Faith on Mobile and Points of Light Foundation Partner to Unveil Two Wireless Channels That Counter Pandora’s Box of Harmful Media Content and Benefit Rebuilding of Devastated Katrina Families
Contact: Gregg Wooding, 972-567-7660, gwooding@texasprototypes.com
ORLANDO, Feb. 8 /Christian Newswire/ -- Preachers once ministered God’s word on horse and buggy riding three-to four-hundred mile circuits. In today’s technological frontier, Faith on Mobile, an Atlanta-based wireless service provider, introduces a new communications vehicle to help churches, evangelists and non-profits advance the gospel to the 220 million people who makeup the text messaging universe.
On Monday, Feb. 19, at the 2007 National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) convention, being held at the Orlando Convention Center in Orlando, FL, Faith on Mobile will announce a new media venture with The Points of Light Foundation in an effort to encourage U.S. volunteerism and strong families. Rodney Sampson, co-founder of Mobile Currency, the Atlanta-based parent of Faith on Mobile, and Robert Goodwin, CEO of Points of Light Foundation of Washington, DC will launch We Are Family and Volunteerism wireless channels that will provide uplifting daily text messages to mobile subscribers in the United States. Similar to the text-messaging campaign for U2’s One—that enlisted the support of more than 100,000 people to end African poverty—a portion of revenues generated from the channels and sales of the all-star We Are Family CD will benefit families devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
According to Barna reports, 75 percent of Christians own mobile phones, and every month, mobile phone users exchange 10 billion text messages. While “My Space” and other media portals have drawn criticism for opening a Pandora’s Box of potentially harmful content into the lives of young people and adults, Faith on Mobile counters the trend by bringing life-changing text messages of love, hope and truth to the growing cellular universe. “This is the perfect way for technology to positively impact the daily lives of people throughout the world and keep a positive and encouraging word literally in the palm of our hands,” said Sampson.
“We are honored to extend the reach of Point of Light Foundation to the wireless universe,” continued Sampson. “United we stand to provide hope, vision and practical help to devastated victims of Katrina that they may rise again!”
On its website, Faith on Mobile states its mission to help ministries and non-profit organizations build cause-related marketing and fundraising relationships on mobile phones—“the one device that will evolve as the primary point of communication in the 21st century.” In 2006, Mobile Currency was formed by Sampson and James Eberhard of Denver, CO, the former owner of 9 Squared, a ringtone business he sold for $40 million in 2004. Faith on Mobile already is developing content for major ministries including Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition and Creflo Dollar Ministries, among others.
Goodwin said, "We are launching the “We Are Family” and “Volunteer” channels to benefit displaced hurricane victims and to support family strengthening and disaster preparedness all over the United States." In President George H.W. Bush’s inaugural address in 1989, he gave the nonprofit kudos, saying “The Points of Light Foundation embodies America’s spirit of volunteerism and goodwill of its citizens.” In a subsequent book release, titled “Points of Light,” Goodwin and well-known Christian painter Thomas Kinkaid paid special tribute to the more than 100 million Americans who work together to help others, solve social problems, and build strong communities: “They are our points of light!”
At NRB, Faith on Mobile and The Points of Light Foundation will demonstrate their cutting-edge technology with a free interactive text-messaging campaign for NRB attendees only. A 7x20 ft. banner placed outside the main lobby and other onsite promotional materials will encourage conference goers to text the word “LIGHT” or “VOLUNTEER” to 50555 from their cell phones. One hundred participants will win a free copy of the We Are Family CD-DVD, a sizzling remake of the original Sister Sledge hit that expands and redefines “family” under God and benefits families devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Due for release on Feb. 27, the CD-DVD features Grammy Award-winning producer Rodney Jerkins and an all-star collaboration of friends and artists, including Sister Sledge, Patti LaBelle, Chris Brown, George Clinton, Brian McKnight, Bishop Paul Morton, Mary Mary, Bebe Winans, Ciara, Take 6, Martha Munizzi, Ray J, Atiba, Alfre Woodard and tennis mogul, Serena Williams.
For more information about Faith on Mobile, please visit www.faithonmobile.com.
Media interested in interviews with Rodney Sampson, co-founder and president of Mobile Currency’s Faith on Mobile and Robert Goodwin, CEO of The Points of Light Foundation, should contact I AM PR services Gregg Wooding, (972) 567-7660 mobile or via email, gwooding@texasprototypes.com.
