Embracing Media

By: Svetlana Papazov

I asked Cassandra Ferguson, a radio and television talk show host, to share how God led her to media, and about the ways God has provided for her in pursuing the call of God on her life.

Re-Envisioning Media

In today’s society, media plays an important role in the influence of an individual, a family, and a community. Key decisions are made based off of what someone has seen or heard from radio, television, or on social media. With media your message gets out farther across a larger and wider audience, whether you are in China or in New York City once the information is released you will see or hear it quickly.

Because the church has a mandate from God to ‘Go Ye And Teach All Nations’ (Matthew 28:19), media is the vehicle that can be used to fulfill it. In an instant the gospel can be heard all over the world from a media platform.”

Overcoming the Fear of Media

Often church leaders do not leverage the media platform because they lack resources or fear of the unknown. I have heard some even say they ‘don’t want to become famous,’ when in reality, that is a prideful statement camouflaged with a false sense of humility. There is a reason God wants to make your name great (Genesis 12:2).

Several years ago, God gave me a vision to pull businesswomen together to connect and share business strategies. At that time, I owned and operated a mortgage company, and my networking group Business Women on the Move was planning their first event.

Friends in media offered me opportunities to promote the event. After a radio appearance, the host said to me, “Have you ever considered radio? You will do very well on the air; you have a great radio voice.” I immediately thought of my inadequacy and lack of experience and said, “Who, me?” Fear stepped in and I said, “No, not at all.”

 For years I thought about his question and my response. Feeling like it could have been a missed opportunity; I promised God that if the opportunity were to ever come again, I would walk through the door.

Ten years later it happened. During a very difficult time in Baltimore, the vision came to me as I watched news coverage of our youth in an uproar on the streets. They needed a platform of wisdom, leadership, purpose, and celebration.

I sought wise counsel from someone who had been in media for years. She listened to my vision, made suggestions on which local stations to call, and said these three words to me, “Make the Call.”

I called several local stations and pitched my radio show vision. By the end of the day, I had gotten several invitations to do what is called ‘Block Radio.’

We are now going into our fourth year in media, and God continues to give us provision. Doors and opportunities continue to open by saying yes to God and wanting to bring a solution to someone else’s problem. God is using media to bring awareness of His glory to the earth. “But [the time is coming when] the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14 NLT).

Reflection

Occupying the sphere of media will not come without a fight. The enemy knows once God’s church truly gains a full understanding of the level of power and influence, they will have to steward this area, it will be like a tsunami—an arrival or occurrence of something in overwhelming quantities or amounts.

The church needs to occupy with power. The enemy wants to keep us in a defeated mindset. This is a key principality that operates in media. Making sure he fills God’s people with fear and anxiety due to bad news.

That’s when the church comes in to plant seeds of hope and truth. We proclaim God’s word to shift the atmosphere. “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect’ (Romans 12:2 NLT).”

Now the media and social media have intertwined. Both the business world and individuals are using it every day to expand their reach. They are willing to put in the time and investment. God puts it in the heart and minds of man to develop and create. As His church,

How are you we positioning yourself for expansion to reach souls from all around the world through the waves of media?

An Excerpt from the book, “Church for Monday” by Dr. Svetlana Papazov.

Svetlana Papazov is Lead Pastor and Founder of Real Life Church, President/Founder of Real Life Center for Entrepreneurial and Leadership Excellence, a first of its kind model of church and business incubator that educates in entrepreneurship, leadership and faith praxis.