Yesterday’s Science Fiction is Today’s Reality

Can you imagine a world without the Internet? What about cell phones or satellite television? I’m not sure most of us could survive without Facebook or Twitter. It’s almost impossible to imagine such a world.

But the fact is all of these amazing technological wonders really haven’t been around that long. When I was in school back in the 1970s, we had no cable, VCRs or, for that matter, DVD players. Those things were in the realm of science fiction. You might remember in the old Star Trek television show in the 1960s where Captain Kurk and Spock would pull out there trusty communicators to talk to their ship the Enterprise. Nowadays, we use our cell phones to talk to anybody on the planet.

Futurists have coined a term called ATAWAD—any time, any where, any device. That means you can have access to your media whenever you want, wherever you want, and on any platform. Another term which has become popular in the last couple of years is called screening. Experts tell us that practically everything we will do in the future will require some type of video screen. But not only will we be watching the screens, they will be watching us. These screens will have the capability to anticipate our needs and wants by tracking our eye movement and other sensory responses. Our relationship with media is becoming more symbiotic. We are becoming one with technology. Yesterday’s science fiction has quickly become today’s reality because these things are already taking place today.

But what has all of this technology brought us? Today, we live in a new age of communication. And that has enormous implications. For centuries, we have communicated by a verbal language. And for the past 500 years, thanks to the printing press, we have communicated by the written word. As the old song goes—Times are Changing. Today, we are primarily communicating by visual image. What does this mean for you and me as communicators of the Good News? What challenges and opportunities does this present for Christians?

First of all, a new people group without borders has emerged. A 12 year old boy in Egypt and a 16 year old girl in middle America are now speaking the same language. They have more in common than you can imagine. They share a common identity. They are likely to engage in the same rituals, practices, customs and beliefs.

What is their common language? They speak the language of media. They speak the language of visual image. They speak the language of visual story. Where do they learn this language? It originates mostly from Hollywood through the entertainment media that is distributed throughout the world.

If we want to continue to spread the Gospel, we need to understand their language. If visual image is now the future, we must raise up visual storytellers who can speak that language. Unfortunately, for the most part, we are not speaking their language. So the question is how do we raise up visual storytellers who understand the power of story and have the ability to communicate it with a missional approach

 

Whatever we do, we must begin early in their development - starting no later than middle school. To raise up these type of storytellers requires an intentional approach. I see it as a three-step process.

(1) We need to determine if they have an interest in media. What are their gifts or talents? Are they potential artists?

(2) We need to get them involved working on media and entertainment projects where they can have a hands-on experience.

(3) We must develop the messenger as well as the message. Do they have a calling as a media missionary? Could this lead to a possible career in media and entertainment, especially in Hollywood? We need to provide a program that will develop their talents and skills as visual storytellers. One of the most important things we can do at this stage in their development is to provide a mentor—someone who can advise them on the spiritual and practical aspects of being a visual storyteller.

One of the best places to start is in youth ministry. The youth pastor could play a huge role in helping to create tomorrow’s future visual storytellers. They are in the right place and time in the lives of those who could have a calling as a media missionary.

The youth pastor’s encouragement could make all the difference. Although most youth pastors have done a good job implementing the first two steps, they often lack the time or resources necessary to complete the final step. Media Missionary School wants to help by providing needed resources which are required to develop tomorrow’s visual storytellers.

I’m convinced media missionaries and visual storytellers do not happen by accident. We believe reading The Red Pill--The Cure for Today’s Mass Media Culture and The Media Missionary’s Journey—A Roadmap for Hollywood Success can provide the framework and foundation necessary for tomorrow’s visual storytellers. We want to create a network of mentors across the country who can help to develop the message and the messenger.

I encourage everyone to get involved. Perhaps, you work in youth ministry, or you have a career in media and entertainment. Your participation is critical. I suggest you look around to see where you can fit in. I’m sure that there is someone in your local church who could use your help and support. Think about becoming a mentor and making a difference.

Even if you are not in youth ministry, or you are not a professional in the media or entertainment business, your help is still crucial. I’m sure there is something you can do. Most young people are just looking for someone who will believe in them. You could encourage your youth ministry to be an active participant in developing future visual storytellers. We provide all the necessary information and resources on this website to assist you. Feel free to contact me for more information. E-mail me at harold_media@insightbb.com. I will be more than glad to help with anything I can.