1

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

First and foremost, it is important to understand the core essence of the church. The

fundamental reason for the establishment of the Church on the earth by Jesus Christ is

essentially to save lives and makes disciples of men. A disciple in this context refers to a

follower of Jesus Christs teachings and doctrines. The implied command by Jesus in

Mathew Chapter 28:19-20 of the Holy Bible to His followers is often referred to as the

Great Commission. This command is forever alive and every member of the Church must

be committed to carrying out this mandate. In the beginning, the Church utilized simple

outreach methods such as one-on-one evangelism and crusades. They are also applicable

in our present world but now seem to lack the bite expected for consistent results.

Present day internet surfing, the consolidation of traditional and digital media has

precipitated unique tools to aid and simplify this task of witnessing. The Twenty-First

Century (Modern) Church now finds herself compelled to creatively and effectively use

these contemporary tools and methods available with the advent of the Information Age.

It has therefore now become necessary to critically analyze and consider these tools

available to the Church. Of a truth, the e-Church and the effective use of its tools is the

future of the Church evangelism drive.

Christian leaders have also argued that these tools are a distraction rather than a great

advantage. This school of thought also prides in the argument that there is no way to

exactly measure the gains and contributions of these contemporary evangelism tools in
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the Modern Church. This tangent of reasoning is worth exploring. We need to fully

understand these tools and then objectively measure the benefits from these tools to be

able to encourage leadership across board to embrace their use. This is even more

important when we consider the fact that there are other contending needs such as welfare

for ministers (and other staff), church building (and other projects), community service

and many other overheads vying for attention with limited resources available. This

mismatch between resources expended and expected outcomes has become really glaring

and leadership must be able to scale this hurdle to truly harness the benefits from using e-

Church as an effective evangelism tool.

An e-Church actually means an online (internet) church platform, making use of designs,

implementation, manipulation, storing and delivering of various types of media outreaches

to interested users. It is replicating basically most of the things that a physical Church

does, (i.e. reaching out to the world with the gospel) but this time, online. This can be in

real time or even in form of replay or rebroadcast mode. The term e-Church is multi

faceted, depending on the use. It can mean the deployment of computers to deliver and as

well receive information or feedbacks as texts, images, audios or videos, but it could also

be the capacity to manipulate and distribute contents that includes images, audios or

videos via a communication device.

With respect to the issue of e-Church constituting a distraction rather as an aid to Church

growth, we note also that the Church being a dynamic organization should seek out ways

to develop and apply proven strategies to overcome these shortcomings. This is the

argument of the other camp that bluntly refuses to accept the theory that e-Church is the

devils toy! This study will seek to attempt to find reliable answers to this reasoning by
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providing a checklist and develop a strategy that will be a guide to enable leaders and the

entire Christian community to respond to all of these issues and many others that will

surface in the future.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

There is no doubt that in qualitative and quantitative terms that The Twenty-First Century

Church has not been able to effectively annex and utilize the vast opportunities open in

the e-Church tools as against the resources at her disposal. With more churches planted

there seems not to be matched growth in the population of new converts to Christianity

and the attendant spiritual maturity and indeed vitality for the saved already inside the

Church. The aim of this Study therefore is to investigate the factors responsible for the

inability to effectively use the myriad of e-Church tools available to the Church and

translating this to visible numerical and spiritual growth.

The Study will also seek to answer the following questions:

i. What are the relevant e-Church tools and technologies available to the

Twenty-First Century Church?

ii.Is e-Church relevant in evangelism and applicable in this contemporary Church age?

iii. Does the Church have an effective e-Church tag team? What are the specific
responsibilities of this Team and impact in global outreach and Church growth?

iv.Does the Church implement a procedure to mitigate the perceived disadvantages of e-

Church when discovered and noticed?

v. Has the Church identified any procedural difficulties that make e-Church
less effective?

vi.Can the Church initiate an objective and practical way to use e-Church in discipleship
and nurturing?
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vii. Is there a plan to keep abreast of the dynamic world of tools and resources
available for Church growth?

