Indiana Jones and the Lost Scriptures of XXX

In this clip from the Indiana Jones film Raiders of the Lost Ark we see the Ark of the Covenant getting archived. Click on the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRP0MBNoieY (watch from 1.05)

Often in Scripture engagement work, the Bible or New Testament is produced, printed and then 'archived' in the cupboard or back room of one denomination's church. Or an audio recording of a gospel (e.g. Luke) is made and the 'archive' is kept on someone's hard-drive in Texas, North Carolina, or wherever. We're good at producing materials, but not very good at promoting them. Nor are we good at helping people engage with them. Producing materials is just the first stage. On top of this we need to distribute, promote, and then relate to those who are engaging with the materials in order to answer their questions. This then helps us refine not only those materials but any future ones we produce.

These materials need to be in a variety of media, oral, digital, and print. This depends very much on the audience and what their preferred means of access to these materials is.

Another issue is finding out what the needs are in the first place. This, again, involves talking to people, drinking tea, building relationships, and asking questions. If we help people produce materials they want that helps them to use those materials.

Let's not be archivists like the US officials were with the Ark of the Covenant. Let's get those materials out to those who need them!

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