Reflections: Stokes Chapter 1-4

Cultural studies should be an exercise that churches also implement in their strategies of reaching the next generation. In chapter one the author encourages researches to be mindful and think of the ‘current developments’ within culture. This can be a helpful practice when leaders of the church want to grow their congregation. It is important to understand what people are listening to, watching, reading and being influenced by to warn, guide and direct them to the truth of the Gospel.

Chapter two encourages researchers to draw from various sources and resources when conducting a study. In the same way, our church can diversify their library or bookstore encouraging members to be in tune with popular books, thoughts, ideas that are being read by the world. In this way, Christians in the church won’t be ignorant to what the world believes or interested in learning. Instead of stocking the shelves with the newest self-help books, maybe the church can provide the New York best sellers or even secular magazines.

I believe the all methods to analyze media can be used at all levels of ministry from children to adults, but specifically narrative analysis can be effective when trying to understand the student culture of youth. Youth workers or leaders, as an exercise, can watch a popular television show, watch it together, and go through the stages of conducting a narrative analysis. By doing this exercise, hopefully youth workers will be able to understand what messages the students are listening to and corporately come up with a way to either reinforce the message or discredit it.

Chapter four discusses ‘cultural industries’. It is one, which has as it main function the production of distribution of art, entertainment or information. Although the church’s main function isn’t production of such things, it does produce and distribute some of these things. But what is more of an interest is, what kind of Christians the churches are producing. Willow Creek has created a survey and study on the spiritual health of the congregation. Although this was a grueling and long process, it provided great insight into what the results were in the programs, strategies and methods of the church. Doing such study in my church would allow leaders to reassess their programs, methods and strategies to lead people closer to Christ.