Date

10-2021

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Chair

Kenneth Hood

Keywords

digital technology, social media, expository preaching, teaching

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities

Abstract

This research project aims to explore the full integration of digital technology and social media at a local church following the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic formed a global perspective, consisting of so-called "new rules" of churchgoing resulting from different social engagement expectations, cleanliness, and protecting vulnerable populations. During and following the pandemic, the world awaited sheltering-in-place and social distancing to return to some semblance of normalcy. Considering these changes, most churches struggled to understand how to maintain and proliferate the gospel. The focus of this study is based on a local non-denominational church that failed to predict expository preaching and teaching transition to digital platforms. However, we live in a world where digital technology and platforms such as the Internet are increasingly intersecting with our spiritual lives. The Internet also serves as a mechanism in the way Christians conduct church. Within a digital construct, the church can maintain preaching and teaching for its regular audience while engaging a vast unseen social media user sector. The study project includes results from a survey, an interview questionnaire, and a focus group from the church membership and those who affiliate with the church on social media. The results were used to provide the basis for process improvement initiatives aimed at achieving full integration of digital technology and social media to maintain and proliferate the gospel following the pandemic.

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