مدونة

Creative Media Ministry: Learning from a mature Webpastor

المؤلف: Lars Dahle
التاريخ: 04.10.2010
Category: الإعلام والتكنولوجيا

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We all stand on other people’s shoulders. And we all have mentors. It is highly important to recognize and to honour such formative people in our lives, especially in Christian ministries.

One of my mentors in the areas of media and technology is Asbjørn Kvalbein. He has a master’s degree in communication studies from Wheaton College (US) and was the founding principal of Gimlekollen School of Journalism and Communication. He is currently in his late 60s and now serves as web-pastor of Norea Media Mission. He was also a participant in the first Lausanne congress (1974).

I would like to highlight three key areas where I am especially indebted to my dear mentor and friend:

I still remember his teaching in the early 80’s at Gimlekollen about how to understand media changes. One of his key principles was that when new media technologies, formats and genres arrive, the old media patterns usually don’t go away completely but change their function. This principle seems to be highly relevant in today’s transition to digital platforms, where we need to be creative in our usage both of old and new media.
My friend has always been a pioneer in the creative use of media technology, whether in radio mission, media education or publishing. This is still the case, where my mentor currently explores the whole fascinating area of social media. As a mature web-pastor he actually leads the way here, daily teaching, inspiring and encouraging many young people through the creative use of podcasting, facebook and twitter.
I also have a very vivid memory of my mentor’s exposition in the early 80s of 2 Cor. 4:1ff as a manifesto for Christian media communicators:

“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants, for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

These key verses are certainly also relevant for Christian media communicators in a digital media age. We need to reflect on our own media ministries in view of these fundamental apostolic principles for sharing the Gospel.

كلمات مفتاحية: media mission, media technology, media awareness

محاورة نشر تعليق

: رد ضع علم 1 يعجبني لا يعجبني Pete_Houston (7)
جنوب أفريقيا

Thank you for honouring your mentor. The way of the world is usually to seek to undermine and supplant our elders. Sometimes we find this dynamic in the church too! But something of the Light of Christ shines through in your approach and respect. Bless you :)

06.10.2010

: رد ضع علم 0 يعجبني لا يعجبني Lars_Dahle (4)
النرويج
@ Pete_Houston:
Thanks, Pete, for your warm and encouraging words! Yes, we all need to recognize our elders and mentors, despite the opposite tendency in our fast-paced contemporary media world. This is true also in the Lausanne context, of course, where we at CT2010 need to honour the strategic pioneers in Lausanne 1974.

Every blessing! /Lars

08.10.2010

: رد ضع علم 0 يعجبني لا يعجبني Russell_B (0)
المملكة المتحدة

This passage from 2 Corinthians is very helpful. And the phrase that struck me afresh on reading it this morning is about having this treasure "in jars of clay".

It’s very easy in media work to let ego take over. People look at us, read our words, see our photos or films, listen to us and can make us feel important. And praise can polish our egos if we don’t deal with it correctly. The glory belongs to Jesus, not us.

And, from the other side, sometimes we can feel that if we are struggling to follow Christ, nothing we do will have any lasting value. Particularly, as is common for journalists, if we only hear from readers and listeners when they are critical or when we make mistakes.

We are jars of clay, works in progress, unworthy vessels that are only made worthy because of the work of Christ in us, the hope of glory.

04.10.2010

: رد ضع علم 0 يعجبني لا يعجبني Lars_Dahle (4)
النرويج
@ Russell_B:
Thanks, Russell, for sharing the personal and professional relevance of 2 Corinthians 4. This passage is certainly worth exploring further in media ministry contexts, reflecting, discussing and praying on its challenges to all of us.

Every blessing! / Lars

05.10.2010