The Best Christian Ministry Show on Television

The best Christian ministry show on television today is not on a Christian network and does not star the head of a major media ministry. It will not be featured at the National Religious Broadcasters convention this February and it has no product sales, call for prayer or scripture references. No, for my money, the absolute best Christian ministry show on TV today is ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

Surprised? Just think about it. What is ministry anyway? The dictionary defines it as the act of serving or acting as an agent for the benefit of another. The term assumes relevance and impact and problem solving.

Now think about most of the Christian programming you watch (or don’t watch) on television today. In most cases, sadly, the programs are not relevant, they don’t make an impact and they don’t solve any problems. I just don’t understand how many of these ministries can imagine that they have anything to say to me. Seemingly, they live in a world that is so unreal and irrelevant to anything in my experience. People I don’t care about, saying things I don’t care about. That’s not my definition of ministry.

Now let’s look at ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Is this doing the ministry of Jesus or what? They actually go into a situation and change lives. They completely design and build (in one week) a home tailored to the specific needs and desires of a needy family. It’s not just getting them a Habitat for Humanity home (not that there’s anything wrong with that). They are building with excellence, top drawer, high quality.

Is it working? It’s one of ABC’s top programs on television right now in the highly sought after Sunday evening time slot. Sears signed on early as a high visibility sponsor but now with the show’s success, Ford, Dell and others are fighting for the chance to pour money into this program, “We like helping poor people too!”

Although my sense is there is some Christian influence in the production of this program, it is definitely understated. They’re not trying to make some kind of religious statement here—they are out to change lives. And they are doing it one family at a time. But what about the volunteers, the communities where the home is located, the sponsors, the viewers? Are their lives changed too? Maybe not all of them but you can bet that this program is making an impact. I can’t be that different from most people; the program ends, I’ve got tears in my eyes and I’m thinking…how can I make a difference in my neighborhood?

I believe that this is the absolute best use of the media; Christian or secular—to use the power of television to tell a story, to make an impact, and to change lives. Of course the worst thing that could happen (and it probably will happen) is that some Christian network will try to make the “Christian” version of the program. God help us.

Comments

[Abi]

I couldn't agree more. Usually, within the first minutes of the show I am glued and tears have welled in my eyes. I'm at the mercy of this television that reaches beyond entertainment or asking me to support its effort. I hate cliches - but in this case the only description for the show is "It's real." There's no exageration, there's no begging. It's raw. It's beautiful in a way words barely describe.

[Chris]

Many shows are called reality shows, but this one truly is more real and less contrived than most. I believe that doing good in the absc\ence of a religious context is also a reason for the popularity of the program.

I share your concern that someone will launch a "Christian" knock off of the program, complete with preaching and a bevy of cliches.

A bigger question here is what the popularity of this program tells us about our culture. I think in part it is the contrast of practical, tangible help to empty and detached words that is capturing the imaginations of millions.

[Gene]

May we all be more receptive to being open to helping our neighbor out...even if it's not on TV!

[Summer]

Actually, I've found that this program is not all that secular. There are so many references to God, and the people usually give Him glory for the situation.

[Kristin]

they throw away the old and they put on new... hmmm... now where have i heard that before again?

whether they realize it or not, they are helping people see God... hmmm... i love it. and i'd bet that all the producers initially wanted was good ratings.

thanks for bringing this program up as a topic. wish there was more programming like it... no, scratch that, i don't wish for more programming like it, i wish for more people like it... people who are out to change lives.