On 4th March 2020, I received a phone call that I will never forget. It was my birthday, and naturally, I thought this call would be a warm prayer or a kind birthday wish.
But I was wrong.
On the other end of the line was a very worried and anxious mega pastor. COVID-19 had hit hard, churches had been closed, nations were in lockdown, and his ministry—like many others—was in crisis. Their church was not active online, and members had begun migrating to churches that were digitally vibrant. Donations, the financial lifeline for ongoing church projects and operations, were dwindling.
He was desperate. He needed help—fast.
Developing a Digital Church Strategy: The Turning Point
We quickly moved into action. Together, we developed a comprehensive digital church strategy for his church and all its global branches. This wasn’t just about live-streaming Sunday sermons. It was about creating a digital ecosystem for the church’s operations, outreach, and community-building.
What We Did:
1. Set Up a Digital Church Team: We identified passionate, tech-savvy and enthusiastic members within the church who could be trained and empowered to run digital operations.
2. Training and Toolkit: We equipped this team with customized training and a Digital Church Toolkit—a step-by-step resource to help them build and maintain the online presence of the church.
3. Platforms and Tools Used:
· A modern church website that served as the central hub for activities.
· A dynamic Facebook page to connect with members and share content.
· WhatsApp, Zoom, and Google Meet for small groups, cell meetings, and bible study sessions.
· Online giving platforms to make donations seamless for members across the world.
The Results:
- A vibrant online church community that continues to thrive to this day.
- Increased donations, with financial support coming from both local and international members.
- Wider reach—the gospel was being preached beyond the walls of the physical building to nations across the globe.
- Spiritual growth—members were not only staying connected but actively engaging in discipleship, prayer, and service.
Why Every Church Needs a Digital Strategy
This experience taught me something profound: having a building is not enough. Churches must build communities, and today’s communities are both physical and digital.
Here’s why every church—no matter the size—needs a digital strategy:
1. Church Is More Than a Sunday Service People now live online. The church must be present where people spend their time during the week—not just on Sunday mornings.
2. Outreach Without Borders A digital presence means your church can minister beyond local boundaries. A local sermon can impact someone in New York, Nairobi, or New Delhi.
3. Financial Sustainability With the right tools and trust, members are more willing to support the church financially, no matter where they are.
4. Future-Proofing the Ministry Crises like COVID-19 taught us that being solely reliant on physical gatherings is risky. Ministry today is hybrid—physical and digital, and will remain so in the future.
How to Build and Sustain a Vibrant Online Church Community
Building an online community requires more than occasional posts on social media. It demands intentionality. Here’s how:
1. Start with Vision and Leadership Commitment
Your church’s leadership must see digital as ministry, not just media. Without this buy-in, efforts will fail.
2. Form a Dedicated Digital Ministry Team
Appoint or recruit people who can manage platforms, engage members, run livestreams, and handle technical issues.
3. Choose the Right Tools and Platforms
- Website (Your digital home)
- Facebook Page and Group (For announcements and deeper community engagement)
- WhatsApp or Telegram (For personal, small group engagement)
- YouTube (For sermons, teaching series, and testimonies)
- WhatsApp/Zoom/Google Meet (For interactive events, prayer meetings, and counselling)
4. Content Is King, Consistency Is Queen
Share valuable content regularly:
- Daily devotionals
- Weekly sermons
- Behind-the-scenes ministry updates
- Testimonies from members
- Engaging short-form videos on social media
5. Facilitate Interaction, Not Just Consumption
Church online should not feel like passive TV watching.
- Run Q&A sessions after sermons.
- Have moderators in livestream chats.
- Use polls and surveys to get feedback.
- Encourage testimonies and prayer requests.
6. Create Easy Giving Options
Use reliable platforms like PayPal, Flutterwave, or integrated website donation forms for tithes and offerings.
7. Measure and Improve
- Track engagement metrics.
- Know what content resonates with your community.
- Regularly update your strategy to meet the evolving needs of your congregation.
Case Study Impact: Beyond Survival to Growth
That mega church not only survived the lockdown but has since expanded its online congregation. Today, they have members from over 15 countries actively participating in services and activities. New ministries within the church—focused solely on online engagement—have emerged, creating discipleship pathways for people who may never set foot in the physical church building.
The Church Has Left the Building
As we continue to navigate a world shaped by technology, it is clear that the Great Commission must include digital spaces. Just as the Apostle Paul travelled from city to city in the New Testament to preach the gospel, today’s ministers must travel through fibre optics and data cables, reaching the lost and discipling believers online.
Every church needs a digital church strategy, not just to survive, but to thrive.
If your church is ready to take that bold step, I would be glad to help you develop your own custom Digital Church Strategy Toolkit.
Let’s build churches without walls, reaching souls without limits.
Send an email to leadenabler@enablegrowthconsult.com for a free copy of my Digital Church Strategy Toolkit Template.
Author: Stephen Naasei Boadi | Growth Consultant (Marketing, Communication, Digital Technology & People Development) | Contact: stephenboadi@enablegrowthconsult.com