Embracing Online Discipleship: 9 Fears to Confront for Powerful Ministry

In recent years, online discipleship has become a more prevalent topic in Christian circles. However, despite its potential to reach people across the globe, many churches and individuals remain hesitant to fully embrace it. Fear is a powerful deterrent to innovation and change. It’s easy to allow your inner critic to keep you from seeing the bigger picture. Every person brings with them a different orientation toward fear that must be accounted for as you anticipate what will be required to truly realize the potential online Discipleship has for your ministry. Your capacity to name, address, and resolve these fears will ensure you create a productive environment for adaptive change to take place.

In this blog post, we will explore nine fears that you must confront about online discipleship to help you embrace the potential of this powerful tool for spreading the gospel.

Online Discipleship will distract us from real ministry.

The fear that online discipleship will distract from “real” ministry is dangerous in that it places value on ministry delivery preferences rather than reaching people by any means necessary. The truth is, online discipleship can complement traditional ministry efforts and provide opportunities to reach people who may not be able to attend in-person services or events. The ability to connect with people online can expand your ministry’s reach and provide opportunities for discipleship that may not have been possible otherwise.

Online Discipleship will further divide up the budget and take away money from core programming.

When people can’t step into possibility, they often use money as a means to control the situation. Fear that online discipleship will take away funding from core programming can lead to missed opportunities for growth and outreach. Instead, consider how online discipleship can enhance your current programming and potentially attract new funding sources. It’s also important to remember that discipleship is about people, not programs. Investing in online discipleship can be a valuable way to invest in people and reach them where they are.

Online Discipleship is something for students and children, not adults.

The fallacy in this fear is that online discipleship is not generational. online is how every generation interacts with the world. And it provides a key bridge between interpersonal encounters. Even more, it helps people connect with the Gospel who might not otherwise be able to engage in on-campus activities. Online discipleship can provide a valuable way to connect with older adults who may be more isolated or have mobility issues that make it difficult to attend in-person services or events.

Online Discipleship is just about social media, email, and video.

The fear that online discipleship is limited to social media, email, and video is shortsighted. online discipleship can take many forms, including online small groups, Bible studies, and mentorship programs. (See my blog post Unleashing the Power of Community for more.) It’s important to expand your thinking beyond the traditional ways of communicating and connecting online and consider how online platforms can be leveraged to create meaningful relationships and facilitate growth in faith.

Online Discipleship is already addressed by other available tools and resources.

Fear that online discipleship is redundant or unnecessary can lead to missed opportunities for growth and outreach. We need to stay focused on real ministry. We are called to reach the world. And today, even small, rural churches can literally have a worldwide impact. Stop limiting what’s possible. Consider how online discipleship can enhance your existing ministry efforts and potentially attract new members or followers.

Online Discipleship shouldn’t be equal to missions.

Fear that online discipleship should not be equal to missions is shortsighted. online discipleship can provide a valuable way to reach people in remote or hard-to-reach areas where traditional missions efforts may not be possible. Additionally, online discipleship can provide opportunities for cross-cultural ministry and connections that may not have been possible otherwise.

Online Discipleship will replace in-person community and fellowship.

The fear that online discipleship will replace in-person community and fellowship is understandable but also misguided. online discipleship should not be seen as a replacement for in-person interactions, but rather as a supplement that can enhance and expand those interactions. Online connections can lead to in-person relationships and community-building, and vice versa. It’s important to approach online discipleship as a way to complement and enhance traditional ministry efforts, not as a replacement for them.

Online Discipleship will lead to a loss of personal touch and accountability.

The fear that online discipleship will lead to a loss of personal touch and accountability is understandable, but also unfounded. online platforms can provide opportunities for even greater accountability and personal touch, as communication can be more frequent and immediate. It’s important to approach online discipleship as a way to enhance personal connections and accountability, not as a replacement for them.

Online Discipleship is not as effective as in-person ministry.

The fear that online discipleship is not as effective as in-person ministry is understandable but also inaccurate. Studies have shown that online discipleship can be just as effective, if not more effective, than in-person ministry. In fact, online platforms can provide opportunities for greater engagement and connection, as people can participate at their own pace and on their own schedule. It’s important to approach online discipleship as a valuable tool for reaching and discipling people, not as a second-rate alternative to in-person ministry.

But one of the foundational beliefs that have helped me as a Church Online Pastor is that God is not limited by technology. God can change the hearts and minds of people whether they show up in person or online. So don’t let fear stop you. Fear can be a powerful deterrent to innovation and change, but it’s essential to confront and address these fears in order to fully embrace the potential of online discipleship. By addressing these fears and approaching online discipleship as a valuable tool for reaching and discipling people, we can expand our ministry’s reach and impact in ways that were not possible before.