Jun 20, 2024, 11:01 AMDon Roberts
When Prayer Meets Technology: Pastor Sam Neves Leads Digital Evangelism Workshop
"Prayer knows no boundaries, and through technology, neither do we.”
This statement set the tone for Pastor Sam Neves’ workshop, "When Prayer Meets Technology - Sharing God's Love Online," held on 15 June 2024, at Balham Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Hosted by the South England Conference (SEC) Communication Department, the event aimed to equip church members with digital evangelism skills, showcasing how technology can transform spiritual outreach.
Pastor Neves, Associate Director of Communication at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, began by sharing his journey into digital evangelism. He recalled a pivotal moment during a TV interview in Brazil, where he initially dismissed online pastoral care. His perspective shifted when an Adventist police officer named Roberto contacted him and sent daily screenshots of his online interactions for two years, demonstrating the trust people shared through digital platforms.
Neves emphasised learning from such experiences, noting that God often uses unexpected individuals to teach significant lessons. Despite lacking formal pastoral training, Roberto is now the expert in online pastoral care for the world church – logging over 15,000 hours of service and leading thousands to baptism, using his mobile phone.
Neves gave insights from the Digital Evangelism Initiative, launched by the General Conference, aimed at bridging the gap between digital engagement and face-to-face discipleship. Central to this initiative are prayer ads placed on social media platforms, inviting users to submit prayer requests. He shared several success stories, including a young woman who, feeling isolated, saw an ad offering prayer, leading to her baptism. "People are looking for truth, not in local church pastors. They are looking for Pastor Google and Pastor YouTube," Neves noted.
Neves highlighted the diversity of those responding to prayer ads, including many young adults. He discussed the importance of integrating these digital interactions with local church outreach, using trained digital evangelists to follow up and maintain personal connections.
To illustrate the practical applications of prayer ads, Neves presented several case studies, including those in the UK, involving churches in the SEC currently participating in a three-month testing, which has already prodcued sucessful results, including real-life connections, Bible study and church attendance.
Neves emphasised the importance of adapting to the digital age while maintaining the core message of Christianity. "Technology is a tool that can be used for good or for bad, and we choose to use it for the glory of God," he stated. He pointed out that the internet provides unprecedented opportunities for outreach and connection. "The internet is the new mission field, and we are called to be missionaries in this digital age."
Neves discussed the technical aspects of creating effective prayer ads, from targeting specific demographics to crafting resonant messages. He encouraged churches to invest in training and resources to maximise the impact of their digital outreach efforts.
In addition to prayer ads, Neves highlighted other digital tools, such as online Bible studies, virtual small groups, and live-streamed services. These tools he suggested can help churches reach a broader audience and provide spiritual support to those unable or unwilling to attend traditional services. "Our goal is to create a space where people can encounter God in a way that’s real and tangible," he explained.
Dr. Sorin Petrof, SEC Communication and Media Department, also introduced the new SEC newsletter and a WhatsApp channel designed to keep members informed and engaged with the latest news and spiritual content.
Looking ahead, Pastor Neves expressed optimism about the future of digital evangelism. He encouraged attendees to "embrace technology and continue innovating".
Pastor Neves then answered audience questions and delivered a call to action, urging attendees to apply the lessons learned from the presentation in their local churches. By embracing technology and using tools like prayer ads, he asserted that churches can extend their reach, offer spiritual support to a broader audience, and ultimately share God's love in new and meaningful ways. "We believe that digital discipleship can lead to real-world transformation," he continued.
In closing, Pastor Neves emphasised to the audience: "Our goal is not to replace the local church but to complement it and reach those who might never walk through the doors of a traditional church. We have seen lives changed and hearts healed through the power of online ministry." The future of evangelism is digital, and it holds immense potential for those willing to innovate and connect with people where they are—online.
"Prayer knows no boundaries, and through technology, neither do we.”
This statement set the tone for Pastor Sam Neves’ workshop, "When Prayer Meets Technology - Sharing God's Love Online," held on 15 June 2024, at Balham Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Hosted by the South England Conference (SEC) Communication Department, the event aimed to equip church members with digital evangelism skills, showcasing how technology can transform spiritual outreach.
Pastor Neves, Associate Director of Communication at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, began by sharing his journey into digital evangelism. He recalled a pivotal moment during a TV interview in Brazil, where he initially dismissed online pastoral care. His perspective shifted when an Adventist police officer named Roberto contacted him and sent daily screenshots of his online interactions for two years, demonstrating the trust people shared through digital platforms.
Neves emphasised learning from such experiences, noting that God often uses unexpected individuals to teach significant lessons. Despite lacking formal pastoral training, Roberto is now the expert in online pastoral care for the world church – logging over 15,000 hours of service and leading thousands to baptism, using his mobile phone.
Neves gave insights from the Digital Evangelism Initiative, launched by the General Conference, aimed at bridging the gap between digital engagement and face-to-face discipleship. Central to this initiative are prayer ads placed on social media platforms, inviting users to submit prayer requests. He shared several success stories, including a young woman who, feeling isolated, saw an ad offering prayer, leading to her baptism. "People are looking for truth, not in local church pastors. They are looking for Pastor Google and Pastor YouTube," Neves noted.
Neves highlighted the diversity of those responding to prayer ads, including many young adults. He discussed the importance of integrating these digital interactions with local church outreach, using trained digital evangelists to follow up and maintain personal connections.
To illustrate the practical applications of prayer ads, Neves presented several case studies, including those in the UK, involving churches in the SEC currently participating in a three-month testing, which has already prodcued sucessful results, including real-life connections, Bible study and church attendance.
Neves emphasised the importance of adapting to the digital age while maintaining the core message of Christianity. "Technology is a tool that can be used for good or for bad, and we choose to use it for the glory of God," he stated. He pointed out that the internet provides unprecedented opportunities for outreach and connection. "The internet is the new mission field, and we are called to be missionaries in this digital age."
Neves discussed the technical aspects of creating effective prayer ads, from targeting specific demographics to crafting resonant messages. He encouraged churches to invest in training and resources to maximise the impact of their digital outreach efforts.
In addition to prayer ads, Neves highlighted other digital tools, such as online Bible studies, virtual small groups, and live-streamed services. These tools he suggested can help churches reach a broader audience and provide spiritual support to those unable or unwilling to attend traditional services. "Our goal is to create a space where people can encounter God in a way that’s real and tangible," he explained.
Dr. Sorin Petrof, SEC Communication and Media Department, also introduced the new SEC newsletter and a WhatsApp channel designed to keep members informed and engaged with the latest news and spiritual content.
Looking ahead, Pastor Neves expressed optimism about the future of digital evangelism. He encouraged attendees to "embrace technology and continue innovating".
Pastor Neves then answered audience questions and delivered a call to action, urging attendees to apply the lessons learned from the presentation in their local churches. By embracing technology and using tools like prayer ads, he asserted that churches can extend their reach, offer spiritual support to a broader audience, and ultimately share God's love in new and meaningful ways. "We believe that digital discipleship can lead to real-world transformation," he continued.
In closing, Pastor Neves emphasised to the audience: "Our goal is not to replace the local church but to complement it and reach those who might never walk through the doors of a traditional church. We have seen lives changed and hearts healed through the power of online ministry." The future of evangelism is digital, and it holds immense potential for those willing to innovate and connect with people where they are—online.