Youth key persons’ digital discipleship process during the pandemic and post-pandemic era

Bibliographic Data

ID21492553
AuthorsI Putu Ayub Darmawan (0000-0002-9467-8925), Jamin Tanhidy (0000-0002-0521-6463), Yabes Doma (0000-0002-7235-2342)
Year2024
Volume80
Issue1
Publication date2024-04-16
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0259-9422 • E-ISSN: 2072-8050
PublisherAOSIS (PUBLISHER • ZA)
DOI10.4102/hts.v80i1.9673
OpenAlexW4394883123
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited41

Discipleship is a responsibility of the Church. It is an outlet in which the regeneration of Church leadership to the younger generation is conducted. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, discipleship and mentoring of youth leaders, especially key persons of GKII (Gereja Kemah Injil Indonesia) youth were provided by means of in-person activities. During the pandemic, digital media has been utilised for various church activities, including mentoring these key persons. Hence, this research intends to explore: (1) the method by which key persons practise digital discipleship and (2) the benefits of digital media in youth discipleship to facilitate faith growth. This research is a qualitative research. Data were collected by means of interviews and observations on several key persons’ digital media accounts. The research shows that social media significantly benefits the discipleship process. It was found that digital discipleship was quite often carried out during the pandemic, especially in urban areas, with WhatsApp and Zoom meetings as its two primary means. However, it slightly declined along with the lifting of social gathering restrictions. The main themes explored in the mentoring sessions were discipleship, soteriology, spiritual life, motivational and digital media materials, and youth ministry in the digital era. The discipleship practice used was the NM-SM (Nurtured, Matured, Served, Mission) pattern. Contribution: The results of this research contribute to the development of knowledge, especially in the field of youth discipleship, and digital media-based discipleship. This research also shows that digital media has become an effective theological space during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods

Digital media · Faith · Media studies · Pandemic · Political science · Public relations · Social media · Sociology · Theology · Contemporary Christian Leadership and Education · Educational Methods and Impacts · Law · Media, Religion, Digital Communication · Medicine

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