in the Wall Street Journal representing Christ values with freshness and clarity.

Tina Campbell R&B Category

T

hough her sister’s the one

with the new solo career, we have to show our love for Tina’s transparency during her husband’s affair. This year, she is rumored to put it all on an up and coming album in addition to a memoir of sorts explaining just how God brought her and her husband through to a happier marriage in spite of it.

Endured affair

Develops album

Writes book

Impacts others

KB Hip Hop Category

A

I'm a globetrotter, its easy/ No lie boy y'all got me messed up/ Not Buddha, Muhammad and I dang sure ain’t Yeezus/ part of the infamous

116 click, we had to recognize KB’s innovation, particularly in songs like, “Undefeated” where he raps from Gods perspective.

Ken Ham Leadership Category

P

erhaps one of the

most memorable moments in 2014 is the day Ken Ham stood up to atheist Bill Nye, in an all out debate drawing millions of viewers.

Creatively, he opened millions of eyes in introducing candid truths and fresh perspectives on creation, evolution and God.

Elevation Church Church Category

O

n a stage full of happy,

sad and straight emoticon faces in full color, pastor Steve Furtick deals with how to take control of your moods, before they take

Emotions before they take control of you.

That not enough? Then check out his church’s over 10 locations, or have a sit down with Larry Habatka, the “creative pastor” and find out the ministry’s up and coming direction. Either way, we had to highlight their work.

1 Minute Apologist YouTube Category

I

f there’s one thing we say the

We know you have a hard time

body of Christ and the world needs

explaining these things to the kids

more of is a rational understanding of

[and who are we kidding, the

God. Enter, the 1 Minute Apologist,

adults too.] Have no fear, simply

who’s answered this problem in less

put on one of the 1 Minute

than one minute! His ministry on

Apologists’ playlists on the world’s

YouTube tackles tough issues such

biggest video sharing network,

as, ‘Can Christians Lose Salvation’

and let em rip!

and ‘the Church’s Approach to Abortion’.

Discussing ‘World Religion or a Cult?’ with Richard G Howe

Explaining the proof of Jesus’s resurrection

THOM & JOANI SCHULTZ Author Category

F

earless Conversation, let’s

be honest, how often are you having that at your local church?

Your answer to that question, according to Thom and Joani Schultz, will determine the fate of

Anymore’ In short, we need more of Fearless Conversations Radical Hospitality Genuine Humility

your church’s attendance.

In their new book, website and ministry launch, Thom and Joani confront the things today’s churches are doing wrong in ‘Why Nobody Wants to Go to Church

Divine Anticipation What an innovative suggestion.

Well worthy of recognition.

Matt and Michelle Brown Online Category

R

adio, blogging and

Eternity’ has managed to

social media, nobody told reach 40,000+ souls for Matt and Michelle that

our LORD and savior

you have to be on t.v or

without any such means.

even have a church to make an impact for Christ. Their online ministry called, ‘Think

Catalyst Events Award

C

atalyst is our type of

and invite speakers

conference in their own

from all walks of

Church to break the

Creativity’ and

words “We’re challenging ministry.” With lessons like, ‘Refuel Your leaders who love the bounds of an ordinary existence and find the courage to embrace and radiate bold change.”

They have setups all around the world

speakers such as Tyler Stanton, we deemed their entire ministry [DVD’s, articles, webcast etc.] worthy of double honor.

Faith Launcher Company Award

A

nd who do Christian

All raising hundreds of

themed businesses go to

thousands of dollars from

when seeking funding for a

hundreds of Christian

startup, not Kickstarter or

creatives each day.

Rocket Hub, its ‘Faith

Faith Launcher has

Launcher’ where Christian

categories for food,

crowdfund investors dwell!

literature, movies and

What gets funded? Movies, ministry amongst other like, ’50 Questions Single things.

Parents are Asking’ to music such as, ‘Songs from the Heart’ by Katie.

And if that’s not enough, you can visit their blog with hundreds of topics surrounding faith, business and creativity to sharpen your edge.

What he’s trying to do more than anything else, is bring Christian disruption to politics.

