The Faith and Digital Culture column is an interactive space designed to explore how African Catholics are utilizing digital media to communicate the faith more effectively and how their efforts have impacted lives beyond the shores of Africa.
In this maiden episode, we have the rare privilege of engaging one of the growing value creators in the social media landscape. Rev. Fr. James Anyaegbu, also known as the “TikTok Priest,”. Fr. James shares a compelling story about his digital media journey, highlighting his commitment to evangelizing people with a rare freshness and joyful approach. Let’s hear from him.
Voice Afrique: Can we meet you?
I am Reverend Father James Anyaegbu. I am a native of Ubulenu, Uke in Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. I was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on July 6, 2013, for the Catholic Diocese of Aba in Abia State, Nigeria.
Before ordination, I studied Philosophy at the Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary in Owerri and Theology at Bigard Memorial Seminary in Enugu, both in Nigeria. After my ordination, I served at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Aba and subsequently at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Eziukwu, Aba, Nigeria. After two years of enriching pastoral ministry in Nigeria, I was missioned to the Diocese of Aberdeen in Scotland, United Kingdom. Over the past ten years, I have ministered at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Beauly, serving seven Catholic communities across the Highlands of Scotland.
In addition to my pastoral work, I have pursued further academic qualifications in Counselling and Psychotherapy, and I am currently undertaking a master’s degree in psychology. I am also the founder and director of the Faith-Chat Platform, a virtual community established to promote evangelization through media culture, prayer, Bible study, and charitable works.
Voice Afrique: Fada James, also known as the TikTok priest, has become a household name in the social media landscape. How did it start?
It’s not entirely surprising that I’ve come to be known as the “TikTok Priest,” as this identity naturally flows from a long-standing passion to share the message of Christ with people in ways that resonate with the culture of the times. My desire has always been to gather people, to share the joy of the Gospel, and to communicate the Good News in ways that are engaging, relevant, and accessible.
Looking back, the signs were there from early childhood. I was actively involved in drama from nursery and primary school through to my years in the minor seminary. Performance became familiar to me, not as a means of entertainment, but as a genuine expression of something deeper. The joy I share is not an act; it is the authentic joy that comes from God, even amid uncertainty, suffering, and change. It is that joy I long to pass on to others.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, as churches closed and communities became physically disconnected, the digital world became a critical point of contact. Social media emerged as a powerful tool, both for good and for ill. I felt a deep conviction, inspired by the words of Christ in Luke 18:8, “…when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”, to ensure that the voice of faith was not absent from this virtual space.
That was when I began intentionally posting brief messages, dances, and teachings about the Catholic faith on TikTok and other platforms. To the glory of God, this approach has not only attracted attention but has also helped to sustain the faith of many. It became a channel for evangelization, reaching people who might never step into a church. This same passion also gave rise to the Faith-Chat Platform, a virtual apostolate—a faith community for the digital age.
Voice Afrique: The COVID-19 Pandemic marked a pivotal and transformative moment in global history, also significantly affecting communication in pastoral settings. How did the pandemic impact your media presence?
The COVID-19 pandemic brought numerous challenges to every facet of human life, including the way we ministered and communicated pastorally. Before the pandemic, I was already engaged in online ministry, as I mentioned earlier, through YouTube, where I recorded and shared daily homilies under the title “Daily Meditations.” Each Monday evening, I would record a week’s worth of reflections using GarageBand.
The initiative was well received, and many friends looked forward to each day’s homily. Their anticipation gave me courage and motivation to continue. However, when the lockdown was formally announced around 20th March 2020, and churches were instructed to close, I was initially disheartened. The idea of not being physically present with my parishioners was difficult to accept. Yet, rather than retreating, I sought a new way to reconnect with them spiritually. The first medium readily available to me was YouTube.
On March 23, 2020, I conducted my first virtual Mass using my iMac. The image quality was poor, and only about 20 people joined, but they prayed with me, and that encouragement was enough to keep me going. Just two days later, on the Solemnity of the Annunciation, over 30 people were in attendance. It became clear that something deeper was unfolding.
I invested in a webcam to improve video quality, though I soon encountered issues with internet connectivity and inadequate lighting. To address these, I used side lamps for lighting and later purchased a wired lapel microphone to enhance sound clarity. Despite these imperfections, the online Mass community continued to grow steadily. Eventually, hundreds were joining daily, and that’s when I realized this was no longer a temporary measure, but a genuine calling.
