Church Life

Medium Matters

Like Christians of old, we’re embracing the new.

Illustration by Mallory Rentsch / Source Images: Annie Spratt / Florian Klauer / Utsman Media / Lauren Mancke / Unsplash

Early Christians were early adopters of emerging technologies. They were quick to embrace the codex, which allowed for (to use modern terms) more efficient data storage and transfer. The books that would form the Bible were easier to study and transport in codices than in scrolls. Advances in road making, ship making, and navigation powered the earliest missionaries in their efforts to carry the gospel to new lands—just as advances in steamships, railroads, and aviation would power waves of missionaries centuries later.

Storytelling technologies, in particular, have always been essential tools in the redemption of the world. There was the printing press, of course. But in medieval times, there were also illuminated manuscripts and stained glass that brought biblical stories to life for the illiterate majorities. More recently, evangelists such as D. L. Moody, Billy Sunday, and Billy Graham reached millions through radio and television broadcasts. And the Jesus film has been an extraordinary evangelistic tool.

I have often wondered: If Graham had founded Christianity Today here in the 21st century, what would it look like? How might it leverage today’s technologies? CT started as a print magazine. It remains a print magazine we love. It is also more.

I want to introduce you to CT Media, a new strategic initiative devoted to the question “What does our mission require of us today, when new and emerging technologies allow us to reach not only hundreds of thousands per month through the printed word but millions per month through multimedia content distributed digitally?” If we want the depth and the breadth of Christianity Today to reach younger audiences, more diverse audiences, and more global audiences, then we must develop the kinds of media those audiences are most likely to consume. This is not a matter of bending to cultural trends. It’s a matter of using every tool at our disposal to advance the grace and truth of Jesus Christ.

To that end, we have created a new position of chief creative officer and hired the outstanding Erik Petrik for the role. We are ramping up our podcast operations with the addition of Mike Cosper as our director of podcasting, and soon we will be adding capacity in video storytelling. Expect to see more multimedia journalism and thought pieces from our extraordinary team later this year.

Of course, maintaining our high standards of excellence as we branch into new media is not cheap. It’s incredibly important that we continue to receive the support of our faithful readers and friends. If you are not already doing so, please consider supporting us as we follow God’s calling upon this ministry. Rapid shifts in media technologies require new investments and an agile organization, but they also open up entirely new fields for expanding and serving the kingdom of God.

Timothy Dalrymple is president and CEO of Christianity Today. Follow him on Twitter @TimDalrymple_.

Also in this issue

Our cover story this month features the work of Kyung-Chik Han, a South Korean pastor who worked tirelessly mobilizing churches to meet overwhelming needs in the midst of the Korean War. This issue went to press before the scope of the COVID-19 epidemic in that country was fully known and well before the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global pandemic. Nevertheless, Asbury University historian David Swartz offers us a provocative reminder that many of our most important institutions—crucial in good times and bad—stand on the shoulders of unsung giants. And it’s not unthinkable that the strength of any institution that endures tumult today is owed, in large measure, to the success of its overlooked heroes.

Cover Story

World Vision’s Forgotten Founder

News

Is It Appropriate to Have the Easter Bunny in Church?

News

Why Gideons International Is Scaling Back Bible Printing

News

Gleanings: April 2020

News

How Christian Colleges Have Been Revising Student Handbooks Since Obergefell

News

They’re Not From the US. But They’re Ministering to the Nation’s Soldiers

Love in the Desert of Lent

The Moral Order of the World Points to God

Fighting Anxiety With the Old Testament

God’s Mercies Aren’t So New

Our April Issue: Behind the Scenes

Editorial

April Fools

Reply All

Testimony

I Was Warned to Keep My Distance from ‘Infidels.’ Then One Prayed for My Family.

Let Bible Reading Get Back to Basics

The ‘Over There’ Era of Missions Is Over

Review

God Likes You. He Really Likes You!

Review

Youth Ministry Needs Less Fun and More Joy

Five Books That Capture the Blessings of Getting Older

New & Noteworthy Fiction

Before Christ Rose, He Was Dead

View issue

Our Latest

News

Space Force Hymn Lifts Prayer to the Heavens

Southern Baptist chaplain says God prompted him to write song for the newest branch of the US military. 

Beijing, Let My Daughter Come Home

Power Without Integrity Destroys Us

Evangelicals helped elect Trump. Can evangelicals also hold him accountable?

The Bulletin

Sultan of Swing

The Bulletin addresses the election of Donald Trump.

What Another Trump Presidency Means To Evangelicals Around the World

Christian leaders from Nepal to Turkey greet the US election results with joy, grief, and indifference.

Our Faith’s Future Depends on Discipleship

The Lausanne Movement’s State of the Great Commission report details where and how Christianity is growing. 

News

Trump’s Promised Mass Deportations Put Immigrant Churches on Edge

Some of the president-elect’s proposals seem unlikely, but he has threatened to remove millions of both undocumented and legal immigrants.

God Is Faithful in Triumph and Despair

I voted for Kamala Harris and mourn her loss. But I want to keep politics in its proper place, subordinate to Jesus.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube