Creating a Culture of Freedom: Navigating Digital Change in Christian Broadcasting

Written by Brian Curee, CEO of Killer Bee

“What’s the biggest change you’ve seen over the last year?” is a question I get asked frequently as a digital strategist. I’ve seen more change over the last year than ever before, and I don’t see it slowing down. It’s probably no surprise that AI would be the biggest game changer. I invested into AI in 2020 and have been using it in many ways. From streamlining workflows, research, content marketing, photo creation, etc. I also stepped into the Metaverse in 2021 and our team continues to embrace this new technology, as we expect Augmented & Virtual Reality to continue to grow over the next 5-7 years. But how do you know which platforms or technologies are right for you? In this article I aim to share some of my approach and how an atmosphere of freedom can play a role in your next steps.

Digital Challenges & Moving Forward

The ways we can reach people searching for hope continue to evolve, which is incredible, but it’s also challenging because we need to constantly adapt and learn new skills. That’s why I’m encouraging people to press pause, slow down, and become more aware of what’s going on. Reflect on the different avenues and ask more questions before jumping on the bandwagon.

Asking more questions is a skill set we need to embrace more openly and freely. For example, instead of asking what’s been the biggest change, I encourage people to ask, “How is my field/industry changing?” Don’t ask that question fearfully, ask it from a place of excitement for new opportunities. When you think about this question consider what trends are impacting your field, (e.g., the Christian broadcasting field). Reflect on how these trends will likely play out over the next five years. Brainstorm with your team to come up with innovative ways to stay ahead of the game and how you might use these new opportunities to broadcast to people searching for hope. But, before you can brainstorm effectively, you will need to be open to embracing digital evolution first.

Embrace Change: The Digital Evolution

First, embracing the digital evolution doesn’t necessarily mean you have to use these new tools. More of what I mean by embracing is adopting a mindset of openness. Being willing to explore and evaluate how these advancements may be used, even if you don’t end up using them.

Second, embracing digital changes is not about abandoning radio, it’s about evaluating new avenues we can use to extend the message we broadcast to impact more lives.

For example, we’ve been hosting a podcast with a live audience in the Metaverse for two years now and just launched season four. Just because we’re doing this doesn’t mean everyone should. But, before you make that decision you should see firsthand what it’s all about. I’ll even ship you a headset to join us as a guest if you’d like. ;) Just email me at brian@killerbeemarketing.com

I understand not everyone has the manpower to continuously research new technologies or platforms, but we can seek help from others who are knowledgeable and experienced in these areas. This could mean reaching out to some fellow Christian Broadcasters for advice or work with a digital coach or consultant. Together, we can utilize our resources and experiences to reach more people for Christ through the ever-evolving digital landscape. If you don’t know where to start, you can join our Private Christian Broadcasting Community Facebook Group.

New technologies like VR have even opened up new ways to collaborate with people around the world! I’ve connected with some incredible business leaders from Microsoft, Meta, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and the States using virtual technology. Through collaboration, we’ve shared business ideas, and challenges, and brainstormed together, which has led to some interesting discussions.

Transforming Fear into Bold Innovation

I recently had a conversation with Art Garza, who shared a sermon with me from “The Sanctuary Jupiter” by Pastor Tullian Tchividjian. The message is titled “Scandalous Freedom” which highlights the true freedom that Christianity offers. He explains what freedom is, is often misunderstood or feared. He emphasizes that freedom in Christ isn’t about putting conditions on it. It’s about fully embracing it, just as Jesus and Paul taught. This freedom is the essence of the Christian faith. It should enable believers to live without fear of mistakes and remind us that we are loved unconditionally. This got me thinking a lot about the change we’re facing in the Christian broadcasting industry and the importance of embracing this freedom.

I’ve consulted with people serving at radio stations who are fearful of making a mistake. Especially when it comes to using digital platforms effectively. Have you ever considered that you may have team members at your station or in your ministry who are fearful of messing up? Some people will continue to do the same thing repeatedly instead of speaking up or stepping out, but this could hold your station back. It’s very difficult to embrace or explore new opportunities if your team is fearful. What if, as leaders, we created an atmosphere of freedom? What would that look like? How might it change the culture at your organization? How might an atmosphere of freedom transform your efforts moving forward?

Creating an Atmosphere of Freedom

Below are a few ways to consider creating an atmosphere of freedom. Creating an atmosphere of freedom means encouraging innovation. Allowing team members to experiment without the fear of failure.

Encourage Open Communication: Create spaces so team members feel safe sharing their ideas and concerns without fear of judgment. Think about hosting a dedicated team meeting where people aren’t allowed to give answers; instead, focus on asking questions and encouraging others to respond with questions.

Celebrate Mistakes: Shift the perspective on making mistakes from being negative to being learning opportunities. With today’s constant changes and new tools, I’ve found the 4 Helpful Lists to be a great implementation process. It was created by Tom Paterson. The tool involves asking four questions. Here is how I use the 4 Helpful List:

1. What went right? How can we amplify that?

2. What went wrong? Discuss what went wrong, how it could be fixed, or decide to stop doing it. Just because everyone else is doing it or says you should doesn’t mean it’s the most effective approach for your team today.

3. What was confusing? Clear up any confusion. It’ll boost your team environment, improve the listeners’ experience, and impact more lives.

4. What are others saying? Listen to people. What are they saying? Becoming better listeners may reveal missed opportunities or bring awareness to something that should be fixed.

Provide Support & Resources: Equip your team with the necessary tools and training. Keeping up with all the changes is not easy. Most of us in the Christian broadcasting industry wear multiple hats. Offer continuous learning opportunities for your team members. Whether that’s department heads sharing the latest trends or hiring an outside coach or consultant. As the owner of Killer Bee, I became aware that I needed to invest in myself as a leader. God blessed me with the funds, but it was not an easy decision. It took faith to trust God, as I signed a check for 10K to attend Ramsey’s EntreLeadership Master Series and join the EntreLeaders Elite group. I grew as a leader through the connections I made, and to my surprise, I tripled my investment in the first year.

Lead by Example: Show your team it’s okay to take risks and share your personal experiences and failures. I’ve learned that leaders who show vulnerability and openness set a strong example for the team, which can lead to a more trusting and collaborative work environment.

Practice Listening to the Unspoken

As I wrap up this blog, I want to encourage any leaders in the Christian broadcasting industry to press pause to evaluate your team environment too. Listen to what your team is not saying. Sometimes, the most critical insights come from unspoken fears and hesitations.

Embracing digital evolution and creating an atmosphere of freedom within our teams can drive innovation and growth in the Christian Broadcasting Industry. It’s up to us to approach the future with curiosity and openness. Remember, true freedom in Christ is about living without fear. Let’s lead our teams with this mindset. It could transform your team’s culture and help us impact more lives as Christian Broadcasters in new ways we’d never imagine.

Brian has worked in the digital field professionally since 2006 and has served the Christian Broadcasting Industry since 2013. He is the CEO & Lead Coach at Killer Bee Marketing. He has completed Donald Miller’s StoryBrand Marketing Roadmap, continues to invest in his leadership skills through events like Entreleadership’s Master Series, and has a degree in Computer Science and Theology. Brian’s purpose is to “Empower Business Leaders & Teams to Use Digital More Effectively,” and he has a passion for helping the Christian Radio industry transform more lives across digital platforms. He has developed the ART Framework, an innovative approach that encourages Awareness, Reflection, and Transformation, guiding businesses to make decisions anchored in purpose and strategy.