Rather than dwell on when lockdowns would end, I embraced what felt like a new mission: to evangelize within the context of digital culture. I recalled the words of Pope Francis during that period, thanking priests who have found creative ways to evangelize the people and to sustain the bond of love and communion. Each morning began with 30 minutes of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, during which I would pray at the Divine Office privately, followed by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with my colleague, Fr Maximilian Nwosu.
Through the adversity of the pandemic, a new part of my vocation emerged, one that blended pastoral care with media engagement. It taught me resilience, creativity, and, above all, the importance of presence—whether physical or virtual—in shepherding souls and sustaining faith.
Voice Afrique: You have also been called the dancing priest. What brought about that, and why do you use local African praise songs?
Interestingly, dancing isn’t something I would naturally consider my talent; I only know a few basic steps. But I quickly realized that even those simple moves could become a joyful and powerful tool for evangelization. I grew up in a traditional Igbo African home. My father, a devout Catholic, was also deeply committed to preserving and promoting aspects of our cultural heritage that harmonize with the Gospel.
That upbringing instilled in me a deep respect for African traditions and an appreciation for the richness of our music and communal expressions of faith. It is no surprise, then, that I began to incorporate local African praise songs into my TikTok videos and other digital content. More than just personal expression, this was a deliberate choice. I wanted to reach fellow Africans, both on the continent and in the diaspora. I thought of those who might be feeling isolated, homesick, or spiritually weary, people who might need a glimpse of the joy we know so well back home.
In African communities, there is a profound sense of togetherness. We laugh, sing, and share openly even with strangers. That joyful communion is something uniquely beautiful, and during the COVID-19 lockdown, I feared that this essential part of our identity was under threat. We were suddenly cut off from the joy of gathering: children could no longer attend Block Rosary Crusades, families missed daily morning Masses, and members of pious societies were no longer meeting for Marian devotions or evening prayers. That sense of spiritual and communal rhythm had been disrupted.
As I began to understand how social media algorithms worked, I intentionally used African praise songs and cultural expressions in my videos. This approach enabled the message to travel far beyond Scotland, Nigeria, to Kenya, Mozambique, Congo, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Cameroon, and many other countries. What began as a small effort in my little Scottish village became, by God’s grace, a wider platform for joy, praise, and connection rooted in our shared African identity. All glory to God, who uses even our simplest gifts, like a few dance steps, for His greater purpose.
Voice Afrique: The Faith-Chat-Platform is your initiative. How did you come up with the idea? Do you have members? If so, how many are there, and what are their activities?
The Faith-Chat Platform (FCP) was born out of a desire to shift the growing attention from me as an individual to a faith-driven community, one that would support individuals whose faith needed to be renewed, sustained, or deepened. The reason we have as our motto: “Where doubt meets faith, weakness meets strength, come let us share our worries.”
At the time, I was already quite active on YouTube and TikTok, sharing daily Masses and short reflections. Beyond that, I began encouraging followers to participate in evangelization by creating short one-minute videos on faith and Catholic doctrine. Each week, I would provide a topic, collect submissions, edit them, and post the final video on YouTube.
Additionally, I organized live Zoom discussions, inviting my bishop, Hugh, priests, professionals, and lay faithful to engage in conversations about faith and moral issues. These sessions were live-streamed on YouTube and began to attract growing interest. Seeing this, I recognized the need for a name and structure that would reflect the mission more than the personality behind it. After consulting with fellow priests, Fr. George Adimike and Fr. Chike Osamor, and with prayerful discernment, the name Faith-Chat Platform emerged, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
The platform officially launched on December 1, 2020, with an Advent challenge I had encountered online: reading one chapter of the Gospel of Luke each day for the 24 days leading up to Christmas. To support this initiative, I hosted early morning prayers on Instagram with around 15–20 participants. Each session included a short prayer, the day’s Gospel reading, and a brief reflection. This format continued into January 2021 with the Gospel of Matthew and through Lent, during which we read the 40 chapters of Exodus over the 40 days. After Lent, having witnessed the participants’ commitment, we created a WhatsApp group for those who wished to formally identify as FCP members. Registration followed, and what began as a digital prayer space gradually evolved into a growing spiritual community.
My vision was to nurture a community that didn’t just pray online, but also actively lived out the Gospel through charitable works. A turning point came on Valentine’s Day 2021, when I preached on the need to go beyond gift-giving among loved ones and extend generosity to those in need. Inspired by this message, members organized a charity outreach. On my birthday that same year, they surprised me with another outreach effort, knowing how passionate I am about serving people experiencing poverty. From there, FCP’s second arm, charity, was born.
