Comment from a Reader: "Thanks for the review. In my opinion it is not an either or decision. We are to use all means to share the gospel. The one on one conversation is by far the best. However, The 'He Gets Us' commercial can certainly introduce the possibility of a God who cares about a person. We cannot let our biases limit how God can work even in the strangest of circumstances."
George Bullard's Response: Yes, in a way you are correct. It is not always an either/or situation. At times it can be anand/both situation. However, this media dump does not qualify as an and/both situation in spite of efforts the organization behind this makes to provide local connections. It is too much a rallying of the faithful to justify the financial investment.
Comment from a Reader: Your assessment of the value of 'mass marketing' evangelism is spot on. I didn't realize that you had a significant role in keeping HMB (Home Mission Board, SBC) from helping to fund Jimmy Allen's pet project!"
George Bullard's Response: Yes, this did impact the ACTS television network. I always appreciated Jimmy Allen for his Christian passion, high energy, and resolve to get things done. Too often, however, his ideas were not as credible as we would all have hoped, and he definitely ran too far ahead of his supply lines of financial and people support. He was too often not open to negotiation.
Thanks for bringing this subject into the light again, George. Jim Engel and Wil Norton were two of my profs at Wheaton Graduate School in their prime. Their collaboration reinforced the theological mandate of evangelism while introducing several effective strategies through which the Gospel could connect with people.
I strongly agree with Bullard's views about the ineffectiveness of mass marketing strategies to reach the unchurched and nonbelievers. At least 95% of all money spent by all kinds of evangelical denominations and other organizations since WW2 on mass marketing evangelism campaigns has simply been flushed down the toilet.
Comment from a Reader: "Well written and researched. While I appreciate the passion for evangelism in these commercials I am grieved by such a waste of money."
George Bullard's Response: Untargeted mass media without an intelligent follow-up loop that can measure true effectiveness is a waste of Kingdom resources. Some targeted mass media, in a defined target context or among a defined target people group, and with a reliable and measurable follow-up loop, for a defined period of time, may improve the effectiveness, but not as much as many prognosticators believe.
Comment from a Reader: "Thanks for the review. In my opinion it is not an either or decision. We are to use all means to share the gospel. The one on one conversation is by far the best. However, The 'He Gets Us' commercial can certainly introduce the possibility of a God who cares about a person. We cannot let our biases limit how God can work even in the strangest of circumstances."
George Bullard's Response: Yes, in a way you are correct. It is not always an either/or situation. At times it can be anand/both situation. However, this media dump does not qualify as an and/both situation in spite of efforts the organization behind this makes to provide local connections. It is too much a rallying of the faithful to justify the financial investment.
Comment from a Reader: Your assessment of the value of 'mass marketing' evangelism is spot on. I didn't realize that you had a significant role in keeping HMB (Home Mission Board, SBC) from helping to fund Jimmy Allen's pet project!"
George Bullard's Response: Yes, this did impact the ACTS television network. I always appreciated Jimmy Allen for his Christian passion, high energy, and resolve to get things done. Too often, however, his ideas were not as credible as we would all have hoped, and he definitely ran too far ahead of his supply lines of financial and people support. He was too often not open to negotiation.
Go here to see and purchase the book by James Engel--What's Gone Wrong with the Harvest? https://amzn.to/3SGdIIB
Thanks for bringing this subject into the light again, George. Jim Engel and Wil Norton were two of my profs at Wheaton Graduate School in their prime. Their collaboration reinforced the theological mandate of evangelism while introducing several effective strategies through which the Gospel could connect with people.
I strongly agree with Bullard's views about the ineffectiveness of mass marketing strategies to reach the unchurched and nonbelievers. At least 95% of all money spent by all kinds of evangelical denominations and other organizations since WW2 on mass marketing evangelism campaigns has simply been flushed down the toilet.
Comment from a Reader: "Well written and researched. While I appreciate the passion for evangelism in these commercials I am grieved by such a waste of money."
George Bullard's Response: Untargeted mass media without an intelligent follow-up loop that can measure true effectiveness is a waste of Kingdom resources. Some targeted mass media, in a defined target context or among a defined target people group, and with a reliable and measurable follow-up loop, for a defined period of time, may improve the effectiveness, but not as much as many prognosticators believe.