As the spiritual landscape shifts, Christians in the media find themselves at the forefront of a new wave of faith exploration. According to Bishop Ruth Bushyager of the Church of England, media professionals are pivotal in guiding those who are increasingly curious about the gospel.
During the ‘Engage’ conference organized by Christians in Media, Bishop Bushyager shared insights on how media is becoming the primary source for spiritual seekers. She noted, “Lots of you in the media will have a very strong sense of this new spiritual awakening that we’re seeing.”
The Bishop of Horsham highlighted how aggressive secularism had dominated the landscape for decades, creating a “dry environment for mission and evangelism.” However, she now observes a significant shift, indicating that the younger generation is questioning this secularism and seeking “hope and healing” through spiritual truths.
“The rising generation is saying, ‘I have feasted on the secularism that you have fed me, and it has made me sick. Where can I go to find people who will tell me the truth about who I am and how I can find hope and healing?’” she explained, underscoring the openness to the gospel among young people.
These spiritual seekers often turn to online platforms in their quest for truth. Bishop Bushyager emphasized to the media delegates, “Most of these people are not hearing about truth from the kinds of pulpits that people like me stand up in. They are hearing it from you in the media. That’s their first experience.”
She pointed out that spiritual messages are being conveyed through various media formats, from podcasts and documentaries to columns and short video clips, often consumed late at night. “You are standing at the frontline of this shift,” she affirmed.
Addressing the challenges Christian media professionals face, Bishop Bushyager acknowledged the difficulties of navigating complex industry dynamics and the potential for critique and abuse. She conveyed her gratitude, stating, “I want to speak on behalf of the whole Church and say to you in media, whatever denomination that you are from, thank you.”
This significant discussion took place at the Christians in Media ‘Engage’ conference, hosted at Sky’s headquarters in Osterley, west London, on October 9.
Rev Peter Crumpler is a Church of England minister in St Albans, Herts, UK, and former communications director with the CofE.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
