The annual Digital Discipleship Conference, organised by Adventist Media, returns this year with a dynamic one-day online program featuring experienced social media influencers and specialists on March 9.
“By hosting the event online, we’re able to involve people from every corner of the South Pacific, making it truly accessible for all who wish to learn about digital discipleship,” said event organiser Tim McTernan.
Recent statistics from Sprout Social reveal that 5.17 billion individuals worldwide are actively engaged on social media platforms, each maintaining an average of approximately seven accounts. According to McCrindle Research, young people are turning to social media to help navigate their spiritual lives, with almost half of Gen Z (46 per cent) engaging with TikTok at least weekly to help them in their spiritual lives.
“If young people are going to social media for spiritual growth, what will they find? We need to be there. We need to be equipped to guide these young people and share with them what the Bible says,” Mr McTernan added.
The event will feature insights from leading digital evangelists, including Omar El-Takrori from Think Media and Pastor Benjamin Lundquist from The Rise and Lead Podcast, alongside discussions on the psychological impacts of social media use, such as navigating its challenges and preventing burnout among content creators.
To promote community and interaction, viewing hubs will be established at locations including Avondale University and Fulton Adventist University College, where attendees can gather to watch and discuss the conference content. “The viewing hubs are an excellent opportunity for networking and shared learning among participants,” added Mr McTernan.
Registration for the Digital Discipleship Conference is free, with live streaming available on YouTube and Facebook from 8:30am to 5pm AEDT (+11). For more information on the conference and to register, visit the official website.
