Most readers know I started Charisma in 1975 when I was a 24-year-old newspaper reporter. The charismatic renewal and the Jesus movement were both going full force. I was excited about Jesus and wanted to use my journalistic talents for Him. Now, four and a half decades later, that’s still true. But my, how things have changed!
The charismatic movement has morphed in the intervening decades, but it is still exploding in many ways, especially overseas. in the U.S., exciting ministries such as Bethel, IHOPKC and Hillsong—ministries we never heard of in the 1970s—continue to grow even as the culture becomes more hostile to the message of the Holy Spirit. Back then we covered leaders like Dennis Bennett, Derek Prince or Jamie Buckingham, all of whom passed away years ago. Over the intervening years, Charisma covered many new charismatic leaders when they were unknown, but who are now some of the most respected leaders in this new generation.
But the biggest changes since 1975 that have affected Charisma have been technological. I remind Millennials that the computer wasn’t invented when I started Charisma and suggest that they will likely see in their lifetimes more change than I have. We did everything back then on typewriters and couldn’t even have imagined the internet. We had telephones with dials and cords and couldn’t have envisioned smartphones where people could access news, read books and buy products anywhere, any time of day.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic that has forced millions to stay home has even caused churches to minister to people online in new ways.
With new technology comes new opportunities to share the message of living in the Spirit. We communicate online through podcasts, electronic books and audio books. About a year ago, we began dreaming of doing an audio magazine. Audio books have become very popular in recent years. Why not let people listen to Charisma in addition to just reading it? Hence, the idea for Charisma Media Audio was born—an app where you can listen to each issue of Charisma, article by article, word for word. It so happened that it was approved by the app stores right when things were shut down for the pandemic. This meant while people were home, they could still download and listen so they could be blessed and ministered to by articles in Charisma.
As life and the economy get back to normal, we are beginning a major marketing campaign to introduce people to this new audio version of Charisma. I consider you my reading family, and I hope you’re excited about doors the Lord is opening for us to encourage, inform, teach and even entertain with the content you’ve come to expect from each issue of Charisma.
We are also beginning a free Charisma Digital Daily—a digital magazine delivered online with three articles a day. Some will be excerpts from our books, and we will pull the best material from our archives in addition to fresh revelation from authors and leaders you know and trust.
The audio medium may be new, but the content is the same. In a world where forces of evil seem to pull us away from God, the body of Christ can grow and connect with the Spirit-filled content we continue to produce each day. Our promotions tell users that Charisma Media Audio is “listening in the Spirit.” And we remind them that “faith comes by hearing!”
This is Spirit-filled content at your fingertips that allows you to listen while you’re at your desk, working around the home or on the go. The Charisma Media Audio app is available on Android through the Google Play Store. On your browser, you can sign up at charismamediaaudio.com. The content you love is now in audio. Listen to your favorite columnists and get access to Charisma audio magazines, audio e-books, weekly Charisma News recaps and exclusive Charisma content you can’t find anywhere else.
You already support our Spirit-filled journalism by reading our magazine. Now your print subscription will be included in this new audio subscription for $4.99 a month or $49.99 per year. But you can begin with a free 10-day trial. If you like it, you can also give gift subscriptions to family and friends. I hope you will be one of the first to join us in this new venture and start listening in the Spirit today!
Listen to my podcast today to learn more, and be sure to share this article to spread the word about our new app!
