The WLA Resources Vision
'Make disciples of all nations'
The vision for the ‘what’s life about’ resources has been born out of a passion to fulfil, to the fullest degree, Jesus’ Great Commission - to ‘go and make disciples of all nations.’ (Matt 28:19)The Church, historically, in the commitment to fulfil Jesus’ commission has generally focused on a purely oral communication of the gospel in response to what seemed to be the means used by Jesus and His apostles and because of texts such as, 'faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.' (Rom 10:17)
However, a deeper analysis of Jesus’ ministry and the apostles, (particularly Paul’s), reveals that their ministry contained not only an oral presentation of the gospel, but also a visual and practical one too. This is clearly seen in Jesus’ ministry in His frequent references to things that his hearers could look at whilst listening to His ministry. So for example, 'look at the birds of the air . . . See how the lilies of the field grow' (Matt 6:26, 28), are quotes from Jesus’ sermon on the Mount - a location that would have provided the opportunity to look at birds and lilies. This use of visual imagery for didactical purposes is also seen in His miracles, many of which were also of a 'theatrical' nature.
So for example, the healing of the blind man in John 9, where Jesus ‘spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes,’ and sent him to ‘wash in the Pool of Siloam' (John 9:6-7), shows Jesus was here (as elsewhere) using visual/ theatrical imagery/ scenes, accompanied by oral teaching, as a powerful didactical tool. Jesus, I’m convinced, would agree that ‘pictures speak a thousand words!’
It is in response to this ‘multi-media’ biblical precedence that the WLA resources incorporate contemporary means of preaching/ communicating the gospel. The four WLA resources (website, video, booklet and audio sermon) utilise the oral, visual, textual and technological mediums to set out clearly and concisely (in contemporary language) the apostolic gospel and the response God commands of all people to it.
'All things to all men'
Further support for this contemporary approach to evangelism is seen in Paul’s commitment to the great commission (Acts 20:24), his imaginative and innovative presentation of the gospel (Acts 17:16-34) and his willingness to identify and communicate with people ‘where they are’ - 'I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel.' (1 Cor 9:19-23)
When importing Paul’s approach into our twenty-first century world, we cannot ignore that visual imagery and sound bites are rapidly becoming the key medium for communicating information and instruction. In an age where information is gathered and heard through Google, YouTube and iTunes on the world wide web (internet), the Church must not underestimate the opportunity it provides for ‘making disciples of all nations.’ Moreover, with cinema and television having a key role in shaping and educating our world (even the third world), the Church must not ignore the opportunity it too provides for preaching Christ.
It's in this Pauline spirit that the WLA resources have been produced. The resources, whilst maintaining a conservative evangelical basis, have ‘tapped into’ contemporary mediums, utilising the vast opportunity they provide for reaching people near and far with Jesus’ Good News, hence our motto: ‘providing contemporary evangelistic resources for a contemporary world.’
Details of the Resources
All four of the WLA resources follow the same basic structure and present the gospel in ten clear and concise steps. Each resource begins by asking what life is about, then takes the participant through a journey to the beginning of time, on to the global impact of sin, to God’s solution in Christ’s Cross, to the response God commands and finally to the way forward after conversion.
Website:
The website is a state-of-the-art free resource, utilising flash technology, visually appealing graphics and the WLA video and talk. With the aid of the imbedded Google Translator it can be viewed in many different languages. The simplest way to make use of the website is to place a downloadable link on your Church or individual websites. Alternatively, the website promotion business cards can be used to give out in evangelism.
Video:
The video, filmed on location in Brighton, is a visually appealing 15 minute production utilising the latest HD video technology and techniques. It can be watched online or a boxed DVD version can be purchased from this website. Alternatively, we can provide a master DVD for you to produce your own copies.
Booklet:
The booklet is A6 in size and contains 14 full colour glossy-finish pages. Utilising the WLA text and illustrated by contemporary images, the booklet is a handy resource to use in leading people to Christ. Moreover, with it selling at 4 for £1 it makes general distribution affordable. It can be previewed or purchased from this website.
Address:
The address is an audio recording of the WLA text. It can be listened to online or a boxed CD version can be purchased from this website. Alternatively, we can provide a master CD for you to produce your own copies.
Promotional Resources:
These include full colour WLA posters (up to A0), a 6ft roll-up display poster, banners, car stickers, clothing and website promotion business cards. These can all be previewed or purchased from this website.
The Future
The WLA resources vision is an ever reforming vision and is committed to keeping up with technological and cultural developments by ongoing refinements to the existing resources and research and development of new ones. Watch out for future new resources.