A couple of years ago, internet ministry was one of the most underrated ventures any Christian can get into. It was one of the most berated and neglected side of ministry. Then unexpectedly, Covid-19 hit and all of that changed within a twinkle of an eye. Almost every preacher switched to online ministry.
Internet ministry has been one of the most untapped dimensions of Christian ministry—despite the fact that the world is transforming more and more into a virtual world on a daily basis.
In the past few years, there have been debates among many Christian circles on whether a minister of the Gospel should get involved in internet ministry or not. These debates resulted in the establishment of two groups of Christians with different school of thoughts towards internet ministry.
- The first group held the view that the internet is filled with all sorts of evil vices and hence, a genuine Christian shouldn't get caught in its web.
- While the second group resisted the view held by the first and continued propagating the Gospel online. Well, some of them ended up being seen as rebels.
Let's assume that the first group forgot what Psalm 24:1 says:
Psalm 24:1 KJVThe earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
Think about this: Isn't it amusing that some Christians are often quick to attribute everything to the devil?
The Psalmist said that the earth (this planet) belongs to God and the world (everything on earth) is still His. The enemy is not a creator, only God is the Creator; all things belong to Him.
John 1:3 KJVAll things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
There were people who resisted and discouraged the discovery and invention of airplanes; likewise the television set and mobile phones. The same seems to happen with every new technological innovation. As Christians, we must understand that nothing comes into existence on earth without the foreknowledge and consent of the Almighty. If it successfully showed up on earth, then Heaven had already known about and endorsed it.
I believe we need to stop resisting just about every new technology that shows up in the world—except they go against Biblical standards.
Just as there is both good and evil in the world, there are also two sides to the internet. Our Lord Jesus said that we are the light and salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13-14). We are agents of illumination and transformation. If we just fold arms and let the internet be, then darkness will spread beyond its boundaries and take over the world wide web. We need to take action!
Salt preserves. We need to occupy and preserve the online space also—against deterioration. The internet is a marketplace; we need to find our spot. Many are getting lost in this large marketplace daily; we need to occupy and shine the light of Gospel in the online space so as to draw many back to God.
Apparently, the world is changing every single day and it's exciting to see that bit by bit, those who once spoke against running a ministry online are having a change of mind and gradually beginning to dominate the online space for kingdom business.
What Is An Online Ministry?
Thanks for reading my story to this point. We can now proceed further into the main business for the day. So what exactly is an online ministry?
Some Christians understand online ministry to be a church website or social media platforms. That tends to try fitting online ministry into a tight religious box. But internet ministry is very vast; it is as vast as the internet itself.
Internet Ministry Doesn't Have To Be A Denomination
Establishing an online presence as a physical church (or denomination) in this age is a good thing. It helps members and followers stay up to date with the happenings in the given denomination. But the best part is that you don't need to establish a physical presence at any given location before you can have an internet ministry.
The true Church of Jesus Christ is too big for anyone to try fitting her into the four walls of a building. The Church is beyond denominationalism. You may not find it easy to get a platform and a microphone in a physical building, but you can always find a space for your ministry in the online world. On the internet, you can build an amazing ministry where thousands (and even millions) get blessed daily.
An internet ministry is therefore, a platform set up on the internet solely for the advancement of the Gospel. It is any and every way a Christian can reach out to the lost on the internet—for the purpose of drawing them back to God. Online ministry is part of fulfilling the Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 mandate:
Matthew 28:18-20 KJVAnd Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Acts 1:8 KJVBut ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Why Should You Start An Internet Ministry?
I honestly think that every genuine Christian should use their social media handles to share the Gospel. That's a good thing to do. But online ministry goes way beyond that.
I believe we can have something more profound and tangible. But before we venture into something bigger, we must understand that we all are crafted differently. Not everyone is very great at making the best use of the internet. Some still need to be guided on things others see as very simple to do online.
Before deciding to venture into a more profound internet ministry, one has to be sure they are gifted to understand how certain things work online. They should also be good at learning and adapting to new changes on the web really fast.
So here are a few reasons why you should start an online ministry:
1. Souls Are Being Lost Daily On The Internet
On the internet, the harvest is great and agents of darkness have stepped in to reap. A Christian shouldn't be left out either. There is a serious, ongoing contention for souls (between the kingdom of God and that of darkness) on the Internet. There are currently more than 4.66 billion internet users in the world (that's roughly 60% of the global population).
That's a huge number of people! The enemy is pulling many souls into Hell daily. I believe no genuine Christian would know this fact and sit back to watch the enemy continue without resistance. If the kingdom of darkness is trapping and destroying people on the internet, we as citizens of the kingdom of Heaven should step in to save them instead.
2. Internet Ministry Is Cheaper
It is cheaper to establish a ministry online than building a church at a physical location.
