Should we throw out all impersonal mediums? Of course not. But mediums are ultimately meant to uphold face-to-face ministry, which beckons us to love God by faith until, face to face, we all behold his glory.

Is there something indispensable about in-person ministry, something that simply can’t be replicated through long-distance communication?

Even if you believe the answer to this question is a self-evident yes, in our age of live-streamed services and TikTok preachers, the people in your pews—or the people you hope to be in your pews—may assume otherwise.

Does the Bible help us to shepherd skeptical sheep back to the flock? Thankfully, it does. We can examine a few Pauline passages that address the importance of proximity. For a man who maintained a prolific remote ministry through his letters, Paul repeatedly sounds discontent with the remote, impersonal medium.

Eager to Preach to You (Romans 1:9–13, 15)

When Paul sat down to write his robust gospel presentation to the Romans, he still wanted to strengthen the church in person.

Without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we maybe mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you…I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome (Romans 1:9–13, 15).

Haddon Robinson reflects in his book Biblical Preaching, “Paul realized that some ministries simply cannot take place apart from face-to-face contact. Even the reading of an inspired letter will not substitute…A power comes through the preached word that even the written word cannot replace.”

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