This Article is printed in the MayJune 2011 edition of the Adventist Messenger.

Did you know, approximately 925 million people on planet earth will go to bed hungry tonight?  And, every day, almost 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes. That’s one child every five seconds!

Wikipedia describes poverty as, “the lack of basic human needs, such as clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter, because of the inability to afford them.”

Poverty is a rising concern that prevents many people from having the basic needs for life that you and I living in Canada, everyday take for granted.

Instead of just talking about poverty, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), the worldwide agency of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for humanitarian outreach, relief and development, is hard at work to help combat its deadly effects on our society.

The story of ADRA begins shortly after the Second World War when the Church established the Seventh-day Adventist Welfare Service (SAWS).  To reflect its worldwide involvement, in 1973 its name changed to the Seventh-day Adventist World Service and then in the early 1980’s the familiar name ADRA was adopted.

Pastor James Astleford, Donor Relations Director for ADRA Canada, told me that in the early 1980’s the Adventist church realized they needed to do more then just hand out “fish to the hungry”, they needed to be teaching people how to “fish so that they could feed themselves for a life time”.  This concept led not only to a name change in 1984, but also to a philosophy change focused on helping people beyond the immediate needs of the day.

The ADRA mission is to “work with people in poverty and distress to create just and positive change through empowering partnerships and responsible action.” In 1985, a year after the reorganization of ADRA International, ADRA Canada was formed and it is currently part of the network improving lives in 120 countries.

In its day–to-day operations, ADRA Canada uses many types of technology to connect and share with people the needs of a world in poverty.

For the past 22 years, ADRA Canada has been sending out video presentations to every church in the Canadian Union.  Originally, these were sent out on VHS tapes, and currently are sent out on DVD, two to three times a year.  These video presentations are an excellent tool for educating each congregation to the life-changing stories of ADRA’s development and relief efforts.  Besides being available on DVD, the video presentations are also made available online through YouTube and the ADRA Canada website at http://www.adra.ca.    James Astleford told me that ADRA Canada is working on integrating a dedicated video platform with their current website that will allow for HD content and an overall enhanced video viewing experience.

Also, in utilizing the technology of video, It is Written Canada recently aired three programs with interviews of Pastor Ronald Kuhn, Executive Director for ADRA Canada and Pastor James Astleford.  And, to aid awareness of the work of ADRA Canada, a short video clip was regularly aired on CTV during the Japan disaster.

Alicia Sawyer, Donor Relations Assistant for ADRA Canada, said that ADRA Canada is currently connecting with people through the online technology of social media including Facebook (ADRA Canada) and Twitter (@adracanada).  “Social media are great ways to get immediate information and inspirational stories out to people”, said Alicia, who is hoping for many new connections to build a greater awareness of ADRA Canada.

ADRA Canada’s eNews (email newsletter), generates many responses from the approximately 6,000 subscribers.  James Astleford said,  “people are quick to respond to requests for immediate financial aide from the eNews stories relating to current disasters such as the Japan Earthquake”.   A growing number of ADRA Canada’s supporters are now donating online rather then through their local church. (Provided donors identify their membership, such contributions still count towards the local church goal.)

As ADRA Canada continues to stay on the cutting edge of technology, it is currently exploring some very exciting technological initiatives for the future.  I am told that text donations may soon be an option for donors and the idea of mobile apps is being explored for iPhone and android devices.

For those who want to learn first hand how ADRA Canada is transforming lives, ADRA Canada has launched a new initiative called, ADRA Connections that Pastor James Astleford describes as, “putting Canadians in direct touch with the activities of ADRA Canada”.   Elizabeth Horniachek, ADRA Connections Coordinator, told me that people are positive about the program and are very excited about getting “hands-on” with ADRA Canada.

I look forward to the day Jesus talked about in Revelation 7, “They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore;… and God will wipe every tear from their eyes”.  Please continue to do your part in the battle against poverty so that Jesus can say, “Well done good and faithful servant.  Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me”.  Help ADRA Canada save lives.

Lights, Camera, CTV

“It has stood the test of time, God’s book, the bible.  Still relevant in today’s complex world.  “It Is Written”, sharing messages of hope around the world.”

I think it is safe to say that most of you reading this article are familiar with what you just read above.  You guessed it.  It is the words to the opening video for each “It Is Written” television broadcast.  And for 28 years, that is indeed what “It Is Written Canada” has been doing, “sharing messages of hope around the world”.   Currently, “It Is Written” is “sharing messages of hope” across Canada on CTV every Saturday morning at 11am.

Since it first started in 1973, under the direction of Pastor Henry Feyerabend , “It Is Written” has been on the cutting edge of technology.  Two years ago I had the opportunity of seeing first hand just how important technology is to the production and delivery of the “It Is Written” broadcast.  At the rented studio in Burlington Ontario, the “It Is Written” team had just begun a 2-week marathon of recording approximately 68 programs a week in English and Portuguese.

