Real Talk for Real Students

Mapping the Northeast

The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage. Proverbs 21:5.

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3.

I heard it said recently, “Dream big, or get out of God’s way.” I kind of liked that! Some-times, I think we forget how significant God’s plans for us are. Even the Lord’s prayer stresses God’s desire to see His Kingdom come to pass “on earth as it is in heaven.”

I had the privilege to listen live to Rev. Robert Schuller, the famous pastor and founder of the Crystal Cathedral. During his speech, he jested, “Even God can’t hear some of your prayers because they’re so small!”

He was joking, but God spoke to me that it’s time to dream bigger. BASIC is making a huge difference on about 25 campuses in the Northeast. But could a day come where we could reach students on 50, 100, or 500 campuses? Could a revival still sweep across the Northeast like it did in the days of evangelists like Charles Finney?

Japanese snuggy!

First they improve our cars...and now this!

Internet church: Ahead of its time?

More and more churches around the world are using technology to innovate on the traditional church experience. One of the fastest growing trends is the “multi-site” model, or holding church services at different locations with the use of satellite or online streaming video.

I think this model has tremendous merit and will help the Church use its resources more strategically (less staff, reach different geographic areas, etc.). Although if I hear another marketing campaign about “Three locations, ONE CHURCH” I may drop into the fetal position and cry.

As a part of this movement, there is a push to create an “online campus” where people attend church online from the comfort of their own home. You can worship online, listen to preaching online, give online, and even chat or pray live with others watching the same service as you. A few churches have even gone to the extreme of kissing brick-and-mortar services goodbye and only having online services.

Yet many critics disagree with this church evolution. The argument is not over simply broadcasting the service online. Everyone agrees that although the Gospel message will always stay the same, the methods of sharing it will change as technology evolves. And there really is no dispute that it is a good thing to be able to watch a service when traveling or sick.

But some progressive churches are encouraging their people to plug into the internet campus instead of being part of a body of believers that meet together face-to-face. Thousands of Christians around the country now claim to go to church without ever setting foot in a building or small group.

But is this healthy? Is this strengthening the Church or undermining some of its core values? Let me try to give you arguments from both sides.