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In today’s digital world, communities are finding new ways to gather, connect, and support each other, even when they’re separated by thousands of miles. The TACO Discord has grown into a vibrant online community, acting as a digital church providing pastoral care for the digital age. Recently, I launched a new “Wednesday Check-In” to address themes and concerns coming up in our growing community, offering real-time spiritual support and fellowship.

A New Kind of Online Church Community

For those unfamiliar, Discord is an online platform where communities can come together to chat, share resources, and engage with one another in various channels. The TACO Discord is home to a thriving online community where members can seek prayer, share personal victories, joke around, offer support, and “do life together”. Along with myself, the TACO Team creators Ukulele4Worship, TheQuizKing, Samus419, and DonnieDreams also have their own spaces, making it a hub for Christian content creators and their audiences.

The TACO Discord was created to unite Christian content creators and their communities, but it has grown into something far greater. It’s a place where individuals come together to share their struggles, seek support, and engage in deep conversations about life and faith. We have dedicated channels for mental health, prayer, and faith-based discussions, all designed to meet the unique needs of an online community.

Seeing recurring themes and concerns in the various channels across the discord, I decided to launch a “Wednesday Check-In” to directly address these issues. It’s a weekly gathering designed to bring our digital community closer together, tackling struggles such as fear, anxiety, life balance, job search challenges, any anything else people are struggling with, from a faith-centered perspective.

How the Wednesday Check-In Supports Our Digital Community

The Wednesday Check-In was born from a desire to provide structured yet flexible support. Each week, I’ll bring together insights from our Discord conversations and address the themes that resonate with so many of us. This first check-in covered three major topics: fear and anxiety, life balance, and job search challenges. These are real issues felt by many in our digital community, and the Check-In provides a chance to explore them with both spiritual and practical advice.

Here are the notes that I went through over the course of a couple hours:

Fear and Anxiety 

The community is wrestling with fear and anxiety in various forms: fear of failure, rejection, not being good enough, and constant struggles that create doubt about whether they’re on the right path. There’s also spiritual fear, like feeling distant from God or not living up to Christian values, which adds guilt and shame to the mix. Many are feeling weighed down by these emotions, struggling to find peace or clarity, even though they know, intellectually, that God’s grace is there for them. 

Specific Examples: 

• Some are dealing with health scares or family issues that add to their feelings of overwhelm. 

• People are anxious about their spiritual growth, feeling like they’re falling short or that their struggles are signs they’re not in God’s will. 
• A few expressed fears about stepping out in their faith, especially in public settings, worrying about how others might perceive them. 

Biblical Wisdom: 

• Mindfulness: Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 
• Stop Catastrophizing: Matthew 6:34 – “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” 
• Pray about it: Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” 

Practical Advice: 

• One small thing: When someone feels overwhelmed by fear or doubt, encourage them to focus on one small action they can take today. Don’t worry about everything that needs fixing, just take the next step in faith. 
• Break the fear cycle: Experts suggest practicing mindfulness to catch negative thought patterns before they spiral. Encourage people to use a gratitude journal or prayer journal where they can record things they’re thankful for each day. This can help shift focus from fear to trust. 
• Seek support: Encourage people to connect with their support network (whether it’s their community, friends, or even professional counseling). Remind them that anxiety and fear are better dealt with when shared. 
• Find grounding practices: Encourage them to try breathing exercises or grounding techniques (such as focusing on their senses: what they can see, hear, feel) when panic arises. It’s a simple way to regain control. 

Life Balance (Faith and Responsibilities) 

Balancing life, faith, and responsibilities is another ongoing challenge. Community members are trying to build better routines or feel distracted by the demands of life, which makes it hard for them to stay spiritually focused. Between jobs, family, health, and content creation, many are stretched thin, feeling as if they are losing their connection to God or struggling to make time for faith practices. 

Specific Examples: 

• Creators are finding it difficult to balance content creation with real-life responsibilities, especially when family or work demands increase. 
• There’s a desire to build better daily routines that include more intentional time with God, but many feel it’s hard to stay consistent. 
• Personal responsibilities, like family caregiving or work, are often pushing faith and spiritual disciplines to the background. 

Biblical Wisdom: 

• Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” 
• Mark 6:31 – “And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” 
• Psalm 127:2 – “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” 

Practical Advice: 

• Set boundaries: Encourage people to establish clear boundaries between their spiritual life and daily responsibilities. This might mean scheduling intentional moments with God, like praying during a walk or creating undisturbed time for devotions. 
• Time blocking: Using the time-blocking method could help them create structured routines that make space for both responsibilities and spiritual practices. 
• Incorporate faith into routine: Encourage integrating faith into daily tasks, like praying while doing chores or listening to scripture during commutes. Small habits can add spiritual rhythm to their day. 
• Recommended Resource: The book “Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer has a lot of practical insights on balancing life and faith.  

Job Search Struggles 

Job-related stress is another significant issue in the community. Several people are either looking for work, dealing with job rejections, or struggling with the uncertainty of finding a good fit. The process of searching for jobs is wearing people down, leading to feelings of discouragement, fear, and even loneliness. Some members are also grappling with challenges at their current workplaces, trying to navigate difficult relationships or situations. 

Specific Examples: 

• One person is dealing with job rejections and feeling disheartened, unsure if they’ll ever find a job that fits. 
• Others are struggling with toxic or stressful work environments, trying to stay patient and faithful while dealing with difficult colleagues or bosses. 
• There’s a recurring theme of uncertainty around interviews—worrying about how they’re perceived or whether they’ve “failed.” 

Biblical Wisdom: 

• Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” 
• Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” 
• Psalm 90:17 – “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands.” 

Practical Advice: 

• Reframe rejections: Job rejections are tough, but they don’t mean failure. Encourage them to view rejection as a step closer to the right opportunity. Experts suggest that treating interviews as learning opportunities can ease the sting of a “no.” 
• Focus on preparation: Help the community focus on what they can control—like improving resumes, preparing for interviews, or building new skills. Online resources like LinkedIn Learning or Skillshare can help them feel more confident. 
• Take breaks and rest: Encourage people not to burn out during the job search process. It’s okay to take breaks to recharge and come back to the process with fresh energy. 
• Networking and asking for help: Building a support network is essential—encourage people to ask for advice, get feedback, and seek support from mentors or people in their field. 
• Recommended Resource: Indeed’s Career Guide has solid advice on managing job search stress (https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/job-searching-anxiety) 

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Why Digital Ministry Matters

For those who wonder if a digital space can truly be a place of ministry, the TACO Discord is living proof that it can. The TACO Discord represents more than just an online gathering—but the embodiment of Christian fellowship adapted to the digital age. Every day, the TACO leadership and volunteers work to meet the needs of our community, providing friendship and spiritual support to those who may not have access to a traditional church setting. These digital spaces act as a church for people who need pastoral care, guidance, and friendship, even if they can’t attend a physical service.

Through our weekly check-ins and everyday interactions, we’re building a community that is strengthened by faith, friendship, and God’s presence—one message at a time.

If you want to learn more about TACO and our mission to reach and support Christian content creators in online spaces, check out our mission page here.