'Godcasting' Reaches New Group Of Parishioners

Worship services are going high-tech.
Cleveland television station WEWS reported that sermons are now available through podcasts. But the station also asked if people are becoming spiritually unreachable.
"In that dynamic of only hearing what you want to hear when you want to hear it, when will you ever open yourself up to a message other than what you want to hear, not to mention to open yourself up to God?" the Rev. Bob Stec asked. Some say the digital music player is a new weapon in the battle to save souls."Our responsibility is to figure out how we can use those mediums most effectively in our time to communicate the timeless message," Stec said.
One way religions are using MP3 technology to promote eternal truths is through podcasting.
The files are available on Web sites such as PodCastsDirectory.com and can be sent automatically to subscribers' computers."Podcasting is narrow-casting, niche-casting to very targeted markets," said Jim Knaggs. He said religious groups are taking notice of the power of podcasts. "They're starting to see that you have to use other methods to teach those truths, and if that's a podcast, I think people are increasingly open to it," Knaggs said. "I think anytime that you can expand your outreach in any possible way it's a good thing," said Andy Folger with Cleveland Baptist Church. At his church, you don't have to attend service to get the message.The church's Web site provides streaming video and MP3 downloads of Sunday worship.
"We've got people logging on from almost all the 50 states," Folger said. "And numerous countries, about 20 different countries that people are watching from."
Some people are concerned that podcasts could encourage spiritual isolation."This should never be a reason for you not to come to church just because you can stay home," Stec said.However, as churches and other religious groups prepare for a new spiritual world, they still have faith in that old-time religion.
"That truly spiritual message is not going to draw the person out of community. In fact, just the opposite it's going to inspire them, motivate them and literally propel them into community," Folger said.
http://www.kirotv.com/technology/9197719/detail.html?taf=sea
As in the days of Noah...