Spoken Word: An Emerging Practice of Sharing Testimony among Next-Generation African Diaspora Christians

This paper highlights the prominent role of digital technology among next-generation African diaspora Christians. From the moment one enters All Nations Church in New Jersey (ANCNJ) , the pervasive presence of digital media is unmistakable. Large, cinema-like screens evoke the immersive atmosphere of Times Square, while high-quality live-streaming reflects sophisticated, often unseen technological infrastructures. ANCNJ actively engages across multiple social media platforms, aligning its ministry with the digital habits of emerging generations. Spoken word is used as an embodied form of religious expression, and the digital space is engaged with as a cyber sanctuary.  Participants narrate their spiritual journeys, voice communal concerns, and translate doctrinal themes into embodied and culturally resonant expressions. Spoken word becomes a liturgical act and a process of identity formation, serving as a new practice of gospel proclamation. Drawing on participant observation and semi-structured interviews, this paper examines how second-generation migrants appropriate popular culture to express faith and identity.