Mission Magazine AIMM 2021 e-issue

EQUIPPING THE CHURCH TO REACH

THE ONLINE WORLD 2021 AIMM e-issue

Volume 33, Issue 1

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Bill Snider MANAGING EDITOR/DESIGN Amber Weigand-Buckley COPY & LAYOUT EDITOR Tom Young EDITORIAL SECRETARY Annette Santos WEB MANAGER Patrick Tan APMedia was established in 1989 as a regional ministry of Assemblies of God World Missions.

[2.] AP Media MISSION / apmedia.org

Vision Statement We see Christ followers effectively utilizing media to reach every people group in Asia Mission Statement We advance the gospel in Asia Pacific by empowering Christ followers to effectively utilize media and technology Values Statement We are a Christ-centered ministry that values: • Integrity • Excellence • Contextual relevance • Innovation • Partnerships and teamwork

Letter from

Bill

BILL & KIM SNIDER ASIA PACIFIC MEDIA DIRECTORS

THE SEARCH FOR

COMMON GROUND Common ground. Paul’s letter in 1 Corinthians 9:22, reflects on his ministry strategy: “I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some” (NLT).

A common ground for people today, Christian or not, is the Smartphone and social media. Every second, 15 people in the world are logging on to social media for the very first time.

COVID has upended many lives, and every day people are searching online for entertainment, information, distraction— and most of all HOPE. In Habakkuk 2:2, the Lord says: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it” (NIV). We are not using stone tablets today, but we share a call to write the message, make it understandable and run with it. We can accomplish this with the digital mission field.

The Church is asking for help. Our team is invited to Japan, Vietnam and other countries across Asia. I also recently received a unique opportunity to speak to Malaysian pastors about “Digital Media in the New Normal.”

Sometimes a crisis and an opportunity merge, and you have a special moment to make a difference.

APMedia is making a difference, offering a Message of Hope, and training believers to reach their generation. Thank you for being a partner on this journey.

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[4.] AP Media MISSION / apmedia.org

-the faces of AIMM 2021-

MEET PASTOR CHAD ICS CHURCH—Metro Manila, Philippines As a pastor, I know a reliable media team is essential for ministry. It lets me focus on what I need to do, like preaching and teaching the Word, instead of having my time and efforts divided by having to do technical stuff.

As a church, when we were all forced to go online, it was essential to prepare and have the expertise and know-how to get our message across the internet.

There was a time when we didn’t do online ministry here at the church. However, we feel that this is essential even after the pandemic because people are online. And as a church and as a minister, I want to be able to reach the people where they are.

If this is something that a church hasn’t considered yet, I strongly encourage them to prepare for online ministry.

One of the advantages that we have as a church is to tap into young people. This generation is already aware of these digital technologies because they are digital natives.

I encourage leaders to bring in the young people and have them involved in the church. They can utilize these technologies to serve, which fits perfectly into their expertise and passion.

AP Media’s AIMM training brings value to our church ministries.

As we try to look for ways to equip our media team, we look to AP Media and their training opportunities like AIMM. Even with all the training available, there is nothing quite like AIMM that specifically equips us for church and ministry.

AP Media knows what we are about, and its values align with the things that we are passionate about as a church and in our ministries.

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[6.] AP Media MISSION / apmedia.org

-the faces of AIMM 2021-

CAROL LIM Singapore

10 days. 2 hours a day. 20 hours of online learning.

The course, “Social Media for Church and Outreach,” is conducted by Asia Institute for Media in Ministry (AIMM).

AIMM is one of those trainings that revolutionized me!

I learned so much in using social media in the Christian context.

I didn’t know there was so much to this topic! Big eye-opener!

Every lesson was full of eureka moments for me.

I love the Christian context on which the media training focuses; therefore, it was 100% relevant for me. Yes, there are similar courses out there, but they won’t give me the context I need.

Now I know social media is not just about making a post. There is a science and art to it. A friend shared, “What you see is only the tip of an iceberg. What is submerged is the tremendous amount of hard work, planning, building, testing and learning.

Among the many things presented, we also learned about how to use social media for discipleship and evangelism.

The AIMM team was excellent at presenting everything so it was easily understood.

I went into the course feeling inadequate. I lacked confidence and was uncertain. After this class, I’m more confident, ready and excited to try the tips and tools to manage our social media ministry.

The instructors empowered and equipped me to tackle the challenges that will come, and I’m ready to meet them.

I will definitely be attending more APMedia training sessions.

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“I’ve learned a lot from the webinar. It has taught me to use social media to share the gospel, reach more people, and not just use it for nonsense things.

Creating content is not to be taken lightly; it has a process to make it more useful and scroll-stopping. The way the AIMM team and instructors use their skills and talents to minister inspires and motivates me to do better in my ministry and share His Word with the world.”

