Serving In and Through the Digital World Review App "Gathertown"

Abstract

“How can ministry be carried out amid restrictions and the limitations of face-to-face interaction?” This question became a significant concern for me (and perhaps for colleagues and many others as well) following the implementation of lockdowns and other social distancing measures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic several years ago.

During this period, a range of pre-existing technologies and digital applications gained heightened attention and widespread adoption due to their capacity to facilitate the continuation of daily activities — including professional work, business operations, social interaction, and ministerial engagement. Beyond the widespread use of Zoom, another platform that was introduced and subsequently utilized in my ministry context was GatherTown, a virtual environment designed to simulate interactive social spaces in digital form.