Central Jamaica Conference (CJC) communication secretaries and other members recently received training in live streaming, social media management, graphic design and other skills at a workshop aimed at boosting capacity for digital ministry.
The workshop, held May 7 at the Family of God Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church in Spanish Town, attracted 206 registrants.
The presentations were as follows:
- Church Protocol and Policy presented by Pastor Damian Chambers, assistant professor and coordinator, School of Religion and Theology, Northern Caribbean University (NCU)
- Basic Sound Engineering presented by Michael Spence, manager, Premier Entertainment
- News Writing and Journalism presented by Lawrie Henry, adjunct instructor, Department of Communication Studies, NCU
- Social Media Management and Engagement presented by Sheryl-Ann Thomas Scott, communication specialist
- Graphic Design and Editing presented by Wendy-Ann Masters, graphic designer and editor, CJC
- Video Production and Livestream presented by Pastor Jonathan Myrie, communication director, West Jamaica Conference
Communication director at the CJC, Kimarley Walker-Medley, said the COVID-19 pandemic caused uncertainty among communication secretaries and team members about their roles. Medley also noted that adjusting suddenly to a digital format at the onset of the pandemic diminished the quality of outputs. This event provided guidance which she said was welcomed.
“There was an obvious thirst and appreciation for the information. It has been a while since we have been able to host a programme like this so there was a strong desire among members to participate and get the help needed. They were buoyed up and excited. Our next move is to go to the district level to assess the impact of the training,” Medley said.
The training capped the three-day Communication Weekend Symposium and Workshop held May 5 to 7 themed Re-building Bridges of Hope. The symposium featured local and international SDA communication professionals.
Assistant director in the communication department of the General Conference of SDAs, Alyssa Truman, in her vesper charge on Friday May 5, shared the story of how a prayer ministry ad on Instagram caught the eye of a suicidal man in Brazil. The ad connected the man with a missionary who gave him renewed hope and directed him to a local SDA congregation.
“This is the role of communicators and digital evangelism in 2023. We have to embrace the call to share the gospel to the whole world using whatever means necessary and that means digital discipleship has to matter in today’s world,” Truman said.
On May 6, Assistant Professor in the School of Religion and Theology at NCU, Pastor Damian Chambers, said digital evangelism is useful for dispelling ignorance.
“There are people in the world who do not love God, not because they know God but because of ignorance of Him. Our duty is to build that bridge,” he said.
Other topics discussed during the symposium were Crisis Communication Management with panellists Elder Nigel Coke, Communication Director of the Jamaica Union and Author L. David Harris and Using Technology to Bridge the Gap for Mission presented by pastors Lincoln Liking and Harrone Guthrie.