Instead of shielding the youth in your ministry from the media and its influence, consider inviting media into your youth ministry program. There are a number of wonderful resources available—many at no cost—that remind us that our Baptismal Covenant and the Internet can be less like oil and water, and more like bread and wine.
Father Matthew Presents
www.fathermatthewpresents.com
An Episcopal priest in Rye, NY has created a series of video blogs (he even has a channel on YouTube!) that explore topics related to the Episcopal Church and Christianity in the 21st century. (A free resource.)
Ministry and Media
www.ministryandmedia.com
This site offers reviews and discussion starters for popular movies, videos, music and breaking news stories. Ministry and
Media is published and supported through Group Magazine and is a free resource (though it does require you to sign in).
The G-d Cast
www.g-dcast.com
This free site offers cartoon presentations on the story Jews are reading in the Torah this week. It opens the door for discussion of the
Old Testament, and you can do a search for a particular story you’d like to present.
Bobble Head Theater
www.youtube.com
(search for “Bobble Head Theater”) Moral and theological issues are raised via a series of bobble head characters. These videos are basic, but it’s fun to see how many people begin to shake their own head while watching.
Nooma
www.nooma.com
Nooma is a fantastic series of short films that looks at life through the lens of Jesus. These films are for purchase, and each DVD comes with a discussion book of questions and related Scripture passages.
I Am Episcopalian
www.iamepiscopalian.org
Watch (or even create and upload) videos from people of all segments of life sharing why they are a part of The Episcopal Church.
Reel to Real
www.cokesbury.com
(search for “Reel to Real”) This curriculum uses scenes from films with a rating of PG-13 and under as a jumping off point for discussions on Scripture and faith.
Wing Clips
www.wingclips.com
On this site you can look up film clips in multiple ways—by movie title (many new and current titles available), by Scripture (almost all books of the Bible have a clip reference), by category (drama, football, animation, civil rights, etc.) or by theme (abuse, blind faith, temptation, spiritual gifts, etc.). Films clips are free to show, though some parts of the site