Never before in human history has it been possible to communicate so much, so fast, about anything and everything. Messages, statements, images and ideas— good, bad and ugly—are in constant and ever-increasing circulation.
The phrase “information overload” doesn’t begin to describe the bombardment of data that is raining down on us day after day. The onslaught has become big business, with huge companies emerging in a brand-new field of Information Dissemination. Google, the biggest and most dominant company, didn’t even exist 15 years ago. Yet the company’s influence is so wide that the word google has become one of the most-used verbs in the English language!
The extent of this info explosion could barely be imagined a generation ago. Countless thousands of people now make their living by filling our minds with information, regardless of whether we want it or not. If you don’t believe me, just google it!
Thousands of bits of data inundate young and old alike, non-stop. This constant barrage is affecting our lives, often in negative ways. It is fracturing our ability to concentrate, provoking stress and tampering with our mental processes. Today’s children and youth are especially vulnerable as they grow up in an information crazed world. Many of them struggle to focus and are helpless in coping with incessant interruptions. For them, the “norm” is anything but normal.
For followers of Jesus, this deluge of data is a huge challenge. It can mess with our minds, often distracting us when we pray, side-tracking us when we worship or butting in when we witness. It takes discipline and determination to stay spiritually focused in the 21st century.
One sad irony is that, in spite of all the traffic on the so-called Information Highway, very few vehicles are carrying the most important message—the Gospel of life and hope in Jesus. This is a grim reality yet a great opportunity—an opportunity to do everything we can to use every means we can to communicate the Good News that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Unfortunately, the majority of people around us rarely if ever hear it. Our challenge is to do something to change that.
Intentional messaging about God’s amazing offer of eternal life through Jesus Christ is glaringly absent outside the church building. In fact, the church building itself makes little impact upon people driving by. Some may see the sign in passing but most don’t notice or even have an inkling that the people who worship in that building have a message to share—a message that can change a life for now and forever.
When I think of those people driving by—and the people we see all around us day after day—I am stirred by a sense of urgency to give them the greatest message of all. As humans we know so well that messaging is essential, and in time it produces results. If that were not so, the myriad companies devoting fortunes to messaging would direct their money elsewhere. Imagine what could change deep in the fabric of society if the church was regularly involved in messaging the news about God’s love and his offer of salvation to everyone possible in every place possible in communities across Canada!
The Church is not a business, of course; but it is entrusted with the vital job of delivering a message of incomparable value and eternal significance. Why then, do churches rarely send out this message to every home in their surrounding community? What could be more important?
It has never been easier to spread the simple message of salvation, to create awareness of spiritual need and to point people to the God of hope.
Imagine what it would be like if billboards, bus stop placards, newspaper ads, radio spots, television advertisements and digital media in your community all clearly communicated the truth about Jesus Christ. Imagine people connecting with this message and seeking to know more, both online and in person. Imagine such a message being repeated often enough that it stayed with people. Just imagine.
Two thousand years ago, spreading the news about Christ’s resurrection of Christ was limited to people telling people. There are so many more ways to spread messages today. What would happen if we were to gently but clearly raise the level of our messaging so that there is a regular presence of truth visible to the population? People have various notions about Jesus and others in this nation know virtually nothing about him. But everyone needs to know the truth about him. It is possible to do this if we as his people will participate in a “Jesus-awareness awakening”. As we put the truth about him out there, God’s Holy Spirit will draw people to believe and receive the message
This “messaging” is exactly what Finding the Hope is all about. It is an effort to put the Good News out to everyone right where they live. The Finding the Hope campaign is an ideal tool to spark a “Jesus-awareness awakening” for people who do not know Him personally.
Will you partner with us at EHC to foster a Jesus awakening in communities across our nation? First of all, we need your partnership in prayer. Specifically, pray with us that more and more Christians—as individuals and as churches—will engage in this strategy to communicate the message of Jesus far and wide. Pray as well that church leaders in all parts of Canada will join this great Campaign of Hope.
Messaging has never been easier or more economical. Let’s use it for the glory of His Name, publicizing His message!