This past Sunday, we had a representative of Trans World Radio visiting with us in worship.  He took a few minutes to share with us about the ministry of Trans World Radio.  Their mission statement is simple:  to reach the world for Christ by mass media so that lasting fruit is produced.  TWR broadcasts Christian programming several hours a day into parts of the world where there are few Christian churches or believers are unable to gather together for fear of persecution.  Their programming includes Bible reading, Bible studies, and evangelistic programs.  As a way of making this programming accessible, they are striving to get special solar-powered radios into parts of the world where access to radios might be limited.  The representative shared stories and letters of people requesting their own Bibles or telling how Christ had used TWR to share His love with them.  One letter talked of how listening to the radio programs helped him battle physical and spiritual loneliness.

As I have thought about this ministry in the last couple of days, I am reminded of a seminar I went to a couple of years ago about using PowerPoint in worship.  The leader of the seminar encouraged us to remember that the technology many churches use today is a powerful tool, but the tool should never replace the message.  As the church today, we have so much technology that is becoming more and more accessible to us.  We should, like TWR, seek to find ways to put this technology to use in a way that helps produce good fruit for the kingdom.  This blog that CBF has put together is another example of putting today’s technology to good use for the kingdom.  However, we must always be cautious to insure that the tool does not become more important than the message.  A radio or a projector cannot change the hearts and souls of humanity; Christ can.