Empowering the Church to

TRANSFORM CULTURE THROUGH MEDIA

Influence Lab News AND Updates

Do Not Travel: The Increasing Importance of the Russian Translation Project

You Can Still Make a Difference On February 12, 2023, the U.S. Embassy issued a travel advisory for Russia: Do not travel.1 They’ve also told U.S. citizens to leave Russia immediately. "U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia should depart immediately," the U.S....

Transforming Thailand – Bangkok Report

Thank you, Influence Lab Partners! Phil and Kathleen’s trip to Bangkok was an important training opportunity to help Asian pastors optimize their media projects and digital media strategies. Here’s a special report from Phil on this outreach: We were asked by Ron...

7,000 Russian Pastors Await “Maximize Your Influence” Translation

Although not commonly known or discussed, millions inside Russia don’t agree with Putin’s policies. Many Russian pastors are trying to change things from the inside, but without ready access to updated digital media strategies, it’s like they’re fighting on foot...

New Influence Women Website Features Interactive Member Platform

Hello INfluencers! I have so much exciting news to share with you this month! We promised that we would be working hard to give you opportunities to build your community and network and here were some of the ways we did that in October: Influence Women has relaunched...

Phil Cooke Speaks at Pentecostal World Conference in Seoul Korea

Last week was a stunning example of the overall vision of The Influence Lab in action! Invited to speak at the Pentecostal World Conference held in Seoul, Korea, Phil Cooke shared during a Marketplace Ministry session, empowering pastors from multiple nations gathered...

Kathleen Cooke Receives She Leads America Award for Distinguished Work in Media and Entertainment

Chosen as one of 10 Christian women of distinction, Kathleen Cooke received the She Leads America Award and a Certificate of Congressional Record for her outstanding work in the media and entertainment industry at a ceremony in Washington, DC. Los Angeles, CA...

Russian Pastors Equipped for the Digital Age with Phil Cooke’s Maximize Your Influence Book

In the midst of war, pastors in Russia are being equipped for the digital age with resources in their language. Phil Cooke’s book, Maximize Your Influence: How to Make Digital Media Work for Your Church, Your Ministry, and You was recently translated to Russian,...

What’s Next for Influence Lab Women?

Hello, INfluencers! I’m thrilled to give you the very first COO Update. Our INW family is growing! We have doubled the number of chapters nationally, and joining Hollywood and Atlanta will be Nashville (October) and Orange County (November). Kathleen and I cannot wait...

Rome 2022 – Global Leaders Gather in Unity

In July 2022, Influence Lab co-founders Phil and Kathleen Cooke were invited to Rome, Italy, to speak at a much-anticipated global conference for church and marketplace leaders. The conference, privately hosted in a different city each year, keeps the name and...

Netflix “Sweet Magnolias” Showrunner Helps Kick Off New Influence Lab Atlanta Women’s Chapter

Based in Los Angeles, The Influence Lab kicked off its new Influence Lab Atlanta Women’s chapter with a meeting featuring Netflix showrunner Sheryl J. Anderson of the hit series “Sweet Magnolias.” Los Angeles, CA (June 16, 2022) – Cofounded by media executives Phil...

THE VISION

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At The Influence Lab, we believe it’s time to change the perception of Christianity in today’s media-driven culture. To make that happen, we’re mobilizing a powerful global strategy to teach and train the next generation of pastors and leaders how to effectively use media to share the gospel in today’s digital age.

Founded by media experts Phil and Kathleen Cooke, The Influence Lab focuses on regions like Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and South America, while also creating a pathway for Christian influence in entertainment and media with an ultimate goal to impact global culture by changing the way we tell our story.

"The need to share our message never changes, but how we share it does. This is the moment to embrace the digital age.”

– Phil Cooke, Producer, Media Consultant, Co-Founder – The Influence Lab

THE STRATEGY

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INFLUENCING THE WORLD

Redefining Global Mission Strategy in Today’s Digital Age

The digital revolution, accelerated by the challenges presented by COVID-19 in 2020, has created immense opportunities on the global digital mission field. With the increased opportunity comes the necessity to train a new generation to reach the world through ever-evolving and ever-increasing digital platforms.

Through partnerships with the largest Christian media organizations around the world, as well as international broadcast media platforms, we have created a global network for training the next generation of Christian media professionals – pastors, ministry leaders and their media and communications teams – to share the most important story of all, the good news of Jesus Christ.

“If you really love someone, you will figure out how to communicate with them, just as Jesus did, and for us that has to mean speaking the language of media and entertainment.”

-Eric Metaxas

New York Times #1 Bestselling Author, Host, Eric Metaxas Radio Show

INFLUENCING CULTURE

Impacting Culture by Changing the Way We Tell Our Story

Another of the primary goals of The Influence Lab is to use the various media platforms available to us in the digital age to change the cultural narrative about Christianity and the Church.

The Influence Lab helps create professional pathways for Christian influence in entertainment and media by challenging executive-level Christians established in the film and television industry to think critically about integrating their faith into their work. We assist Christian ministry organizations already making a difference through media, and through Influence Lab Women gatherings, events and email newsletters, we’re motivating and inspiring professional women to excel in the media and entertainment industries.

“Washington DC is the seat of power, but Hollywood is the seat of influence. The only way to have a spiritual impact on Hollywood is to change it from the inside out.”

- Karen Covell

Founder of Hollywood Prayer Network

THE MEDIA NEED

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ENTERTAINMENT

Hollywood is the most influential city on earth, and yet Christians are terribly underrepresented in that industry. The Influence Lab is working to create a roadmap to help talented writers, actors, producers, directors, and others carve a foothold in the entertainment industry.

MEDIA RELATIONS

Who’s telling the story of the Christian faith in the mainstream media? Through The Influence Lab, we’re making the connections, building the relationships, and showing the world accurate and timely stories of how Christians are positively impacting today’s culture.

SOCIAL MEDIA

If Facebook were a country, it would be the largest country in the world. The increased popularity of social media and YouTube has created a new digital mission field. Who’s planting churches in that country? Who’s sending “media missionaries” to that country? Christians must ramp up their knowledge and expertise in the new digital landscape to be good stewards of the opportunities of the digital age.

MEDIA PRODUCTION

In a visual culture, sharing our story through digital media is essential. Our goal is to inspire and train producers, directors, camera operators, video editors, and others to help shape powerful and compelling stories of transformed lives.

MEDIA TRAINING

We live in a media-driven culture, and that's why The Influence Lab is coordinating seminars and conferences around the world, as well as utilizing opportunities such as Zoom meetings and webinars to train a new generation of pastors and leaders how to share their story through media.

GLOBAL PARTNERS