As the founder of Charisma Media, over the years I’ve invited input from leaders in the charismatic movement as well as ordinary readers to try to improve Charisma and to be connected to the community I’ve served for more than 46 years. As we begin a new year, I’m trying a new idea of having a regular focus group I’m calling “Charisma Insiders.” This week I recorded a Strang Report podcast inviting my listeners to apply. I want a representation of my readers, both men and women from various segments of the Pentecostal community as well as in every age group from Generation Z to Boomers.
In case you don’t know my story, Charisma began as a church magazine during the height of the charismatic movement in the 1970s. By God’s grace, over the years we’ve had a total of several million subscribers to both our print magazines and now to our websites (Charisma News, Charisma Magazine and Charisma Leader) as well as to our thriving Charisma Podcast Network and our new Charisma Plus App. And of course, we have thousands of subscribers to this article and the accompanying Strang Report podcast, including this episode dedicated to the Charisma Insider group.
With changes in culture and the church, not to mention in publishing and technology we have many new challenges and opportunities to inspire people to experience the power of the Holy Spirit. In fact, my new book (which has not been announced yet) will be on this subject.
The Bible says there is wisdom in the multitude of counselors (Prov. 11:14), so I hope this group will help us understand what you like and don’t like as well as what ministers to you and what bores you. We sincerely want to learn how we can improve in the books we publish, the podcasts we release and the online articles and newsletters as well as the print magazine itself.
Interested? I hope you will listen to my podcast and “apply” to be a part of this group. I’m looking for people who have been touched in some way by Charisma or our publishing ministry.
Once before I invited podcast listeners to email me with ideas, and one man who did was Ryan Howard from Iowa. It turns out he lives only a few miles from Hudson, Iowa, where my dad pastored when I was in elementary school. Of course I responded to let him know of this coincidence, and a friendship developed that has turned into a mentoring relationship I describe on the podcast. (Ryan himself has a podcast called Your Faith At Work on the Charisma Podcast Network or whatever podcast platform you use.)
If you’re intrigued by this idea of being a Charisma Insider, please write me at [email protected] and let me know why.
I need a wide range of ages, interests and backgrounds, so if we don’t end up choosing you, please don’t take it personally. There will be many other ways you can support and assist Charisma along the way, and I’ll continue to let you know about those through my podcasts and articles.
You may be thinking, OK, where’s the cost?—but there is none other than your time and effort. I won’t charge for this because you’ll be helping us. We’ll interact by Zoom and in other ways to get your honest feedback on the areas I mentioned and more.
Again, if you’re interested, listen to this entire episode of the Strang Report, where I go into much more detail, and contact me by email at [email protected] to let me know of your interest in becoming a Charisma Insider. Subscribe to the Strang Report on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to tell your friends and family about this wonderful new opportunity we’re bringing your way. Who knows? They may want to become Charisma Insiders too! {eoa}
Read articles like this one and other Spirit-led content in our new platform, CHARISMA PLUS.
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