On November 3rd of 2011, I had the privilege of speaking to the media pastor of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville.
It was for a class project entitled “The future of media” which had been my most crucial project to date. If you volunteer or want to work in church media I would highly recommend this video.
Interview with Jeff Stoll from Chris Jones on Vimeo.
28 December 2011
Swimming In the Deadly Seas of Self-Reliance
Last semester I took a class with about 28 students. When the class ended all seven of us left, praised the professor’s brass rhetoric.
Advanced writing for broadcast media taught us not only how to write, but how to film as well. After turning in a tree’s worth of papers, week after week. The class was starting to look like a tree at the end of autumn, with all it’s leaves (students) falling off.
There are reasons why these classes are intense; they want you to make it. Look at it this way. A local news station only has a handful of people working at the station. Just think of the lead anchors, their photo is plastered on local billboards – it’s the same familiar faces every year. This is good for the people working the station, but bad for people trying to find a job in the industry.
Editing videos on Final Cut Pro for my class.
The professors preach about how people don’t make it in the industry, and when they get mail from alumni students on a weekly basis complaining about how the couldn’t keep there job who could blame them.
With this notion I decided that halfway through the semester my videos had to be the best in the class. Please, acknowledge the fact that some people took this class as an elective, and others came in hung over everyday.
Halfway through the class I made a dog show video that was praised by my professor. My video made it to the “UNF Weekly” news show.
After I made the video I started working on my final project, even know it wasn’t due for three weeks. I wanted this video to be the best video I had ever made, and of course be the best news package in the class. My final project would also be easy for me because it was on something close to heart.
It was a video about media in the church, and how it’s changing with the progression of technology. I went downtown to First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, and interviewed the media pastor, Jeff Stoll. I planned six questions but ended up asking him twenty. I spent roughly an hour talking to him and filmed about 30 minutes worth (see the interview here). I finished the rest of the package Sunday and edited the film for class. I spent hours working on the video and the turned it in, and got a response back.
The package was panned!
I was shocked and upset. I kept asking God, Why? This video was about the church how could you let it fail. I was upset for a couple of days until I found this simple verse on a blog I was reading.
Over the last few months I realized I was listening to the advice about how to be successful. I was caught up in the professional mindset.
I wasn’t working towards my goal of being in ministry, but going after my own ambitions of earning best of class prize. I put friends, church and everything else to the side for a goal that meant nothing in the long run. Besides, TV news was not even why I came to college, I don’t want to be an anchor. I don’t even watch local news. I wanted to be a media director in a church.
After swimming in the seas of self-reliance I felt it was time to come back to shore, and follow after what God has in store for me.
Advanced writing for broadcast media taught us not only how to write, but how to film as well. After turning in a tree’s worth of papers, week after week. The class was starting to look like a tree at the end of autumn, with all it’s leaves (students) falling off.
There are reasons why these classes are intense; they want you to make it. Look at it this way. A local news station only has a handful of people working at the station. Just think of the lead anchors, their photo is plastered on local billboards – it’s the same familiar faces every year. This is good for the people working the station, but bad for people trying to find a job in the industry.
Editing videos on Final Cut Pro for my class.
The professors preach about how people don’t make it in the industry, and when they get mail from alumni students on a weekly basis complaining about how the couldn’t keep there job who could blame them.
With this notion I decided that halfway through the semester my videos had to be the best in the class. Please, acknowledge the fact that some people took this class as an elective, and others came in hung over everyday.
Halfway through the class I made a dog show video that was praised by my professor. My video made it to the “UNF Weekly” news show.
After I made the video I started working on my final project, even know it wasn’t due for three weeks. I wanted this video to be the best video I had ever made, and of course be the best news package in the class. My final project would also be easy for me because it was on something close to heart.
It was a video about media in the church, and how it’s changing with the progression of technology. I went downtown to First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, and interviewed the media pastor, Jeff Stoll. I planned six questions but ended up asking him twenty. I spent roughly an hour talking to him and filmed about 30 minutes worth (see the interview here). I finished the rest of the package Sunday and edited the film for class. I spent hours working on the video and the turned it in, and got a response back.
