By Lionel Chan

A recent local newspaper article highlighted an Institute of Mental Health (IMH) finding that about one in two Singaporeans between the ages of 15 and 21 has “problematic smartphone use.” This problem of over reliance and too much time on devices, results in impatience or anxiety, pain in the wrists or back of the neck, missing work or inability to concentrate during lessons.

In several encounters with parents, I learnt that screen time is the most common source of tension with their young or teenage children. Concerned with the bad impact on mental health and well-being, they struggle to effectively limit their children’s exposure to devices.

Our youth today are digital natives who grew up in the presence of digital technology, this information age. They have not known it any other way! They love going online from internet and social media, to phones, apps, games, television and other types of technology. In the classroom, electronic-learning is commonplace now. While screen-based activity causes concerns, there are benefits to daily life.
Hence, we direct youths to go online within good boundaries that protect them.

As workers of the gospel, eager to connect with and help young people, we enter into their online worlds, using social media and technology wisely and responsibly. I want to share two examples.

Initially, Titus Wong, of EDGE Ministry thought that relating with his school soccer team boys would end when he had to give up his position as coach. Thanks to Instagram, he reconnected with a few, responded personally to their stories, wished them well for their examinations and even offered to pray for them regularly.

At the same time, Titus posted online updates about his church soccer team and invited these boys for a friendly kickabout. Soon, they asked about upcoming games and if they could join Titus’ church team. With updates, photographs and videos shared over Facebook and Instagram, more boys came, even inviting some seniors and juniors.

At an inter-church soccer league this year, Titus was amazed that almost a fifth of the team representing his church were boys of the school team he had coached. This meant that after they graduate from secondary school, they could go on playing together and he could keep relating with them, waiting for the right time to share more about Christ.

Keeping in touch with the boys over social media allowed Titus to continue being a part of their lives. “This opened additional doors for ministry, with them still feeling comfortable to reach out to me themselves.” Likewise for Poly Ministry volunteer, Samuel Cham, “Being geared to the times means that social media is an essential means to connect with youth.”

At the start of 2023, his ministry team went on a deliberate effort to find Christians digitally on social media. One idea was to spot bible verses in users account descriptions. Another way was to post trending content that interest Christian polytechnic youths. One of their posts even garnered nearly 60,000 views! 

By God’s grace, as staff and volunteers prayed and followed-up users who like the content posted, they could invite them to upcoming events and weekly school gatherings. The team sustained a consistent online engagement with several of these individuals to the point of meeting them face-to-face, which then led to new Christians joining the ministry’s Prayer, Evangelism, Partnership (PEP) groups. This endeavour in digital mobilisation continues today.

Our “forefathers”, even before the advent of social media and the smartphone, understood that to be relevant to the youths of our day, we must be in places and on platforms that connect with them. At times, this may require taking risks or looking foolish. We press on, undergirding our foundation by firmly grounding in our Lord Jesus and His Word. Only He can keep us faithful to bring the unchanging news of His salvation to young people in every wave of change in this world.