大象传媒

Since they made the first Sunday message available from their website The Harrogate New Life Church podcast has been downloaded by hundreds of people from across the world. We asked Pastor Tim Eldridge why they decided to podcast their message.

Tim Eldridge: "We had some requests for CD copies of messages, mainly from visitors, so we thought an easier way to do it was to use modern technology. We had the website, we had the facility to use MP3, so we thought 'lets put it out and see what happens'.

"We put one message out on public view for about three weeks and we were just absolutely staggered by the number of times it was downloaded. About 160 times."

大象传媒 NY: So that's 160 people who've downloaded the Sunday message, presumably people who weren't at the service.

TE: "Absolutely, and they're from all round the world. We thought 'there's obviously a demand so we'll put the others out' and the same thing's happened.

"There's probably about half a dozen that we've put out on public view so far and they've all been snapped up. We don't quite know who's listened to them, but we know what countries they're from and they're pretty much all round the world."

大象传媒 NY: Why do you think people around the world are interested in the message going out from a church in Harrogate?

TE: "We're quite a lively, contemporary church so it's not a boring stuffy message, it's quite relevant to life. Perhaps there's just a demand on a global scale, more than just the local setting.

大象传媒 NY: It's quite a nice touch for members of the church who've maybe missed a week, they can catch up, but do you think there's the potential this could become something bigger?

Most mobile phones also play MP3 files

TE: "Yes I think there is. That wasn't our intention, and still isn't, but it's obviously a service that's there for anybody to listen to. I myself have an MP3 player and I listen to podcasts from all round the world.

"It's quite intriguing to listen to someone on the other side of the world give a Sunday message. Listen to their context, their culture and what's going on there."

大象传媒 NY: MP3 players are really designed for listening to music but of course they'll play any audio you want including podcasts. Do you think these devices are becoming much more of a communication tool?

TE: "I think so, and I think the technology is so simple and easy to use now that basically anybody can start doing their own podcasts. In fact the number one podcast worldwide is from a couple of Hillbillies in America just talking about their week.

"Something like 80,000 people a week download the podcast they create in their front room even though they're just chatting."

大象传媒 NY: So is this something you'll carry on doing?

TE: "We'll keep it up while the demand's there, it's useful for the original purpose of helping visitors and our own members. But obviously anyone can listen to them."