The package was panned!
I was shocked and upset. I kept asking God, Why? This video was about the church how could you let it fail. I was upset for a couple of days until I found this simple verse on a blog I was reading.
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. – Matthew 6:19-21 – New Living Translation
Over the last few months I realized I was listening to the advice about how to be successful. I was caught up in the professional mindset.
I wasn’t working towards my goal of being in ministry, but going after my own ambitions of earning best of class prize. I put friends, church and everything else to the side for a goal that meant nothing in the long run. Besides, TV news was not even why I came to college, I don’t want to be an anchor. I don’t even watch local news. I wanted to be a media director in a church.
After swimming in the seas of self-reliance I felt it was time to come back to shore, and follow after what God has in store for me.
Finding God in A Busy Schedule
Sometimes I just wanna pull back the hands on a clock, and hope it gives me more hours in a day. Have you ever imagined this?
The good news is if I'm in my kitchen, and I grab the clock on the wall and set it back 20 minutes – I will gain 20 minutes. Seriously, I'm not kidding.
My roommate Sammy enjoys his clock to be ahead of schedule. I’ve tried setting the clock back but every time he fixes it to his desired time. I have given up on the battle, but only because my IPhone is usually right next to me, and it holds the precise time all year long.
Finding time for God has been a struggle in my life.
I used to pray and read my bible everyday before I went to school. Last year I was in community college. Community college days made it easier, less homework and more time for God.
Today I have work, school and now I intern for Osprey TV.
After a while I got caught up in class work. Some days the most I would read was the daily verse tweet on Twitter.
One day I was reading the feed, and I read this verse...
Reading is one way to relax the body, and is a good aid to remedy restlessness. Which makes reading it right before I go to bed a good thing - especially if I decided to splurge, and eat a late night treat.
(Image Source: http://www.timebooth.com/images/daylight-savings-time.jpg)
My roommate Sammy enjoys his clock to be ahead of schedule. I’ve tried setting the clock back but every time he fixes it to his desired time. I have given up on the battle, but only because my IPhone is usually right next to me, and it holds the precise time all year long.
Finding time for God has been a struggle in my life.
I used to pray and read my bible everyday before I went to school. Last year I was in community college. Community college days made it easier, less homework and more time for God.
Today I have work, school and now I intern for Osprey TV.
After a while I got caught up in class work. Some days the most I would read was the daily verse tweet on Twitter.
One day I was reading the feed, and I read this verse...
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. - 2 Timothy 3:16 - New Living TranslationThis made me realize that I need to set time aside to read the Bible, no matter how busy I am. I decided to read the bible at night after I get home from work.
Reading is one way to relax the body, and is a good aid to remedy restlessness. Which makes reading it right before I go to bed a good thing - especially if I decided to splurge, and eat a late night treat.
(Image Source: http://www.timebooth.com/images/daylight-savings-time.jpg)
Life Outside the Blogosphere
I'm 25 and I'm loving life. Money is tight, and my car is aging - but I'm still having fun. I’m happy where God has me.
I’m in college later in life then most of my friends. There are some perks to attending college later in life. One of the advantages is that you make wiser decisions then some of the other classmates. My Major depends on technology, so one of the perks is that these days everyone has a camera to use, and has access to the editing studio. This studio size was comparative to a shoebox just two years ago.
Overtime, I have learned to be thankful for where God has placed me. I have learned a whole lot, and have had a lot of fun in the process in the last few years.
I use to get discouraged more in the past, Gen-Ed classes can make you feel like your repeating high school all over again . The first two years generally are the worst. Thankfully I remember this verse
This verse has always helped me get through hard times. Thankfully last year I finished my Associates in Art, and I'm now enrolled at University of North Florida. I'm juggling a lot of things now that I'm at UNF.
A few days ago, I had someone ask why I don’t have a girlfriend? I told her it's because I’m busy. During the week I go to school, and after classes end, I head straight to the Osprey TV studio, and start filming.
After the filming is done I go home. I eat a quick lunch, take a 30-minute nap, and head to UPS. I don’t get home till almost 11 p.m. some nights. Thank God for TV dinners cause after moving 1,000 boxes an hour - I’m too tired to cook!