While I watched and learned for a week over Doug Bruce’s shoulder, the production manager for “It is Written Canada”, I couldn’t help but wonder how approximately 30 years worth of technology had shaped what “It Is Written” is today.

To answer that question, I recently had the privilege of talking to Pastor Bill Santos, speaker/director for “It Is Written Canada”.  In our conversation Pastor Santos told me that technology currently plays a major role in nearly every stage of the production and delivery.  He said that when “It Is Written” began, they were recording 1 program a week.  Today with advancements in technology, “It Is Written” can record up to 12 programs a day.

“Newer technology has allowed us to capture more programs in less amount of time.” Pastor Santos said.  “In one word, it’s faster. Faster to prepare programs and faster to capture the programs.”

The access that the Internet provides facilitates the ability to have a continual online presence 24/7.  “A web presence with the television program has really been a significant enhancement” said Pastor Santos.

He tells me that they receive approximately 600-1000 contacts per month through the phone or online presence.  Out of the many emails received, one particular request has been seen coming in on a more regular basis over the past year.  “People are making comments like,  “I understand you folks are an Adventist ministry, where’s the closest Adventist church?” said Pastor Santos.

Pastor Douglas Pereira, Director of Operations at “It Is Written Canada”, recently received an email from a young man who watches the “It Is Written” Portuguese broadcast.  The young man said he is not Adventist, not Christian, not religious at all but liked the program.  He wanted to know if there was an Adventist church he could attend in his area.  Pastor Pereira emailed him back and gave him the address to the nearest church.  The young man later responded and told Pastor Pereira that he really enjoyed his visit to the Adventist church.  “I found myself praying when others where praying, I found myself following along.” he said, “I even made a few friends and plan to go back again next week.”

“It is Written” has approximately 140,000 viewers each week which makes it the largest congregation in Canada.  There is currently 225 active bible studies and more requests coming in every week by phone or through the website.

“A common misconception we hear is that only old people watch “It Is Written”, said Pastor Santos.  “That is not the case.  There are lots of young people between the ages of 20-55 who regularly watch.”

I asked Pastor Santos if there were any plans for new types of technology in the future.  He said, “I think the audience wants a more interactive experience.” He told me that there are plans to experiment with a Web studio.

“This would allow us the opportunity to invite viewers from the television broadcast to go to our website for a more indebt discussion and to answer questions.” Pastor Santos says that they want to experiment with this type of interactive online technology next season in Portuguese and then try it with the CTV broadcast.

Also, with the television industry moving more and more to on demand programming, Pastor Santos feels that this technology may be the most significant next step for “It Is Written”. “You should be able to watch the program whenever you want.  Whenever it is convenient for you, the viewer” said Pastor Santos.

And now you know the rest of the story behind the production and delivery of “It Is Written Canada”.

For more information about “It Is Written Canada” visit http://www.itiswrittencanada.ca.

This Article is printed in the September 2010 edition of the Adventist Messenger.

A 17 inch window to the World

An interesting thing about technology is that everyone of us is trying to adapt to it’s continual changes and learn how to utilize it’s abilities.  Whether you are in the medical field, building construction, the restaurant business, or a church organization, technology keeps moving and evolving.

I read an interesting statement from a book recently called, “The Elements of Journalism”.  In the book, the author regularly commented about the impact technology is having on journalism.  Connected directly with the communication age that we are currently living in and the interactive online technology available to us, the author said, “Today, people go from passive consumers to proactive assemblers of their own journalism and views of the world.”

As the author continued, he stated, “people have the ability to interact with the news itself as well as the professionals delivering it.”

Being able to interact with people on a global scale is the heart of online technology.
I recently had the privilege of talking with Gary McLain, the Communications Director for the Oregon Conference, about some of the exciting ways they are using technology to connect and interact with people throughout their conference and abroad.

They recently used the technology of live video streaming to broadcast the Pathfinder Fair that was held in Albany, Oregon on May 16, 2010.   “We had about 350 viewers” Gary said, “that added up to just over 9,300 minutes of viewing”.

Those viewing the event throughout the day were of all ages and from many different parts of the United States and Canada. “There were grand-parents who went online to watch their grand-children perform and many of the Pathfinder’s siblings” said Gary.

Harold Reimche, the father of Pastor Al Reimche, president for the Oregon Conference, told me that he watched his son speaking to the Pathfinders in Albany from their home in Kelowna, British Columbia.

But the most exciting story that came as a result of streaming this event involved the Daisy Mae Yoder Award.  This award is given to those Pathfinders or staff who had a tuff time thought-out the Pathfinder year but stuck with it.  Jacqueline McRae, a leader from the Bonanza Pathfinder Club, was chosen this year to receive the award.

Even though Jacqueline could not be present at the Pathfinder Fair, she watched online from her home in Bonanza Oregon, approximately 380kms away. “She could receive the reward even thou she wasn’t there”, said Gary, “and she heard what they had to say.”

Gary said he received positive feedback from those who participated in the live stream of the Pathfinder fair and, “people said it was fun to be part of the event.”

