Date
9-17-2026
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Leadership (PhD)
Chair
Michael Grayston
Keywords
digital ministry, digital discipleship, church attendance, church revitalization, congregational vitality, digital ecclesiology, digital outreach, hybrid ministry, livestream worship, member engagement, social media church engagement, technology adoption, post-pandemic, virtual religious community, Haitian churches.
Disciplines
Leadership Studies
Recommended Citation
Tima, Pericles, "The Impact of Technology on Church Revitalization in South Florida Post-Pandemic: A Quantitative Analysis" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8901.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8901
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic compelled numerous churches to adopt digital technology rapidly; nonetheless, a substantial deficiency in empirical study exists concerning their effects on church revitalization. This study seeks to address this deficiency and significantly contribute to the field by analyzing the impact of digital outreach strategies, such as social media engagement, online services, and virtual community building, on critical indicators of revitalization, including church attendance, member engagement, and financial stability. The research used a quantitative research design to gather data via surveys administered to church leaders and parishioners within Haitian churches in South Florida. The survey utilized stratified random sampling to guarantee varied representation. The analysis of data concentrated on discerning relationships between the adoption of digital outreach tools and the pertinent revitalization metrics. The inquiry showed that digital tools helped keep people interested during the pandemic, but they did not work as well for some churches as they did for others in terms of getting people to come to church and contributing financially. The results showed that Haitian churches require digital strategies that are specific to their culture and way of doing things. The analysis provided significant insight for church leaders aiming to improve their revitalization initiatives using technology. Suggestions included using technology to enhance traditional ways of worship and community development, as well as embracing digital tactics that are sensitive to different cultures.
