Orality Journal Volume 3, Number 1, 2014 | Page 48

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Orality Journal, Volume 3, Number 1, 2014

reach to high-cost/low reach—I
think you may be surprised!

after hearing the voicemail
message. This simple solution
that even your grandmother
could do can potentially reach
thousands (Williams, 2012).

A. Phonesites
“Phonesites” are one of the
simplest and cheapest ways to
create a media ministry with
the potential for broad-scale
impact. Building a phonesite
can be as simple as creating a
voicemail greeting. Purchase
a phone and mobile line
subscription. Record verses,
stories, etc. as the voicemail
message for your line. Let all
incoming phone calls go directly
to your voicemail. Get the word
out about how people can call
the number and hear stories,
poetry, songs, teachings, etc. Let
people know how regularly they
can expect to find new messages
when they call. Regularly
change the message and follow
up callers who leave a message

Keith Williams

More advanced versions of this
type of outreach may include
interactive voice response
(IVR) and branching mailbox
technologies (“dial one to hear
an encouraging word,” “dial
two to hear a Jesus story,” “dial
three to take the First Steps
With Jesus course”), interactive
quizzes, etc. Outreach examples
include Telemensahe Mediaii
and MAF-LT’s Celluversityiii.
Secular groups implementing
such projects include CGNetiv
and FreedomFonev.

B. Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Mobile
Media
The increasing capabilities
of even cheap mobile devices
have opened the doors to DIY
content creation. The following
story illustrates the impact that
such an outreach can have.

Wängarr is an aboriginal woman
who lives on Elcho Island, off
the coast of Australia. She
taught herself how to use a
computer and figured out on her
own how to put audio Scriptures
onto mobile phones. After being