By a Team Expansion worker
Around 5 years ago after “going viral” on FB, I realized times have changed in the village. Unlike when I first arrived here, they all have smartphones, and they all use social media now. God opened my eyes to see this unprecedented access to our people group and He gave me a vision from Romans 10:14 to use media to tell them — because how can they believe if they have never heard, and how can they hear unless someone tells them? This could catalyze that telling like never before!
At that time, I cast this vision to the local pastor and he thought it sounded interesting. He knew no one had ever done it, nor was anyone doing it. He wanted to try. I warned him that there was a chance of persecution for him if he became the face of our messages online, but he responded, “So what? I’ve been persecuted my whole life for following Jesus, let’s go for it!”
Present Day
After returning to the city from my most recent trip, I got a call from that pastor, who is now my main media ministry partner. He had great news to share: after tens of thousands of views of our Christian media over the last few years, other rural churches have seen his facebook page. Many are reaching out about how amazing they think this idea is and are asking for help on how to do this for their churches too!
Another minister saw the page and told my ministry partner that he was spot on with this approach. This pastor wants to invest in the work and help it grow. His supervisor has reached out to see how he got “such a good FB page” and noted that other people in high positions have seen and taken note and think it’s great.
How amazing would it be if a whole movement was started of others trying to do similar things for all the unreached people groups here? He called me in excitement to tell me, to thank me, and to express that he wants to keep partnering with me to do even more!
