Lausanne World Pulse – Urban Articles – Media Evangelism among the Unreached

By Justin Long
February 2006

The amount of media evangelism among the unreached really is amazing. The Western world is media-rich, and missionaries worldwide have learned to use this medium very effectively.

Audiocassettes and CDs are widely used in some countries. For example, the North Africa Partnership has used tapes with recordings of the JESUS Film for evangelism. Tapes and CDs have three benefits: (1) they can be played at convenient times, (2) they can be replayed at future (convenient) times and (3) they can be copied.

Radio Broadcasting
Radio broadcasting is also widely available. A quick scan of the World Christian Database reveals that over 5.8 billion people are touched by Christian radio and television broadcasts. I remember surveying many of these resources when I worked with the World Christian Encyclopedia and was amazed at the breadth of broadcasts, including ones from Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC), FEBA, Trans World Radio (TWR) and HCJB World Radio. However, I did not know of the large variety of television, satellite and local radio broadcasts that were available. For example, Radio Tirane (in Albania) used to broadcast atheist programming, and is now used to broadcast Christian programs. SAT-7 airs all over the Middle East. Many people don’t think about groups like the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) or LeSEA, but both broadcasting groups are airing in many unreached nations. Radio has an advantage over audiocassette: it is virtually an unstoppable medium for transmitting new programming. Tapes can be copied; however, it is not always easy to get new tapes. Radio broadcasts can be recorded with a receiver.

Film
Film, too, is widely used. The JESUS Film has been translated into 920 languages, representing six billion people. Translation into another 232 languages is in progress. The JESUS Film has been viewed by over 5.4 billion people (including multiple viewings) in 228 countries (it has been shown on television in 176 countries). Over two hundred million decisions for Christ have been recorded. Other films are also seeing results. Film, of course, has the benefit of being visual and is an incredibly powerful medium for engaging the mind and the emotions.

Videocassettes
Videocassettes and DVDs are visual, but they can be copied. They go like wildfire all over the Middle East and Asia, where video piracy is widespread. Sunday School programs like Veggietales and Superbook are especially enjoyed. I have not been able to find any statistics on the number of these in circulation—I doubt anyone really knows—but my guess is that the number is quite large. DVDs and videocassettes are perhaps one of the best formats for media. Further, they can be recorded from television. Using television and videocassettes hand in hand builds the synergistic value of both.

Internet
The Internet is becoming a burgeoning field for media evangelism. It represents the future of media delivery. The JESUS Film is now being streamed over the Internet. Podcasts are being aired (although few Christians make use of this for evangelizing the unreached). Still, whenever I hear people say we are a “post-typographic nation” or “we just don’t read anymore,” it’s funny to me because the rising generation reads as much as they watch. They read emails, blogs, websites and more. The only difference is that we don’t read as much on printed paper as we once did.