The next live video stream that the Oregon Conference is working on is called, “Reconnect Weekend”.  An event prepared for the Collegiate/young adults that will have been streamed live on July 16-17.  And Sunnyside church will have streamed their “Super Sabbath” live that same weekend.

Another idea for live video streaming that Gary talked about was the possibility to stream a church service to those multi church districts that only get their pastor once or twice a month.
I asked Gary his thoughts on how this technology can be used to “Lead People to Jesus” and he said this, “People who may never step foot into your church have this technology to watch online within the privacy of their own home.”

With the cost reduction of live video streaming now within reach of smaller churches and conferences, this technology provides a way to engage your community or abroad in your programs and events like never before.  There are even free video streaming services available like, “Ustream” or “Livestream” that are worthwhile checking out.

I remember sitting at my computer back in the year 2000, while I was pastoring in Newfoundland, trying to watch a video over the internet on a 56k dialup connect.

What an unpleasant experience that was.  Kind of like driving through a Newfoundland snow storm in January.

The video would start and stop every few seconds and you spent more time staring at the word “buffering” on the status bar then watching the video.  And to make things worse, for a few seconds that the video actually played in between stops, it was choppy, pixilated and hard to see.

Well, those early days of Internet video and the unpleasant experiences associated with it are long gone.  Streaming video and audio have come a long way since then.

Youtube

According to an online source, 57 million people listen to Internet radio every week and in 2006, people watched more than a million streaming videos a day on YouTube YouTube has just announced in May 2010, that the number of videos watched daily at the website has broken the two-billion mark as the service begins celebrating its fifth birthday.  (Source from Yahoo News)

21 million Canadians viewed more than 3.1 billion videos online during the month of Feburary 2009

Online video consumption continues to grow at an astonishing rate. comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world,  released a report showing that 21 million Canadians viewed more than 3.1 billion videos online during the month of Feburary 2009. comScore, Inc. also reports that an average of 15.5 billion videos are watched online in North American each month and 27 billion hours were spent on the Internet globally in Sept 2009.

With the recent technological advances in faster networks for mobile devices such as Apple’s 3G iPhone and the Blackberry Storm, online mobile video consumption is alive and well.

With these staggering facts in mind about the Internet and online video consumption, streaming your audio/video sermons is a huge evangelistic tool.

Getting Video Online

Here are the steps you need to follow to get your next sermon from the pulpit to the information highway:

Step 1. Record the events from your church (sermons, seminars, etc…)

To record an audio file, you can use a computer with audio recording software or a small mp3 recorder with a line input.  To record the video you should use a digital camera that has a firewire output.

Step 2. Transfer your recording to your computer.

Connect your video camera to your computer using the firewire connection and cable. The computer will detect that your camera is now connected.

To get the audio from a mp3 recorder you can connect the devise to your computer by a USB cable.  The computer will detect that your audio devise is connected.

Step 3. Edit your audio/video file on your computer and convert it to a format suitable for use on the web.

You can use one of the many specialized video editing software programs available like Adobe Premiere, Sony Vegas Pro, Quick Time Pro or Final Cut Pro for the Mac OS X to edit your video files.

For editing audio files you can use software like Audacity or Fission for Mac OS X.

Then you can export (encode) your file(s) to a web format like: Flash (.flv), MP4, Widows Media (.wmv), Real Media (.rm), Quick Time (.mov), MP3 (for audio).

Step 4. Upload your file to a media server.

Contact your website provider to ask for media storage. Then use a FTP program to upload your file(s) to the media server.

There are many choices available for a good FTP program.  File Zilla is free for Windows.   For Mac OS X an excellent choice is Transmit.

Step 5. Add information about your file(s) on your website and link to them.

If your church website is an Adventist Church Connect site that is provided by the North American Division to every church in North America, then you could use the media modules already available to you.  These features make it easy to add info about your audio/video files like: title, description, URL (a link to your file location to the media server), duration, size etc.

If your church is not using an Adventist Church Connect website then the best option for video is called, “JW FLV Player” and can be found online at http://www.longtailvideo.com/.

If you are using a website that is powered by a WordPress CMS then you could use the sermonbrowser plugin available at http://www.4-14.org.uk/wordpress-plugins/sermon-browser.

Well, I hope this information and step by step guide will help you in getting your audio and video files from your church to the internet.   Lets continue moving forward and learning how to better use the technology opportunities God has made available to us for Leading People to Jesus.

During my week in Burlington Ontario, at the Crossroads building, I was involved in two bible study discussion group tapings.

The first topic was about the State of the Dead and the second topic was about Heaven and Hell.

The other important thing I was able to do while at the filming of It is Written was to get more live video production training.

The current speaker/director of It is Written Canada, Bill Santos, thought it was funny when I kept messing up trying to read something from the TelePrompTer without making a mistake.

It didn’t matter how many times I tried, I kept having to swallow.

Check out these photos while on the set of It is Written.