‘The Well’ debuts Dec. 6
New media ministry wants to
offer a Reformed, Biblical voice
By Edward Terry, The Layman, December 4, 2009
A new ministry will debut this weekend and its organizers hope it will fill a void in mass media evangelism.
A production crew tapes Presbyterian pastor Dr. David Swanson in Orlando, Fla., for one of the opening episodes of The Well, a new television- and Web-based ministry that debuts Dec. 6.
The first episode of “The Well” will air Sunday, Dec. 6 in select television markets. At the center of the ministry is its Internet component, which launched Friday.
The 30-minute programs will feature First Presbyterian Orlando (Fla.) pastor Dr. David Swanson, but there will be no robes, pulpits or formal worship. Instead, it targets those who aren’t in church or are struggling with their faith. Swanson likens the content to traditional tracts with a technology-based delivery system aimed at making connections.
Recognizing that the way people communicate has changed faster than the Church has been able to keep up, “The Well” will offer an informal, but Christ-centered orthodox message. Among the topics covered in the first programs are “Why do bad things happen to good people?,” and “Why should I believe in Christ?”.
“The traditional church body already understands,” he said. “We’re trying to attract people that don’t have that.”
The ministry was conceived at First Presbyterian Church – Orlando, where a group of its leaders felt called to communicate the Gospel beyond its neighborhood. Realizing the idea had legs, Swanson communicated with colleagues in other cities in which he’s ministered and the multi-city partnership ran with the idea.
Though based from First Presbyterian in Orlando, it will be non-denominational, Swanson said. The goal is to fill a Reformed, Biblical void in a media ministry landscape dominated by the “prosperity gospel” and the power of positive thinking, Swanson said. The focus will be on the reality of sin in the world and Jesus Christ as its hope.
“We don’t want to communicate a Gospel that says it’s always going to work out. Sometimes it’s not … but Christ is still faithful,” Swanson said.
The initial TV markets where “The Well” will be broadcast are: Orlando, Fla., Ft. Myers, Fla., Dallas, Texas, and Chattanooga, Tenn. Swanson said the goal is to expand, with North Carolina and Atlanta among the next target markets. However, the ministry will not be limited by television broadcast borders.
With the launch of www.drinkfromthewell.com, the social media aspect of the ministry has already begun. Using sites such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Vimeo, “The Well” program and accompanying resources will be available to an unlimited audience. Though the TV broadcast will be the most visible aspect of the ministry in the beginning, its purpose is to drive people to the Web site, which organizers are hoping will go viral.
The weekly programs are available for viewing and downloading, and other interactive features such as e-newsletters, prayers requests, blogging and Q&A also will be available. Local churches will partner in the effort to bring the experience full circle for those who want to know more about the Gospel.
Rather than a rebroadcast of existing worship services, the programs will feature a studio message from Swanson as well as segments telling stories about real people. In the first episode, a mother tells her story about beating stage-4 breast cancer in her 30s and how faith got her through the experience. Swanson relates the story to a message about trusting God and how He’s always faithful.
“I stand here amazed at what God has done,” Swanson said of the developing ministry.
Starting with a 12-month budget of $450,000, the goal is to become self-sufficient within 12 months of the launch, he said. The organization is pursuing support from Christian foundations as well as individual donations.
To learn more about the ministry, watch episodes, request prayer or find the television airtime schedule in its current markets, visit “The Well’s” Web site.