On the internet, you can establish a ministry according to your own budget. You don't have to do every form of ministry everyone else is doing online, but you can do your best with what you have.
3. It's Easier To Reach More People
You will agree with me that, in just one month, a functional ministry on the internet can reach out to a number of souls that many denominations can't.
On the internet, you can reach the unreachable. There are people you will find online who have never been opportuned to hear the true Gospel. The internet is a great place to fetch souls for God with ease.
These are just a few of the valid reasons why you should have an online ministry.
How To Start An Online Ministry
Let's assume everyone who is interested in starting an internet ministry is already saved and filled with the Holy Spirit (these are non-negotiable). We can then proceed to highlight other points.
1. Discover Your Calling
We are not in the days of Apostle Paul, Peter, James and John. The early Apostles did not have the internet. I'm sure if they did they would had made the best use of it for the kingdom advancement.
God is not outdated, He is doing a new thing everyday (Isaiah 43:19). In these last days there are people who are called solely to internet ministry. If this describes you, I see no reason why you should hold back. Go all the way in!
There are also those who have the desire to start an online ministry. That desire is planted there by the Holy Spirit, nurture and bring it to fruition.
Discovering the area or office you are called to in the Body of Christ is also very important.
Ephesians 4:11-12 KJVAnd he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; [12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
Are you called to be an Apostle, Prophet, Pastor or Teacher? Note that all of these office gifts can still function optimally on the internet. There are many Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Evangelists and Teachers that God is using mightily on the internet. He can do same with you.
2. Get Trained And Equipped For Your Ministry
The good news is that you don't need a degree in theology before you can be given a platform on the Internet (if you have one, that's a plus). But you definitely need to be trained and equipped by God before venturing into any ministry! It's not all about setting up a platform on the internet, but it's more about impacting lives. You have to be trained and equipped to do just that!
3. Identify And Use Your Gifts And Talents
Your gifts and talents determine what you will do with your online ministry and how you will do it.
Proverbs 18:16 KJVA man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
The efficiency of what you are made of will determine how far you will go in your online ministry. Fine-tune your gifts, skills and talents daily. Become better at what you are doing. Gain expertise.
Ministry on the internet basically involves two things: speaking and writing. Some people are great talkers (they can make videos). Some are great writers. While others are good at both (that's an added advantage).
Identify the area where you are gifted in, focus on and explore it. There is the need to avoid trying to do everything every other minister of the Gospel is doing online. We are built differently.
4. Build Your Follower Base And Establish Trust
People need to trust you before they can willingly follow and listen to what you have to say about God. In these last days, it's very risky to listen to and learn from just anyone who says they are a preacher.
People are going to follow and listen to a person whose calling and ministry they believe in—someone they can trust with their spiritual life; someone they believe is truly called and sent by God. Build your online reputation and watch your follow base grow daily.
5. Be Consistent
After setting up your online ministry, you have to start doing something and don't get discouraged if it's just two people who are following.
Consistency is required to keep any online ministry alive. Be consistent in what you are doing and in no time more people will discover the value in your ministry and begin to follow. Always remember you are doing it for God, not because you want a following.
Online Ministry Ideas
When it comes to setting up an internet ministry, the internet presents us with a wealth of choice to select from.
1. YouTube Ministry
YouTube is a very popular video sharing and social media platform, millions of people use it daily. That is also a viable place to establish your ministry. If you are more of a speaker than a writer, you can opt for it. You can become a Youtuber for the sake of the Gospel.
2. Christian Blogger
Blogging is basically for writers. If you are gifted in this area, you can learn basic blogging skills and then go ahead to set up a blog for your ministry.
3. Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok Influencer
Facebook is for both writers and speakers. There are many Christians whom God is already using mightily on Facebook.
Instagram is more of a video and image sharing platform. You can still use it to reach out to millions of people worldwide.
Tiktok is a short-form, video sharing app. If you don't like making lengthy videos, then this platform is for you. There are many Christians on Tiktok who are impacting lives through the message they deliver via short videos.
Apart from these platforms I've mentioned, there are many other options to choose from. Go ahead and find the one that suits you best.
Final Thoughts On Starting An Internet Ministry
The internet is a blessing to this generation. It is a powerful tool for end time harvest. I find it carnal and wasteful for a Christian to spend hours on the net without telling someone about Christ.
Although online ministry might be easier to establish and maintain, it is not a bed of roses. It still requires God's intervention, prayer, dedication and hard work to make it work.
Remember that there are two sides to the internet: good and evil. We all have a choice from either of the two. What people make out the internet to be is also what they reap from it.
The information contained in this article might not be exhaustive, but I believe it satisfies your quest for knowledge on how to start an internet ministry. If you found it useful, remember to share with others.
God bless you.
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