A new alliance between MEDIAlliance International and The Influence Lab offers expanded opportunities to strengthen and train Christian pastors and media leaders in global settings.
Los Angeles, CA (May 23, 2023)— The power of partnership is being realized as MEDIAlliance International and The Influence Lab announce a new partnership committed to training and strengthening Christian pastors and media leaders on a global scale. The alliance expands upon a long-term friendship and like-minded ministry between MEDIAlliance president, Dr. Ron Harris and The Influence Lab founder, Dr. Phil Cooke.
With regional offices in Asia, Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Brazil, MEDIAlliance leads Christian leadership forums to help key media leaders increase their impact in sharing the gospel. Similarly, The Influence Lab offers training and equipping for pastors and Christian communicators in areas of the world where access to media training is not readily available. Although Phil Cooke has spoken at many MEDIAlliance forums, the strategic partnership offers opportunities for the two ministries to work more closely together for greater effect.
Harris expressed excitement at the expanded role that the partnership brings. “Phil Cooke is amazing at helping people think beyond the norm in communicating God’s truth,” said Harris. “His challenging insights take people to a different level in leadership and ministry.”
Cooke responded, “Ron Harris has done a remarkable job building offices in strategic countries. With that foundation, we have an amazing opportunity to engage with Christian media leaders around the world.”
The Influence Lab and Cooke Media Group, both founded by Phil Cooke, have influenced Christian media for many years. Cooke has worked with many of the most respected churches and ministries around the world and his books have become texts for leadership development and media training.
MEDIAlliance International began in 2013 as an extension of Ron Harris’s over fifty years in media, church leadership and broadcast ministry, as well as his service as a communication professor at university and seminary levels. MEDIAlliance currently works with Christian media leaders in over forty countries.
MEDIAlliance and The Influence Lab Prayer are seeking prayer and financial partners to join them in their united mission of training pastors and media leaders globally. As 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, gifts are tax-deductible.
About Ron Harris – President and Founder, MEDIAlliance Dr. Ronald L. Harris has been around broadcasting for most of his life, beginning in radio almost 55 years ago. After serving two years as Assistant Professor of Communications and Special Assistant to the President at Dallas Baptist University, Ron Harris is the president of MEDIAlliance International. In that role, he links Christian broadcasters in the United States with those in various places worldwide to grow the impact of Christian broadcasting and the Gospel of Christ. Find out more at https://medialliance.cc
About Phil Cooke—Media Producer / Writer / Speaker / Coach Helping creative leaders influence the world. Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is co-founder and CEO of Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles and the nonprofit The Influence Lab. Phil has produced media programming in nearly 70 countries and created many of the most influential inspirational TV programs in history with a client list that includes Hollywood studios, major nonprofit organizations, and many of the world’s most respected churches and ministries. He’s been called “one of the most innovative communicators of our generation.” Find out more at philcooke.com.
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Look how God is using the Russian translation of Phil’s book! Here’s the official press release of the new developments – all made possible by the generous partnership of those who are joining with us in the mission of The Influence Lab to train and equip pastors in places where media training is not easily accessible.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Translation of Phil Cooke’s “Maximize Your Influence” Equips Russian Evangelical Pastors in Time of War
In a time of war, Russian evangelical pastors are equipped to strategically share biblical truth in the digital age with a Russian translation of Phil Cooke’s “Maximize Your Influence—How to Make Digital Media Work for Your Church, Your Ministry, and You.”
Los Angeles, CA (April 20, 2023) – Phil Cooke is maximizing his influence in the digital age with a Russian translation of his book, “Maximize Your Influence—How to Make Digital Media Work for Your Church, Your Ministry, and You.” What began as a simple translation of the book has evolved into a bi-annual training program for Russian evangelical pastors and ministry leaders in Moscow. Funded by The Influence Lab and facilitated by trusted pastors inside Russia, this outreach equips Russian pastors and ministry leaders to strategically share the gospel, despite the current political climate.
