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Religion And Technology
By Bruce Prokopets
For centuries, the systems of communications throughout the world
have been swiftly evolving.
In the 1400s, the printing press created the ability for mass
publication and circulation of literature, opening the door for the
Christian gospel to reach around the world through books, tracts
and the Bible itself. During the late 1800s, the telegraph and
telephone were invented, further spreading the opportunities for
Christian evangelism. In the mid 20th century, radio and television
further advanced that possibility. Now, in the 21st century, we can
literally reach millions live through streaming video. For the Christian
evangelist, there is a truly awesome marriage of religion and
technology.
Bishop E. Bernard Jordan, Founder and Chief Prelate of Zoe
Ministries, is a paradigm of this shift from the pew to cyberspace.
From the simple input of information into a database, to carrying
religion into all of the world through technological advances such as
live streaming, Bishop Jordan (www.bishopjordan.com) has moved
his ministry from drawing hundreds of people to the pews of the
local church, to drawing millions of people to witness and
experience his prophetic ministry through the wonder of computer
technology.
His parishioners now have access to the prophetic ministry 24 hours
a day, seven days a week, whether through teachings and messages
concerning God, spirituality and prophecy, or through the ability to
purchase books, teachings and music. According to the Bishop,
¡°Because of the blessing that computer and internet technology
represents, my parishioners are now only a 'click' away from God;
they are only a 'click' away from the prophetic word.¡± His outreach
is truly interactive via special Faith Chat sessions during live services
on Sundays, Tuesday evenings, and Thursday evenings.
Whether it is Jane Danielsen of Denmark, who views the live
streaming telecasts weekly, Lillian Holmgaard of Denmark, who
gathers people together in her community around the computer to
view the live telecasts; Carl Ameho from South Korea who views
the telecast several times throughout his day to experience the
power of prophecy or Frans Zegers of the Netherlands who
faithfully views the Power of Prophecy telecast, Bishop Jordan's
parishioners are in the United States, the United Kingdom,
Australia, Africa and throughout the world.
There is a growing need for leaders in the Church to expand their
ministry and to reach larger groups of people all around the world.
The world is waiting eagerly to hear the spiritual truths that have
been burning in the hearts and minds of many pastors, preachers,
evangelists and prophets.
People are in need of an answer, yet the fact is many do not want to
physically go to church. Yet these people are hungry for the word
of God. Therefore, spiritual leaders of all faiths must now open
their minds to the use of the Internet, live streaming and other
advanced forms of technology to get their message to the world.
If Jesus, Buddha or Mohammed were to bring their message in this
day, they would use the most advanced means of technology
available to communicate their message to as many people as they
could reach.
There is a growing concern in urban America about the accessibility
of this powerful and relatively inexpensive technology. Only 25% of
African-Americans appear to be functional in the information age.
This alarming figure can be attributed mainly to the fact that there
are more black males in prison than in college. Many are blue
collar workers, whose jobs limit their access in the arena of
technology. Perhaps religion could possibly bring more exposure to
the importance of computers and advanced technology to a
community that has been frozen out of the information age.
If they know that their favorite preacher is available on the Internet
via live streaming, and they have the ability to interact with him/her
from the comfort of their home, what a milestone that could be!
With the ability to download sermon messages at no charge, make
online donations, and personally interact with the preacher by way
of the Internet.
In the last five years, Zoe Ministries has lost 80 percent of its local
congregation (pew members), but has doubled its revenue through
the faithful partners worldwide who access the ministry through the
most powerful means of technology available, the Internet.
Religion and technology must make sense. Both areas must merge
if we are going to reach the world with the gospel. To those who
espouse this philosophy, the 21st century will become an age where
technology is integrated into religion by allowing people to have
their religious experience by way of the Internet. A ¡°soul¡± used to
be defined as the person we could see, but now we are discovering
that a ¡°soul¡± is the person whom we cannot see.
Visit Bishop Jordan's website at www.bishopjordan.com and
experience the Power of Prophecy telecasts via streaming, 24 hours
a day, seven days a week; and on Sundays at noon EST, and
Tuesday and Friday evenings at 7:00 p.m. EST, experience the live
streaming, where you can log into the Faith Chat Room and
dialogue and interact with the Master Prophet himself, E. Bernard
Jordan. Contact Zoe Ministries at 212-316-2177.
Bruce Prokopets
Executive Editor
Press Direct International
About the Author
http://www.bishopjordan.com
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/14031.html
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| Some other articles by Bruce Prokopets | |
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