Connected in Christ
Digital ministry is not simply about streaming worship services. Across the LCANZ, congregations and ministries are using digital tools to learn, pray, worship, connect and participate in God’s mission in new ways.
Gathering after chapel
Australian Lutheran College (ALC)
With the shift to distributed learning at ALC, some students decided to continue the tradition of gathering on the Sacred Lawn for conversation and support. No longer gathered in person in North Adelaide SA, students and staff use Zoom to spend a little time together after chapel.
There have been a couple of different time slots trialled over the last couple of years, with the current iteration being straight after Tuesday morning devotion.
While take-up of this opportunity has been relatively low compared to overall student numbers, it has been great to see students gather and support each other along their journey. ALC will continue to adapt and innovate to facilitate conversation and support.
Tim Stringer, ALC principal
Learning without borders
St Petri Regional Learning Hub SA
As a congregation participating in Jesus’ mission, we believe we need to be present both online and in person. From the beginning, we designed our St Petri Regional Learning Hub to be accessible in both ways, serving not only our own congregation but also Lutheran communities and the wider community, anywhere, anytime.
The hub hosts learning activities in Lutheran theology, ministry and discipleship, creative arts and community growth across the Barossa and Light regions, equipping people for mission and building a stronger mission culture.
We’ve been encouraged to see people from our region, across the LCANZ and even overseas accessing our in-person events and the online resources we have produced.
Locally, groups within our congregation have also used the online resources together. For example, our Tuesday morning Coffee and Share group worked through our Set Free to Live Free series on Galatians using the online videos as the basis for their discussions.
Making these resources available online also encourages other congregations to adapt similar ideas in their own mission and ministry.
For now, we’ll continue offering in-person learning opportunities while recording and sharing as much as we can online so that the whole church can benefit.
Adrian Kitson, pastor, St Petri Lutheran Church, Nuriootpa SA
Praying together every day
St Michael’s Lutheran Church, Hahndorf SA
Earlier this year, as part of our Lenten devotions, St Michael’s Hahndorf encouraged people to use the Lectio 365 devotional app, which focused on the Desert Fathers and Mothers throughout Lent.
We were drawn to Lectio 365 because some members of the church were already using it. It also offered resources for weekly services and other ministries during Lent, as well as daily devotional reflections for personal use.
Alongside the app, we set up two online discussion groups – one on WhatsApp and one on Facebook – where people could share what they were learning, reflect on Scripture and prayer, and discuss the stories of these ancient followers of Jesus.
Offering both platforms allowed people to participate in ways they were already comfortable with. The Facebook group also enabled members of our online worshipping community to join, and WhatsApp provided a secure space for church members to connect.
Throughout Lent, people shared insights, encouraged one another and interacted in a positive, supportive and humble way. Our ministry leader, Simon Potter, and other staff members helped facilitate the groups.
The WhatsApp group has remained open and will be used again for future opportunities for prayer and devotion, such as the Week of Global Prayer and Advent.
Joy Wildman, office administrator and Safe Church coordinator, St Michael’s Hahndorf SA
Worshipping together, apart
St John’s Lutheran Church Forbes NSW
St John’s Lutheran Church in Forbes NSW is currently in pastoral vacancy, so for most services we stream the 9am traditional service from Immanuel Woden Valley Lutheran Church in Lyons ACT, where Pastor Tim Muller leads worship.
Before relocating back to Forbes, I had been a member of Immanuel Woden Valley, where I helped manage livestreamed services. During COVID, I relied on these services to remain connected, so it feels as though it is God’s will for me to share them with our Forbes congregation now.
We absolutely love streaming Pastor Tim’s services, as he is very engaging and personable. Parishioners particularly enjoy it when Pastor Tim welcomes ‘all those on livestream’ at the beginning of each service. This makes us feel as though we are worshipping with them. If people cannot attend church because of illness or other circumstances, they can also log on from home and watch the service later in the day.
During Woden’s celebration of holy communion, we simply press ‘pause’, and our licensed lay leaders lead communion in our own congregation, before continuing with the rest of the service. We can also fast-forward through Woden’s announcements and share our own.
For small congregations such as ours, livestreaming is a timely and cost-effective way to worship regularly and feel connected to God. Together with the ability to conduct communion locally and use worship resources, we feel equipped to serve God fully and abundantly in the absence of a local pastor.
Robyn Liebich, deputy chair, St John’s Lutheran Church Forbes NSW
Exploring mission
Explorations in Mission and MinistrY (EmmY)
EmmY is a monthly online conversation facilitated by the LCA District Mission Directors. It began with the recognition that many people across the LCANZ are doing creative and thoughtful things in ministry and mission. We wanted to bring those people together so that we could learn from one another.
Parish ministry can be isolating at times, and it is easy to feel as though you must work everything out for yourself. EmmY provides a space where pastors and ministry leaders can share their experiences and explore new possibilities for the church’s mission.
Because it is online, we can bring people together from across Australia and New Zealand. We offer two sessions on the same day because the time difference can be up to five hours, and it also allows for a good mix of people and ideas.
What I value most is the generosity of the conversations. Some of our most experienced practitioners are often the most encouraging toward those who are still learning or trying something new. As Proverbs 27:17 reminds us, ‘As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.’
Digital technology cannot replace face-to-face relationships, but it can remind us that ministry doesn’t have to be lonely. We need one another.
David Schmidt, assistant bishop for mission, LCA Queensland District, on behalf of the LCA District Mission Directors
Starting the conversation
Immanuel Lutheran Church Buderim Qld
At Immanuel Lutheran Church Buderim, digital resources have been enhancing our youth ministry over the past few years. Our grade 7–12 youth space, ‘Friday Night R&R’, concludes its relaxed community and fellowship time with discussion. Rather than written studies, we use video resources such as Alpha Youth, Alpha Essentials and XP.
We’ve noticed that visual media and storytelling can add an extra dimension to communicating the gospel in ways where it can not only be heard but seen too.
Hearing from others, whether experts on a topic or other young people wrestling with similar questions, can combat feelings of isolation and provide a different voice from regular leaders.
When engaging with themes and ideas from digital resources, young people have something more concrete to hold on to as they wrestle with life and faith. They can see they’re not alone in their questions and connect the stories and visuals in the videos with Jesus’ great love for them.
Using these resources has enabled our young people to better understand the Bible and God. It has also helped them ask big questions about life and faith and explore what it means for them.
I encourage everyone involved in youth ministry to consider how they can use digital resources as a launchpad for communicating Jesus’ love for young people.
Stefan Volejnik, youth and families coordinator, Immanuel Lutheran Church Buderim Qld
Creating safer communities, wherever we are
LCANZ Safe Church training
Safe Church training is now delivered completely online through self-paced learning or live online sessions, making it easier for people across Australia and New Zealand to participate.
What we’ve discovered has been encouraging. While many participants complete the training individually, others have chosen to gather and join the live online webinars as groups. People have met over tea and coffee, supported those who are less confident with technology, discussed real-life scenarios and continued conversations long after the sessions have finished.
Rather than replacing community, the online format has often strengthened it. It has made training more accessible for people in regional areas and those with busy schedules, while still allowing participants to ask questions, share experiences and learn from one another in real time, building relationships along the way.
Safe Church training is ultimately about creating communities where people are safe, respected and cared for. It has been encouraging to see digital technology become another tool to help us learn together while continuing to build relationships across the church.
Liz Ewers, LCANZ Safe Church support partner
This feature story appeared in the August–September 2026 edition of The Lutheran. To subscribe and read more stories from across the LCANZ, visit https://thelutheran.com.au/subscribe
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