—GRACE,

“Even from my years of experience in production, I’m still amazed with the latest current trends that help develop a good video production.

The techniques, tips and skills improve our church’s media pool. I love the samples given and how they are practical and applicable for our ministries in need for the medium of media.”

—ELMER

[8.] AP Media MISSION / apmedia.org

“This training is way more efficient for me than just watching tutorials on YouTube, specifically on our Online Worship Service. We are used to doing a simple online service. This training gave us another perspective on what other ways we can improve our online services.”

—CARL

”AIMM taught me how to connect with other people through different online platforms.

Everyone was kind enough to share their experiences, so I was able to reflect and learn from their insightful thoughts as well.”

—PAIGE “The topics were clearly presented. I appreciate the notes provided in consideration to those who were unable to attend. It motivates me to engage more on social media for a special purpose and that is to share Christ.”

“I’m glad to be taught by the instructors and teachers about multimedia. And AIMM is such a wonderful blessing because we have one mission: to spread the gospel. And so it helps the people inside the church in using multimedia as a platform to spread the Word of God.” —CHARLES

—NIÑA

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[10.] AP Media MISSION / apmedia.org

-Reaching the Unreached in Indonesia-

WHERE ART MEETS FAITH BILL SNIDER—APMEDIA DIRECTOR ASIA PACIFIC MEDIA—DIRECTOR

A little over 20 years ago, I worked with Grace, a friend in Indonesia who ministered among an unreached people group.

Millions strong, this group had its own language and culture.

As a cross-cultural worker, Grace saw the opportunity to use music to share the gospel. She began writing songs in their own language based mainly on the Psalms.

APMedia financed this project so she could hire professional musicians in that people group and go into a studio to record the songs. They recorded a mainstream album. It was popular for several years, but as the cassette tapes became obsolete, so did the project.

About a month ago, she was contacted by a Christian cultural performing arts center in Indonesia. They present the gospel through culturally-relevant performances and multimedia.

This center, which began in 2000, has many open doors, including numerous concerts, TV shows, movies and music videos.

Think about this: something two decades old, designed for one of Indonesia’s largest people groups, was rediscovered by a Christian cultural performing arts group. In today’s new media world, they are taking those songs and putting them on YouTube and social media. They will be using them in music videos soon.

The investment we made then, which now seems a very small seed, is being brought back to life again. God is faithful to take His Message communcated through the arts to transcend the generations.

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1) Please take this time to pray for the people of Myanmar: the Church, our Myanmar-based media team as well as our many digital missionaries in this nation.

As the country is currently experiencing civil unrest, it’s more important than ever to intercede for the safety of our brothers and sisters in this nation as God opens doors for the gospel.

2) Pray that the internet and social media will continue to be accessible in Myanmar. There have been shutdowns in recent days, and the Church has been using Facebook (Media for Hope) as a valuable tool to support believers, especially during COVID-19.

3) Pray for our team, that they will creatively produce messages that bring hope and attract people to the Living God. 4) Pray that the training for the expanded partnerships across Asia to inspire and train churches to share God’s love and Message online.

5) Pray for our church leaders, that they will have wisdom of God in leading the church during this time of great distress.

Thank you for praying with us!

[12.] AP Media MISSION / apmedia.org

HIS MESSAGE, MULTIPLIED Through AP Media’s digital ministry tools and training, we are expanding our reach into Indonesia, Mongolia, Cambodia, Taiwan, Philippines, Myanmar and Vietnam. Most of these resources can also be accessed by Filipinos living in many nations of the world, including the Middle East and Europe.

Filmmaking

Web and Social Media

Print Publication

Radio Ministry

Video Production

Media Training and Forums

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Here at Asia Pacific Media, we are filled with anticipation as AIMM 2021 has just concluded. Thank you for investing in this ministry as we equip digital missionaries and resource the Digital Church. Because of YOU, they are ready!

In the months ahead, we look forward to sharing new opportunities and testimonies of how our students are creatively communicating the gospel message to reach all areas of Asia Pacific for “Such a Time as This!”

We are in the right place, at the right time. The coming months will be a season of even more open doors and exponential opportunities for growth.

We couldn’t accomplish this without your faithfulness. Because of your support, digital missionaries in Asia Pacific have persevered through pandemic to see even more lives brought into the Kingdom! I know heaven will be a great testimony to the seeds planted even in this one training session.

Thank you for your continued investment in this ministry, as you prayerfully consider giving, increasing or renewing your faith commitment in the year ahead.

I value and thank you for your partnership as we see His Message, Multiplied, together.

[14.] AP Media MISSION / apmedia.org

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[16.] AP Media MISSION / apmedia.org