"There are people on the internet..." – this simple sentence, spoken by Kejdis Bakalli, a Cru missionary, became the impulse for the development of a new ministry within Mt28. As the world locked down in their homes due to the pandemic, the "Inspiring Meetings" (Inspirujące Spotkania) team was opening new, digital doors. Today, it is an efficiently operating evangelistic movement, combining modern technology with the depth of the biblical message.
The project's strategy is based on the precise use of social media tools to initiate personal relationships. Instead of waiting for people to find the community on their own, the team goes out to meet them where they spend a lot of time – on Facebook and Messenger. The key to success turned out to be automation combined with personal commitment.
The heart of these activities became a fresh approach to building relationships. Using Facebook ads, the team offered internet users the chance to watch a moving scene from the film Jesus, in which the key question is asked to Bartimaeus: What do you want me to do for you?
"Our bot (a computer program that automatically performs specific tasks on the internet or in computer systems) recorded the answers, and we began interacting with the people who answered this question and prayed for Jesus to work in their lives," recalls Zdzisław Miara, a member of the "Inspiring Meetings" team.
For the entire team, which numbered seven people at the time, the launch moment was proof of God's guidance. When the lockdown was announced in 2020, the team lacked experience but had dreams. The emotions of that time – uncertainty and isolation – became the soil in which the seed of the Word of God could quickly sprout.
They started by preparing spiritually uplifting series of verses (e.g., Words of Hope, Words of Wisdom, or the Path to Freedom), which could be downloaded daily via Messenger.
"Thanks to chatbots, we can maintain contact with many people simultaneously, offering them a short commentary, a question for reflection, and a prayer proposal," explains Henryk Piechota from the "Inspiring Meetings" team.
The scale of "Inspiring Meetings" activities includes:
5,000 followers on their Facebook profile.
Over 1,400 people who have received biblical content via Messenger.
7 original thematic series.
Over 21,000 views of lectures and reflections on their YouTube channel.
The effectiveness of this method is confirmed by the testimonies of the participants. One person notes: "…there is so much wisdom in these 'tiny' comments. Some messages are so beautiful... and there are even ones that seem tailor-made for me for a given day, situation, moment... amazing." Another participant emphasizes: "Thank you for the simple format, carefully selected quotes that were easy for me to remember, recall, and reflect on throughout the day."
Although technology is the heart of their outreach, relationships are the ultimate goal. "Inspiring Meetings" evolved from hybrid broadcasts to regular Zoom calls.
The greatest value of these events – alongside substantive lectures – is the space for discussion. For many participants, this very moment of exchanging thoughts is the reason they join the group, even if they cannot be there from the beginning of the meeting.
Every Thursday, a group of older and younger participants gathers to delve into the Word of God through various teaching series, such as A Stroll Through the Bible or Man's Encounters with God. The lectures are recorded, so they can be listened to at any time, even anonymously.
"I have the opportunity to help Maria grow in her faith; she used to download our series of verses and listen to the lectures incognito," shares Marzena Piechota. "It was only when she thanked me one day for a verse we sent that I started writing to her. Then she realized that there are real people behind this project. She gathered the courage to contact me and is grateful that the meetings are so firmly based on the Scriptures."
Dorota Świerk adds: "Occasional lectures, for example before Christmas or Easter, are very popular. This creates an opportunity to invite our friends and involve other missionaries from Mt28 in the preparation of the meetings."
For the team, the most important fruit of their actions is not statistics, but real people. Although bots (meticulously programmed by one of the team members) do the tedious work at the first stage of contact, a personal meeting is a frequent finale.
"Only God knows the impact His Word has had on the lives of these people, but we have met some of them in person, and with others, we still maintain contact through social media," emphasize the team members.
Online activity is only a prelude to building a lasting community, which finds its continuation in projects such as the exhibition on the "History of the Bible" (in photographs), "Holidays with the Bible" (Wakacje z Biblią), or occasional meetings in a women's group or individually.
The "Inspiring Meetings" team proves that in today's digital world, the internet can be an effective tool for bringing comfort, everyday support, and sharing the hope we have in Jesus.
Get Involved:
If you want to join the Thursday Zoom meeting, visit the "Inspirujące Spotkania" Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/InspirujaceSpotkania
Listen to biblical teaching recordings on Mt28’s YouTube channel.
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