Be A World-Changer: Your Audience

In today’s world there’s no lack of opportunities for Christians to serve others who are overwhelmed with problems, issues, and needs. In every corner of the globe there are people who are homeless, hungry, ill-clothed, and uneducated. Every nation has its shares of orphans and widows. Prisons are full; crime is increasing; corruption is rampant; and life is devalued.

When God created you, He embedded within you a deep desire to impact a specific Audience. He chose to give you specific spiritual gifts because they would be needed to effectively serve this Audience. Maybe God has placed on your heart a desire to meet the needs a specific group of people? Or tackle a particular social issue beyond the walls of your church?

Businesses spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours trying to identify their target Audience. Every business has a product or service to sell and will increase sales if they correctly identify the Audience most likely to make a purchase. But, if they misidentify it, they’ll waste time, money, and opportunities.

Imagine you’re the marketing director for a large corporation. Which Audience would you try to reach for the following businesses: Disney World? Parents with children under age ten. Mercedes Benz? Wealthy individuals.  The U.S. army? High school seniors or recent graduates. Tide laundry detergent? Stay-at-home parents.

In business the Audience is the customer most likely to buy your product or service. But in ministry the Audience is the “customer” – the Audience – you have a deep desire to impact for Christ. Additionally, the product or service you offer are your spiritual gifts.

In general, there are two types of Audiences. The first one involves groups of people. For many believers their Audience is a group of people at their local church. This group may be based on age, gender, marital status, life experiences, or spiritual maturity. Is there a group that you find yourself energized being around?

If your Audience is a group of people, God has called you to meet a need in their lives. It may be accepting or growing in Christ; having a fulfilling marriage; recovering from addictions; grieving the loss of a loved one; or any number of other needs. Additionally, the location of your ministry tends to be within the local church.

The second type of Audience involves social issues. God gave believers with this Audience type the exact spiritual gifts necessary to tackle the issue involved. If your Audience is a social issue, you will focus on righting a wrong, solving a problem, improving life conditions, or reconciling relationships. Perhaps you have a desire to take on issues like homelessness, starvation, quality education, more worshipful churches, political corruption, or countless other possibilities. If your Audience is a social issues then your ministry occurs in the community, nation, or world.

Do you see something broken in the world and want to fix it? Is there something in society that you think could be made better? Do you see something wrong that needs to be made right? If so, your Audience may be that specific social issue.

God created you with a desire to have an impact on this world with your one and only life. Therefore, He has equipped you to focus your resources on making a difference in the lives of your Audience – a group of people or on a social issue facing our society.