“I

n the tech context we

the 2015 conservative

know about disruptive

political action convention

apps, they come in and

[CPAC]. His theory? That

change how a good or

he and his grass roots

service is mass distributed

army will return America

and encounters the

back to its roots of

incumbent procedures

Christian values. “The

fighting back viciously. So

Word says we’ll know them

when Uber or lyft comes

by their fruits’ if someone

into a city, the former

tells you they’re against

companies do everything

abortion, great, when have

they can to kill it” says

they stood up and fought

senator Cruz at

against it? Someone tells you they’re against over regulation, great, when have they stood up and fought against it? He proclaims at the meeting.

But is this the kind of change that believers are

Washington no longer stands for. “America is in great jeopardy, and we are met here today on a great battlefield” he says launching his, the finalizing speech, at the CPAC convention.

looking for? We all know republicans that have stood up

At Liberty University, he

against democrats, but,

imagines with 1,000s of young

according to Cruz, he’s

students a world where their

prepared to stand up against

values as Christians are front

republicans, on behalf of

and center and not attacked as

Christian values. “The biggest

he believes the Obama

divide in America isn’t between

administration has done. Cruz

republicans and democrats, it’s

goes as far as to point out how

between Washington and the

Washington attacks Christian

American people.” Ted

groups like Hobby Lobby on a

explains. To him, Americans are

regular basis.

yearning for the values upon

However, one of our

which this country was built,

biggest concerns is that

values that honor God, liberty

whoever takes office in 2016, is

and the pursuit of happiness.

likely to be

Values that he believes

appointing the new federal

So yes Senator Ted

judges, as the ones the

Cruz is running for

U.S. currently has are ripe

president and is the first to

for retirement and has

announce his 2016

served long terms. You

campaign, but, whether or

may know from scripture

not he can hold the high

that God deals with the

torch of implementing real

power of good judges over

Christian values is yet to

a nation, “And I will restore

be seen.

your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning; afterward you shall be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.� [1:26]

The Church Of

It has 1,000,000,000

attendants, watching 4,000,000,000 videos a month

When will Christians see it for what it really is?

Online AwardWhy leaders wanting to advance Gods kingdom, without YouTube will be tying Gods hand.

A

ready, give, volunteer and take whatever the pastor feels God is telling him to tell you. But the Church of YouTube comes to you.

It revolves around your schedule, in lieu of asking you to revolve around it. It can be played at your church or in your car. It can integrate with your website or

re you coming? It has

more members than Joel Osteen, Billy Graham and T.D. Jakes COMBINED! Its open, not only on Sunday, but Monday through Fridays, at all hours of the day, and into the wee hours of the night.

You’ve rode passed it a few times

present like a movie on your TV monitor.

Its logic, leaders who want to advance Gods kingdom without using YouTube, will be tying Gods hands.

It turns out that the number of

I’m sure, but never quite gave it

videos uploaded has doubled over

much thought. I’m talking the

the past year and now stands at 48

Church of YouTube, where

hours of video posted every single

MILLIONS of Christians are

minute. Additionally, YouTube

members, but very few realize it as

noted that the weekend of May

such.

21st 2014 saw YouTube's daily Church is very demanding.

You have to get up early, drive, stay up late getting

views hit their highest number ever, over 3 billion views per day.

Are Christian values the predominant force being displayed there? The answer is a resounding, “No”. But we are there, at least.

there? The answer is a

Groeschel or Kenny Luck. It’s like

resounding, “No”. But we are

I’m around others who believe

there, at least.

So the paradigm has shifted, from leaders, to movements themselves. “It’s not that those groups don’t already exist, they’re just looking for someone to come

what I believe. I can chat, post and even vote on whether or not I like the material. It’s hard to get that at church.”

The leaders we need in the

in and lead them.” According to

body of Christ moving forward are

Seth Godin, in his comments

going to start here, not use it to

about, ‘Tribes’ or people centered around specific values.

Look at it this way, people are looking for answers, and, believers like you and I have to position Christ as the answer he

accentuate what they’re doing.

They’re going to be starting with a strong web presence, which, more than likely includes a quality YouTube page. But more

really is. That’s what they want.

especially, it won’t be built around

That’s what we’re to use every

themselves or their denomination,

platform, especially YouTube to

it will be built around their cause.

accomplish. Just ask London Weigh, 3 year subscriber to

Google+ Search

several Christian YouTube

and Groups

channels, “I’m in the congregation with them when watching.

