Well, I have spent the last 12 years or so involved in a ministry (GOD TV) desperate to see revival and to carry it to the globe – and I wonder if we may finally be there!!!!
For the past 2 weeks, GOD TV has cleared their schedule and been broadcasting the Florida Healing Outpouring with Todd Bentley (he isn’t your conventional Christian Minister) at I have to say great cost to themselves – both production wise and revenue wise – BUT they believe this is what God has raised them up for.
It has been incredible to experience the commitment of this relatively small network to capturing and broadcasting what God is doing in Florida. I was there (at the revival) for an evening last week and experienced first hand what God is doing amongst people and it is REMARKABLE. However the more remarkable thing to me is that what he is doing on the ground he is also doing through the broadcasts. The e-mails are literally flooding in from all over the globe telling of the goodness of God as people are getting healed and set free and experiencing new depths of relationship with God JUST by watching the programmes – WOW!!!
I was thinking earlier of the difference between when first Toronto’s revival and then the Pensacola’s revival started. There were networks around then who could have gone with this and broadcast them to the world – but for whatever reason didn’t – why not!!! Now a strange couple from Britain and South Africa have found themselves in the middle of what God is doing and have decided in their naivety just to run with it, clearing out their schedules, going through the pain of last minute changes of plans and just doing it!!!!!
Believe me its not pretty or planned BUT it is GOD and seeing what he is doing in peoples lives makes it well worthwhile whatever the pain – well done Rory and Wendy and GOD TV – he WILL see you succeed as you in purity seek to follow what he is doing – JUST please DON’T commercialise it and you will see God do extraordinary things – I know many people (including my wife – who had to first get past the “who’s the ugly noisy guy with the tattoos” syndrome) who are GLUED to their TV and Computer screens watching God move on his people – what more could be the purpose of Christian TV – this is what we were created for and FINALLY we are doing it – and its not always great production BUT people are flocking to the broadcasts as they simply want to see God. If we as media professionals can get beyond our plans and desires to control it and make it “Worthy of Television” then people will still watch as God is there!!
Is this Revival? Who knows, and frankly who cares – what it is (from personal experience) is GOD moving in power and blessing His people – and finally after 2 failed attempts Christian TV is carrying REVIVAL to the nations via GOD TV.
WOW!!!!!!
Can I recommend you hook into this at www.god.tv – your life simply might not be the same ever again.
Monday 28 April 2008
Monday 21 April 2008
What a pleasure
I have literally JUST finished a 3 day shoot for a new client Ellel Ministries for whom we have recorded an 18 part half hour series called Living the Life with Peter Horrobin (the founder of Ellel) – and WHAT a pleasure it has been.
Firstly let me say if you are a Christian broadcaster out there you should SERIOUSLY consider airing this series. It’s basically a Christianity 101 type course dealing with the foundational aspects of the Christian Faith. Peter is a gifted communicator, highly engaging who has a real knack of communicating deep things in a gentle and uncomplicated way that is very easy to listen to and packs a punch – it also looks great (I would say that wouldn’t I).
Why was it such a pleasure? Well for 2 main reasons, first the crew I pulled together did a GREAT job both technically which I would expect but also how they fitted in really and became “part of the family” for the 3 days – even though some are not yet Christians they operated as total professionals, were not aloof and didn’t mind the questions from the inquisitive people at Ellel – on fact this is something we really welcome – if we can help and impart some of what we have learnt that’s a positive thing for us as it says YOU value what WE know – and all the crew really rose to occasion – thanks to you all.
The second reason is the ministry were a JOY to work with – a breath of fresh air. There was no strife, no unrealistic demands and they just good to work with. Our crew kept commenting on how refreshing it was to work with “nice people” – and I believe this was one of the main factors that enabled us as a team to produce good work as we wanted to do a good job, go the extra mile and make it work as well as we possibly could “for them”.
There is nothing worse than working for people who are not nice – particularly when they are a Christian ministry – and in all honesty its such a BAD witness to the non Christian crews we often work with – just be nice it honestly is not hard.
Well done Ellel – I look forward to working with you again and I know all our crew would feel the same – and well done to the crew – you really did a great job, thanks. And if you as a broadcaster want to know more about the series (we’ve got to do the post production first) – but its well worth broadcasting – let me know.
