The worshiper leans forward, enthralled by a point the pastor is making. The pastor gestures with both arms to emphasize his point as a camera pulls back to capture the movement for viewers.
Camera? Viewers?
This is the world of televised church services, a ministry several Baptist churches in Alabama believe can have an impact on people who are at different points in their faith and — perhaps more importantly — those who have never attended church.
Greg Golden, director of media ministries at Cottage Hill Baptist Church, Mobile, described a television ministry as a large “front door” that allows a newcomer to town, a skeptic or an unchurched person to have his or her first contact with a church.
“Most people are visual learners, and if we provide a television program that is well paced, attractive and varied, we stand a greater chance of impacting the viewer with life-changing truth that is imbedded in our broadcasts,” Golden said.
Cottage Hill Baptist, a member of Mobile Baptist Association, has broadcast its services for 30 years. Initially it hired a remote truck that came to tape services and create a program from the sermon. Later the church purchased four cameras and other equipment needed to produce the broadcasts, which air on CBS affiliate WKRG.
But Cottage Hill Baptist is not alone in using television to minister to those not in church.
‘Presence in community’
Gary Fenton, pastor of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, said his church was one of the first in the Birmingham area to broadcast its services, which can now be seen on CBS affiliate WIAT.
Fenton said Dawson Memorial Baptist, a member of Birmingham Baptist Association, kicked off its television program 50 years ago. It was an important ministry then, he said, but the broadcasts are even more relevant today because fewer people attend church.
“It’s a sense of presence in the community,” Fenton said. “We used to live in a church culture. That day has passed and there are many people who have no idea what happens at church.”
David Hull, pastor of First Baptist Church, Huntsville, in Madison Baptist Association, speculates more than half of Americans are not worshiping in a church on any given Sunday.
“The broadcasting of a worship service opens the possibility that some of these folks may worship through the medium of television,” he said.
Hull said televised services reach those who may have stopped attending services for varying reasons.
“They still want worship in their lives; they just don’t want to go to church,” he said. “Our hope is that these folks will eventually find their way from television worship into a local church.”
Ministry to homebound
Still others may be unable to attend because of their age, illness or the demands of caring for sick children or aging parents.
First, Huntsville, has broadcast its services for 22 years and they can now be seen live on CBS affiliate WHNT.
“That allows worship to speak to where people are living in real time,” Hull said. “We hope that these choices will create an experience that is closest to actually being in the room on that Sunday.”
Pastor Jay Wolf of First Baptist Church, Montgomery, said many people have visited his church after first being introduced to it by the television services on NBC affiliate WSFA, as well as Frazer Christian Television, a cable access channel reaching Montgomery, Prattville and Elmore County.
“Over the years, I have encountered countless people who have expressed their appreciation for [First,
Montgomery’s] broadcast ministry,” he said. “Oftentimes that person will reference a specific [instance] of how the Lord used His Word to facilitate liberation, encouragement, transformation and salvation.”
Wolf added that First, Montgomery, a member of Montgomery Baptist Association, receives letters,
e-mails and phone calls indicating how the Lord has touched people’s lives during the 50 years it has had a television ministry.
But larger churches are not the only ones taking advantage of this ministry opportunity. First Baptist Church, Sylacauga, has been broadcasting its services for the past few years and has seen a response from nonchurch members who watch them on cable access channel TV6.
“It helps get the word out,” said Larry Morrison, minister of education and administration at First, Sylacauga, a member of Coosa River Baptist Association. He said community members frequently offer financial assistance for missions trips and other activities they learn about through the broadcasts.
Fenton added that regardless of why people are watching, televised services can serve as a reminder people need to be in church — any church, not just Dawson Memorial Baptist.
“It is a [great] recruiting tool for the Kingdom,” he said. “We would like to think that our telecast helps every church in our city.”
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