Facing unprecedented times is often a catalyst for innovation. This month Good News Wants to Know… What do you think is the greatest invention in your lifetime and why?

While the answer for many would be the cell phone, the greatest invention of our time for me is the GPS. Sure, it provides critical positioning capabilities to the military, civil and government users around the world, but the real purpose of the GPS was to keep Oksana Horton from spending her life driving around lost. It could well be that the Thomas Guide was Satan’s way of exacting revenge on the directionally-challenged, of which I am President Emeritus. But then God, in HIS infinite mercy, had Dr. Gladys West, a black female mathematician, create the GPS thereby freeing forever those in bondage to turning the wrong way down one-way streets and having to stop in horrible gas stations to ask very sketchy looking guys “How do I get to the freeway from here?” God Bless Dr. Gladys West!  

Oksana Horton, Artistic Director, Torch & Trumpet Theater Co., a subsidiary of Revelation Ministries

Real Time GPS. No more maps, no expending unnecessary time and emotion to figure out the destination. Now, I can arrive on time, taking the quickest route with lower stress levels anywhere (mostly) on the planet!

Alan Platt, Global Leader, Doxa Deo/City Changers

A wonderful invention that I use throughout every day is recorded audiobooks and teachings! If I stop long enough to sit with a book, I usually will fall asleep. Instead, I start the day listening to the Bible, then transition to a teaching, and move onto inspiring Christian novels after that. There is nothing like being transported in history, deepening my walk with God, and being inspired while doing the mundane like brushing my teeth or driving around doing errands. 

Dr. Andrea Hazim, President and Founder, Elev8Life Educational Foundation

The smart phone is the greatest invention of my lifetime. Think about the capability to connect all over the world. We use our smart phone to talk with people on video and phone calls, you can access the web on the go, utilize apps, or listen to music, it’s impressive. There are countless things we can do on our devises, from the palm of our hand.

Ariana Reid, Executive Director, Hope Women’s Centers

The greatest invention in my lifetime is the cellular phone. It allows us to communicate instantly and stay in touch with friends and family, read and share the Bible from the palm of our hand and instantly obtain an answer to almost any question. On the other hand, like anything useful for good, without some discipline it can damage those same relationships and take us down dark paths. 

William “Bill” C. Davell, Director, Tripp Scott Attorneys at Law

The greatest invention of my lifetime has to be the heart stint. Not only does this make me sound smart, it also makes me seem like a guy that cares about others. Very few inventions have saved more lives since the advent of the heart stint.

Bob Denison, President, Denison Yachting

The greatest invention of my lifetime happened right up the road from us here in Broward County. It was the invention of the personal computer by IBM engineers at their Boca Raton campus. This invention brought the power of computing from devices that took up rooms for equipment, to a product that would fit on a household desk or table. This invention, along with the development of cellular technology, has also brought us the smartphone, which most generations have today. This technology has also equipped me with the ability to write this email and send it wirelessly to The Good News!

Chip LaMarca, State Representative, Florida House District 93

My answer to this question is the smart phone because it brings a mini-computer with access to information and commerce while being a great communication device. All the things I bought at Radio Shack in the 1970’s and ‘80’s e.g. a clock radio, a calculator, an answering machine, a camera, a cell phone, a television, a video recorder/player, a flashlight and many more things now reside on my smart phone. It occupies a too important place in my life, but it is a great tool when I control it and it doesn’t control me!
H. Collins Forman, Jr., P.A.

I asked my grandfather this question once. He said, “Electricity. It changed everything.” Wow! The greatest invention of my lifetime would not be possible without electricity – the personal computer. It’s put incredible power and opportunity into the hands of the individual, improved productivity and knowledge sharing, and lead to other incredible innovations like the smart phone, smart watch, smart TV’s, etc. It’s literally enhanced every industry and catalyzed entrepreneurship around the world. And from a Kingdom standpoint, it’s allowed the gospel to go places never before reached with such efficiency and low cost that millions of lives are being impacted at rates never before possible. To quote my grandfather, “It’s changed everything.”

Craig Huston, Huston Consulting Group, LLC

I would say the Internet, because it allows us to reach hundreds of thousands even millions of people all over the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ in a matter minutes without even leaving our homes.

