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The Need of Digital Evangelization

The Need of Digital Evangelization

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you

 Gospel according to St. Matthew

 

What does evangelization mean?

Since its beginnings, the Church has been driven by a missionary spirit, inspired by Christ Himself. From the Apostles to St. Paul, the early Christians taught us that the very essence of the Gospel is to be shared. “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” exclaims Paul in his letter to the Corinthians.

Why is evangelization important?

It’s critical because it’s the very essence of Christ’s mission: to proclaim the Kingdom of God, through his Living Word. Throughout history, those closest to Jesus have transmitted this kerygma through their unique charisms:

  • St. Francis of Assisi embodied the poverty of Jesus more than any other.
  • St. Thomas Aquinas illuminated the mysteries of the faith with unmatched intellect.
  • Saint Carlo Acutis digitized his passion for the Eucharist.

Each reminds us that while the message remains constant, the way we communicate it must adapt to time and audience. Today, these forms are part of digital evangelization.

The Transformation of Communication

We are living through a radical shift in how people connect and communicate. We no longer send handwritten letters, but emails. Poems are not penned, but posted as Instagram captions. And missions are not only carried out through pilgrimages — increasingly, they take place in digital spaces.

To share the truths of our faith effectively in this era, we must understand how people connect with one another today. That’s the foundation for meaningful evangelization in the third millennium.

Tools for Digital Evangelization

How should I evangelize?

Knowing how to communicate the Gospel in a noise-filled era is critical to its success. Here we leave you with 4 key aspects to effectively proclaim the Gospel in today’s world.

Cultural Codes

Recognizing the customs, values, and norms that shape the behavior of specific groups is essential to reaching our intended audience. A Benedictine monk or a Discalced Carmelite nun lives by very different standards than a 20-year-old Gen Z.

Therefore, if we aim to engage younger audiences, we must first understand their culture: the platforms they use, the language they speak (both digital and analog), and the formats they prefer.

The Attention Economy

According to Dr. Gloria Mark (UC Irvine), featured in Fast Company, the average attention span in the digital age is just 47 seconds. Brands have already adapted their content strategies to this reality.

For younger generations, especially, understanding this behavior is critical. Not everyone will watch a 10-minute homily — even in Reel format. But 4.2 million people might like a video of a priest dancing while talking about Scripture.

Platform Literacy

Each social network is a different ecosystem, with its own rules, behaviors, and users:

  • Instagram rewards those who post frequently (3–5 times per week).
  • TikTok now limits you to 5 hashtags — choosing the right ones is crucial.
  • X (formerly Twitter) integrates Grok, one of the leading AIs, competing with ChatGPT and Google.

Knowing how these platforms work helps tailor content that fits the audience and the algorithm.

Asking the Right Questions

When creating content, put yourself in the shoes of a disconnected Gen Z young person. Then ask:

  • Would this reel interest them?
  • Would they be bored with too much theology?
  • Will they understand the message I’m trying to convey?
  • Will this show up on their For You Page?

At the same time, we must embrace modern language without diluting the Christian message. As Pope Leo XIV rightly recalled in the Angelus of August 24, the door of the Gospel is narrow. Even in the digital world.

It’s important to then ask:

  • Does this content align with Christ’s message?
  • Am I softening the core of the Gospel just to attract views?
  • Am I trying to evangelize or just entertain?

Success Stories in Digital Evangelization

The digital world offers unprecedented opportunities to proclaim the Gospel. Here are a few notable examples:

Salt and Light: Evangelizing Without Losing Identity

To carry the digital evangelization mission today is to combine faithfulness to the message with adaptation to new media. This doesn’t mean changing the message to fit the culture — it means understanding the difference between essence and form:

  • The essence — the Truth we communicate — remains unchanging.
  • The form — the tools, formats, and language — must evolve to reach hearts.

In this training cycle organized by the International Union of Superiors General (UISG), La Machi contributes its expertise in institutional communication for religious life.

Even Jesus varied His methods: parables for some, miracles for others, and even His Transfiguration when needed. The mission is the same: to preach the Good News. But the mode can — and must — reflect our charism, our authenticity, our “salt and light.”