“When I was approached about the translation project, we jumped on board quickly to raise funds,” said Phil Cooke, media producer and founder of Cooke Media Group and the nonprofit The Influence Lab. “These pastors desperately need the digital media training that will equip them to counteract propaganda with biblical truth.”
Bi-annual training sessions have incorporated the Russian version of “Maximize Your Influence” to train pastors across Russia.
Cooke’s “Maximize Your Influence” equips ministry leaders with the mindset, messaging and hands-on strategies to effectively engage audiences in today’s digital generation. With a vision to empower pastors and Christian communicators with up-to-date media strategies, The Influence Lab specifically targets its mission to countries with limited access to teaching and training opportunities. With U.S. government-issued “do not travel” advisories and risks of “wrongful detention” in Russia, Phil’s book is a critical resource for Russian ministry leaders.
Two pastors with high-level influence and reach within the country were chosen as the key players to entrust with funds for the translation and publishing of the book. Because of these inside sources, the book has been “legitimately” published within Russia, thus avoiding any trouble with the government. Seven thousand copies of the book have been printed, and the most recent update reports the incorporation of the translated “Maximize Your Influence” into a bi-annual training program for evangelical pastors and their ministry teams in Russia.
“Maximize Your Influence” is endorsed by OneHope president Rob Hoskins, Avail leadership consultant Sam Chand, and YouVersion founder Bobby Gruenewald. The Russian translation opens the digital age to pastors in a country where the truth may be limited – but the internet with its possibilities for sharing the gospel is not.
Your partnership is having a global impact! Phil and Kathleen Cooke traveled to South Africa this month to participate in a gathering of marketplace and ministry leaders as part of the Global Kingdom Partners Network (GKPN).
Through these meetings, they were able to train and inspire international ministry leaders in strategic uses of digital media to help accomplish their missions.
GKPN members open the gathering with prayer.
Kathleen hosted the opening GKPN marketplace session, introducing new delegates and members and praying for their influence, skills, and talents to be integrated into the group for God’s Kingdom purposes.
As an example of the work GKPN is accomplishing, a leader of a Ukrainian children’s rescue organization shared how he has rescued 85,000 orphaned children, many of whom had been exported into Russia after their cities were bombed and their parents killed. Through the help of GKPN, he has brought many of these children back to the Ukraine where they have been placed in church orphanages and Christian homes for safe-keeping.
With many questions on how to use digital media effectively, Phil and Kathleen were able to offer this leader practical advice and specific strategies.
Kathleen commented, “We were honored to be there to help them with their questions so they can tell these children’s stories and share the love of God in a chaotic world.”
“Maximize Your Influence” helps Russian pastors use digital media strategically to share the gospel.
As of today, the book has been put into the hands of 490 Russian pastors and 720 Russian Christian businessmen, with the remaining 5790 copies to be distributed to influencers in the Russian-speaking world throughout 2023. Because of our sources inside Russia, the book has been “legitimately” published, thus avoiding any trouble with the government.
Leading the publishing project is Matts-Ola Ishoel, the senior pastor and president of Word of Life Centre in Moscow and president of Churches of Faith Russian Association of Christians of Evangelical Faith—an organization of 400 charismatic churches in Russia.
Another driving force for the project is Sergey Martyunichev, the deput president and development director for Word of Life Commonwealth Churches with 356 churches in Russia, Sergey also manages Golden Pages Publishing Centre, 14 business schools and a business club in Moscow.
Phil and Kathleen with Sergey, Matts-Ola and his wife Randi, key leaders in the Russian translation project.
With their influence and outreach in Russia, Matts-Ola Ishoel and Sergey Martyunichev were the key players we felt confident in entrusting funds to for this translation project. Phil’s book will have a far-reaching and long-lasting effect, enabling Russian pastors and influencers to be strategic in their communication of the gospel. The Influence Lab been privileged to have a role in impacting this nation for good.
We’re thankful for every Influence Lab partner who has prayed and given towards our global mission of training and equipping pastors and leaders to use media effectively. You share in the harvest of changed lives as the good news spreads in the digital age.