1.3 HYPOTHESIS

The Study will attempt to test the hypothesis:

Ho: That the use of the e-Church in the Twenty-First Century Church does not

significantly impacts on global outreach and Church growth.

Hi: That the effective use of the e-Church in the Twenty-First Century significantly

impacts on global outreach and Church growth.

1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

1.4.1 This Study is undertaken to further examine in a broader theme, the e-Church tools

and opportunities available .We will also consider the direct and indirect benefits

of e-Church to the Twenty-First Century outreach and Church growth.

1.4.2 To draw attention to the negative effects of e-Church in church growth in our

contemporary church age.

1.4.3 To highlight the different approaches and strategies to assist the Church to

innovate using e-Church in our ever dynamic world.

1.4.4 To encourage church leaders and decision makers to invest resources in

e-Church.

1.4.5 To broaden church leadership knowledge of the need to build effective

e-Church tag teams.

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1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is hoped that this Study will help identify the benefits and problems that are associated

with e-Church. It should be able to provide useful e-Church tools and strategies to employ

to promote and maximize global outreach, Church growth and expansion.

1.6 DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The focus of this Study is limited to the Foursquare Gospel Churches in the high brow

Yaba and Sabo of Lagos State.

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Certain flaws inherent in this work are highlighted so that future researches will be able to

improve on it.

1.7.1 The Researcher encountered some difficulty during data collection. It is hoped that

future interventions in this Study will start earlier (at least twelve months in

advance) to be able to increase sample size.

1.7.2 Some individuals were not compelled to give enough of the required information

as a result incomplete information; a definite and inconclusive generalization may

be the result.

1.8 RESEARCH PROCEDURE

The Study embarks on a comparative study of Foursquare Gospel Churches in the high

brow Yaba and Sabo axis of Lagos. The selection of these churches in these areas was to

get an idea of the perception and the effective use of e-Church in a cosmopolitan city.

The survey type of research will be used and will deploy and include questionnaires (using

forms/surveys), interviews and other observation methods. The target will be key leaders

and senior partners. The form will be designed to examine further information relating to

the Study problems and will be accessible online to key leaders to fill and submit online.
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The data when analyzed shall provide further information in validating the research

hypothesis. A manual copy of the questionnaire will be available for individuals who will

not feel comfortable using the online version.

1.8.1 Design And Access To Form/Questionnaire

The questionnaire will consists of ten questions on the areas covered by the research work.

Ten respondents will be required to respond to the questions and submit answers.

1.8.2 Questionnaire Assumptions

In preparing the questionnaire, the researcher made the following assumptions:

i) The respondents fully understand the importance of the survey

ii) The respondents thus competent to answer the questions.

iii) All respondents understand the questions in a consistent way.

After the return of the questionnaire, the data gathered will be analyzed as a percentage of

the total respondents as follows:

As % As % As % As % As %

Questions Strongly Disagree Partially Agree Strongly

Disagree Agree Agree

From this reasonable conclusions will be drawn from this data.

The Study will also take liberal and profuse advantage of books, magazines, online

blog/websites, eBooks and other info-materials/media from the following libraries:

A. E-Libraries: The e-Libraries to be used will include subscriptions and books

 7

on ChristiannBook.com (CBD) Reader,Amazon.com (Kindle Desktop Ebook Platform)

and Kobo Books (Desktop Reader Platform).

