adminI AM very blessed to be living in a time when there is a lot of awareness of the power of the media. The reader will understand the mandate of the believer to spread the Gospel as the great commission does say, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations . . .” In the days of Jesus there was no internet, newspapers and radio but the power of the word of mouth was used. They used messengers and runners. That was their time, nowadays there is a lot more we can use. The principle that I believe should be maintained should be to focus on the purpose of the mission of making disciples.
I have seen the Pentecostals and the Evangelicals doing it really well, or so they purport but it was a first to see the Adventists of the Seventh Day persuasion doing it in a style that was new. They used bottled water on the occasion of the visit of the Head of the Seventh Day Adventist Church to Bulawayo with the face of the preacher Ted Wilson on it. It was a great and glorious time save, in the eyes of some the advertisement on the bottled water. The water, which had the face of president Ted Wilson, sold like hot cakes. Who in his right human mind would not like to keep and celebrate the memory of such an eminent visitor? It does not happen every year!
But that mere advert did not go down well with some of the faithful. They felt brought down to the level of the churches that peddle such spiritual accessories as “holy water” “anointing oil” and the like. Speak of a storm in a still water bottle! As someone actually quipped, “That bottled water story I wonder if the Spirit of GOD was leading in that decision . . .” So the spirit of God might not have been in the decision? What is so unspiritual about advertising the spreading of the Word on bottled water?
Another went to town to explain the inappropriateness of the bottled water story. “There are many ways of honouring leaders of our church, in my view putting his picture on bottled water should not be one of them. Currently we have charismatic churches selling anointing water, I doubt if people will tell the difference.” My question is the face of Rev Ted Wilson has been on much bigger billboards around the country. His voice was heard over the radio and television. Why does it suddenly become unspiritual when it is on bottled water which has not been blessed in the manner the charismatic churches do it. Why the fear of being misunderstood? Are we not always misunderstood as we spread the Word?
To me the idea of the bottled water was to act as a flyer, advertising for the campaign. It was amplifying the message of the campaign which by the way was effective to say the least. In spite of it causing concerns among the conservative saints I am positive that some souls were led to the Lord. The information on the bottled water was the same as that on the many billboards.
On a deeper sense there is a need for believers to realise the power of the media and use it effectively. The mere fact that there were people talking about the bottled water advert means it was effective. It should not be strange to find the same bottled water displayed in an Adventist’s home. No problem, they still keep the posters so why not?
The fact that it pays to advertise is well known by all successful businessmen in the business world. Could it be that this is one area in which quite often the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light (Luke 16: 8)? As popular as Coca-Cola is, they still feel that it pays to advertise. Without a doubt this is one reason for the common knowledge of this beverage. Is it not true that we find more people who have heard of Coca-Cola or Mahewu than had ever heard of Jesus Christ? Good advertising gets good results.
By the term advertising, I mean publicising, making an appeal in behalf of what we are labouring to do and seeking to inspire people to attend. Surely, it is the part of wisdom to use various media opportunities to let the community know what we are offering through such efforts as our gospel meetings. Attractive newspaper ads and articles may be most helpful and not to forget bottled water. Television and radio spots may be and should be used most effectively. But let us not cushion our consciences by relying solely on these as fulfilling our responsibility to let the community know about our efforts. There is much more to really advertising a gospel meeting.
There was a survey carried out on attendants to a gospel meeting which gave these results:
Personal invitation from members 56 percent
Announcement of other congregations 30 percent
Letters and cards from members 22 percent
Community newspaper bulletin 21 percent
Daily newspaper 17 percent
Other congregations (bulletins) 4 percent
Sign in the yard 3 percent
The personalised method of advertising was most significant. And this is why I think the bottled water story becomes critical. No one shares the bottle. It is a personalised issue and therefore more effective. It has a lasting effect come to think of it. Without the personal advertisements, we lose so much that could otherwise be gained.
Last, but not least, every believer should realise that our daily life is an advertisement of all our efforts as the people of God. Let us so live that others can truly see that we have been with Jesus (Acts 4: 13). They must see that what we are offering to others is truly the rule in our own life (Phil 1: 27). That, Bazalwane, will be effective advertisement of all our gospel efforts. Without this, little will be accomplished by any other type of advertisement. May God help us that what we are daily will magnify Christ and work in conjunction with other efforts to effectively advertise all our meetings, special and any other efforts! If we are to use bottled water let us take it not in the perverted manner that some do. Till next week, Shalom!
Online Reporter