Home Office and Studio

Thanks to a recent invitation from the pastor of my local faith community, I was able to turn our home into a recording studio for three devotional talks that were accessible through Facebook. These 10-minute “mini-seminars” were recorded the week before viewing, uploaded during the week and then viewed "on demand" by individuals whenever their schedules permitted on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the assigned week. It was fun for me and I hope a blessing to others! The equipment required included: an iPhone with camera, a telescopic stand with camera adapter, a “say so” stand and prop pillow for notes, good lighting, an interesting setting, and of course, a presenter. In essence, three rooms of our home became a studio for each presentation. It was gratifying to have several hundred "tune in!"

"French Room Studio"

Since my retirement 2 years ago from the pastorate, I know by experience that my blog audience has made it possible to connect with many more people than I ever did in the local church. Now, it goes without saying in “tooting my horn” in this way that I am no way depreciating the value of traditional ministry through involvement in a faith community. I am a product of this foundational ministry and am currently an active churchman in my local congregation. I see this as the core of all that we do as believers!

However, I "speak" to a larger audience today by writing. Technology affords me an opportunity to reach out to people throughout the world in many places that I will never have the privilege to physically travel to, but through this blog, I am blessed to connect with individuals from all faiths and persuasions who live in all kinds of settings.

During an average week, I will track through Google Analytics users from the following continents: Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, North and South America. Numerous cities are represented by these readers. The pageviews now number in the thousands. It is hard to believe that 100 blog articles written over a two-year period could be the bridge to an ever increasing audience. I am humbled by the response! These individuals have become a new family to me.

All of this has been made possible because of computer processing, smartphone cameras, blogging platforms, analytic technology, the Internet, Wi-Fi, and cloud storage. The world has become smaller in a sense and yet, the circle for ministry reach has become more expansive and global. It has been reported during the Pandemic that churches are reaching exponentially more worshipers by website, YouTube and Facebook platforms than they ever did by in-person Sunday services. A Houston megachurch reports that their pastor's podcast has exceeded a weekly audience of 17 million!

Jesus gave an indicator in His Olivet Discourse for how to gauge the nearness of His coming again, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). When we think of the proclamation of the gospel to the ends of the earth, we probably think about face-to-face sharing. Could it be that God has a larger purpose for all of the technology available to us during this time in history? Let’s keep in step with Him and use this opportunity wisely. None of us can know the day or time of Christ’s return! I can hear Jesus saying, “Yes, I am coming soon!” (Revelation 22:20), and His people responding, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”

 Mike Keppler, retired pastor,

active churchman and
doting grandparent.
Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com

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