Listening to Rick Warren, Craig Gorcshchel or Kenny Luck. Its like I’m around others who believe

Since YouTube is owned by Google it’s easy to integrate into Continued on page 57

Billions are assembling as Christians on YouTube, are you present?

1,000,000 mobile video views daily 100 hours uploaded per minute 6,000,000,000 hours watched per month

Continued from page 54 Google+ groups and communities.

Having developed it online,

This is huge for believers looking to

she’s now working on the site

grow. “I get a chance to minister,

that houses it all, though she

even though I’m not a pastor.” says

admits to getting plenty of

Quest Johnson. “I’m not trying to be

requests from her home church

one either but I get a high knowing

to do a seminar, luncheon or

that I’ve changed someone’s life

conference. “I think it’s going this

from the comfort of my own home.”

way. The new ministry starts will

he explains. Not only that, in our

be built online. They’ll be

talks Quest immediately notes that

brought to church”. We’re sure

his material is well linked to Google

Google’s system, which includes

search, causing more traffic to his

YouTube, is a mega part of that.

pages and more friends to his list.

“You have to keep it good though. If

Ideas to Getting

it’s weak nobody will show up”.

Started

The pain of not having a need met at church, should be taken out

In the true spirit of Faith

creatively online. No, not by lashing

FEED, especially during this, our

out against your church, but,

“innovation” month, we want to

stepping up and becoming the

put out a few steps and ideas to

church. Linda Camry launched,

launching a successful YouTube

‘Sexy, Single & Saved’, a Google+

channel that draws people into

community that now hosts over

the kingdom by the ton:

10,000 members. “We wanted to deal with a topic I feel preachers are afraid to address, and that’s, ‘sex’.

It Doesn’t Have to be Spiritual People follow people, not programs, channels or ideas.

Ultimately, ultimately, they’re

In practical everyday life, is Satan’s most feared weapon.

Use it!

What hurts you about Christianity?

following people. What type of person are you projecting on your

This is a good rule of thumb.

YouTube channel? Some of the

Ask yourself, “What annoys me

greatest accounts are by awesome

about Christianity?” and simply

people, that’s all. It’s not about any

share that. You’ll be surprised at

topic in particular. It’s just great

the responses, views and

content, from a person, with

comments you get. However,

different playlist of videos on topics

here’s the twist that separates you

they enjoy. Gone are the days

from faith critics, you’re going to

where every Christian’s trying to

showcase a biblical solution.

start a classic ministry online. It’s now people that we’re looking for.

People who love God, but, still live practical everyday lives that we can identify with. Sharing your day to day journey, as normal as it seems, with the world through YouTube, will likely get more subscribers than attempting to be the next Billy Graham. Christ in you, coming out

The pain of not having a need met at church, should be taken out creatively on YouTube.

Get Professional

with them by God, and ask you to share it with your 10,000 followers as well [after you

If people don’t enjoy looking at it,

comment on the bottom of

they won’t ever get what God’s

course].

giving through you. Use simple templates that you can easily upload to the video that frame your visuals, focus your viewers and overall add layout to your presentation.

Do you see the shift? It’s a shift that too many Christians aren’t making; a shift that’s leaving our values behind. Our taking something as simple as YouTube for granted in evangelical activity is causing us to miss out on influencing

It’s Simple. It’s Free.

BILLIONS for a God that can so

It’s Time.

easily address their needs.

God the Father’s looking for

The new ministers won’t

innovative Christians. Believers

preach sermons, but lead

who won’t wait to frequent the

discussions. They won’t demand

church with 10,000 others on

that everyone meet in the

Sunday, but will address issues

downtown coliseum this Saturday

on their YouTube page before

for a special word from God. No!

Sunday gets here. The enemy

They’ll simply email their

won’t wait until Wednesday night

1,000,000,000 video subscribers

bible study to launch his attack,

an awesome revelation shared with

neither should we. Believers like you and I need a creative presence on the worlds largest video sharing network, one that

you and I need a creative presence on the world’s largest video sharing network, one that represents Christ, delivers others and has a creative impact.

Faith + Innovation

Click to follow Faith FEED wherever you are, and get updates on creative Christianity.

Sometimes old ideas are the best new ideas.

The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.

-G.K. Chesterton