The word "phygitial" was a fairly popular term in ministry circles when the pandemic started. However, it is not used as much as it once was when the pandemic started. The word "phygital" was first mentioned in 2007 by Chris Weil, currently Chairman-CEO at Momentum Worldwide, to describe the inseparable connections between the physical and the digital worlds (Vergine et al., 2019). Ministry leaders would use this term for ministry when online ministry and in-person ministry merge and work together in different opportunities. Here are some examples of phygital events.
While you may not hear the word "phygital" a lot these days, phygital ministry still happens today. For example, here is a current day example of how phygital ministry works.
A Current Day Example
This past Easter, a young adult was watching the Easter Online Service at New Life Christian Church in Chantilly, VA at 8 am. During that service, Brett Andrews, the Lead Pastor, made a call to everyone to respond to the gospel and resurrection and challenged people who had be considering giving their life over to God, to do that today. This young adult was challenged and felt God calling him to repent and be baptized that day. So, he go in his car and went the main Campus at New Life.
Once this young adult came to New Life, he found Dale, one of the Elders at the Church. He shared his story and told him that he wanted to be baptized. Dale and this young adult talked for an hour about the gospel and made sure that he was ready to be baptized and doing it for the right reasons. After they discussed, Dale baptized this young adult on Easter Sunday and there was a celebration at New Life and in heaven.
This baptism was a phygital event. This young adult was not going to come to New Life in person. But, he was comfortable watching from home, online. While he was there, he felt the conviction to turn his life over to Christ and be baptized. So, he came in person to get baptized. It was an exciting day to see how this unfolded.
Conclusion
God is at work. Sometimes it will be in person. Sometimes it will be online. Sometimes it will be on video games. Sometimes it will be a combination of it all - phygital. Do not limit God to what He is doing. He can and will use all things to bring people to Him.
What do you think? What others ways have you seen phygital ministry happen recently? Share your ideas below or on social media.
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