The Seventh-day Adventist Church in South America recently took an interesting step in digital evangelism. On November 17, 2023, the Metaverso environment was inaugurated. The event was attended by pastors and members of the Adventist community from various Brazilian states as well as other countries. In the first few hours, the space already had more than 800 visitors. Click here to watch.
Innovation and Faith
The Adventist space in the metaverse offers an immersive experience for people from all over the world. Using personalized avatars, anyone can participate in worship services, Bible studies, and community activities in a three-dimensional virtual environment. "This initiative puts the Adventist Church at the forefront of religious adaptation to new technologies," says Carlos Magalhães, director of Digital Strategies for the South American Division.
Connected Global Community
Since 2021, the Adventist Church has been experimenting with prayer and Bible study groups on various metaverse platforms. After realizing the success of the first initiatives, they decided to open their own space—a larger space. There, various areas of activity are presented, such as Pathfinders and Adventurers, ADRA, Feliz7Play, Adventist Education, and other ministries.
Accessibility and Inclusion
According to Magalhães, one of the main goals of the church for Metaverso is to increase accessibility. People with physical limitations now have the chance, for example, to participate actively. In addition, the church is committed to making the platform as inclusive and accessible as possible.
Community Reactions
The reaction to the division's space in the metaverse has been largely positive. Many members have expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to explore their faith in an innovative way and have also used the space to create their own study and prayer meetings.
According to Magalhães, "Obviously, this initiative has also generated doubts in some members who fear the risks offered by the virtual world." He adds, "As with any technology, there is a risk of misuse, which is why the church is trying to explain that its presence in the metaverse is not a replacement for the experience of physical churches, but just another way of connecting people and sharing the Gospel with more digital generations."
The Future of Faith in the Virtual World
The launch is considered just the beginning of a growing trend of virtual religious experiences. The Seventh-day Adventist Church plans to expand its activities in the metaverse, including educational programs and community events.
To visit the South American Division's virtual space in this environment, please visit adv.st/advr.
The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Portuguese-language news site.
