Opening the Bible Channel BRIDGE to the public

In order to set up a platform for Japanese churches, the Pacific Broadcasting Association (PBA, Chairman Yoshio Yagi) built a website called Seisho Channel BRIDGE (seishobridge.com). Their goal is “To send God’s blessings to as many people as possible.” Organizations such as Word of Life Press Ministries, One Hope Japan, Our Daily Bread, Hakobune-bin, Ochanomizu Christian Center (OCC), and RCJ Media Ministry offered their own content and know-how to the site. Their hope is that BRIDGE will link people to churches and promote cooperative evangelism.

Since the site’s launch at midnight on October 1, its various films and audio materials have helped people understand Christianity easily. At the time of writing, 900 audio and video articles have been uploaded, sorted into these categories: Recommended content, New content, Learning the Bible, Kids, Music, and Daily Scripture. Our Daily Bread (including sign language), Kids’ Bible Class Online, and LUMO videos can be freely watched anywhere at any time without any restrictions. Radio programs are also provided by PBA (Pacific Broadcasting Association) and groups such as Lifeline and Light of the World.

PBA, as a pioneer in broadcasting ministry, has been supplying Christian radio and TV programs all over Japan for 70 years. Mr. Mitsumoto Morita, the General Manager, gave seven characteristics of this site: Christian content supplied by a variety of groups, a simple design, no unnecessary advertising, the ability to easily search for the meaning of Scripture or technical terminology, being able to watch past programs, having close relationships with local churches, and no registration fees.

Mr. Morita explained at length:

“In addition to PBA’s content, associated organizations will contribute new material and we are going to ask more people to join us. Not just mission organizations, but also churches or, if their churches permit, individual Christians. Of course, we set guidelines and comply with the faith standards of the Japan Evangelical Association (JEA). This, however, does not mean that we will restrict the content providers only to the JEA constituency.

“The quantity of information in the world has been increasing explosively, and sources of information have changed rapidly. Sending transmissions over the airwaves used to be enough to deliver the gospel, but it is not so now. People are busy and their tastes vary. Only a limited number of people can watch programs that are supplied at an appointed time and place. However, TV and radio programs do not have to only be broadcast just once; they can also be recorded so people in need can access them at any time according to their lifestyle, while we carry on making up-to-date programming.”

Each page on the site has a Contact button. “Responses from the audience are important. They were able to access content from the PBA website, but there had been no place to support visitors. The BRIDGE site now provides this option, by taking visitors to content such as ‘church introductions’ or ‘online Bible classes’ and links them to local churches. PBA acts as a reception desk at first, but then connects visitors to preachers or missionaries in the groups all over Japan who follow up. This is our commitment.

“The idea for this site was announced at the National Conference of Broadcast Evangelism (全国放送伝道会議) in September 2018. Rev. Hatori, the founder of PBA, once said, ‘I never think that once the gospel is on the airwaves, everyone will believe and be saved.’ When we share our resources and cooperate together, more people can be given the gospel and some of them will be connected to churches.

“This site can be considered a platform for cooperative evangelism. The name BRIDGE is very meaningful. I will not exaggerate—this is a rather small start. But I hope this platform will be widely used and become the go-to site for Christian churches.”

From Christian Shimbun, October 11, 2020
Translated by Tomoko Kato