Tacoma Russian Center Adventist Church hosted Gospel Goes Digital, an engaging event led by Vitalii Glavatskyi, church pastor, on Dec. 14, 2024. The program explored how digital media can enrich the spiritual lives of Christian youth, offering fresh ways to learn biblical teachings and share the gospel in the digital age.
The event began with a spiritual word and prayer from Ruslan Spitsyn, Center for Spiritual Enrichment pastor. His message set a reflective tone, emphasizing the importance of sharing the gospel in today’s rapidly changing world. The evening’s main verse, Mark 16:15, which says, "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation,'" framed the theme, encouraging attendees to use digital tools to fulfill this divine commission.
Andrei Melniciuc, Load the Ark designer and producer, presented a Bible-based perspective on using technology to share God’s message. He emphasized the importance of balance, stating, “Even Amish find it difficult to balance faith and technology.” Melniciuc compared digital media to the parables of Jesus’ time, explaining how it can make the gospel relatable to modern audiences, especially younger generations.
Victor Melniciuc, Halo franchise lead UX and UI designer, followed with an informative presentation on the science behind UX design. He shed light on the immense effort and strategy behind digital platforms, cautioning the audience, “A lot of great talent and a lot of money goes into the placement of every button. Don’t expect to compete against them and win.” Victor encouraged attendees to approach technology with awareness and intention, using these tools purposefully to further God’s work while avoiding being controlled by them.
A panel discussion followed, allowing the audience to explore these ideas further. The panel featured Zach Fay, LightGliders CEO; Jeff Evans, Grace Community Church youth pastor; Dr. Heals, Twitch streamer; and Heidi Baumgartner, North Pacific Union communication director. Topics ranged from fostering authentic relationships online to navigating the challenges of faith in the digital age.
During the event, Baumgartner presented an award to the Load the Ark team, recognizing their recent honor from Society of Adventist Communicators for the Best Interactive Design category.
The evening ended with refreshments and fellowship in the church hall, leaving attendees inspired to embrace digital media as a tool for spreading the gospel. The organizers concluded the event stating, “The gospel is timeless, but how we share it can evolve to reach more modern audiences. Let’s use what God has placed in our hands to spread His love in unique and creative ways.”
Jeff Evans, known as Dr. Heals, (on screen) joins a Q&A session about the experience of digital ministry.
Luke Doubravsky, local artist, presents a painting for the local church.
Vitalii Glavatskyi, pastor, and Aliaksandr Shakhnouski, translator, host the event in English and Russian.
