DIGITAL EVANGELISM: ANOTHER LOOK AT THE YOUTUBE PLATFORM

 

By Ekpor Temple

I am certain you will easily remember the Hydra-headed covid-19 disease that struck the globe in 2020. Many churches were shut down and some had limited attendance at their weekly services. While it was easy for Mega-churches to adapted to the changes quickly because they already are used to livestreaming. For mid-sizes and smaller churches, a quick adjustment, preplanning and fund seeking to get modern equipment’s became the order of the day.

Seemingly, for the Adventist church in the Eastern Nigeria Union Conference, the covid-19 became a blessing in disguise rather than a curse. Hence the need to strongly uphold on to digital technology.

It is in the line of the above that Elder Azukoye Amadi has recommended to the church through the ENUC Executives via a presentation titled “Digital Evangelism: another look at the youtube platform” to leverage on the opportunities inherent on  the video platform housing more than two billion logged-in users each month.

According to Azukoye, Harnessing the potential of YouTube can help grow the church audience, engaging new audiences that may not have a relationship with Christ.

 “As the world moves deeper into the digital era, technology simplifies the way we do things, it's no longer enough to live stream church services but to go a step further by utilizing the youtube platform as a public relation tool for mission projection and venture.

A few ways to evangelize our Audience

In an age of digital enlightment, and in the spirit of refocus as championed at the ENUC year –end meeting. The church in ENUC needs an outlined YouTube strategy to promote the great works of the ministry. Not only will it keep your members connected and engaged, but it also extends your discipleship.

Eld. Azukoye Amadi, pinpointed that as at today, our Pentecost2023 YouTube Channel has 1.09 subscribers. And if we must retain get and retain viewers then our Content must be logical, well researched, objective and full of solutions.

He therefore recommend as follows:

1.     Produce programmes local languages

2.     Produce programmes that address the logic of the people

3.     Use movies, lectures, sermons, music

4.     Use experts and spiritually gifted persons

5.     Produce programmes with different lengths – 2, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes long. Adventist.

6.     Make deliberate effort to support ministries that are already succeeding then use them as launch pads

7.     Social media ministry deserves a director who is professional and a consultant who may or not be an Adventist.

8.     Production targets maybe given to church entities

9.     Take steps to get one million viewers daily during the Hope Channel campaign.

 

Meanwhile, the key highlight of the meeting was the launch of 1000 young Missionary by the WAD Executive Secretary, Pastor Selom Kwasi Sessou at the church headquarters in Aba. And the communication Director, Pastor Chigozi Eti also emphasis on the communication ministry as the quality assurance directorate of the church.