16 November 2023 | Zagreb, Croatia [Vanesa Pizzuto]
“Dani odluke” (Decision Days), an innovative evangelistic campaign organised by Hope Channel Croatia, was led by two emerging Adventist YouTubers, Croatian pastor Dario Kovačević (@BIBLIJA_n_dianu, 5.01k subscribers) and Serbian psychologist Nemanja Boričić (@NemanjaBoricic, 23.8K subscribers). How these young professionals became Youtubers is a story marked by divine appointments and everyday miracles.
Right Place, Right Time – Dario Kovačević
It’s 2020. I’m in my office at the Croatian Conference in Zagreb, minding my own business, when I notice the president and a Hope Channel leader deep in conversation by my door. I decide to jump into the mix and throw out my idea. “Guys, hear me out. COVID’s got everyone stuck at home. They’ll be bored and itching for content. Let’s use YouTube; this is our chance!” They ask if I’ve got any topics ready to roll, and surprise — a month prior, I’d prepped 15 messages because God nudged me. Hope Channel chipped in with cameras and studio support, and I went live on YouTube.
The initial nights were a bit underwhelming — not many viewers tuned in. So, with Friday and Saturday around the corner, I send up a prayer: “God, we need a boost in viewers.” And then, an earthquake rattles Croatia on Sunday. The city’s streets fill with people evacuating, trying to beat the impending lockdown. It’s March, and I have a master’s dissertation due in May. A lightbulb moment: I decide to head to my parents’ place to finish the dissertation. They love the idea, and I start packing my bags. But halfway through, God taps me on the shoulder and asks, “What are you doing? Where are you going?” I explain my plan, and God redirects me: “No, no. You’re not going home. Go downstairs.” My flat is in the same building as the Croatian Conference, so I follow God’s nudge and find Bobo Marceta, the Conference president, and he’s thrilled. “Our studios are intact. Maybe we can keep the series going. What do you think?”
I had a different topic ready, but that night, I shared my testimony instead. I recount how that very morning; God woke me up early with a praise song about never being alone. When the earthquake hit, instead of fear, I felt ready. Amidst the chaos, I was calm. I share this on video, and the response is overwhelming. The video becomes a sensation in the entire Balkan region, not just because of the circumstances but because no one else had content ready. God used it all to position me as a YouTuber.
A Dialogue Between Psychology and Theology – Nemanja Boričić
In 2010, when I got baptised, I already envisioned starting a YouTube channel to make the content I heard at church accessible to others. So, I began sharing messages from pastors and evangelists on YouTube to inspire and encourage people. Just before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, I started recording my own sermons and messages as a psychologist. And as the pandemic unfolded, I shifted my focus entirely to YouTube because I had more time in my hands.
A donor from the USA noticed my work online and provided funds through the Union, allowing me to purchase equipment and everything else needed to pursue a more professional approach. However, having cameras and microphones and knowing how to use them are two different things! I recorded videos but did not like the results. One day, I was sweating profusely from trying to set up the equipment correctly and was so frustrated that I cried. Finally, I prayed, “God, please help me learn to do this right.”
Amazingly, a fellow YouTuber with a large audience contacted me for an interview. I agreed but shared my struggle with the equipment. He said reassuringly, “Don’t worry, I will teach you.” When he saw my camera, he was impressed with the quality. The interview with him garnered 46,000 views in almost no time! Subsequently, another YouTuber invited me to participate in a podcast. Toward the end of the interview, he asked, “Do you read Ellen G. White books?” Perplexed, I responded, “Yes, but why are you asking me that?” He explained, “I’ve had previous guests who read her work, and I can see how it impacts their thinking, making them approach things differently.”
He proposed a collaboration, suggesting we record some interviews together. One of our interviews soon reached 96,000 views. He assisted with the recording and editing, ensuring that the content could be swiftly shared on our YouTube channels. He also recommended I delete content from other preachers and personalise my channel to get more followers. That’s when I started recording on my own.
In 2021, with only about 4,000 followers, my church organised a 10-day prayer event. People from the church I was serving as a lay pastor (I am studying theology) started asking God for the growth of my YouTube channel. God answered with a huge miracle! A few days later, a well-known Catholic priest reached out, asking to do a podcast with me. Initially, I hesitated, but church leaders and members encouraged me, convinced it was God’s leading. During the interview, the priest repeatedly encouraged viewers to check out my channel, praising its quality content. Ten days after the interview aired, 10,000 new followers subscribed to my channel. A month later, 4,000 new followers subscribed, mostly Catholics. This opened doors for more interviews, invitations to preach at a Pentecostal church, and visits to various places.
A prominent non-believer in Serbia recently contacted me, saying, “You have a great story, but your channel is terrible.” He suggested changes to appeal to a broader audience, pointing out that some titles and thumbnails attracted primarily fringe audiences and conspiracy theorists. I accepted his feedback, and within five minutes, he revamped the look of my YouTube channel. The altered thumbnails and channel title drew in a broader audience, increasing the followership. We recorded three interviews together.
It is wonderful to be a part of God’s plan to reach many of his children with the truth. But it is even more wonderful to see how He works miraculously when we come to Him with sincere dreams, even if our skills are limited.
[Photos: Vanesa Pizzuto/Adventist Media Exchange, CC BY 4.0, featured picture: Ivana Sadek // Video: Boris Brkić & Croatian Conference team]
This conversation was recorded with the interviewees using English as their second language. In the spirit of preserving their enthusiasm and passion, minimal edits have been applied to maintain the authentic charm of their words.
Earlier this year, the TED Mission Board approved funding for a digital evangelism initiative in Croatia, covering the cost of distributing 600 Bibles to viewers expressing interest. It was reported that demand for Bibles was encouragingly high.