Phil Cooke’s “Maximize Your Influence” now in Russian!
UPCOMING: Through the GKPN meetings, Phil and Kathleen have been asked to conduct strategic training sessions overseas in the coming months. Your prayers and financial gifts enable The Influence Lab to accommodate these international invitations.
Next international outreaches: June: Amsterdam: Phil is on the Empowered21 Global Council, and he and Kathleen will be participating in Amsterdam2023, an international conference to collaborate and innovate with global ministry leaders with a goal to “launch a new era of evangelism.” August: Brazil(Details to come.) September: Chennai, India(Details to come.)
“The need to share our message never changes, but how we share it does.” —Phil Cooke, Maximize Your Influence—How to Make Digital Media Work for Your Church, Your Ministry, and You
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. embassy in Moscow said, and also warned, “Exercise increased caution due to the risk of wrongful detentions.”2
Russian pastors gather. They’re working hard to bring the gospel truth to their country.
These travel restrictions place an increasing importance on The Influence Lab’s Russian Translation Project. At this point, over 7,000 evangelical pastors are waiting for printed and digital copies of Phil Cooke’s “Maximize Your Influence: How to Make Digital Media Work for Your Church, Your Ministry and You.” Already translated into Russian, we have not yet met the need for these books to go to print.
And, because of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the travel restrictions, we must be extremely careful in getting the funds into the hands of our inside people for this project to continue. In the interest of protecting our inside sources from possible persecution, we cannot share names, but these are trusted people who—if we can get the funds physically into their hands—will oversee the printing and distribution of this much-needed book.
“We can’t release names or photos,” said Phil Cooke, “but this is our chance to help make things happen from the inside. These pastors desperately need the tools that will help them share the gospel in today’s digital age and counteract propaganda with truth.”
“Maximize Your Influence” will equip Russian pastors with digital strategies to share the gospel.
Endorsed by YouVersion’s founder Bobby Gruenewald, OneHope president Rob Hoskins and Avail leadership consultant Sam Chand, “Maximize Your Influence” helps pastors navigate the digital age. The book equips ministry leaders in the mindset and messaging that will engage audiences in today’s digital generation. In countries like Russia where access to training in digital media strategies is limited, it’s a critical resource.
Because of the political climate and the challenge of going under the radar, the total needed for this project is now estimated at $25,000.
Can you help? We’re seeking partners to consider generous gifts of $10,000, $5,000 $500 or even $50.
You can still make a difference. Let’s support these Russian pastors and help them know they are not alone. Give here.
The Influence Lab is a Guidestar participant, demonstrating its commitment to transparency. View our 2023 2023 Candid Seal of Transparency on Guidestar here.
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 against an airborne army. Until now.
Phil Cooke’s “Maximize Your Influence: How to Make Digital Media Work for Your Church, Your Ministry, and You” has been translated into Russian by Russian nationals. And, through a trusted inside source, we have a tremendous opportunity to get this media resource into the hands of 7,000 pastors across Russia.
Some funds have already come in, but we’re not yet there. The cost of printing and distribution is estimated at $18,900. The book, once printed, will go to pastors in these regions:
Moscow—2,000 pastors St. Petersburg—1000 pastors Siberia—500 pastors Udmurtia region—500 pastors North of Russia—300 pastors Perm region—1000 pastors Bashkiria region—300 pastors Ural region—400 pastors Far East—500 pastors Former Soviet Union—500 pastors
The timing is critical. These Russian pastors need our help to counter Putin’s propaganda with the true gospel. The equipping they gain through “Maximize Your Influence” will make a tremendous difference in how they can impact their nation.
Will you partner with us in this work? The book is ready to print as soon as the financing need is met.
What can you give? Your gift of $10,000, $1,000, $500 or $50 will go a long way to meet the need and get this resource into the hands of these Russian pastors.
We sincerely thank you for your prayerful and financial support. As a special “thank you” for partnering with The Influence Lab, you’ll receive your choice of four books (including Maximize Your Influence). Don’t wait – give your gift today.
