It wasn’t long ago computers were the size of not-so-compact cars, and the cost of getting a professional video camera would set you back more than the same car. But with innovation, computers have become small enough to fit in the palm of our hand and affordable enough for the average household to own one.

If the missionaries are the hands to reach the unreachable, and the church is the feet to move them into position, then there are still a number of needs to be addressed to fulfill the body’s responsibilities.

And I believe with talented individuals, and their understanding of technology, those responsibilities can not only be done, but done in such a creative and passionate way, it would not be a hard to see the worship in the works.

If you have sat through a missionaries visit to your church, you have been subject to the proverbial slideshow of photos that show a small figure in the middle of a large field (or was it a pond?), a donkey affectionately named “Al”, a small figure next to a wall (or was that a mountain?) and a picture of the missionary riding “Al.” Now this generalization is in no way to discredit the attempts of the missionaries to share their daily adventures with the church body. It is to point out that most missionaries aren’t photographers, videographers, web designers, graphic designers nor should they be expected to do so. I believe the hand should do the touching, and the eyes and ears should do the communicating.

The missionaries work is in the field, and that is where they should be. Instead of requiring the missionary to interrupt their work to come home and present less-than-effective media presentations, we should send the eyes and ears of the church to the supported missionaries, once every year or so, to bring back presentations which inspire short-term mission trips and encourage the body by showing them God’s work abroad. Between media safaris, the missionaries can use internet technology (Facebook, Twitter, Blogs) to share their needs, triumphs and fears with the pastors whom can now walk up beside them and be the support they were called to be and the church body. Technological ministers would help keep these lines of communications open, working and simplified for the participants. Laptops with built in cameras can serve as video blogs which could be inserted as part of the sunday morning services. Blogs would allow church individuals to ask the missionaries questions.

The church would be more cohesive, more informed and better equipped to serve those abroad. And the missionaries would stay in their designated country longer, feel like part of a church family and have their needs responded to quicker.

Can you imagine if the church came along side and sponsored a native pastor who never had to leave their country due to visas, could buy land at a fraction of the price of a traditional missionary, and understood the cultural road blocks from day one?

I can.

I hope more churches continue to move toward a paradigm shift in missions and one day I can use my talents to create, invoke and share the amazing works God is doing in other countries.