Daryl Nelson, Pastor, Calvary Chapel of the Palm Beaches

In addition to many electronic inventions that led up to it, I think the best is the cell phone, which now can make the word of God accessible in over 1300 languages in cities or the most remote, restricted access areas – even without cell towers. Over 2 billion people haven’t yet heard (many of these are oral cultures), but God has recently given us the technology so that “. . .the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)

Deborah Cusick, FAU Campus Volunteer, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship

I am sandwiched between the 20th and 21st Century, so the greatest invention(s) in my lifetime is three-fold … the personal computer, smart phone, and God’s mercy. After all, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are NEW every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Why …. the computer/phone are temporal but God’s mercy is eternal. #grateful

Dennis DeMarois, CEO/Executive Director, Gathering Palm Beach

Medical advances have grown leaps and bounds in my lifetime. But as a lover of all things technological, I also love the advances in communication technology; in radio, television, cell phones, podcasting, computers, publishing, and not the least of which is the internet. My professional world has advanced in the extreme, but what a personal blessing to connect with friends, coworkers, or far-away family using various platforms of the internet.

Dolores King-St. George, President, King Communications and GraceNet Media

An iPhone loaded with incredible apps gives you information and access to complex solutions and you can carry it in your pocket.

Don Campion, President, Banyan Air Service

The greatest invention during my lifetime is social media because the way the Gospel can get out increased incredibly.

Fidel Gomez, Pastor, Calvary Chapel Hollywood

Far and away the personal computer and its connection to the internet. We’ve come far since the Apple II, PET 2001, and TRS-80 in 1977 and the ARPA network in ’69. The computer and internet extend our God given capacities to see, hear, speak, and remember. We are grateful for these technologies while being cautious about their use. 

Gene L. Green, PhD, Dean, Trinity International University – Florida

I would say the internet as it has allowed the gospel as well as other knowledge and information to be spread in many ways and to many parts of the world. 
George R. Moraitis, Jr., Moraitis, Cofar, Karney, Moraitis & Quailey

I would have to say the greatest invention my lifetime would be the Internet. The creation and launch of the “world wide web” democratized access to information, learning, and engagement. I remember having the set of blue encyclopedias in my home that my parents paid for overtime to make sure that I could have access to history and information. Today, if I ask my son or daughter a question, her response is “I will just google it.” 

Germaine Smith Baugh, Ed.D, President and CEO, Urban League of Broward County

Electricity is the greatest invention in our lifetime. Without it we would not have any of the essential components to modern life such as the Internet, cell phones, air conditioning, Tesla cars, lights and refrigeration.

Gregg Wallick, President, Best Roofing, Inc.

Especially during this time and in the past ten plus years, I’m so very grateful for modern technology! From iPhones, Macs and iPads that allow me to stay in contact with family, friends and clients globally instantly. Facebook with group and single meetings. Plus other apps that make my life a little crazier and easier. I am able to show, negotiate and close a transaction directly from my phone! I’m thankful but I miss the human touch, handshake and personal contact. Until we return to a form of normalcy again…I’m Grateful!!!!!

Helen Wayner, P.A., Century 21 Hansen Realty

I would say the internet. It redefined how we search and share information with each other, connecting us to the world in the process.
The second would be the iPhone. It changed how people relate to technology and consume information at a base level. It put the internet and information in our hand 24/7.

James Welch, Pastor, First Baptist Fort Lauderdale

SMART PHONE!!!

My life is now in the palm of my hand: Bible, Family, Friends, Work, World events, Health, Finances, Entertainment, Communication…..it’s all here in one single easily accessed device. SMART PHONES are the definition of progress.

“JT” James Taylor, Managing Director, Automotive, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey

I think the greatest invention in my lifetime is the internet and social media. It has taken communication to the next level. Communication is so very important to people and relationships. In this present day we are in with the Covid-19, we have seen how the Gospel can be effectively shared through the internet and we can literally reach the entire world. 

My prayer is that we continue to use the internet and social media as an effective platform to reach the world with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dr. Mary Drabik, President, South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary

Without question to me, the greatest innovation of all time would have to be the internet. The internet has demolished all information and communication barriers. We can know “almost” everything as it happens. Distinguishing the difference between fact and opinion can be challenging, but overall there is not much we can’t find and figure out with a few keystrokes. My personal favorites are all the applications which offer real time, face to face communication, worldwide; something quite convenient in the era of COVID-19.

Dr. Mike Rozenblum, Genesis Physical Medicine & Chiropractic

With all the great advances in technology, it’s difficult to pick only one. I’m torn between GPS and the iPhone. However, if I must pick one, I choose GPS technology. I recall our family car vacations always began with my dad ordering maps from AAA and receiving the maps with our route highlighted in yellow. Today all we do is input the address into Maps (Waze or Google or whatever) and it not only gives you directions, but also provides the best and fastest route due to traffic or construction or weather delays, etc. Even in foreign countries the technology works and is especially helpful! Here’s to never getting lost again!

