Mr. Prem Kumar Kothapalli stresses on the need for church leaders to move with the times and adopt technology to meet challenges – Currently, the challenge of Lockdown!
Jesus said – “Cast your nets on the right side of the boat, you will find some” …. Simon Peter dragged the net to the land, full of LARGE FISH 153 and although there were many, yet was not the net broken.John 21:6-11. Jesus said “you will find some” but there were 153 Large Fish that they took the help of others to contain them, and yet the net was not broken. This is the power of the spoken word of Jesus himself when the disciples were weary and depressed with no fish toiling all night. Catch where the fish is!
God, who at sundry time and in diverse manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son … Hebrews 1:1-2. The message is the same but the methodology is different. Internet is the new methodology the world is increasingly using today and the churches must reach out to the congregations through this medium drawing them closer to God in these perilous times as there is no other way to minister personally. Use technology.
I am glad few local, regional and many national, international churches are going for online services and there are so many who have not yet started or still thinking and some don’t want to. Let the churches seize this great opportunity to reach out to the souls that are weary and burdened in this lockdown period. Let us stay in touch with people through social media at least for few minutes a day with a message from the Lord, a word of encouragement, a testimony of faith, a song of praise, daily devotions, Bible studies, chain prayers, and bless the souls when there is every chance of people going into depression, loneliness and mental health issues and only the word of God can satisfy their soul. Seeing is Believing – Go Online.
Every church having social media accounts (Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram etc. and use Zoom, Webinars, Free conferencing, etc.) is the very need of the hour. Most of them are FREE. It just requires a smart phone which almost 90% of our believers have and are glued to it whole day. Use social media.
Every person has a smart phone in their hand, and every person having a smart phone is on social media. Every soul is in need of the word from the Lord, and every soul is crying unto God. Stay connected.
It is not the right situation that makes us leaders. It is the right response to the situation that makes us leaders. If we wait for the situation to be normal, we are not required.
In this time of Corona crisis, there are challenges of:
CONNECTION – Fewer interaction, narrower bandwidth, attention drains. UNCERTAINTY – Unclear situation, unknown solutions, high risk. CHANGE – Dealing with loss, new behaviors, time pressure. How do we overcome unless we have a strategy, medium and a methodology to engage them constantly on spiritual ways?
There is much a greater challenge of mental health crisis which is awaiting post COVID19 that will be much more challenging to deal with if we don’t deal it right now. Let’s Think out of the Box.
Many a times, our churches are half-filled and sometimes very less attendance with most of members not being able to attend the church services regularly for obvious reasons. Many churches have no youth in their services. This is a good opportunity to get connected to each of them by going right into their living rooms, kitchens, balconies, and gardens. There could be many waiting for someone to pray for them, comfort them in their time of need, going through difficulties, missing the church and fellowship and God would be willing to minister to them only if we are available through the medium, they are hooked throughout the lockdown period. We do not know and are not sure when we will be out of this pestilence as the situation is getting worse day by day locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. This is also time for us as Shepherds to keep the flock together from all sorts of evil and wrong teachings. Take charge.
Never in the history of mankind of this size of population went into lockdown. 90% of the people are hooked on to internet. The Internet Service Providers are requested to enhance their band width to increase the speed of the internet as all of them are running slow due to the increase in the number of internet users and data is put into much use more than ever before.
Most of the technology is created by Christians across the globe, but unfortunately Satan, the ruler of this wicked world has taken much advantage of it in ruining the lives of millions leading them to nowhere. We, the followers of Christ have to be good stewards of the technology that God has given us. Technology could be used as much for good reasons and be put into best use of our times. What if there is an internet lockdown?
For is you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to a royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:14. We cannot afford to choose to loose the greatest opportunity of our times in ministering to our very own people in difficult times such as this. Now is the situation for us to respond rightly.
The Sovereign God is in full control of the situation and is drawing men closer to him. Shall we stand in the Gap?
Never will an opportunity will come so close to us to reach the unreached in this huge opportunity. Go, where the fish is and cast your nets. Let’s GO ONLINE!
Few examples of online services/messages (click menu for list of videos):