A few years ago, when we launched our nonprofit, “The Influence Lab,” our motivation was to change how the Church looks at missions in today’s digital age. Aside from the increasing number of requests the Lab receives to teach and train Christians internationally to strategically use digital media more effectively, investing in digital missions can significantly expand your local church’s reach and impact in a multitude of ways:
1) Global Outreach: Digital missions break geographical barriers, allowing even small local churches to reach individuals worldwide and spread their message to a broader audience. Today, a single person can force a major corporation to change course through the momentum created on social media. What could that kind of influence mean when reaching the world for Christ?
2) Engagement: Digital platforms facilitate interaction and engagement. While many traditional churches still refuse to acknowledge this, statistics prove that churches that connect with their congregation more regularly through live streams, social media, and other online channels foster a stronger sense of community. Remember that the largest church in America (Life.Church in Oklahoma City) has invested heavily in digital outreaches and shows no signs of slowing down.
3) Education and Resources: Online resources like educational materials, study guides, and video content aid spiritual growth and development. We helped a local ministry founded by a single individual re-brand and re-launch, primarily online. Today, the ministry has published multiple books and Bible study guides and just released a new study Bible. There really is no limit to what a motivated believer can do online for the gospel.
4) Evangelism and Discipleship: Digital tools offer various ways to engage in evangelism and discipleship, allowing the church to reach out to non-believers while supporting the growth of current members through online teachings, discussions, and support. Small groups meeting in homes are fantastic, but think of the connections small groups could make online – with the advantage of including members worldwide. I’ve filmed in more than 70 countries during my career, and over the last decade, nearly everyone has a mobile device, even in the world’s most remote places.
5) Adapting to Changing Times: In a rapidly evolving digital age, investing in digital missions allows the church to remain relevant and connect with younger generations increasingly reliant on digital mediums for information and community. Rather than building brick-and-mortar outreaches – you can create resources they can easily access via a mobile device or computer. That’s why digital missions are more cost-effective and scalable than traditional methods, potentially reaching more people for a fraction of the cost.
At The Influence Lab, we believe it’s time to change the perception of Christianity and missions in today’s media-driven culture. To make that happen, we’ve mobilized a powerful global strategy to teach and train the next generation of pastors and leaders how to effectively use media to share the gospel in today’s digital age.
We’re confirming details, but 2024 is already filling up with media training events in Madrid and Valencia, Spain, Cyprus, and Bali, Indonesia.
Our challenge is funding. Would you help? Would you join us and support this strategy of changing how today’s Church pursues global missions? You’re probably online for a significant part of every day, so you know its power.
With your help, we can create a worldwide network for training the next generation of Christian media professionals – pastors, ministry leaders, and their media and communications teams – to share the most important story of all: the good news of Jesus Christ.
Partner with the Influence Lab here (and check out the special book offers for your generous gifts!)
This article originally appeared on PhilCooke.com and is reposted here by permission.
