The New Televangelists Versus What Real Ministry Looks Like

This week we are going to tackle the topic – What Real Ministry Looks Like. In light of the technology revolution of the past twenty years, giving us podcasts, blogs, Twitter, online video, streaming church services, Facebook, and YouTube channels, what does real, grassroots, rubber meets the road ministry really look like?

Last month we read an article in the March online edition of Leadership Journal by a young pastor named Chris Nye. We call him Chris Nye the Ministry Guy! In his article, titled The New Televangelists, he talked about how the Internet was forming his vision of ministry when he said “But as I soaked up podcasts and sermon videos from famous pastors, I was unwittingly forming an inaccurate vision of the life of a pastor.”

Our purpose for 200churches.com is to affirm and encourage the pastors who lead and shepherd churches under 200 people – especially lay, bi-vocational, and solo pastors in churches under 100. These men and women are the real heroes of ministry, serving faithfully in rural, suburban, and urban churches where there is little recognition or notoriety.

Chris’ article struck a chord with us, and so we contacted him and he agreed to join us on The 200churches Podcast! That episode will air on Wednesday. Before you listen to it, we would like you to read his article, The New Televangelists. Then, listen to what we have to say together about leadership in smaller churches.

Just to whet your appetite for his article, here is what he said about listening to the famous, cool, pastors who enjoy a hip, online presence…

The podcasts were teaching me a lot, but I wasn't learning how to pray for the sick or counsel someone in a bad marriage or comfort the hurting. It wasn't that I just needed to look at some different role models; I needed to figure out if I really wanted to be a pastor in the truest sense of the word. Was I committed to ministry even if it didn't mean communicating to thousands of people from a stage?

Check out Chris Nye’s article by clicking on the link below, then join us on Wednesday for Episode 13 of The 200Churches Podcast where our guest will be Chris Nye.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2013/march-online-only/new-televangelists.html?paging=off