Try Facebook, protestant pastors urged

THE head of an international church challenged the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) to use modern technology to reach out to the youth.

Dr. Fidon Mwombeki, general secretary of the United Evangelical Mission based in Germany, issued the challenge in a speech before some 500 pastors, church officials, delegates and observers to the 9th UCCP Quadrennial General Assembly at the Silliman University Church in Dumaguete City.

“The young speak in a new way today. They have cellphones, Facebook and other social networking programs and we cannot afford to lose the chance to reach out to them,” Mwombeki said.

He said the church should reach out to the young through social networking sites. “I’m challenging you to make the changes. We can do so by adapting or to change the way we communicate,” he said.

Sermons in UCCP services usually involve three lessons and last at least 20 minutes.

Mwombeki said young people who have been programmed to listen to 30-second advertisements could not stand one-hour speeches.

“I’d be very happy to see a program in our church, which helps bring the message on Facebook or YouTube or Twitter. If we do not reach out to the younger generation, we will lose them,” he said.

Report from Inquirer.Net