The Sunday Mail
Emmanuel Kafe
The coronavirus outbreak has ultimately disrupted the way we live life and carry out business across the world. While brick-and-mortar churches are eerily quiet due to the ban on public gatherings, internet traffic continues to spike.
Millions are now gathering on social media for devotion. Online platforms have created a medium through which church leaders stay in constant touch with their congregants.
Anxious people under lockdown around the world are turning to religion for solace.
Local churches are taking advantage of the trend by regularly posting sermons on different social media platforms.
Others are even receiving tithes through different mobile money transfer services.
The usual pious Sunday moments are now being experienced from home through live broadcasts via mobile phones, laptops and various other gadgets.
WhatsApp groups for different age groups and gender have been created for purposes of sharing the word and keeping abreast with church matters. “This has been an uplifting experience — connecting with my home church, and I cannot get enough of it. I hope it will grow and gain a huge following,” Mildred Mutepfa, a member of United Christian Gathering Church, said last week.
Reverend Taurai Marengi, a pastor at New Life International Ministries, weighs in.
“Social media has become one tool that is necessitating a quicker and urgent fulfilment of the great commission, which calls us to go to all the world,” he said. Some apostolic sects seem to struggling though. “Currently, we are sending sermons via WhatsApp groups to reach out to congregants who are under lockdown, giving them a word of hope. We are still to master how to use other platforms,” said leader of Johanne Marange Nyenyedzi Nomwe, Herbert Senda. Reformed Apostolic Faith Mission communications officerMazvita Kambanga also emphasised the need to use every available communication channel.
Their church is currently making use of Facebook for Friday and Sunday services.
“On Friday we have an hour service where our Apostle will be ministering live on Facebook, and on Sundays, he can go for two or three hours sharing the word of God,” she said.
“Many people have received strength by reading or watching evangelism posts online, and some people gave their lives to Christ after interacting with the church online.”
Live broadcasting allows multitudes from all corners of the globe to follow church services as there are no space issues or travel limitations. There is also a playback option as most of the sermons are recorded.
