Ministry from a Distance

The global spread of COVID-19 has required ministries to change the way they operate. Many conferences, trainings, meetings, and other in-person gatherings are being canceled. Some churches have stopped meeting face to face. Many ministries are no longer sending missionaries onto campuses and some entire nations have gone into lockdown.

But the mission God has called us to hasn’t changed. Jesus Christ offers life and peace in a world consumed with fear and death. In this rapidly changing environment, we need to be able to pivot.

Here are some ways that digital strategies can be used to accomplish the mission in new ways.

Large Audiences

Instead of hosting large conferences and in-person training events, digital platforms can be used to convey the same information and mobilize the same groups at a distance. Rather than sending people out onto campuses or other physical locations, volunteers can be mobilized online.

• Small Scale Digital Experiments - Teams around the world are trying various ways to use digital strategies for ministry:
  • Targeted Ads/Facebook chat - A team in the North Africa/Middle East region is connecting with curious students using Facebook targeted ads and following up with the interested on Facebook chat
  • Key Volunteers - A team in the North Africa/Middle East region is using digital tools to find Key Volunteers while confined to their homes during a revolution
  • Instagram - In Tokyo, teams are sharing the Gospel with thousands unfamiliar with the message
  • Online Quiz - a team in Slovakia is using a fun online quiz to form coaching relationships and share the Gospel

• Digital Mission trips - Instead of meeting people in villages, schools, or community centers, laborers in Singapore and Malaysia have been using social media, websites, or other digital media to reach people:
  • Digital Day of Outreach
  • Digital Mission Trip - Malaysia - get information about the trips, join a team, or start a new team
  • How to Start A Digital Mission Trip - Malaysia - resources and assets for a digital mission trip

• Live Stream Events - Our Indigitous team recently trained several churches in Singapore to livestream their Sunday worship services. Live Stream Guide

• 5 Ways to Do Digital Missions - Russia Digital Strategies created a resource to be distributed among staff and volunteers.
  • Pray through your social networks
  • Share digital tools and content with other people
  • Sign up to be an online mentor with New Life
  • Create digital content to encourage others
  • Volunteer with a Digital Strategies team
    

Small Audiences

You don’t need a large group to make an impact. With digital, one person can make an impact all around the world.

• The Mentor Ministry - More online mentors are needed - currently over 450 messages waiting to be answered. With online mentoring, anyone can make an impact by simply answering an email. See the site created by Power to Change Canada - https://tmm.io.
   

• Meet online using Zoom, Google Hangout, Skype, etc. You’re already doing this, but let’s make this as regular and routine part of our dispersed missionary movement.
   

• Bible storytelling - Hear a story, learn the story and discuss the story in a small group.

Content Ideas

What would you say to people who are fearful and confused about COVID-19? Here are some ideas about the content relevant to this situation. You can use these or brainstorm your own to reach an audience searching for answers.

• Laying down one’s privileges for the sake of others and protecting those who are vulnerable - this is who Jesus is and let's call others to be like this. Many hoard resources and look out for themselves, but we are called to sacrifice and serve. (Example: Don’t take all the masks so that medical personnel can use them.) Describing this Christian ethos to a world that is skeptical about it — we need people to be like this. We have the potential to make a similar impact to the Christians ministering to sick people during the times of the plague.

• Do ad campaigns around hope, peace, etc. These keywords circumvent advertising filters many platforms have that don’t allow advertising around social issues or religion.
   

• Look at articles or content you already have and make small changes to connect them to COVID-19. The issues are the same as they have always been: fear, shame, boredom, is there a God, and even family issues as people argue and have different opinions. 
   

• In Ghana, the team put together a simple journey by placing an ad on social media that invited people to sign up for more info on the virus. Those who responded were then offered the chance to learn more about Jesus or connect with an online mentor through chat if they had questions or were feeling anxious.
   

• Articles

  • Four practical things to do instead of worrying
  • Rescue is right around the corner 
     

• Legacy Videos

  • Anxiety: video testimony by Mark Gauthier
  • Faith and Fear: Video testimony by Jeff Struecker

Prayer Resources:

• Prayer Guide - adapted from Pray Singapore
  https://saltandlight.sg/news/lets-unite-in-prayer-every-day-at-12pm-lovesingapore

Evangelistic articles and tools to share in social media:

Here are some existing evangelistic articles that are relevant to the COVID-19 situation. Share these and incorporate them into your digital strategies.

• “Coronavirus: How to deal with anxiety” EveryStudent
   

• GodTools - Use this evangelistic app to simply and clearly explain to someone how they can begin a relationship with God through Jesus Christ (available in 84 languages). The "Teach Me to Share" tool has some examples of how to get into a conversation about the gospel (available in 14 languages).
   

• Jesus Film App - 200 films and clips in 1,700+ languages, a full digital library of more than 200 full-length movies, miniseries, and short films to help the world know Jesus.
   

• MissionHub - MissionHub helps you be intentional with your everyday relationships by taking the next best step to help others experience God.
   

Helpful articles on COVID-19

As you seek to minister to people during the current COVID-19 situation, here are some articles that provide inspiration or helpful insight.

• "This [COVID-19] is a defining moment of discipleship." (Salt and Light)

• The Power of Words: Coronavirus fears – reality or perceived reality? (INContext International)

• How Can You Connect in a Time of Self-Isolation?

If you have new ideas to contribute, add them here!

Special thanks to our worldwide group of 150 digital champions for sharing their expertise. 

For Cru staff members, please join the Global Digital Strategies & COVID 19 Coronavirus Ministry Resource Forum conversations on Workplace!