Bringing hope direct into people’s homes
COVID has changed things. Even though the vaccines have allowed most people in the UK to return to some form of normality – it’s hard to see how things will ever be the same as before the pandemic.
Despite lockdown restrictions, thanks to innovative working practices, the use of new technology and the flexibility of staff and volunteers, Premier remained broadcasting across their three radio stations without any major interruptions. We also kept digital content up to date, kept publishing our range of magazines and kept answering calls each day to Premier Lifeline.
We noticed a significant growth in people downloading our range of Podcasts with 3.3m downloads of ‘Unbelievable?’ and 1.25m of our ‘Ask NT Wright’ programmes. The Unbelievable? YouTube channel also mushroomed with over 45,000 new subscribers, a 50% increase in just 12 months, with over 5 million views and a total of close to 1.5 million hours of view time.
Even though services have resumed in most churches, congregations and ministers are grappling with the challenges of what effective ministry looks like post-pandemic lockdown. The majority appreciate that ‘back to normal’ is not a realistic option given that many congregations have dwindled, while the potential to attract and follow up on newcomers through digital services is significant! But with limited resources how can the Christian community make the most of the ministry opportunities?
By using the range of digital options available to it, Premier believes the opportunity to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ into people’s homes across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are huge!
Key questions that producers, presenters, editors and contributors across all Premier media channels weekly grapple with include:
- What are the spiritual, emotional and physical needs among our audiences and what part can we play in building up more prayerful engagement with international, national and local needs?
- How can we encourage daily Bible reading among our audiences?
- What new technological breakthroughs should we invest in to reach new audiences who need to hear the life-changing message of the gospel?
- What timeless classic hymns and what new contemporary music songs are going to best engage with and encourage our existing and new audiences to worship God?
- What stories are out there to gather and then share with our audiences that will inform, challenge, encourage and resource?
“Sitting socially distanced in a chapel for a funeral service is so painful … It’s bad enough to lose a loved one as it is, but to be separated, not in a position to hug, hold hands or put arms around one another is so painful.”
Key questions that producers, presenters, editors and contributors across all Premier media channels weekly grapple with include:
What are the spiritual, emotional and physical needs among our audiences and what part can we play in building up more prayerful engagement with international, national and local needs?
How can we encourage daily Bible reading among our audiences?
What new technological breakthroughs should we invest in to reach new audiences who need to hear the life-changing message of the gospel?
What timeless classic hymns and what new contemporary music songs are going to best engage with and encourage our existing and new audiences to worship God?
What stories are out there to gather and then share with our audiences that will inform, challenge, encourage and resource?
Despite the huge challenges that the pandemic brought, there are many stories of hope to share about how God has used Premier to bless and encourage individuals at their point of need. People like Clive, a funeral director from Oxfordshire told Premier that helping those who are bereaved has been especially tough.
“Sitting socially distanced in a chapel for a funeral service is so painful,” says Clive. “It’s bad enough to lose a loved one as it is, but to be separated, not in a position to hug, hold hands or put arms around one another is so painful. So it is immensely helpful to listen to Premier Christian Radio when I get in the car to travel to or away from those services. It lifts my spirit, feeds my soul and brings the presence of God near.”
Whether it is providing resources for Sunday school teachers or Christian youth workers through YCW magazine, offering a listening ear to the lonely through Premier Lifeline, helping people to worship from home via one of our three radio stations, providing intellectually stimulating discussions through one of our podcasts, getting our audience to engage with ethical issues on social media, or giving free daily scripture based devotionals through one of Premier’s various print or digital offerings – Premier has been busy offering hope during a particularly difficult year.
Emma from North London told us, “it’s been hard [locked down at home] to get away from the onslaught of terrifying Coronavirus news, whether it’s on TV or social media, the atmosphere is charged with fear, so it’s hard not to get sucked up into it. But in these times, I’ve managed to find peace and a feeling of hope. Through listening to Premier, there is always a song that speaks to how I’m feeling or a listener’s comment – it lifts me up. For me Premier is God’s instrument and right now, it’s His gift of peace for us.”