The Art of Digital Evangelization: A Call to Authentic Storytelling
The head of the Communication Foundation for Asia, Pie Mabanta-Fenomeno, recently spoke at the Dialogue with Collaborators event organized by the Institute of Formation Fondacio Asia (IFFAsia) in Tagaytay City, Philippines. She emphasized the importance of embracing storytelling, engagement, and authenticity in digital evangelization efforts, cautioning against reducing social media to a mere “poster or pulpit.”
Ms. Mabanta-Fenomeno stressed that effective digital missionaries should focus on creating content that is relatable, modern, community-driven, and authentic. She highlighted the importance of building online faith communities through clear, concise, and engaging messages that resonate with the audience.
She also urged cyber missionaries to be advocates for social change and amplifiers of marginalized voices. Emphasizing the power of storytelling in digital mission work, she encouraged communicators to make content audience-centric, storified, and rooted in real-life experiences.
However, Ms. Mabanta-Fenomeno also warned against the risks of misinformation, cancel culture, and the unchecked use of artificial intelligence in digital spaces. She challenged digital missionaries to prioritize connection over mere information-sharing and stressed the importance of meaningful communication for understanding and engagement.
In conclusion, she called on Catholic communicators to break out of their echo chambers, challenge traditional approaches, and create content that resonates with today’s digital audience. She emphasized the need for authenticity and urged communicators to start with real, ordinary stories that do extraordinary things.
The Dialogue with Collaborators event brought together representatives from various Church institutions and civil society groups across 10 Asian countries to strengthen the formation of young people in Asia.
This article was originally published on LiCAS News. All rights reserved. Unauthorized republication by third parties is not permitted.
