Podcasting Gets Religion

March 29, 2006 -- -- The Rev. Levi Lusko has decided that to spread the Gospel, he has to bring God to the podcast.

"You have to be where the people are if you're going to reach them," said Lusko, of Ocean Hills Church in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. "You have to be hip to the language that's being spoken."

He is one of many religious leaders putting a devotional spin on the growing trend of podcasts-- regularly updated audio broadcasts available online for people with iPods or other digital music gadgets.

From sermons to entire services, Lusko's congregants can simply download their weekly worship ritual without ever leaving home.

In addition to podcasting, his church also posts videos of services and sermons on its Web site.

The pastor says that even with the church filled to capacity with 1,000 people or more, they still see an average of 300 people watching the service remotely.

But despite the high-tech gadgetry, Lusko says not much has changed since the days of the first disciples.

"The message hasn't changed -- it's still the same message -- it's just the medium that's changed," he said. "You wouldn't get anyone listening to you if you sent out records albums or eight tracks."

With some religious leaders complaining their audiences are dwindling, the pastor says podcasts have given the church an opportunity to reach those who might not normally be able to attend.

Lusko also says that the use of podcasting and other technologies have reached a far wider audience than he might have anticipated.

"We have people who just by geography couldn't come otherwise," he said. "We have people subscribing to our podcasts that don't even live in the country."