What can you potentially learn from this regarding how to work with 3rd parties and consultants?
Firstly, as a ministry if you bring in outside contractors MAKE THE MOST OF US – Ellel did this, they identified a few people who have an interest in this area and asked us if they could sit in “behind the scenes” on the recordings – we were more than happy to do this and answer their questions – and I believe they found it helpful – we really don’t mind and it will help you develop people for the future if you ever want to do this by yourselves.
Secondly, allow us (as professionals) to get on and do the job that you have asked and paid us to do – give us a clear brief (which Ellel did) and then allow us to run with it and bring our creativity to play to achieve what you want – it works better this way.
Thirdly, realise that filming things for a specific purpose will change your internal dynamics of the meetings – if you want a great product then please be flexible, technical problems can happen and if for example we have a problem and need to start again – then go with us – we’re there to deliver the best we can and sometime that means you have to help us – Ellel and Peter were incredibly gracious in the way they allowed us to do what we needed – even if it meant as happened on one occasion that 8 minutes in we had to do a complete restart – BUT trust me when you see it back you’ll be delighted you did – work with us rather than against us – then we’ll achieve MUCH more.
Fourthly, prepare, get ready to make the most of the money you are spending and our time with you – work out how you can best benefit from our time together and have a clear and specific focus in mind of what you want to achieve.
And fifthly, be nice, at the end of the day you may have a purpose and a focus – BUT God may have a different purpose – the seeds you can sow by your witness into the lives of non Christians who maybe part of our teams can have an eternal impact – and at the end of the day that’s what it is about.
Ellel – thanks, it was a pleasure.
Firstly let me say if you are a Christian broadcaster out there you should SERIOUSLY consider airing this series. It’s basically a Christianity 101 type course dealing with the foundational aspects of the Christian Faith. Peter is a gifted communicator, highly engaging who has a real knack of communicating deep things in a gentle and uncomplicated way that is very easy to listen to and packs a punch – it also looks great (I would say that wouldn’t I).
Why was it such a pleasure? Well for 2 main reasons, first the crew I pulled together did a GREAT job both technically which I would expect but also how they fitted in really and became “part of the family” for the 3 days – even though some are not yet Christians they operated as total professionals, were not aloof and didn’t mind the questions from the inquisitive people at Ellel – on fact this is something we really welcome – if we can help and impart some of what we have learnt that’s a positive thing for us as it says YOU value what WE know – and all the crew really rose to occasion – thanks to you all.
The second reason is the ministry were a JOY to work with – a breath of fresh air. There was no strife, no unrealistic demands and they just good to work with. Our crew kept commenting on how refreshing it was to work with “nice people” – and I believe this was one of the main factors that enabled us as a team to produce good work as we wanted to do a good job, go the extra mile and make it work as well as we possibly could “for them”.
There is nothing worse than working for people who are not nice – particularly when they are a Christian ministry – and in all honesty its such a BAD witness to the non Christian crews we often work with – just be nice it honestly is not hard.
Well done Ellel – I look forward to working with you again and I know all our crew would feel the same – and well done to the crew – you really did a great job, thanks. And if you as a broadcaster want to know more about the series (we’ve got to do the post production first) – but its well worth broadcasting – let me know.
What can you potentially learn from this regarding how to work with 3rd parties and consultants?
Firstly, as a ministry if you bring in outside contractors MAKE THE MOST OF US – Ellel did this, they identified a few people who have an interest in this area and asked us if they could sit in “behind the scenes” on the recordings – we were more than happy to do this and answer their questions – and I believe they found it helpful – we really don’t mind and it will help you develop people for the future if you ever want to do this by yourselves.
Secondly, allow us (as professionals) to get on and do the job that you have asked and paid us to do – give us a clear brief (which Ellel did) and then allow us to run with it and bring our creativity to play to achieve what you want – it works better this way.
Thirdly, realise that filming things for a specific purpose will change your internal dynamics of the meetings – if you want a great product then please be flexible, technical problems can happen and if for example we have a problem and need to start again – then go with us – we’re there to deliver the best we can and sometime that means you have to help us – Ellel and Peter were incredibly gracious in the way they allowed us to do what we needed – even if it meant as happened on one occasion that 8 minutes in we had to do a complete restart – BUT trust me when you see it back you’ll be delighted you did – work with us rather than against us – then we’ll achieve MUCH more.