However, even with all the hustling I still manage to have fun. This is the kind of fun that also looks good on a resume.
Osprey TV gives me hands-on training while I’m going to school. Osprey TV is the campus news show ran by students at UNF. I have learned to do everything from scripting, editing, reporting and run cameras. Osprey TV news show airs in Tuesday and Thursday on Osprey TV
After a while I even had my own segment. The editor there, Andy Leverett, helped me come up with a name. We chose the name Chris TV. Here is a YouTube video of one of my segments.
Go here
Osprey TV isn't the only thing I do voluntarily. I also put shows together for Osprey Radio. Osprey Radio is you guessed it – the student ran radio station.
A girl in my communication class introduced me to Osprey TV. At the time she was an anchor for the show. On my way I passed by Osprey Radio, needless to say it perked my interest as well. I first ran the TelePrompTer on my second day in the studio. After I finished work the same night I came home and started compiling a CD together for Osprey Radio. They were impressed after hearing the CD. Here is the email they sent me after they heard it
All those days of worrying about still being in school are over. They just built the studio and if I had went to UNF earlier I would have been very limited to what I could have done without a station. Plus, I wouldn't have been able to meet the great folks I know now. I thank God for Osprey TV and the people he has put in my life through it.
I’m in college later in life then most of my friends. There are some perks to attending college later in life. One of the advantages is that you make wiser decisions then some of the other classmates. My Major depends on technology, so one of the perks is that these days everyone has a camera to use, and has access to the editing studio. This studio size was comparative to a shoebox just two years ago.
Overtime, I have learned to be thankful for where God has placed me. I have learned a whole lot, and have had a lot of fun in the process in the last few years.
I use to get discouraged more in the past, Gen-Ed classes can make you feel like your repeating high school all over again . The first two years generally are the worst. Thankfully I remember this verse
Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. - Psalm 55:22 - New Living Translation
This verse has always helped me get through hard times. Thankfully last year I finished my Associates in Art, and I'm now enrolled at University of North Florida. I'm juggling a lot of things now that I'm at UNF.
A few days ago, I had someone ask why I don’t have a girlfriend? I told her it's because I’m busy. During the week I go to school, and after classes end, I head straight to the Osprey TV studio, and start filming.
After the filming is done I go home. I eat a quick lunch, take a 30-minute nap, and head to UPS. I don’t get home till almost 11 p.m. some nights. Thank God for TV dinners cause after moving 1,000 boxes an hour - I’m too tired to cook!However, even with all the hustling I still manage to have fun. This is the kind of fun that also looks good on a resume.
Osprey TV gives me hands-on training while I’m going to school. Osprey TV is the campus news show ran by students at UNF. I have learned to do everything from scripting, editing, reporting and run cameras. Osprey TV news show airs in Tuesday and Thursday on Osprey TV
After a while I even had my own segment. The editor there, Andy Leverett, helped me come up with a name. We chose the name Chris TV. Here is a YouTube video of one of my segments.
Go here
Osprey TV isn't the only thing I do voluntarily. I also put shows together for Osprey Radio. Osprey Radio is you guessed it – the student ran radio station.
A girl in my communication class introduced me to Osprey TV. At the time she was an anchor for the show. On my way I passed by Osprey Radio, needless to say it perked my interest as well. I first ran the TelePrompTer on my second day in the studio. After I finished work the same night I came home and started compiling a CD together for Osprey Radio. They were impressed after hearing the CD. Here is the email they sent me after they heard it
Yes I like to be called Worldpop, that is my DJ name. I also started doing shows for them as Landis requested. After several months of doing these shows they picked five student shows to air on WJCT-FM 89.9, Jacksonville's local NPR station. This was in addition to running on Osprey Radio's online only station. Out of about thirty student produced shows they chose mine – I thanked God for this opportunity.
Hello DJ WorldPop,
I listened to your cd you gave me. I cannot tell you how great it was man, awesome mix of tracks. I would love for you to continue to make them for us and come in and dj live if you would like to. I’ll get with the tech directors and have them slot it, did you have a time when you wanted it to play??? Also if you have any friends that are into similar styles of music please send them our way.
