Before the coronavirus pandemic, people often asked, “Why do digital ministry when we can do ministry face to face?” With the strategic pivot needed to continue fulfilling the Great Commission in this season, digital ministry is proving to be incredibly fruitful.

One tool that has been helpful is WeChat — think WhatsApp and Facebook in one app. This app is used mainly in “East Asia” and is the go-to communication platform for over one billion people. With our staff leveraging their social networks in this closed country, over one million people see the JESUS film every month; some accept Christ and others ask questions about Jesus. We (Cru) have trained 1,100 digital missionaries to chat with 10,000 people about God through WeChat messenger. We also share content in WeChat groups to help Christians grow deeper in their walk the Lord. About 35,000 believers are involved in these discipleship groups.

On March 17th we had requests to do an Easter broadcast of the film JESUS from 31 countries – that number is now up to 72! Under the coronavirus pandemic, countries that are completely closed to foreign missionaries are full of people who have nothing better to do than sit and watch TV this coming Sunday. And these broadcasts will be done on national television stations, so people will be able to openly watch the film with little fear of persecution. Remember, the script of the film is the Gospel of Luke, and God’s Word does not return void!