B. Internal/Personal Library.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

In this Study, the following terms shall be used as defined here:

Church

Church can be defined as called-out. The Greek word for Church in the New Testament

is ekklesia. Ekklesia comes from EK, Out and Kale To All. Thus Ekklesia actually

denotes an assembly of citizens called out from their homes to gathering places for

public discussions in the Greek way of life (Acts 19:39,41).It also means a local group of

Christians who meet regularly for worship and service (Romans 16:5),or all the Christian

livings in a certain area and of all true believers in Christ Jesus (past, present and

future).The Church therefore is that company of regenerated persons, who in any given

community unite themselves voluntarily together, in accordance with Christ law for the

purpose of securing and establishment of His Kingdom in themselves and the world.

e-Church

By definition, e-Church also mean an online (internet) church platform, making use of

designs, implementation, manipulation, storing and delivering of various types of media

outreaches to interested users. It is replicating basically most of the things that a physical

Church does, (i.e. reaching out to the world with the gospel) but this time, online. This can

be in real time or even in form of replay or rebroadcast mode. The term e-Church is multi

faceted, depending on the use. It can mean the deployment of computers to deliver and as
 8

well receive information or feedbacks as texts, images, audios or videos, but it could also

be the capacity to manipulate and distribute contents that includes images, audios or

videos via a communication device.

Evangelical

This also mean evangelic. It has its origin from mid 16th century: via ecclesiastical Latin

from ecclesiastical Greek euangelikos, from euangelos. It is pertaining to or in keeping

with the gospel and its teachings. It is belonging to or designating the Christian churches

that emphasize the teachings and authority of the Scriptures, especially of the New

Testament, in opposition to the institutional authority of the church itself, and that stress as

paramount the tenet that salvation is achieved by personal conversion to faith in the

atonement of Christ. This involves certain movements in the Protestant churches in the

18th and 19th centuries that stressed the importance of personal experience of guilt for sin,

and of reconciliation to God through Christ.

Growth

Growth refers to an increase in the size, amount or degree of something. In applying this

to Church, church growth ultimately means the increase in the numerical as well as the

spiritual level (or maturity) of the member of the Church. So in essence, we refer to both

the external as well as the internal growth of the entire Church on all sides.
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CHAPTER TWO

2.0 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1 UNDERSTANDING THE e-CHURCH

The role of e-Church as an effective evangelical tool or method of the Twenty-First

Century Church cannot be underestimated. The e-Church platform holds great promise

for the effective realization of the core mandate of the church especially in this digital

age, which is spreading the good news (gospel) to the whole wide world, making

disciples of Jesus Christ in every nook and cranny, regardless of the race, color or

geographical spheres. The e-Church platform also drives Church growth (spiritual) as

well as external growth as measured by the transformation of the culture, ethics and

meeting the mental, psychological and material needs of the immediate and extended

members of the society.1 This review will touch on the history, components and

benefits of e-Church.

In the word of Ed Stetzer, every Church should have an online presence, but physical

presence is necessary as well.2

We will also review other areas such as how advertising, canvassing or good public

relation cum outreach can work through e-Church platforms and how it has been

effectively put into proper use.

1
Ejogheneta Peter Onojake, The Effect Of Multimedia In Twenty-First Century Church Growth:
A Case Study of Foursquare Gospel Church Agbado District, LIFE Theological Seminary (2016),7-9

2
Ed Stetzer, Is an Online Church Really a Church? April 2,2014, christianitytoday.com ,
(accessed February 2017)
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The e-Church platform has multifaceted definitions. But Ed Stetzers submission is

very apt, for the purpose of this study. According to him, an online church, however,

is often intended to be an alternative way to be a part of the church, similar to another

geographic campus. An online church of this type is a church that defines itself by

being onlinethe online experience is intended to be just as appropriate as the physical

gathering.3

But one may however be quick to ask, can online gathering of Christians be classified

as a Church? Should Churches be online? Again, Ed Stetzer submits, If a church is not

online, then it is not actually engaging the culture. A church needs to be where the

people gather and they are online and on social media sites.4

Pew Research found that 72 percent of online adults use social media. Every age

group continues to experience growth, particularly those over 65 who have tripled their

usage in the last few yearsfrom 13 percent in 2009 to over 43 percent, as at year

2013 5 only. This is year 2017, four more years gone past, and certainly the figure has

swelled the more, exponentially! And will continue to rise by the day, considering the

digital revolution that is ongoing across the world.

