Connected Faith Podcast - Episode 1 - How Media, Technology, and the Church Can Reach the World
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
Connected Faith Podcast – Episode 1
How Media, Technology, and the Church Can Reach the World
Hosted by Bill Snider (Asia Pacific Media) & Dr. Layne McDonald
📍 Memphis, Tennessee | Asia | Global Church
🔥 WHAT THIS EPISODE IS ABOUT
What if the greatest missionary tool in history is already in your pocket?
In the first episode of the Connected Faith Podcast, Bill Snider and Dr. Layne McDonald open up a powerful, honest conversation about how media, technology, and storytelling can be redeemed and leveraged to fulfill the Great Commission in the 21st century.
From Hollywood film sets to underground churches, from radio waves to smartphones, this episode explores how God has always used communication to reach people—and why the Church can no longer afford to ignore digital tools.
This isn’t about hype.
This is about obedience, accessibility, authenticity, and reach.
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Why Connected Faith Exists
02:30 – Dr. Layne McDonald’s journey from ministry to Hollywood to ministry again
07:00 – Bill Snider’s global media mission across Asia
11:00 – Media as a God-given tool, not a threat
15:00 – Smartphones, accessibility, and global reach
19:00 – Why authenticity matters more than polish today
23:00 – COVID, the digital awakening of the Church2
5:00 – Action Step: Know your audience with real data
🧠 KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Media is neutral—it can be redeemed for the Gospel
• The Church is a “sleeping giant” in digital ministry
• Smartphones have erased borders, barriers, and access issues
• Authenticity beats volume, polish, and hype—especially with Gen Z
• Media that begins in the local church leads people back to a local church
• Storytelling is still the most powerful evangelism tool on earth
“Paul used letters. We use digital tools. The mission hasn’t changed—the tools have.”
🛠️ LOW / NO-BUDGET TOOLS MENTIONED & RECOMMENDED
📊 Research & Audience Insight
We Are Social (FREE)
Global, data-backed insights on:
• Social media usage
• Platform demographics
• Generational behavior
• Digital trends by country
➡️ Start here before creating content.
🎥 Media & Ministry Starter Tools
• YouTube – Free global video distribution• Facebook Pages & Groups – Community + discipleship• Instagram Reels – Short-form testimony & teaching• TikTok – Authentic storytelling for younger generations• Zoom / Google Meet – Online Bible studies & training• Canva (Free) – Graphics, thumbnails, teaching visuals
📍 WHO THIS PODCAST IS FOR
• Pastors & church leaders
• Media teams & volunteers
• Christian creatives (film, music, art, writing)
• Missionaries & digital evangelists
• Churches exploring online ministry
• Anyone asking: “How do we reach people today?”
🌍 GEO-OPTIMIZED KEYWORDS
Memphis church podcast
Christian media podcast
Digital ministry training
Online church outreach
Global missions media
Technology and the church
Christian podcast Memphis Tennessee
Asia Pacific missions media
📣 CALL TO ACTION
✔️ Subscribe for future episodes
✔️ Share this with a pastor or media leader
✔️ Visit and explore digital ministry resources
✔️ Start small—start faithful—start now
✍️ BLOG POST
Connected Faith: Why Media May Be the Church’s Greatest Missionary Tool
There was a time when letters carried the Gospel across oceans.
Paul wrote to churches he could not visit. Those letters were read aloud, copied, shared, and preserved. They crossed borders, cultures, and generations. Today, the method has changed—but the mission has not.
In the first episode of the Connected Faith Podcast, Bill Snider of Asia Pacific Media and Dr. Layne McDonald explore a simple but confronting truth:
The Church has been given unprecedented tools—but we are still learning how to use them faithfully.
Media Is Not the Enemy—Silence Is
For decades, many churches treated media as optional or even dangerous. Yet Scripture shows us something different. God has always used communication—stories, letters, songs, testimony, proclamation.
If God is the Creator of all things, then technology is not accidental. It is a gift that can either be ignored, abused, or redeemed.
During the COVID era, the Church was forced into the digital space almost overnight. What followed was revealing:
• People watched• People engaged• People returned to physical churches because of online connection
Crisis accelerated obedience.
Authenticity Over Production
One of the strongest themes in this episode is authenticity.
Younger generations are not impressed by polish. They are drawn to truth, vulnerability, and real stories. A smartphone video filmed in honesty often reaches further than a perfectly produced message with no heart.
People are asking:
“How do I deal with anxiety?”“Is there hope for my family?”“Does God care about my story?”
And they’re asking Google first.
The Smartphone Mission Field
In one story shared on the podcast, a laborer in Myanmar—living in extreme poverty—was watching videos on a smartphone during a break. Torn clothes. Little income. Full digital access.
That is the world we live in.
Smartphones have erased:• Geographic boundaries• Cultural gatekeeping• Economic barriers
The Gospel now has front-row access to almost every human on earth.
Start With Data, Not Assumptions
One practical step offered in this episode is simple and powerful:
👉 Visit https://wearesocial.com
This free resource shows:
• Where people spend time online• What platforms they trust• How age groups consume content• Global and local digital behavior
Ministry becomes more effective when it is informed, prayerful, and intentional.
Media That Starts in the Church Leads Back to the Church
This podcast makes one thing clear: digital ministry is not a replacement for community—it is a bridge to it.
When media flows from a healthy, local, faith-connected body, it leads people back into relationship, discipleship, and belonging.
Final Encouragement
You do not need:• Expensive gear• A full production team• A massive platform
You need:• Obedience• Authenticity• Willingness to start
The harvest is already online.
The question is not if the Church should engage.The question is how long we wait.
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