I’d rather not mention the M word but…oh well, why not…? You may have seen one or two stories in the news recently about a chap called Murdoch. Lovely man. If ever there was a ‘gatekeeper’ of the media, this man was it. Note I said ‘was’. Maybe not for much longer.
There are lots of gatekeepers in the Bible. I’m always amazed how God can use just about anyone to do his work. You certainly don’t have to be a card-carrying believer… Remember how he influenced people like Pharaoh, Darius, Nebuchadnezzar - not always the nicest people around, but the Lord still had a plan to use each of them for good outcomes. He knew that if his people would have the guts to approach kings and queens and pharaohs (and Murdochs?) then things could happen – change could happen.
Look how Esther courageously met with King Xerxes and presented her request on behalf of the Jews, and how Joseph and Daniel were able to assist kings with their psychedelic dreams. These faithful servants of God were placed in amazing positions of influence with the gatekeepers of their day and the course of history was changed.
I reckon God is still doing this today. There are Christian believers working at the highest levels of government, the armed forces, and the media, and these individuals have direct access to the gatekeepers of our society in Britain. We need to remember to pray for them and the impact they could have today with just one simple conversation. And we mustn’t forget that a handful of these gatekeepers are believers themselves.
Here in Bradford we had contact with the gatekeeper of a major UK radio group this Easter and as a result all sorts of ministry opportunities have opened up for the future. All of this came about through prayer, and the Lord giving us the courage to approach one person of influence.
So who are the gatekeepers in your area of work? Is the Lord asking you to engage with them directly? Pray about it – then try it. You might be surprised at what happens. And remember that we follow the person who said, “I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved.”
Colin Lowther is CEO of the media and healthcare charity HCJB Global, and director of Whistling Frog Productions.