The Hope Channel is the official mission media of the Adventist Church and was initiated in 2003. In July 2015, at the 60th General Conference Session, Korea along with five other countries, including Japan and France, officially launched the Hope Channel in their countries. In the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD), Korea and Japan are following after the Chinese Hope Channel, which is spreading the gospel in the mainland through the internet.
In Korea, there are many constraints on entering the cable network market as a religious broadcast. As alternatives, Hope Channel Korea has turned its attention to the potential of Social Networking Service (SNS), including Facebook, Twitter, and Kakao Talk. Nowadays, Facebook accounts of domestic broadcasting companies have actually gained explosive popularity from young people. Kakao Talk is also a major means of public relations by business companies. Media mission through SNS has already become active overseas.
Hope Channel Korea decided to concentrate on SNS, and it began to produce regular content. The initial target is young people, and Hope Channel Korea has been developing youth-specialized content with an SNS mission team made up of young volunteers. One of the main strategies is to increase the number of followers through various cultural events and performances by Adventist youth cultural ministry teams, including Yemoon Agency and Sulammi, Oulim, and Hosanna.
In addition, they will operate a professional religious counseling team to connect young people to mentor groups, taking advantage of the free and instant feedback provided by SNS.
The ratio of non-Adventist students in Adventist schools is increasing, but religious education is difficult due to regulations in Korea. In this situation, Hope Channel Korea will serve as a network which gathers Korean young people together in faith. After laying the groundwork for the youth channel, it will produce and distribute various content for adults.
GC Hope Channel Expects Cooperation with Korean Adventist Media Center
Kandus Thorp, vice president of the General Conference (GC) Hope Channel, visited the Korean Union Conference (KUC) Media Center to explain the present condition of the Hope Channel throughout the world and to have a Q&A session about the global project. She demonstrated the Hope Channel broadcast of each country and talked about the importance and future potential of media mission.
Thorp underlined the fundamental principles of the Hope Channel. “The basic concepts of the Hope Channel are prayer, health‒holistic and spiritual gift, and biblical doctrines. Although we produce a lot of content, those three concepts must become the core message in a harmonious way.”
She also emphasized that it is essential to have a correct biblical understanding of media ministry. Sadly, Christian media tends to aim for high audience figures like many other commercial media. Thus, unless we understand the Bible, our enemy will penetrate the church through media. “No matter which messages we include into products and which communications network we use, all the content we produce must reveal biblical truths.
We should not forget the solemn fact that Hope Channel plays a role as a bride between God and people. We are people of mission. We should give a good impression to the audience so that they can learn healthier and more beautiful Christ-centered livingthrough the Hope Channel,” continued. Thorp.
The GC Hope Channel is anticipating the growth of media ministry in KUC since it already has a developed broadcasting system and content. They especially have a great interest in Korea’s media ministry through SNS.
Hope Channel in the World
Since it began in 2003, Hope Channel has spread Adventist truths through 43 branches. The Hope Channel of each country produces and sends various types of content, such as music videos, animation, documentaries, talk shows and others.
In Brazil where there is a broadcasting station with about 430 workers, Hope Channel is working hard to win souls not only in its own country, but all over South America. The health-related Facebook page of Hope Channel Brazil is so popular that it has received more than 1 million Likes. Local churches in Brazil place the Hope Channel logo on their signs to effectively connect local gospel work to media.
Germany has also focused on direct mission work through broadcasting since 2008, and about 30 devoted workers are involved in this ministry. Beyond the barrier of individualism, which is a unique culture of advanced countries, it spreads the gospel to each family through media content and, as a result, many seekers have found the truth.
“I am sure that numerous people will discover the truth through media before Jesus’Second Advent,” said. Thorp. This ministry, which has potential for growth, requires the interest and positive cooperation of Korean Adventists.