Leadership in a digital world is the new challenge for pastors and churches worldwide in the aftermath of COVID. In a recent interview by AVAIL Leadership magazine, Phil Cooke shares important information for pastors maneuvering the digital age with tips on leading virtually, maximizing your online church experience, and making sure your message is communicated in a way that audiences will understand and respond to.
“This is the moment for people of faith,” Cooke shares. “The need to share our message never changes, but how we share it does.” The article outlines Phil’s background and his journey from a pastor kid mowing the grass in the church cemetery to becoming a sought-after producer and media consultant for major ministries.
“Seminary does a good job of teaching how to preach, counsel and manage a church,” he notes within the interview. “But church leaders are often unprepared for how to use communication and media to expand their influence.”
Co-founder of the nonprofit The Influence Lab with wife Kathleen, and CEO of Cooke Media Group, Phil has encouraged pastors for years to use streaming technology to extend their reach. “Since the coronavirus pandemic began in early 2020, his efforts have increased exponentially, including teaching classes about online ministry for pastors in Russia, Europe, South America and Africa. Recently, he trained 50 pastors from a US-based network who are planting churches that will be 100 percent online,” cites Matt Green, the writer of the article and editorial director for AVAIL journal.
Co-founded by Sam Chand and Martijn Van Tilborgh, AVAIL reaches around the world with their quarterly journal. Past issues feature interviews by top church leaders such as John and Lisa Bevere, Christine Caine and Eric Petree. Phil’s interview can be found in the Winter 2021 issue.
Read “Behind the Lens: Media guru Phil Cooke on online church, virtual leadership and making your message stick in a digital world” here.
Find out how you can get a free year subscription to AVAIL here.