[net.religion] Televising Worship Services

ljw (03/23/83)

     My church pastor, Jim Hylton, in a recent church newsletter, dropped what
I consider a "bombshell."  Starting next month, he is going to appear on daily
television with James Robison and others (11:30am-12:30pm Dallas channel 39),
and starting sometime next year, our church services will be televised
nationally on the American Christian Television Service (a new cable-low power
television network).
     I am interested in hearing from anyone who has had experience with their
services being televised, especially those who started televising after they
became members of that church.
 1.  Does your pastor still preach the same as when services are not televised?
 2.  Do you feel as much freedom to worship God when you know there is a
     TV Camera at your back as when there isn't one?
 3.  Does televising services bring people into your church, or drive them away?
 4.  Does televising change the complexion of the church people? 
 5.  How does it affect the other ministries of the church (we already have a
     Christian school, bookstore, and a national magazine called "Fulness" [not
     bad for 350 members, huh])?  Can a church spread itself too thin? 
 6.  Is there anything else I should know about TV?
     So often it's easy to criticize television ministries, but now that my
church is actually participating; what do I do now??  How can I, as a member,
keep my church and my pastor from becoming worldly and money hungry like some
(fortunately only a few) have become?
				...ihnp4!laidbak!trsvax!ljw (Larry J. West)