Digital mission drives surge across Spain as hundreds sign up for Bible studies.
Published on: 05-17-2022
In April 2021, HopeMedia Spain started an evangelization project through social media. As of May 2022, 30 churches have participated, with 906 people providing their contact information.
HopeMedia leaders reported that out of those interests, 237 are already studying the Bible in various cities of Spain and four have been baptized. They went from surfing the social networks to the waters of baptism.
How It Works
From its official accounts, HopeMedia Spain posted advertising on Facebook and Instagram offering Bible studies. These ads appear by geolocation in various cities.
Users see these ads while browsing their social networks, and those interested click on them, providing HopeMedia with the contact information for communicating with them. This decision highlights the potential for new methods of evangelism. Seventh-day Adventist Church co-founder Ellen G. White put it well when she wrote, “Whatever may have been your former practice, it is not necessary to repeat it again and again in the same way. God would have new and untried methods followed … to surprise people” (Evangelism, p. 125).
A Church Involved
Carrying out this project also requires the help of local church members to lead Bible studies. To make this happen, HopeMedia has been encouraging lay members wishing to teach Bible studies to become volunteer tutors who will attend to those interested.
These tutors must complete the online course “How to Lead a Bible Study: In 5 Steps” and have a good understanding of the Bible-study material they will teach. Another requirement along with the course is the training they receive in their local churches in this regard.
HopeMedia also recommends that, together with the team of tutors, every church has a prayer team. The prayer team stays united in praying for three specific things: those interested in the program; the tutors; and the action of the Holy Spirit through these digital campaigns.
This way, each member is involved in mission, either through direct contact with those interested or through the spiritual support of prayer.
Digital Campaigns
When the local church is ready, they launch a digital campaign on social platforms. For one month, video and image ads appear on both Facebook and Instagram in the selected cities. Normally, four or five churches are included in each campaign.
Through HopeMedia and The Voice of Hope,those interested who have provided their contact information are linked with local tutors. This allows local tutors to establish direct contact with those interested in their city with the aim of starting meetings where they can study the Bible, either by video call or in person.
From June 2022 to December 2022, HopeMedia leaders said, they hope to carry out four more digital campaigns that will cover another 25 churches across the country. “Pray for even more people to get involved, so that many more may meet Jesus,” leaders said. “There is a hunger for the Word of God; it is time to continue sharing hope!”
The original version of this story was posted on the Inter-European Division news site.
Samuel Gil, Inter-European Division, and Adventist Review
To bind together the Adventist people as we wait for Jesus to come back, by sharing news and information about the church plus articles on doctrine, spiritual growth and mission.
