4th June 2007
Gold Coast, Monday – The very first Pilgrim Media Prize for innovation and creativity in media production has gone to a project simply titled “Max7”. The award was received by Simon Hood, Creative Director of Logosdor, on behalf of the whole Max7 partnership around the world.
The prize was presented on the Gold Coast at the Christian Management Association conference on June 4th by the founder of Pilgrim, Mr Graham Wade, and the former General Manager, Mr Tim Matthews. This award is part of the ongoing legacy of Pilgrim International, after 50 years of creative media production and service around the world. Mr Wade said at the presentation that this award was to recognize creative media projects in Australia and that he was thrilled to be giving this inaugural prize to Max7. A unique project combining the internet, video and animation, curriculum writing and more to serve the church worldwide.
In receiving the award, Hood outlined the scope of the Max7 project. “It’s a website, a partnership, a source of high-quality Bible resources and a lot more” said Hood. “However, the real secret of the Max7 project is that it works with locals ‘on the ground’ to create resources in their language that are culturally appropriate. This could be seen a week ago in Cairo. A group of Egyptian and Indian writers began creating Bible material in Arabic and Tamil for Middle Eastern and Indian children.” This Max7 writers’ workshop created a model to be replicated on every continent and region of the world. “Our dream is that every country will begin sharing resources in their language with the rest of the world” said Hood.
Hood also outlined that Max7 is not owned by any particular organization, but instead shared by all. “It’s too important” he stated, “to let it be limited by one organization or name.” He outlined the great need around the world as approximately 70% of the 2 million local churches in the world lack adequate resources to disciple and nurture children. “Max7 will help to address part of this need as everything on the site is completely free.”
The Max7 website has been developed in Australia as a service to the world. It is operational, though new elements are still being developed like the upload system for resources and user-interface translation. Even though the site has not been widely promoted, there have been over 33,000 downloads from the site. Some of these have gone to places like Liberia where the Max7 material was used to disciple ex-child soldiers.
“We are seeing new resources donated from around the world” said Leanne Palmer, who is serving the partnership in a key role of helping to facilitate the resource collection and the writers workshops around the world. “I received some great Spanish songs today via email,” she said, “and the Arabic lessons are being checked for their language and theology before they are uploaded soon.”
The Max7 site is loaded with valuable resources, like the “Aim Lower” video, now seen around the world and being translated in multiple languages. The BibleMAX Curriculum is a high-quality weekly program written for churches and done in a fast-paced and interactive style. There are several excellent 3D animated Bible stories and songs.
Hood finished by saying “Max7 is a huge step of faith for us and breaking new ground in media resources, web development and in developing creativity and leadership in every corner of the globe. But we know that it is very close to the heart of God. When Jesus said ‘Let the little children come to me and do not stop them for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these’ we know he meant it.”
Max7 can be found at www.max7.org
For related photos and/or information contact: Kate Ison (02) 9477 3961 info@max7.org