Mr. Beast Edition

Five Thing Friday!

Confession: I am a Mr. Beast fan. I’ve enjoyed seeing his journey through YouTube (and more) over the past twelve years (and I’ve enjoyed watching his YouTube videos!). And with the launch of his newest (and biggest) project, Beast Games, I figured it was fitting that this Friday’s five things all point to Jimmy Donaldson. (That’s his real name, in case you didn’t know.) And of course, I’ll have a bit of a digital ministry perspective on each one.

1. Beast Games (episode 1)

The first episode is out now. (Actually, the first two!). If you like gameshows or if you like reality tv shows or if you like Mr. Beast videos (or if you like any combination of any of these!), then you should definitely watch the show.

But what can this show teach us about digital ministry?

Just as it’s easy for traditional media to look at Mr. Beast as “just a YouTuber,” it’s easy for traditional church to look at digital ministry as “just that online thing” or “just something we needed during the pandemic” or whatever pejorative comment people are apt to make. But a show like this, where a YouTuber takes on traditional media, is a reminder that the lines between the past and the future have been blurred. All that’s waiting is for someone to step into the space and give people what they want and what they need. (And that something is digital ministry, just in case it wasn’t clear.)

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2. From 2,000 to 1,000

Of course on the same day as the premiere of Beast Games on Amazon Prime, Mr. Beast releases this video on his YouTube channel. Consider it the prologue to the full show, offering a glimpse of who we will meet over the course of ten episodes and specifically letting us see how we ended up with this batch of 1,000 contestants.

But what can this video teach us about digital ministry?

There is always an episode zero. There is always something happening before the thing people notice. And really, be proud of the process. Document the journey. Invite people to see every step, not just the end result. When it comes to faith, each step you take just might be more important than any final destination. (And yes, that was a very overt hint about my eschatological ethics.)

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3. The Making of Beast Games

If I haven’t told you about Colin and Samir before, consider yourself warned because they are one of my favorite YouTube channels and will likely appear in many FTFs in the weeks and months to come. And what could make watching the first episode of Beast Games even better? Getting a 48 minute behind the scene documentary of how the first episode came to life. Seriously, watch the first episode of the show, and then watch this one. You’ll probably going to be spending the rest of your day watching whatever episodes of Beast Games have been released and watching at least a dozen or two other Colin and Samir videos. They are so good! (I promise to do a full FTF dedicated to five of my favorites sometime in the future.)

But what can this BTS video teach us about digital ministry?

There’s what people see and experience. And then there’s everything it takes for that to be possible. I’m not saying digital ministry should ever look like a production of this scale, but it’s always a good reminder that digital ministry isn’t about what happens when you sit down in front of the Zoom call or you record that podcast or video, but it is also what it takes to be prepared and present in those moments. It takes time and energy and effort and a whole team to support you in order for every aspect of digital ministry to be possible. From Bible study on Zoom to pastoral care in DMs to a sermon prep podcast to a Bible in a Minute video, there is so much more required than just those brief moments that people might encounter. Be intentional about what it takes to bring these digital ministry moments to life in the most intentional and meaningful ways.

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4. What Can the Church Learn from Mr. Beast?

Try something new. Learn as you go. Don’t do it alone.

I first wrote about this last summer over on the Convergence blog and even revisited right here on this Substack, but I think these three things are still true and everyone, especially the church (and especially digital ministry!) needs to actually do them.

What can these three things teach us about digital ministry?

I mean, I think these three — try something new, learn as you go, don’t do it alone — are pretty self explanatory for digital ministry. It is often the digital ministry that is the something new you need to try. Or maybe just a reminder that digital ministry, like all ministry, should always be growing and evolving, trying something new rather than being stuck in the rut of one more Zoom session. (Bluesky, anyone?!) And learn as you go, because I’m guessing none of us went to seminary for any of this digital ministry stuff! Lastly, it’s easy to find yourself by yourself in your basement office, recording podcasts and editing videos and hosting Zoom calls (or is that just me?) but all of ministry, especially digital ministry, must be done together. Find other people who share this passion. What can you learn from them. And what can they learn from you?

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5. A Theology of Mr. Beast

Ok, this last one is a little different because there’s no specific thing I can link to. (Yet.) But this is an idea I’ve been playing with for a while, exploring a theology of Mr. Beast, or more specifically, what are are the theological implications we can see in his content. (I also want to put this lens on other big YouTubers — a theology of Casey Neistat, a theology of the Vlog Brothers, etc.) But before I carve out the time to actually take on this project, I’ll offer it to you: what would you say is a theology of Mr. Beast?

Leave a comment or send me an email and let me know!

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