Fourthly, prepare, get ready to make the most of the money you are spending and our time with you – work out how you can best benefit from our time together and have a clear and specific focus in mind of what you want to achieve.
And fifthly, be nice, at the end of the day you may have a purpose and a focus – BUT God may have a different purpose – the seeds you can sow by your witness into the lives of non Christians who maybe part of our teams can have an eternal impact – and at the end of the day that’s what it is about.
Ellel – thanks, it was a pleasure.
The Art of Communication
Recently there have been a couple of instances that to me have highlighted the critical role that INTERNAL communication plays in everything we do as organisations and how in some cases when we get this wrong it can have a real detrimental effect on our EXTERNAL communication – and that really is a bad thing.
The first situation was when one of our clients went and communicated something externally that was a potential hand grenade internally. Unfortunately it was a “sudden” spur of the moment decision to do this that was not thought through at senior management level where someone simply needed to ask “if we do this what impact will it have on our staff”.
Now I am NOT saying the decision to go and communicate this externally was wrong – far from it, as it turned out it was absolutely a “God inspired” decision – all I am saying was that what I noticed was when the implications of the decision were not thought through it created MAJOR havoc inside the organisation. It is essential that those in positions of influence, authority and management put themselves in the position of those who are not and simply think through the implications of what they are going to communicate. In this case a simple staff e-mail would have fully solved this issue and the chaos that took place internally would have been irradiated.
The second situation was a complete, total and unmitigated disaster. I happened to be travelling back from Israel via Heathrow airport on the very day that the new Terminal 5 opened – oh dear!!!!
Basically what happened to me was that we (I was travelling with a colleague) arrived at Heathrow on an El Al flight and because we were transferring to a different carrier (BA) could not check luggage all the way. So we arrived at T5 (which is a stunning place) at about 3.15pm – just about the same time that the entire baggage handling system ground to a halt. What this meant was that NO ONE could check their bags in at the Fast Bag Drop – so you couldn’t go anywhere. To cut a long story short, we waited for nearly 3 ½ hours in the cue – during which time our flight was cancelled (no one told us till we asked) we were then put on another later flight – BUT after asking were again told this one was cancelled (the last one of the night) so we ended up getting a hire car and driving the 5 hours home – all in all not a great experience.
BUT here was the worst thing; there was NO communication from the staff on the ground about what was going on – basically because there was NO communication to them from management – meaning they were left totally isolated and unable to deal with what they were trained to do – customer relations.
I have very little to say other than this instance to me highlighted again the vital role that our internal communication can ultimately have on our external perception. Taking your team with you, getting them on the same page and keeping them involved and engaged CANNOT be underestimated – I wonder how much time we spend concentrating on this as opposed to our external communication (which is also crucial) BUT can so easily be undermined if the internal element does not happen as well – we’re in the communications business – but I think this is an area we severely neglect and wonder if we diverted some attention to it if it might in fact not revolutionise our effectiveness as all of a sudden we have all our team on board.
Jesus did this VERY well even though his “team” didn’t always get it. He clearly communicated ton his 12 disciples REGULARLY what was going on in the ministry and what they should be aware of regarding what was coming up – even to the extent of telling them he was going to die. He concentrated on communication and spent time taking his core team with him – if it was important to him – how much more to us.
There was one other aspect to the Terminal 5 debacle that’s worth comment – and that’s the planning. Who on EARTH came up with the idea of moving the ENTIRE BA domestic and short haul flight schedule overnight into a new home that had not been thoroughly and robustly tested? Surely the thing to do was a phased move – ensuring that it was working at each stage BEFORE moving on to the next – doing what they did meant they had NO back up plan when it all failed.
Unfortunately I regularly work with ministries and organisations that do this ALL the time – never having a plan B. We somehow expect it to all be alright and when it isn’t have to unpick what we have done to get back to normal and then try again – often taking weeks (though thankfully unlike with BA not having it cost us a fortune). If we ONLY spent a bit more time thinking it through, carrying out proper planning, assessing risk and ensuring we have a good plan B – we’d save LOT’S of headaches – I wonder if its because we pull the “God Card” – it’ll be alright, God told us to do it – well honestly it rarely is and in all truth usually when it is its because the dedicated team working for the organisation would die before seeing it fail – but this takes its toll on people and really is NO WAY to run an organisation – the strain it puts is never good and in creative media teams stifles and kills the creative ingredient that is so critical – so a plea from the “little people” please plan better and ask those of us who can help you – AND listen even when the answer is not what you want to hear – its usually for the long term good of the organisation.
