Chapter Seventeen – The Great Commission Operational Plan
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Chapter Fifteen explained our Strategic Plan—why we did what we did, and in the order we did them, in the early years of RCG. That plan is different from our two Operational Plans—one for the First, or Great, Commission, the other for the Second Commission of feeding God’s flock.
This chapter and the next look in greater detail at where these commissions have taken the Church today, and where we anticipate they will take us in the future. We have well-developed plans going forward within each of the two major commissions given by God to the Church at the end of the age.
Contents
Behind the Work Video
Many will recall the Worldwide Church of God’s ;Behind the Work films produced in the last years under Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. Our expansive, yearly ;Behind the Work films present God’s Work with the same style and impact, and offer a detailed and fascinating inside view of how RCG takes the gospel to all nations and territories, reaching increasing millions each year, while spiritually feeding an ever-growing worldwide flock.
Why the Internet?
Technology has always been a mainstay of God’s Work. During the twentieth century, preaching the gospel was primarily accomplished by radio and television. With these media, popularity was measured by the size of local markets, ranging from several thousand to many millions. The Internet has forced a shift in thinking. Local markets measured in the millions (or much less) have been replaced with aglobal market totaling nearly two billion—and expanding!
Even in the early stages of God’s twentieth-century Work, Mr. Armstrong and his assistants were quick to employ the latest technologies. God’s Church has always been willing to explore and employ the most effective means available—from the early printing press to modern high-speed color printers. This also included additional means of doing the Work, such as public campaigns, which were later replaced by Public Bible Lectures, with the very successful Plain Truth Newsstand Distribution Program coming still later.
Over time, radio was largely supplanted by television. Once Mr. Armstrong fully understood the power of this visual medium, he moved quickly to take advantage of this new technology. This shift was adopted early—even before television was the primary entertainment source. The pattern of adopting ;cutting-edge technologies had been established. By the time TV blanketed the nation, God’s servants were alreadyskilled in how to effectively use it for the furthering of the gospel. This put them ;ahead of the game in a powerful way!
Over the course of Mr. Armstrong’s ministry, radio and television carried his voice into homes around the world. God inspired His servant to embrace new technologies that were the most effective means of doing the Work at that time—obviously because this was the way to reach the most people.
Today, the Internet has become the most successful medium the world has ever seen. It has grown faster than any before it. In nearly three decades, its ;population is approaching the two billion mark, withmany additional millions using it each year. It is now officially the world’s largest communication medium, except for television during primetime.
This technology has already taken the gospel into all193 countries of the world—and all reachable territories—and in an unprecedented comprehensiveway. Unlike radio or television, the costs to reachevery country are minimal—not millions of dollars. Never has God’s Church been supplied with a method to preach ;all things to ;all nations so INSTANTLY andINEXPENSIVELY!
The Internet Today
Some statistics about the Internet will help the reader understand how many people it reaches and how widespread is its use.
Since 2000, the size of the Internet has more thanquadrupled—and the trend shows no signs of slowing. As of March 2009, the Internet hosts nearly 1.8 billion users, the majority of which originate from Western nations. However, its popularity is growing rapidly in parts of the world in which God’s Work had been prevented from reaching in the last century (such as China). It is also reaching other prophetically important parts of the world. In the European Union, for example, nearly 50 percent of citizens have Internet access.
However, the Internet’s size is not the whole story. It is also quickly becoming the primary source for knowledge and information.
In 2008, the three major television networks lay claim to about 23 million viewers combined for their nightly news programs. In comparison, in late 2007, 71 percent of Americans received their news online!
Another poll revealed that over 45 percent of 18- to 54-year-olds turn to the Internet for news and entertainment, rather than television. This same poll asked, ;If you could select only two media sources, which would you choose? In every age group, the Internet was their number one choice. Not only do most people prefer the Internet, it dominates their media time. On average, Americans spend 77 percentmore time online than watching television.
Further investigation reveals this interesting fact: Approximately 70 percent of those polled watch television while multitasking—doing other things. Of this number, 66 percent are also online. In other words, the majority of those watching television are likely not paying close attention!
Another study indicated that 83 percent prefer the Internet over newspapers for their daily news. Never mind that information online is much more current than any newspaper or most television. The result: Newspaper subscriptions drop each year, but visitors to newspaper websites jumped 21 percent in 2005—and more in 2006.
This has forced major newspapers to shift much of their focus online. Increasingly, other large corporations have come to understand that the Internet is the future of ALL media!
Large organizations such as Disney have begun using their television programs and advertising to support their online efforts. Others, such as Proctor & Gamble and Unilever, employ the Internet to expand their products. They have created specialty websites demonstrating new and interesting ways their products can be used. Like the avalanche of evidence already cited, this is another sign that the world recognizes its focus is no longer on television.
