Reframing the digital space for evangelism and discipleship
Unreached people around the world are just a few clicks away, yet many Christians forget we carry around evangelism and discipleship devices in our pockets every day.
This is the work Allan Descheneau does full-time as executive director of TACO: The Alliance for Creative Outreach (TACONetwork.org). He’s a Canadian pastor, streamer and content creator dedicated to serving online communities through mentorship, engaging content and spiritual guidance.
Using the online alias of XtianNinja, Descheneau is an active participant in different online cultures through platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, X and TikTok.
The idea of sharing the gospel digitally isn’t new – perhaps your church streams their Sunday worship services through platforms like YouTube. But digital ministry is not about making church an online experience. Instead it’s about intentionally creating disciples.
At the centre of our nation’s epidemic of loneliness is people who struggle to leave their homes – people who often aren’t the ones signing up for church programs meant to build community. “You’re never going to meet them in a coffee shop. You’re never going to meet them at a library. Many of them don’t leave the house,” says Descheneau.
When discussing the number of unreached people on the internet, he says, “What if a country of 120 million people was discovered? What would the Church do?” Christians need to understand the gospel-sharing opportunity online and their ability to make Jesus’ name known in the digital space.
Christian content creators like Descheneau are meeting people where they are and using the internet to do so. He explains, “We’re going to places nobody else has gone, beating bushes nobody else has beaten to serve people so they can come to the banquet.”
The first step to getting involved is by engaging in gospel conversations in the digital spaces you’re already part of. It’s not about likes, follows and shares. It’s about making Jesus’ name known.
Photo: TACONetwork.org