T: The church is one of the oldest institutions that is in any community. Seeing that it has survived for so long you would think that it has the ability to accept change fairly easily. Truth is, a lot of times churches get stuck in tradition and people make statements like, “we aint never done it like that before?” When Jesus talked to his disciples this is one of the mindsets that He wanted to ensure they did not get stuck in. Jesus came back to be a redeemer for all but religious leaders were stuck doing things their way because it allowed them to feel important and to be needed. This need to feel important and be needed caused them to not be able to reach everyone and not want to reach everyone. So what does that have to do with internet and social media? Well, in some churches there are people who are a level right below the pastor who don’t want to lose their little role of importance because it gives them a title therefore the church suffers in outreach. With Pastor Roderick Richardson we are able to see the type of impact a church can have if it keeps the teachings of Christ but also embraces the change the rest of the world is going through. We know there are people who are going to continue to meet God within the confides of the church but for those who aren't going to initially come to the church we should meet them on their territory.
Now I am not suggesting that we throw out everything that the church has been doing for years but I am saying it is worth evaluating how the church is operating. If the Internet will help in accomplishing outreach it shouldn’t be met with strong resistance. A Preacher broke it down like this the other day, if his mom would have had a microwave in 1962 she would have used it, if she would have had a dryer instead of a clothes line she would have used it. I commend Pastor Richardson on his use of the Internet to spread the gospel. He is not a mega church but as a local church he is using everything at his disposal.
