Getting Involved In Ministering To Christian Young PeopleThrough Social Media

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue IV, April 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Getting Involved In Ministering to Christian Young People Through Social Media

Sessou Kwasi Selom
Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Adventist University of Africa, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

Abstract: It is a fact that young people worldwide and even Christians are increasingly using social media. The new norm of our societies is to see young people getting involved in social media platforms’ activities. In many parts of the world, church attendance is seriously dropping and church leaders are looking for ways to curb this tendency. Since Christian young people can be found on social media platforms, it becomes a golden opportunity for church leaders to know how to get involved with young people on such platforms. This paper is intended to provide a guideline for pastors, elders, youth leaders, and religious leaders at large, who want to get involved in ministering to young people through social media platforms, thus becoming a Digital Nurturing Agent. The paper outlines the importance of having a digital nurturing program in a church and a step-by-step way to put in place a vibrant digital nurturing program in a local church or a district or even for personal independent ministry.
Keywords: Youth, Nurturing, Social Media, Platform.

I. PURPOSE: This article is to be used as a reference, and it is intended to guide the reader toward implementing a social media platform to nurture Christian. It can be used as a guide or social media ministry handbook. In this paper, I will be referring to the following concept that I design to guide the reader in achieving this goal. They are: “Digital Nurturing”, “Social media”, “Digital Nurturing Agent” (DNA), and “Social Network” or “Social Networking”.

II.LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Social Media encompasses many social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, and others. This article is not intending to cover how to use all social media platforms to minister to church members. Due to limit of time and space, the paper will focus on general principles guiding social media ministry and will just make reference to few platforms such as WhatsApp, “the most currently used social media platform in Africa,” (Social Power, 2018) and the Telegram platform.

III. INTRODUCTION

Social Media platforms can be used to minister to church members, young people especially. They will appreciate seeing church leaders reaching them through this means. Ministering to members through social media demands a know-how and is a skill that anybody can acquire and use easily. This cannot be done without answering the following three questions: Why are young people on social media platforms? What are the different Social Media Platforms and what are they used for? And How to choose one’s social media platform for a ministry to young people?

Read More