When I decided to attend the London launch of the new-look Christianity Explored, I was intrigued and sceptical in equal measure. How, I wondered, could this solid fixture of the evangelical world – the conduit through which many have come to the Lord in faith – be improved?
Sure, the familiar face and voice of Christianity Explored – Rico Tice – have matured (a little) since its official launch in Spring 2001 at All Souls, Langham Place. But surely not the content? Because we know God’s Word does not change.
When I and my companion arrived at Christchurch Kensington on a damp Thursday evening in March, Rico was on door duty – shaking our hands warmly and welcoming us. Not many minutes into the event, the scepticism with which I arrived evaporated. It turns out that Christianity Explored, as we know it, could be improved – and significantly.
It’s not just been refreshed and modernised (we all recognise when a TV programme or video was made years ago – and Christianity Explored is no exception). It now embraces modern tech and incorporates additional components that will help engage newcomers to the gospel.
The new Christianity Explored focuses on Jesus’ question to His disciples: “Who do you say I am?”
It launched at Easter, with seven films corresponding with the new seven-week journey through Mark’s Gospel, and two new presenters alongside Rico – Emma Scrivener and Efrem Buckle. The films incorporate simple but compelling animation at appropriate points, with intervals for discussion.
The new content also includes testimonies from believers from different walks of life, who came to faith through Christianity Explored and are now walking with Jesus. Watching a handful of these authentic testimonies brought home the reality that the gospel is for everyone, young and old, rich and poor, and from every nation. It was not difficult to imagine that someone being introduced to Christianity through the new course will be touched by them.
Roundtable conversations
Another new feature will, I’m sure, prove significant in the quest to better engage with individuals. At the conclusion of each session, all three presenters sit together around a table and enjoy an unscripted, genuine conversation about the topic.
We were introduced to a couple of these roundtable chats at the launch. Filming was (presumably intentionally) directed in such a way that the watcher feels not so much an eavesdropper, but rather a fourth person sitting at the table. So, as I listened to Emma, Rico and Efrem and imagined myself being new to all this talk and wonder about this real man, Jesus, I knew I was welcome at that table – and I need not fear asking my questions.
We live in an age of consumerism. Christianity Explored makes the strategically important shift away from the binary model – providing filmed content to be “consumed” followed by in-person discussion – to a holistic approach utilising the latest research and tools to reach guests in the most engaging ways. They will also receive a completely reworked guest Handbook, which includes the whole of Mark’s Gospel for easy reference.
App and portal
Seasoned course leaders and anyone planning to run the course will also benefit from the team’s use of modern tech. There is, for example, the new Christianity Explored App and a new Leaders’ Portal. The Portal is a “central hub” holding basically everything you will ever need when running the course, including a new ten-episode Leaders’ Podcast to help prepare leaders ahead of each session.
The saying “if it aint broke, don’t fix it” could be applied to Christianity Explored, and there will be some who may be suspicious of the changes. Even so, the team makes clear they welcome feedback from leaders, including how they can improve it in any way. It’s worth noting that the course has already been piloted by more than 80 churches.
I and my companion left the launch event both stimulated and wondering: “What didn’t they think of?”
I passed my guest Handbook – a freebie from the launch – to my pastor who, it turns out, had already been investigating the Leaders’ Portal and was planning to run the next Christianity Explored course. “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest” (Matt. 9v35-38).