Thanks – and what do you think?
The first situation was when one of our clients went and communicated something externally that was a potential hand grenade internally. Unfortunately it was a “sudden” spur of the moment decision to do this that was not thought through at senior management level where someone simply needed to ask “if we do this what impact will it have on our staff”.
Now I am NOT saying the decision to go and communicate this externally was wrong – far from it, as it turned out it was absolutely a “God inspired” decision – all I am saying was that what I noticed was when the implications of the decision were not thought through it created MAJOR havoc inside the organisation. It is essential that those in positions of influence, authority and management put themselves in the position of those who are not and simply think through the implications of what they are going to communicate. In this case a simple staff e-mail would have fully solved this issue and the chaos that took place internally would have been irradiated.
The second situation was a complete, total and unmitigated disaster. I happened to be travelling back from Israel via Heathrow airport on the very day that the new Terminal 5 opened – oh dear!!!!
Basically what happened to me was that we (I was travelling with a colleague) arrived at Heathrow on an El Al flight and because we were transferring to a different carrier (BA) could not check luggage all the way. So we arrived at T5 (which is a stunning place) at about 3.15pm – just about the same time that the entire baggage handling system ground to a halt. What this meant was that NO ONE could check their bags in at the Fast Bag Drop – so you couldn’t go anywhere. To cut a long story short, we waited for nearly 3 ½ hours in the cue – during which time our flight was cancelled (no one told us till we asked) we were then put on another later flight – BUT after asking were again told this one was cancelled (the last one of the night) so we ended up getting a hire car and driving the 5 hours home – all in all not a great experience.
BUT here was the worst thing; there was NO communication from the staff on the ground about what was going on – basically because there was NO communication to them from management – meaning they were left totally isolated and unable to deal with what they were trained to do – customer relations.
I have very little to say other than this instance to me highlighted again the vital role that our internal communication can ultimately have on our external perception. Taking your team with you, getting them on the same page and keeping them involved and engaged CANNOT be underestimated – I wonder how much time we spend concentrating on this as opposed to our external communication (which is also crucial) BUT can so easily be undermined if the internal element does not happen as well – we’re in the communications business – but I think this is an area we severely neglect and wonder if we diverted some attention to it if it might in fact not revolutionise our effectiveness as all of a sudden we have all our team on board.
Jesus did this VERY well even though his “team” didn’t always get it. He clearly communicated ton his 12 disciples REGULARLY what was going on in the ministry and what they should be aware of regarding what was coming up – even to the extent of telling them he was going to die. He concentrated on communication and spent time taking his core team with him – if it was important to him – how much more to us.
There was one other aspect to the Terminal 5 debacle that’s worth comment – and that’s the planning. Who on EARTH came up with the idea of moving the ENTIRE BA domestic and short haul flight schedule overnight into a new home that had not been thoroughly and robustly tested? Surely the thing to do was a phased move – ensuring that it was working at each stage BEFORE moving on to the next – doing what they did meant they had NO back up plan when it all failed.
Unfortunately I regularly work with ministries and organisations that do this ALL the time – never having a plan B. We somehow expect it to all be alright and when it isn’t have to unpick what we have done to get back to normal and then try again – often taking weeks (though thankfully unlike with BA not having it cost us a fortune). If we ONLY spent a bit more time thinking it through, carrying out proper planning, assessing risk and ensuring we have a good plan B – we’d save LOT’S of headaches – I wonder if its because we pull the “God Card” – it’ll be alright, God told us to do it – well honestly it rarely is and in all truth usually when it is its because the dedicated team working for the organisation would die before seeing it fail – but this takes its toll on people and really is NO WAY to run an organisation – the strain it puts is never good and in creative media teams stifles and kills the creative ingredient that is so critical – so a plea from the “little people” please plan better and ask those of us who can help you – AND listen even when the answer is not what you want to hear – its usually for the long term good of the organisation.
Thanks – and what do you think?
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