Milan Stefanovic, Chief Operating Officer, Bass Underwriters, Inc.

The internet! How it connects the universe, how it teaches, how it informs, how it keeps us safe, how it entertains….  All of this with infinite methodology and impact is just mind blowing to me and hard to imagine and remember what life was like without it. When you think about times like we are experiencing now with this pandemic, how isolating life would be without it! Thanks for this question, it reminds how very grateful I am for an innovation that I have come to take for granted. 

Nancy Robin, CEO/Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Broward, Inc.

In 1998, a French cardiac electrologist named Michelle Haissaquere conducted the first cardiac ablation of a patient suffering with atrial fibrillation (Afib), a well know heart murmur. He was able to map the “triggers” which cause Afib and through a catheter apply the electric current necessary to return the heart to sinus rhythm. After almost twenty years of treating my Afib with medicines, I had a cardiac ablation in 2018; a complete game and life changer. 

Omar Aleman, Aleman and Associates

I think that the greatest invention in my lifetime is the invention of the Internet because it can and is being used to spread the gospel of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus around the corner and around the world at a low and inexpensive cost. I believe that this was God’s primary purpose for the invention of the Internet.

We must remember what Christ Jesus said in Matthew 24:14, “ And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

O’Neal Dozier, Pastor, The Worldwide Christian Center

During my lifetime, the internet has been the greatest invention. I am one of those people that finds technology exciting! Sometimes it is hard to remember how we managed without it. I feel blessed and grateful to be able to talk to family and friends locally and far away, any time. To see their faces and hear their voices is wonderful! Often we would not speak for weeks or months because of the expense, and now we can talk freely any time we choose. Many more people today have access to biblical materials, and the Bible is easily downloadable on their phones. There is a great amount of information that is readily available to all, but of course there is the negative side to this as well. We need to be even more vigilant to what we read, listen to, and see! As we are warned in 1 Peter 5:8, we need to be sober and vigilant.
Patricia Colangelo, EdS, Lecturer, Professor, Trinity International University – Florida

The one invention I am currently most grateful for is FaceTime on my phone… It has allowed sincere one-on-one, eyeball-to-eyeball communication with my family and loved ones during a very unique season.

It has brought the face-to-face dimension to a phone call at a time when face-to-face and heart- to-heart matters significantly more!!!

Coach Rick Andreassen, Founder/President, SAINTS International Sports Ministry & SAINTS Homeschool P.E. 

As a Fort Lauderdale native I wanted to say air conditioning, but then I realized it was invented early in the 1900’s. It was just my dad back in the 50’s and 60’s who wouldn’t let us turn on the “window shaker” because it increased the FPL bill too much! 

However, I guess the obvious invention that has certainly changed life as we know it is the invention and development of the internet. I say development because I include e-mail and hand held computers and phones as the after growth of that invention, which I’m sure we would all admit we couldn’t live without.
Romney C. Rogers, Managing Partner, Rogers, Morris & Ziegler LLP

The greatest invention in my lifetime has been the computer. I remember having a boss that would not let me write-out my memos or other correspondences to her or my staff, as I was accustomed to doing. So, she purchased a computer for me, made me connect it myself and take the initiative to learn how to operate it. That invention took me to a better place in my professional development!
Dr. Rosby L. Glover, Executive Director, Mount Bethel Human Services Corporation

I believe that I have two inventions to talk about. First, there is the internet. Wow! It’s incredible the wealth of information available at your fingertips. And whatever you want to learn to do, there is a how-to video for you. And then there’s my Instant Pot! Yes, my IP!! I love to cook, but I’ve never liked leaving my slow cooker home alone! But with this device, you can cook everything, frozen and thawed, and ta-da! A miracle in a pot! Is there anything better? Well, it was such a close second that I had to include it! Happy cooking and googling!!!

Tewannah Aman, Executive Director, Broward Country Right to Life

I’d say that the  greatest invention which keeps everyone connected is the internet, IPhones, home computers and all that keeps us informed and in touch through business, personal and spiritual quests! This quarantine time was a great testimony to the worth of this amazing invention, and we pray it will always stand for good as the world is hooked now to its use.  
Virlee “Vee” S. Stepelton, Ministry Advocate

Our most important task as Christians is the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Whatever enables us to advance the gospel emerges as our most urgent need. For this reason, the greatest invention of all is the internet. Nothing compares to its expansiveness and utility to make disciples of all nations. 

Dr. Warren Gage, President, The Alexandrian Forum