Tip of the Month
Five years ago when I began my tenure at the Interfaith Resource Center, I challenged myself to preview videos daily until I had a broad understanding of the types of resources on our shelves. At that time, it was typical for video segments to be 25-30 minutes in length with one presenter in a lecture setting or occasionally a setting more casual. Wow! Have things changed! As I preview new resources produced in the last few years, several new trends stand out. And these trends will impact how you lead your groups. Here are some of the changes:
- The segments are shorter, often broken with man-on-the-street interviews or other elements that keep a tempo more reminiscent of television than traditional educational programs. Often the breaks display a discussion question so that the group can tackle one aspect of the lesson before they move on. This new pacing is designed to keep participants engaged. It has the small group model in mind—a model that emphasizes relationship building as a key focus of its rationale. Just Walk Across the Room with Bill Hybels is designed on this plan.
- Video segments exhibit the influence of the commercial media. Outdoor settings for lectures predominate, often with dynamic camera angles and special effects meant to evoke an edgier, post-modern look. It is not unusual to see such visual tricks as solarized images or grayscale scenes (black & white) with one object colored. While these visual conventions appeal to younger participants, you may want to keep in mind that they might also prove disturbing to older viewers, especially those dealing with vision issues such as cataracts. The Nooma series with Rob Bell owes much of its look to such visual cues.
- Dramatic vignettes are increasingly more frequent. These mini-dramas often continue through several segments of a series, posing contemporary twists on ancient themes and moral dilemmas. Often these vignettes are well acted, rivaling the quality of commercial television (or often exceeding it). Examples of this style include Liquid, five-episode Bible study series or Modern Parables, contemporary reenactments of 6 parables.
- For the younger set, Christian celebrities are featured. (No, not Billy Graham. Think Christian pro-skateboarding champ, Brian Sumner!) These young celebrities talk about the challenges of contemporary life, using topics like temptation or mean-spirited words. Green hosted by Ben Cerulla is an example of a series that uses celebrities in this manner.
Keep in mind, the more traditional styles of programs are still produced and many classic programs continue to be available. The IRC has committed to upgrading many of those classic programs to DVD too. So whether you are leading a group that requires an edgier look, a shortened format or you are looking for a more traditional configuration for your group study, the IRC has what you are looking for. Contact us at resource.ctr@dol.net or phone 302.477.0910, toll-free 800.336.6152.
In peace, Paula
Links to other resources & services
(Note: Although all the service providers listed here are known to IRC staff, the IRC is not at liberty to endorse any specific service provider. Please contact them directly.)
Christian Counseling:
Daybreak Counseling Services (302-448-1450 or 302-422-7021)
Community for Integrative Learning:
Spiritual Direction:
Anita Wood (anitawood1@verizon.net)
Chabareth Ministry... Rev. Dr. Karen Covey Moore (coveymoore@aol.com)
Spiritual Companions of the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware... Barbara Tucker (tuckerb15@comcast.net)
Suicide Survivors: Healing Hearts Ministry
Website development:
Tom Davis (tom@teledavis.com)
Danny Schweers (www.w2mw.com)
Yoga classes in church settings: Linda Hall (www.lindayoga.com)