New Web Portal 'Ransom' Uses Music, Videos to Connect with Millennials

Site for teens, young adults takes an authentic look at meaning, purpose of life with dynamic content

A new online experience, Ransom (Ransom.tv), has launched with thought-provoking music videos, interviews and other pieces to appeal to youth and young adults ages 15-25 seeking meaning and purpose. Ransom aims to address some of life’s toughest questions with compelling content – in a format custom-designed for the “millennial” generation. “Young people today face tremendous challenges and pressures and are constantly looking for fulfillment in their lives,” said Ken Barun, senior vice president of communications for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, which developed Ransom. “It’s never too early to seek truth. The question is, ‘What will young people find when looking for it?’ We want them to learn about Jesus.” The site is loaded with videos of artists relaying everything from personal stories to their thoughts on what Christmas means to them. Included on the site is a brand-new video of “Little Drummer Boy,” by Aaron Gillespie of the rock band The Almost. Other artists to be featured on the site include singer/songwriter Dustin Kensrue (lead singer of rock outfit Thrice) rapper Lecrae, rock band Red, metal band Disciple and alternative punk band Emery. Ransom features videos, Q&As on topical subjects, culturally relevant articles, testimonials, devotions and other engaging pieces to which users can respond. Ransom also has a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a YouTube channel. “Music is more than entertainment and artists are more than entertainers,” said Barun. “They communicate profound concepts that young people internalize. Through Ransom, we want to influence kids with the concepts that really matter.” Ransom is in part a continuation of the popular 2009 Rock the River Tour, a youth-focused concert series that travelled up the Mississippi River last summer with soul-stirring music from bands like Flyleaf and challenging messages from Franklin Graham. The site is a place for these youth and young adults and others to visit and grow in their spiritual walk. A new online experience, Ransom (Ransom.tv), has launched with thought-provoking music videos, interviews and other pieces to appeal to youth and young adults ages 15-25 seeking meaning and purpose. Ransom aims to address some of life’s toughest questions with compelling content – in a format custom-designed for the “millennial” generation. “Young people today face tremendous challenges and pressures and are constantly looking for fulfillment in their lives,” said Ken Barun, senior vice president of communications for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, which developed Ransom. “It’s never too early to seek truth. The question is, ‘What will young people find when looking for it?’ We want them to learn about Jesus.” The site is loaded with videos of artists relaying everything from personal stories to their thoughts on what Christmas means to them. Included on the site is a brand-new video of “Little Drummer Boy,” by Aaron Gillespie of the rock band The Almost. Other artists to be featured on the site include singer/songwriter Dustin Kensrue (lead singer of rock outfit Thrice) rapper Lecrae, rock band Red, metal band Disciple and alternative punk band Emery. Ransom features videos, Q&As on topical subjects, culturally relevant articles, testimonials, devotions and other engaging pieces to which users can respond. Ransom also has a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a YouTube channel. “Music is more than entertainment and artists are more than entertainers,” said Barun. “They communicate profound concepts that young people internalize. Through Ransom, we want to influence kids with the concepts that really matter.” Ransom is in part a continuation of the popular 2009 Rock the River Tour, a youth-focused concert series that travelled up the Mississippi River last summer with soul-stirring music from bands like Flyleaf and challenging messages from Franklin Graham. The site is a place for these youth and young adults and others to visit and grow in their spiritual walk. About BGEA The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) proclaims the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world by every effective means available. From its headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., BGEA directs a wide range of domestic and international ministries, including: large-scale festivals led by evangelists Franklin Graham and Will Graham; Dare to Be a Daniel, a youth evangelism training project; My Hope World Evangelism Through Television; the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team of crisis-trained chaplains; and many others through print, television, telephone, radio and the Internet. For more information, please visit www.billygraham.org. Get BGEA news updates on Twitter @ Twitter.com/BGEAMediaPR. CONTACT Graham Clark, BGEA gclark@bgea.org p 704-401-2116 m 980-939-4377