Seventh-day Adventists in Africa might soon receive more messages of hope from their computer screens than from the pulpit. The continent is among the top world regions for Internet growth in the past decade.

To capitalize on that potential and address related challenges, Adventist communication leaders, technicians and broadcasters met in Cape Town for an Internet ministry conference from February 28 to March 2.

The conference—a regional extension of the world church’s annual Global Internet Evangelism Network conference—drew nearly 100 delegates from around the world, including representatives from 15 African countries.

“So often, there is great enthusiasm at a conference, and many plans and recommendations are made, but nothing comes of it. We are determined that this will not happen with GIEN Africa,” said Andre Brink, communication director for the church’s Southern Africa-Indian Ocean (SID) region. Church leaders there voted to establish an Office of Online Ministry, Brink said.

“Perhaps the biggest discovery for me was the proliferation of mobile technology throughout Africa,” said Rajmund Dabrowski, world church communication director. So-called “pocket” computers, or cell phones with Internet access and short message service (SMS) capabilities, are widely used even in the region’s most remote communities. “We have to ask ourselves, ‘How can we use SMS to spread the church’s message of hope?’”  Dabrowski added.

SID President Paul Ratsara urged Adventists in Africa to be leaders in using new technology for outreach. Several other church regions in Africa plan to hold similar regional Internet ministry conferences to tackle local technological issues.