Of course, this does not mean the complete end of video or traditional television programs. Even major broadcast networks understand there is still a demand for these programs.
Radio is also not immune to the Internet shift. A company that measures radio audiences released a report showing listeners could fall between 85 and 94 percent by 2010. This is a catastrophic drop.
Cost savings and the general effectiveness of the Internet should be obvious. And these statistics are not lost on God’s Church, which would be expected to adjust accordingly. The Internet’s potential is nearly endless. Effectively using this tool is one reason God’s Work has experienced unprecedented growth year after year—and for minimal cost!
Similar to popular Nielsen Ratings, the Internet has many rating sites to compare the effectiveness, or scope, of one website to another. The most popular of these rates our sites, rcg.org, realtruth.org andworldtocome.org, highly among all Church of God websites.
A Final Look at Television
Imagine if Mr. Armstrong were alive and understood the Internet’s reach. Imagine he could be told there was a method to do the Work that could reach every country in the world—on a daily basis!—and that this medium allowed vast numbers of magazines, books, booklets, articles, lessons, broadcasts and even video to reach those countries. Now imagine his reaction when told this technology was virtually free!
Should any doubt what he would do?
Aside from the staggering costs of television and radio, and the public shift, there are other important reasons these media are antiquated and why it is foolish to value them above the Internet.
Television—like movies—has become a source ofentertainment. The major networks feed society’s desire for entertainment, not news! Time slots for purchase are few and far between. This generally leaves only specialty ;fringe channels selling airtime.
Even if major broadcast networks were available andaffordable, the Internet still greatly overshadows them in exposure. For instance, 30 million viewers are considered great ratings. However, that is during the most expensive timeslots, which are out of any splinter group’s reach.
Consider that the Super Bowl has an average viewing audience of just over 90 million worldwide. Access to that audience comes at a HUGE price. A 30-second commercial was $3 million in 2010! Albeit the most-watched program each year, the Super Bowl reaches only a fraction of those connected to the Internet.
Then, what television channels are affordable? Only specialty channels with tiny audiences, yet still costing hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. This is aWASTE of God’s tithes. The splinters continue to focus on a medium that reaches, in comparison, aninfinitesimal market at an ENORMOUS cost. This becomes further evidence Christ does not lead these organizations! However, if big cable channels become affordable and available, THE EQUATION CHANGES!
The Internet exposure to a vast and growing number of users is not only larger than television and radio, but much more effective. It is the media bias associated with television news that has driven many to the Internet for information. When people want breaking news, they turn to the Internet. When they want world events explained, they turn to the Internet. When wanting to understand virtually any topic, they do the same. By properly utilizing this medium, The Restored Church of God provides over a million answers each month.
The most receptive, responsive person is one who is searching for spiritual information. He is alreadylooking for answers. Our websites literally ;have it all. This is in part because the Internet also permits us to ;archive everything we have ever done in one location—for free!—something never possible in Mr. Armstrong’s time!
God’s Church is not passively hoping people will tune in to a television program that runs in the wee hours of the night at relatively great annual cost. Christ has shaped and directed technology to expand His Work. It is not only the most effective medium the world has ever seen, again, its massive impact costs virtuallyNOTHING!
Why do so few grasp this?
Never has God’s Church been blessed with such a comprehensive tool to ;preach the gospel unto all nations. Imagine the potential with even small additional numbers willing to support it.
The way that people find God’s truth has changed. God’s Church must change with it. We have. Truly, God has planned and developed the Internet as the principal tool to finish the remainder of His powerful ;short work (Rom. 9:27-28)!
Brethren in every WCG splinter owe it to themselves to see these videos. (Thousands of our readers learning the Bible’s truths for the first time have found the films eye-opening.) They are powerful, undeniable, set-the-record-straight statements of where God now works. Those expecting the usual, incomplete amateur production presented by UCG and LCG will be left amazed. While many have dismissed RCG as an inconsequential ;Internet ministry and supposed ;one man show, these films thunder the truth and set the record straight!
Those with an open mind, or those unhappy with the lack of zeal in the organization they attend, but who are yet to be convinced of a ;better option, will not want to miss this inspiring behind-the-scenes film! The picture painted presents a giant contrast to all that is happening elsewhere!
God’s people have been victims of a monstrous spiritual crime. If you are among those who want returned everything stolen from them, and who long for the subsequent peace, harmony and real excitement enjoyed during the golden years of Philadelphia, including the wonderful unity of purpose experienced… If you wish to be part of the final true Work of God… If you only have one hour to devote to everything written or spoken by RCG… WATCH JUST THE LATEST OF THESE VIDEOS!
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