Opportunity to Influence A Culture
Few, if any, could anticipate the impact television broadcasting would have on the world in the early to mid 1900's. Now, the world's entertainment and information has come within reach of the nearest remote control, 24 hours a day.

And with this, television now provides a vehicle through which the opinions, values and belief systems of writers, producers and studio executives influence much of the viewing public. While caught up in a storyline about their favorite television character, most viewers have unwittingly subjected themselves to ideologies that play out within the story. Though many Hollywood and advertising executives dismiss such theories, it is impossible to ignore the correlation between the evolution of western cultural values, morals, and ethics, and the programming on TV.

Like western television pioneers in the 1950s, we have an opportunity before us in the early 21st century to use the power of media for the glory of God. The People of God Project targets the Persian world in hopes of eternally impacting a culture.

Much of the Persian world's television is in its infancy at a time when younger generations are curious about western culture-its abundance, its decadence, its religions. Like the youth of any culture, they're examining and questioning the beliefs of their forefathers-and while prior generations could more easily limit access to the outside world, modern technology has made this virtually impossible-opening the door to an influx of ideas about faith, gender roles, human rights, and awareness of world events and other cultures.

Whether on television, radio, mobile devices or the Internet, people will tune in to this multimedia project-listening out of genuine curiosity, to mock, or to educate themselves about other religions and viewpoints. Those who watch and listen with open minds and hearts will find themselves drawn by the Holy Spirit to the truth of the Gospel.

Nothing communicates more powerfully than a well told story. Jesus employed this method during His ministry, transferring knowledge of the Kingdom of God in narrative short stories. Entertainment and advertising executives do the same, fostering discontent and planting political and social agendas within carefully crafted plotlines, as well as numerous ads promoting products of all types via 30-second stories.

Just as Hollywood and advertising executives are capable of marrying production and storytelling techniques and the latest technology with their messages, the church is able to marry these same tools with the Gospel to reach the Persian world.