You watch TV, right? (We won’t tell…)
Maybe you record it on your DVR or stream it with Netflix or Hulu, but unless you’re out on the field with no internet (and if so, then how are you reading this?), you probably have watched a show or two. Or two hundred.
The thing is, most of the shows on TV aren’t doing much to advance God’s kingdom. Especially reality shows. Even the best of them push competition above teamwork. Producers stir up drama and create conflict for ratings.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Maureen Gray believes in the power of media as a positive force. Maureen’s life has been touched by episodes and seasons and series…all through the medium of television. She found her university through a television ad. She met her husband at that university. And her husband’s family discovered Christ on TV.
Throughout her life, God has used television to draw Maureen into his plan for her.
“I know the plans I have for you…”
Jeremiah 29:11 gets batted around a lot, but it holds a special meaning for Maureen. God’s shown her time after time how his plan for her is about planting seeds. He has anointed her with a passion to reach people with the name of Jesus — people who aren’t hanging out where traditional missionaries evangelize. People who watch a lot of TV.
Studies show that TV and film reach people in ways no other medium can — even one-on-one conversation. In fact, it’s been shown that viewers of TV and film perceive what’s happening on the screen as real, even when they know it’s fictional. The power of this perception isn’t lost on Maureen. She and her husband have built a production company centered around leveraging it. Maureen is reaching people who turn on TV to fill a void and offering them a truth they can understand.
*Photo by Grace Veker.
And it’s not just the lost Maureen is passionate about reaching. She’s also determined to show networks and distributors that Christian programming can be just as well-done as their top-rated shows. Christ-centered programming doesn’t have to be cheesy or judgey or boring. It doesn’t have convert people in 22 minutes. Instead, Maureen finds the amazing stories that God is crafting every day, and produces amazing shows where the light of Jesus just shines through. The stories — and the gospel — speak for themselves.
The World Race is full of these stories.
Stories like the ones the Spirit is leading Maureen to share happen on the Race every day. Racers are intentional about watching for where God shows up. For following him as he leads them into his story.
This has been happening for years, with thousands of Racers. Seeing these stories lived out as her daughter experienced the Race, God led Maureen to a vision of planting seeds through the stories of Racers and how God works through them.
God’s vision is to show Jesus in a different light. To reach an audience that’s not looking for the gospel — an audience who would never think to go to church. An audience seeking drama and escape.
His vision is to show them a Jesus who is different from what they might expect. To show them a Jesus who isn’t about judgement and ritual, but who’s about love and relationship and grace and freedom. To show how the Spirit shows up when people live in that relationship, and listen and follow him.
The Spirit has equipped Maureen to share those stories to show the truth of who God is and how he works in the world today. No manufactured drama. No trumped up competitions. No voting someone off the team…just welcoming new brothers and sisters to the family of Christ.
We believe in God’s vision for Maureen.
To join with her, we’re opening the curtains on the Race. We’re giving Maureen and her team full access, embedded with September 2014 K Squad. They launched earlier this month, and they’re already collecting stories.
*Photo by Grace Veker.
They’re starting with Racers’ stories. Stories of how God brought them to the Race and how God has provided for them. Stories of ministry opportunities and partners they’re serving with this month. Stories of how God is already stretching them, teaching them to live in close community together, becoming family.
Please join us in welcoming and supporting Maureen and her team as they live out God’s vision to reach a whole new mission field.
The World Race TV Documentary Project on Vimeo.
*Cover Photo by Kelly King.
Is God leading you to take a leap of faith and go to the nations to spread His love? If so, check out our current routes to see if this might be the journey for you.