This buttresses the point that the time has come for Twenty-First Century churches to

move expeditiously to catch in on the very huge, and as a matter of fact, the

3
Ed Stetzer, Is an Online Church Really a Church?

4
Ed Stetzer, Is an Online Church Really a Church?

5
Joanna Brenner and Aaron Smith,72% Of Online Adults Are Social Networking Site Users,
August 5, 2013, http://Www.Pewinternet.Org/2013/08/05/72-Of-Online-Adults-Are-Social-Networking-
Site-Users/ (Accessed February 24 2017)
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fastest growing large followership or gathering or audience. The time is now for the

Church to maximally utilize this platform as an effective evangelical tool or platform in

this digital age.

It is intriguing however, that Despite the overwhelming trends in social media usage,

less than half of all churches are engaged on Facebook. A full 40 percent are not using

any social networking tools.6 I think that's just bad stewardship.

2.2 THE e-CHURCH AND ASSOCIATED TECHNOLOGIES

We will further review the e-Church platform, which actually is an online platform,

viz-a-viz the Multimedia. The e-Church platform employs and actually thrives on

multimedia tools online.

For instance, the word multimedia comes from multi which means more than

one (i.e. at least two) and media which is a means of communication. Media is the

plural of medium and refers to storage, transmission, communication, representation,

presentation, input interaction and perception. It also refers to a basic information type

like text, graphics, images, audio, animation, video etc. which can be combined into a

single unit. So etymologically speaking, multimedia refers to using multiple means to

convey information. We can therefore say that multimedia is an integration of many

types of media on a single medium in the same information unit. 7

6
David Roach, Research: Churches Increasing Efforts in Social Media, Facebook, Friday, January
21, 2011 ,http://www.lifeway.com/Article/LifeWay-Research-Churches-Increasingly-Fans-Facebook-
Social-Media(Accessed February 24 2017)
7
Ejogheneta Peter Onojake, The Effect Of Multimedia In Twenty-First Century Church
Growth,11
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This submission is very apt and comes in handy in this project work. This is more so,

because the e-Church platform, riding on the back of Multimedia technology, applies

these components to deliver a message These applications are becoming more main

stream as computers and Internet connections (speeds) are upgraded in businesses,

churches, schools, libraries and homes.8

Therefore, integrating all necessary multimedia components, the e-Church platform

makes the Church present and active online. Under listed are ten different tools the

Church can actually employ online to propagate and take the gospel to the nooks and

crannies of the world. The Facebook, The Tweeter Handle, The WhatsApp, The http:

(website), The e-mails, The Intagram, The Internet Telephoning, Live Streaming, The

YouTube, and The Audio Visuals. These tools are further expatiated.

According to Pew Research reports, as of 2014, "52% of online adults now use two or

more social media sites, a significant increase from 2013, when it stood at 42% of

internet users."

Facebook

In the words of Ed Stetzer, everyone uses Facebook. There is no one demographic that

is significantly more attracted to Facebook than others, though women of all

background are more likely than men to be on Facebook.

71% of all online adults use Facebook.

58% of the entire adult population use Facebook

66% of all online men use Facebook versus 77% of all online women.

8
Ejogheneta Peter Onojake, The Effect Of Multimedia In Twenty-First Century Church Growth,11
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What about age groups? How does each generation use Facebook? Ed Stetzer further

submits, the stats are unsurprising, but for the first time ever, more than half of online

adults over the age of 65 are using Facebook. Here's the breakdown:

87% of all online 18-29 year olds use Facebook

73% of all online 30-49 year olds use Facebook

63% of all online 50-64 year olds use Facebook

56% of all online 65+ year olds use Facebook

It is fair, therefore, to say that the church needs to have a presence on Facebook, he

concludes.

