Two hundred fifty Adventist content creators participated in Creator Summit held at the Nuevo Tiempo headquarters in Jacareí, São Paulo, Brazil. For three days, participants reflected on the relevance of digital evangelism and learned how to stand out among online content through conferences, panel discussions, and testimonials.

By combining the social media profiles of content creators present at the event, the reach of the message of hope can extend to more than 47.5 million followers, event leaders said. “They were called to dedicate their talents and gifts to serve God and preach the gospel through digital tools like never before,” said Jorge Rampogna, director of the South American Division (SAD) Communication department.

The program focused on three main topics: content creators' mental health, their relationship with the church, and their commitment to mission. The topics covered highlighted the care individuals need when active on social media and how to effectively share their message with the public.

On the second day, theology students from the Adventist University Center of São Paulo attended Creator Summit to learn about the challenges and opportunities of social media as a new frontier for evangelism.

Rayssa Fischer, a content creator with hundreds of followers and presenter at Creator Summit, explained that taking the first step in content creation can seem difficult, but God empowers those who are willing to serve.

During the program, Stanely Arco, SAD president, stated that Creator Summit was designed to encourage not only content creators but all members of the Adventist Church. “Local churches should be impacted by the example of each participant. They learned here and should teach in their congregations so that this digital ministry becomes even more relevant,” Arco said.

Carlos Magalhães, SAD director of Digital Strategies, said the only things necessary to begin digital ministry are a good disposition and a willingness to ask God for help to receive inspiration and find the best way to reach people.

Gabriel Cesano, SAD vice president, participated in a communion service as part of the closing program. During the service, he emphasized the importance of each participant's commitment to digital mission. "This is a special moment to rededicate ourselves to the Lord, so that God may use us not only in preaching the message, but also in our daily lives," he stated.

Álvaro Huanca is a pastor and content creator in a rural area of ​​Bolivia. Observing the economic realities of local church members, he began recording videos for social media to showcase the rich cultural and musical heritage of these congregations despite limited resources. His content inspired many followers to support his ministry.

Huanca said the videos created a two-way street for churches in the region to receive financial support from around the world, while the public was blessed by the testimonies of Bolivian members. “That place is a blessing for me. The brothers and sisters have an admirable love and affection for the Bible and for the church. In that way, they inspire everyone with their missionary spirit,” he said.

During the program, participants celebrated the baptism of Nely Cortez, someone who was introduced to the church through social media.

After going through a difficult life change, Cortez felt alone and helpless. One day, she found a video by local pastor Robson Menezes on Instagram. She contacted him through his profile and was put in touch with missionary couple Ricardo and Miriam Lobato, who led Bible studies. The Lobatos provided Cortez with emotional support by listening to her stories. Their connection brought light to her difficult situation.

Cortez believes that the difficult situation she experienced brought her closer to Jesus. “If it weren’t for social media, the work they do wouldn’t have been able to reach me. That care gave me back hope and the will to live,” she said.

The Labatos said that empathy and relationships are the main tools the Holy Spirit uses. “When we went to visit her, I didn’t talk to her about Jesus. I did what she needed: I listened to her. From that contact, a friendship was born. Later, we talked about God and the Bible, just as Jesus did.”

Odailson Fonseca, media administrator for the General Conference, highlighted the importance of remaining authentic online while remembering the mission. "Be yourself on social media, but maintain a missionary focus. Always preserve your identity, mission, message, truth, relevance, and authenticity,” he said.

Creator Summit was part of OneVoice27, a global initiative that encourages all Adventists to use their digital platforms to spread the gospel to the world.

The original article was published on the South American Division news site.