“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every person.”

“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:5-8).

When I was a child, growing up in the 30's and 40's, the gospel was preached over the radio. That was how I was taught that the Scriptures taught that baptism is “for the forgiveness of sins”; this was from the “tech” radio ministry. Television came along. Almost a hundred years later the medium although in probability is in every home in America, if not the world, is not fully utilized for sharing the gospel to its fullest potential.

With the advent of computers the social media has become the commonplace for sharing opinions about religious subjects but not necessarily in a critical way. Recently, churches have begun not just taping their preaching and song services but have streamed them over this social media.

Finally, the C-Virus “emergency and its fears” has established a need and consequently utilization of the streaming process. This is due to the advice and in some cases requirement for “social distancing.” “Social distancing is deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness.”ⁱ

If one has a computer the streaming process is available on such social media as Facebook and YouTube.

I'm glad to see that more churches are using, for example, Facebook's and YouTube's free accounts for streaming over WIFI. Everyone with a computer can access and enjoy the benefits of their congregation's streaming of their services.

However, everyone does not enjoy a computer (including smart telephones, tablets, etc.); and such is not adequate for common viewing; e.g., for a family. But in America, I suppose it is correct to say, that every household enjoys a television. With the demise of cable, families have turned to streaming devices for their television. The popular device currently is the Roku. This comes provided either directly with the TV set or can be added as a very small Roku device, attachable to the rear of the TV that costs as little as $25+ (for a one time purchase).

Problem #1: the Roku will not stream Facebook to your TV. Facebook” streaming is restricted to the computer.ⁱⁱ The basic reason is that whereas Roku accesses hundreds of streaming channels, a streaming Facebook “channel” is not one of them.

Problem #2: YOUTUBE has free accountsⁱⁱⁱ for anyone wishing to stream and are accessible free via the Roku device. Anyone can view your streaming “broadcast” on their family television. The only drawback that I can see is there is no Closed captioning (CC) or subtitling. So for someone who is hard of hearing (like me) earphones service will have to suffice. But this is also a problem for streaming on a computer as well.

EXAMPLE. I am familiar with using Roku for what is available in Florida, U.S.A. Procedure: I open the YouTube channel with my Roku device and on my TV. Roku will display YouTube's suggestion of video files. If the church files aren't shown^iv, then the search engine is provided. Select and insert the name of the church you are accessing into the search field.

If I insert “winter haven florida church of christ”, a church in a nearby city, I get access to a list that YouTube interprets for me using the a applicable mathematical formulae. The Central Church of Christ in Winter Haven is listed for they utilize YouTube. Also there is a listing for the Florida Avenue Church in Lakeland, Florida, etc., which has a school of preaching. I click on my choice and YouTube shows me a list of all the pertinent available broadcasts. Selecting one of them I can sit and enjoy.

Perhaps your congregation photographs your services, especially your preaching and singing, and if so, then you can use your videos freely on the YouTube.com to spread information of the gospel. Currently, if you use Facebook, your videos cannot be seen on the Roku screen.

Hopefully this will encourage congregations to finance and extend their use of their technological ministry to the public for times other than emergencies. It's cheap for any budget. If you use something different in tech, but is still effective, please let me know so that I can add to this information.

Gaylon West

THROW OUT THE LIFELINE

a ministry on the web