by John Gentry
Synopsis: Teaching the Bible by video conferencing allows for efficient use of money, time, and reach when studying with someone in person is not a viable option.
Though I have many other things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come visit you and speak face to face, so that our joy may be complete (2 John 12 NET; cf. 3 John 14-15).
John understood that the best way to communicate with anyone is face to face. No technology will ever replace all the benefits of being in the same physical space with someone as we communicate. However, technology can certainly provide a good alternative when being in the same physical space with someone is not possible (cf. Rom. 1:13; 15:22-23; 1 Thess. 2:18).
In the first century, we find people "going" (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15) to preach and teach the gospel on foot, by animals, and by ship. When they were not able to go and be physically present with someone, the only alternative was to write a letter. The Epistles (Romans-Jude) all represent communication designed to teach or edify others when the teacher was not able to be physically present. These letters would take weeks or even months to reach their intended recipients.
For hundreds of years, humanity did not develop any new technology to improve on sending the letter. Granted, the printing press (around 1440) made it easier to make copies of letters or other forms of written communication, but the letter still consisted of paper and ink, and it took days, weeks, or months to reach people in other places. The telegraph (early 1800s), telephone (late 1800s), radio (early 1900s), television (mid 1900s), and email (late 1900s) allowed for virtually instant communication with people in other places, but each of these technologies has limitations that prevent them from being feasible options for an individual or a local church to use in continuous, interactive, real-time teaching.
Then, in the early twenty-first century, we saw a massive development in technology that allows for continuous, real-time, virtually face-to-face communication with people anywhere in the world. The conglomeration of high-speed internet and Wi-Fi being made available to many parts of the world along with low-cost video hardware (including that now built into smartphones), makes video conferencing a very feasible option for preaching and teaching the gospel to people almost anywhere.
By the grace of God, I have personally been able to teach around 3,000 classes by video conferencing to people in ten countries on four continents. I have taught from approximately fifty classes to a group of sixty non-Christians to several one-on-one personal studies with new converts and mature Christians to 1,000s of regular Bible classes, including Christians and non-Christians, to around 100 preacher-training classes to several evangelistic planning discussions. Most of these studies have cost nothing. Using video conferencing for all these studies allowed me to continue with my regular responsibilities of laboring with the local church of which I am a member and to continue seeing my wife and children each day.
By the grace of God, my wife has also had the privilege of teaching around 100 ladies' Bible classes with Christians and non-Christians in other countries. Our oldest daughter and our oldest son have also participated in several Bible studies by video conferencing with people in other countries, and there are plans for future studies that include Christians and non-Christians in foreign locations.
Several other brethren are also involved in regular Bible studies with people in different cities and countries. Many Christians are exploring how they can take advantage of these technologies in teaching God's word to others throughout the world to the glory of God.
Some reasons have already been alluded to or mentioned, but here is a list of several reasons why you, as an individual, or your local church, should consider teaching God's word using video conferencing to others in your community, some other city, or some other country. Before considering this list, it should be reiterated that the absolute most effective way to be engaged in evangelizing and edifying others is being in the same physical space as those you are teaching.
It costs money to travel to other places to preach and teach God's word (cf. Acts 18:1-5; 2 Cor. 11:7-10; Phil. 4.15-16). Personal expenses, including travel to and from the country, journeys within the country, food and lodging, etc., are usually going to be anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000 or more per person. These costs are virtually eliminated when teaching by video conferencing from your home or office.
Even with our modern forms of transportation, it still requires significant time to travel to other countries (cf. Acts 20:5). Any trip to an overseas country will take one/one-and-a-half days, both going and coming (potentially taking up the better part of four days). This does not include jetlag and its impact on the body of the one teaching. (Jetlag will be experienced going and coming.) All this time is avoided when teaching by video conferencing from your home or office.
In addition to travel time, when teaching by video conferencing, the teacher is still able to see his family (some choose not to participate in overseas evangelism while their children are still at home; this wisdom should be considered). If the teacher is laboring with a local congregation, teaching by video conferencing allows him to fulfill his regular responsibilities without interruption (cf. Eph. 5:15-16; Col. 4:5).
No one can be in two places at once, but it is not uncommon for a teacher using video conferencing to be in the homes or meeting places of people in multiple cities and countries at the same time. One of the weekly studies I'm involved with brings together people from as many as ten different cities in five countries. It is possible to end one study with people in Asia, and within a few minutes, be studying with others in South America. With video conferencing, the teacher can be anywhere in the world in mere moments (cf. 1 Cor. 9:19-23.)
You or your local church can get started teaching by video conferencing with as little as a smartphone on your end and someone with a smartphone on the other end. The cameras, microphones, and speed of modern smartphones make the video and audio sound great on both ends.
Any computer with a webcam and microphone may also be used. If there is a larger group on the other end, it might be useful if they had a projector with a larger viewing area (a light-colored wall works just fine) so that all can see the teacher or any visual aids that he is displaying.
As of this writing (Nov. 2019) and for the past several years, my preferred app/software for video conferencing is Zoom. It is more stable than Skype (though this application is improving in quality). Both apps have screen sharing, which allows you to show the Bible text (using a website or software), your slide deck, or anything else from your screen. Remember, you might want to be seen by the ones you are teaching.
Technology certainly has been abused and misused, but it also provides excellent opportunities for teaching God's word. Teaching by video conferencing is a great alternative for evangelizing and edifying others when face to face communication is not possible.
May God bless you as you do your best to steward the time, money, families, and opportunities He gives you.
Author Bio: John has worked with the Humphreys Co. Church of Christ in Waverly, TN for six years. He and his wife, Stacy, have six children. The church website is hcococ.com. His website is jgentry.com. He can be reached at john@jgentry.com.