Thanks again,
Andrew Landis
Osprey Radio
All those days of worrying about still being in school are over. They just built the studio and if I had went to UNF earlier I would have been very limited to what I could have done without a station. Plus, I wouldn't have been able to meet the great folks I know now. I thank God for Osprey TV and the people he has put in my life through it.
The Early Years
My dream of video ministry isn’t new.
Some of my newest friends have questioned my email address – What does it mean, and why is it so long? The reason for inspirationalexperiences@gmail.com is because of a formal site I once owned called Inspirationalexperiences.org.
This website was a Christian video ministry blog I built back in 2007. For over a year I was stoked about blogging. I made tons of ministry videos. Here is what one of the videos looked like.
Here is an early ministry video of me explaining fasting. Yes, I know it's silly but I believe it still captures my passionate young heart for God.
There were various reasons why I did so. Some of the original objectives of the site were not met. I wanted to meet someone online who was interested in video ministry, but it never happened. I messaged tons of pastors about the idea but received very little response.
I was discouraged - when the time came around to pay the server and domain fees to Go Daddy, I neglected to do so.
I was discouraged but I did not give up. I decided to go back to college to learn more about digital media. Hopefully, along the way I would find more meaning to what I was doing or find someone that had some inkling of doing something pertaining to video ministry.
As of 2011, I’m still in college. I'm now an intern at the TV and Radio station at University of North Florida. I’ve met a lot of new friends who are involved in the faith that are in the communication route as well. I’m now involved with the best churches I’ve ever been to (River City Church and Ocean City Church) – I wouldn’t leave my church family for nothing.
I still haven’t met anyone who wants to do exactly what I want to do, but I have met some folks that I would consider close calls.
This year I felt it was time to make a come back to the blog world. This time I feel it's more about my spiritual growth than about building a ministry – even know it is a site about building a ministry.
In fact it has been around since 2007. You know - before IPhones, Twitter and when most people still thought MySpace was superior to Facebook. Back when I still lived with my parents, and my mom thought my sister and I were on a new site called “Facepage.” At least that’s what she called it.
Some of my newest friends have questioned my email address – What does it mean, and why is it so long? The reason for inspirationalexperiences@gmail.com is because of a formal site I once owned called Inspirationalexperiences.org.
This website was a Christian video ministry blog I built back in 2007. For over a year I was stoked about blogging. I made tons of ministry videos. Here is what one of the videos looked like.Here is an early ministry video of me explaining fasting. Yes, I know it's silly but I believe it still captures my passionate young heart for God.
This photo was taken during the time I owned my site. (Circa 2007)
My site did pretty well attracting over 30 visits a day. I met several friends around the world from the site that I still talk to. Locals around town would talk about the videos since they would find them when they searched “Callahan” in YouTube. However, even after all the encouragement by the end of 2009 I ended the site.
My site did pretty well attracting over 30 visits a day. I met several friends around the world from the site that I still talk to. Locals around town would talk about the videos since they would find them when they searched “Callahan” in YouTube. However, even after all the encouragement by the end of 2009 I ended the site.
There were various reasons why I did so. Some of the original objectives of the site were not met. I wanted to meet someone online who was interested in video ministry, but it never happened. I messaged tons of pastors about the idea but received very little response.
I was discouraged - when the time came around to pay the server and domain fees to Go Daddy, I neglected to do so.
I was discouraged but I did not give up. I decided to go back to college to learn more about digital media. Hopefully, along the way I would find more meaning to what I was doing or find someone that had some inkling of doing something pertaining to video ministry.
As of 2011, I’m still in college. I'm now an intern at the TV and Radio station at University of North Florida. I’ve met a lot of new friends who are involved in the faith that are in the communication route as well. I’m now involved with the best churches I’ve ever been to (River City Church and Ocean City Church) – I wouldn’t leave my church family for nothing.
I still haven’t met anyone who wants to do exactly what I want to do, but I have met some folks that I would consider close calls.
This year I felt it was time to make a come back to the blog world. This time I feel it's more about my spiritual growth than about building a ministry – even know it is a site about building a ministry.
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