Minister for the Presidency Babirye Milly Babalanda has launched a Seventh-day Adventist Church digital evangelism campaign, urging Christians to turn their smartphones into platforms for spreading the Gospel instead of using them to promote harmful content.
The campaign, dubbed “One Voice27 Mission For All, Hope Starts Here,” was launched at Iganga SDA Church during an event attended by hundreds of believers, youth leaders, church elders and community members.
Babalanda challenged Christians, particularly young people, to use the growing reach of digital platforms to win souls and promote positive values.
“In this generation, most Ugandans hold smartphones, and they dedicate more time to them than TVs, radios and newspapers,” Babalanda said.
She urged believers to make responsible use of their phones, describing the devices as powerful tools for Christian evangelism.
“I urge you to start using your phones as pulpits. In your hand you hold a church and a Bible. Instead of using data bundles online to sin, use data bundles to win souls,” she told the congregation.
Babalanda warned against what she described as the increasing misuse of social media, particularly among young people, citing online dating exploitation, pornography, excessive consumption of entertainment content and the spread of propaganda and false information.
“Let every online post reflect the scripture of Jesus Christ. Your phone is a powerful mission field,” she said.
The Minister said the digital evangelism campaign was timely because social media provides an opportunity for the Church to reach millions of people who may never physically attend a church service.
She cited Uganda’s growing internet penetration, noting that the country has more than 19.7 million active mobile internet subscriptions, according to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), making digital platforms an important avenue for spreading the Gospel.
Babalanda also emphasised the importance of responsible use of the freedoms of worship and expression, saying the NRM government under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni remains committed to protecting these freedoms.
However, she called on citizens to exercise those freedoms responsibly by promoting morality, unity, patriotism and peaceful coexistence.
Babalanda, who also serves as Director for SDA Busoga Women Field, said the “One Voice27 Mission” could contribute to moral renewal by providing young people with positive and constructive content online.
She further called on religious leaders from different denominations, cultural leaders and parents to work together in protecting young people from harmful online influences.
According to Babalanda, such collective efforts are necessary to safeguard the values of the younger generation and ensure a morally responsible society for the future.
During the launch, Babalanda conveyed greetings from President Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataaha Museveni, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President Hajji Yunus Kakande and staff of the Office of the President.
She also commended the SDA Church for embracing digital platforms as part of its evangelism strategy, saying the initiative demonstrates an understanding of how communication and outreach are changing in the digital age.
The SDA Church leadership in Iganga thanked Babalanda and the Office of the President for attending the launch and supporting the Church’s efforts to take evangelism to digital platforms.
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