Today, our daily activities include morning prayers streamed via Instagram, which now attract an average of 700 to 1000 participants. These sessions consist of the Holy Rosary, novenas, and Adoration, particularly on Tuesdays, which we now call “Mercy Tuesday”, a day dedicated to Eucharistic Adoration, acts of forgiveness, and reconciliation. Additionally, we gather each day at 3:00 p.m. for the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Membership typically begins with joining the morning prayer, followed by requesting access to the WhatsApp community, completing a short registration form, and becoming part of a local FCP group. While I have millions of followers across social media, the Faith-Chat Platform currently has over 3,000 registered members, with six established communities across Nigeria and active groups in Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, and Cameroon, with Uganda soon to follow.
To date, we have conducted over 200 charity outreach events, reaching more than 45,000 individuals across Africa and beyond. Our charitable initiatives focus on promoting education, general health and well-being, faith formation, and environmental care. FCP is now officially registered as a charity in both Nigeria and Scotland.
Many members have testified to how the platform has transformed their personal and family spiritual lives. One member shared: “Since joining the platform, I have grown in my love for God and the Blessed Virgin Mary.” Others speak of healing, spiritual awakening, and the joy of discovering Catholic devotions that they never knew existed. Several members have invited their entire families to join, and many now incorporate our morning devotions into their daily routine.
In 2024, we held our first in-person retreat in Nottingham, UK, themed The Becoming Retreat, with over 200 people in attendance. In February 2025, the same retreat was held in Lagos, Nigeria, drawing over 1,000 participants. Our next retreat will be in October 2025 in Coventry, where we will also celebrate FCP’s fifth anniversary.
Additionally, we recently embarked on our first international pilgrimage to Medjugorje, a spiritually enriching eight-day experience that included 25 pilgrims from the United States, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, and England. It was a deeply enriching journey, and we intend to make both the Becoming Retreat and the pilgrimage annual events.
The Faith-Chat Platform is more than just an initiative; it is a living, breathing movement of prayer, mission, charity, and communion. Rooted in the Gospel and expressed through media and community outreach, it continues to grow as a light of hope for thousands around the world.
Voice Afrique: Looking at what you have accomplished in five years, what are your plans for the next five years as a priest and value creator (not just a content creator)?
Over the next five years, my foremost goal is to consolidate and strengthen what has already been built, particularly the Faith-Chat Platform (FCP), both as a spiritual community and a charitable movement. My vision is not merely to continue producing content, but to create lasting value in people’s lives spiritually, emotionally, and communally. I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in psychology, which I expect to complete by 2027.
This academic journey is part of a larger mission to enhance the well-being of individuals within the Faith-Chat community and beyond. I believe that integrating sound psychological understanding with pastoral care will be vital in responding to the many challenges people face today, especially in areas like grief, anxiety, relationship struggles, and emotional healing.
One key focus in the coming years is to establish a robust charity network across Scotland and England, encouraging FCP members and supporters to engage meaningfully with existing charitable organizations to impact our mission in Africa, while also developing creative new models of volunteering and outreach. I see the Church not just as a place of worship but as a living, active community called to respond to the real needs of society.
Additionally, I plan to organize:
• A Couples’ Conference, aimed at promoting healthy family life, responsible parenting,
and spiritual intimacy within marriage.
• A Mental Health Awareness Conference, designed to foster understanding, reduce
stigma, and equip individuals, especially within faith communities, to support one
another with compassion and practical wisdom.
Beyond these structured events, I intend to continue mentoring digital evangelists, empowering more creators to evangelize with purpose and depth. I aim to assist others in transitioning from content creation to meaningful value creation, with a focus on authenticity, spiritual impact, and community transformation. I remain deeply grateful to Voice Afrique for the opportunity to share my journey thus far. I hope that this testimony encourages more creators, ministers, and innovators in the digital space to persevere in the work of evangelization of modern culture.
Voice Afrique: Where can people find you?
You can find me on:
• TikTok and Instagram: @fr_james_and @faithchatplatform
• X (formerly Twitter): @frjamesa and @fcp_charity
• YouTube: Fr. James A Media and FaithChatPlatform
• Facebook: Fr. James A FaithChatPlatform
Voice Afrique: Thank you for your time and enriching answers to our questions
Fr. James: The pleasure is mine, thank you for having me as a guest.
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