Transforming Cultures – Africa Update 2024
At The Influence Lab, we believe it’s possible to transform culture through media! Our team of media experts just got back from a whirlwind trip to Ghana.
It was a non-stop schedule, packed with TV and radio interviews, training sessions with church and ministry media teams from TheoVision International and Perez Dome (one of the largest churches in Ghana), and visiting a remote village to view Bible translation work in action, with a focus on the main event: an intensive three-day Church Media Summit held in Ghana’s capital, Accra.
Each attendee was awarded a certificate of participation, which will propel them forward in their media ministries and careers.
The first of its kind in Ghana, almost 300 pastors, media teams, communications directors, and TV/Film producers attended the Summit from multiple nations across Africa. At the end of the Summit, each attendee was awarded a certificate of participation, which will propel them forward in their media ministries and careers.
Here’s a sampling of the good reports pouring in from the Summit:
“I’m writing to express my heartfelt gratitude and that of my team from Daystar Christian Center, Lagos, Nigeria, for the incredible impact you made at the Ghana Church Media Summit….
The experience was truly transformative, and we’re confident that the takeaways will be instrumental in transforming cultures. Thank you for being vessels of change!” —Benjamin Abejide Adeniran
“I’m very much privileged to be part of this historic event. May God bless our God-fearing and dedicated facilitators led by Phil Cooke.” —Kwabena Gyan
“It was indeed amazing. We are grateful for pouring out so much knowledge into us.” —Godfred Twamasi-Ankrah
Team member John Ondo captures a “selfie” as attendees gather.
“Thank you for the great impact of wisdom. Church summit in Ghana was amazing.” —@klufio
Also, one media director confided he felt so alone and depressed in his work that he had written his resignation letter. After attending the summit, he was so inspired that he has decided he is not quitting! Instead, he plans to build his media team with the tools he gained in the summit workshops.
TheoVision International, the organizer and host of the summit, adds, “The knowledge gained here is set to empower and revolutionize church media work across Africa.”
Content Creators Seek Learning Opportunities
Part of the Influence Lab team, John Ondo (President/Founder, Ondo Media) taught on video production with interactive sessions on camera, as well as editing demonstrations. He shares, “We have a world of content creators hungry to learn the techniques to share the Gospel, and they want us back.”
Dan Wathen, John Ondo, and Phil Cooke meet with the media team at Perez Church.
More and more African nations are requiring ministry leaders to show proof of education. “It puts a smile on my face to see several hundred attendees walk out with certificates,” shares Dan Wathen (Executive Producer, Cooke Media Group), another Influence Lab team member who led the training on church live streaming and documentary filmmaking.
Phil Cooke (Co-Founder, Influence Lab/Cooke Media Group) led the Influence Lab team, chosen for their areas of expertise. In addition to John Ondo and Dan Wathen mentioned above:
- Kathleen Cooke (Co-Founder, Influence Lab/Cooke Media Group) taught on acting for the camera and directing;
- Laura Woodworth (Development Executive, Cooke Media Group) taught on writing, strategic content development in the digital age and screenwriting;
- Falonee Naidoo (Content Manager, CV Africa & Middle East) from South Africa taught on the strategic use of social media.
Kathleen shares:
Kathleen inspired attendees to gain as much as they could from the Summit.
“I was overwhelmed with the need for training and encouragement from the sold-out event audience that attended. Our team went above and beyond to meet the needs that were asked of them. The Ghana team is already asking if we can come back again.”
For our Influence Lab partners she adds, “The Bible reminds us that ‘the harvest is ripe and the workers are few.’ We are so grateful for the support that many of you gave and for your prayers for protection and provision.”
A Highlight for Our Team
One of the highlights of the trip for the Influence Lab team members, outside of the Summit, was a visit to a remote village to experience a Bible Listening Group. In an area where there is no written language, TheoVision International is reaching out with Bible translations in oral languages.
The experience of a Bible Learning Group in a remote village was a highlight for the team.
After a 2 ½ drive through rugged terrain, it was impactful to see a village of 30+ men, women and children gathered to listen to a chapter of the Bible and then discuss it in their mother tongue. (If you’d like to find out more, visit TheoVision International here.)
The International Need for Media Training
The need truly is great in countries like Ghana and other nations around the world for media training. What we take for granted in the United States in the way of teaching and training on current media and digital strategies, the pastors and Christian communicators in other countries hunger and thirst for.
That’s where the Influence Lab steps in. We bring the training and inspiration that these leaders need to reach their nations for Christ in current and effective ways.
And that’s where YOU, our Influence Lab partners, step in. You make trips like this possible. Thank you.
A bird’s eye view of attendees at the first Church Media Summit in Ghana.
PLEASE PRAY: Also, we ask you to pray for those who attended the Church Media Summit in Ghana that God continues to grow them as a community of media professionals who can influence Africa and the culture.
PLEASE GIVE: It’s only with your financial support that we can continue this work. If you’d like to add your support, give your gift here.
