What are the limits on reaching the next generation? One Voice Student Missions ministry founder Brian Barcelona is pushing the bar on traditional evangelism and reaching Gen Z and younger through their phones.
"I mean what do most kids do in church now, they're on their phones," Brian explains. "I think if preachers and pastors continue to preach and not speak, it's like me going to China and I preach in English, how ineffective is that? We need to learn the language. Why do we not have that same expectation for generational barriers?"
In his new book Don’t Scroll: Evangelism in the Digital Age, Brian explores how his initially small ministry gained a social media following of over 1 million. Now, his ministry hosts virtual events through TikTok and Instagram for healing, baptism, deliverance and salvation.
"We have seen social media lead to bullying, which has led to suicide," said Barcelona. "If the demonic has the power to move through videos and comment sections on social media, why do we think Holy Spirit is limited?"
Through his book, Brian hopes that ministry leaders, pastors and those interested in reaching teens and youth, will gain insight into how to conduct successful digital missions. Don’t Scroll features a QR code link to video messaging that will give ministry testimonials and answer the tough questions like,
- What are digital missions, and how can we do them effectively?
- Can supernatural healing work through a screen?
- Are youth still hungry for Jesus?
“I believe a billion-soul harvest will start in Generation Z,” says Brian. “Who would have guessed that Jesus would make a triumphant entry to this generation not on a donkey but through a phone? He will come riding on the words of humble believers who faithfully share the Gospel every day through their social media platforms.”
Today on Connections, Brian shares how we can spread the Gospel in a way that speaks to the generation that lives online.