Every church should have an active Facebook presenceand that presence must be public

and not simply a semi-private group page. A group page is acceptable for internal

communication, but every church needs to have a public page as well.

A Facebook pages full potential is seen with two-way conversations and not just one-way

announcements.

Facebook is a great way to engage with guests after they've visited your church, though

that is probably best done through someone's personal account and not the official church

Facebook page.

One of the ways I've seen Facebook put to great use by churches and other ministries is

in the area of prayer. Today, it can be pretty tough to make sure you have everyone's most

current email address, which makes emailing major church issues or announcements and

asking for prayer somewhat difficult. Through Facebook though, your church can share a
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major prayer request or physical need someone may have, and instantly, church members

or people in the community can respond and help in any way they can.

Going by these statistical postulations, it is clear that the vast majority of online adults are

there, so the Church too, should be.

Twitter

Let's take a look at Twitter.

Twitter users tend to be racially diverse, but they amidst their racial diversity, it does seem

that many Twitter users are young, college-educated, wealthy, and living in urban areas.

Ed Stetzer again provides more insights on this.

Here are some key Twitter stats:

37% of online 18-29 year olds use Twitter, as opposed to 25% of 30-49 year olds

and 12% of 50-64 year olds.

30% of online college or graduate-level graduates use Twitter, as opposed to 16%

of online high school (or less) graduates.

27% of online adults who make $50,000 a year or more use Twitter, as opposed to

20% who make less than $30,000 per year.

25% of online adults in urban settings use Twitter, compared to 23% in suburban

settings, and 17% in rural areas.

Although the above statistics by Ed focus more on the American but it is not limited to the

Americans. This statistics also apply to some other countries, both advanced and
 15

developing. Suffice to say, Twitter is a good place for the Church to be no matter what,

but especially in targeting people in an upper-middle class city or university setting. It is

not limited

Although, according to Stetzer, Twitter is not as essential for the local church as

Facebook is, simply because many more people use Facebook, but Twitter is no less

useful. A church on Twitter can share events, interact with church members and visitors,

and engage with culture. Therefore the Church needs to set up a Tweeter account and

connect with global community.

Instagram

Instagram is another social media tool the Church can use for an effective online outreach.

Let us check this out.

According to Ed Stetzer, Instagram is almost as racially diverse as Twitter, but it is

actually more popular among African Americans and Latinos than it is among White

people. According to Pew's statistics, the most common Instagram user is likely an

African American woman between ages 18-29 who's had some college education and lives

in an urban area.

This submission is very apt and not limited only to African Americans and Latinos; it

applies to all, any where in the world, especially in the African continent.

More so, according to Pews Research, Some Instagram stats to consider:

29% of online women use Instagram, compared with 22% of online men.
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38% of online African Americans use Instagram, along with 34% of online Latinos

and 21% of online Whites.

53% of online 18-29 year olds are on Instagram, as opposed to 29% 30-49 year

olds, and 11% of 50-64 year olds.

Instagram is a crucial social media platform for the youth or young adult ministries. This

social media platform is growing rapidly, and Instagram is great for sharing pictures and

videos of what's going on in your ministries.

Instagram is a platform that gives the church an opportunity to share pictures of the

ministry, promotional videos for upcoming events, and even encouraging quotes or Bible

verses. Instagram is especially important among younger demographics hence it is a tool

the Church should employ.

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http://theconversation.com/how-social-media-is-changing-the-church-57405

Over the Easter weekend, the Church of England encouraged its congregation to share

photos of their services and celebrations on social media using the hashtag #EasterJoy.

Its not strange for a large organisation to interact with its members and promote its

message in this way. But the democratic nature of social media is allowing the church

to play a much more unusual role in such a traditionally hierarchical body.

Follow

Church of England @c_of_e

Over the #Easter weekend, share your photos of baptisms, dawn services, church

celebrations and more using #EasterJoy

5:26 PM - 20 Mar 2016

10 10 Retweets 14 14 likes

In contrast to the conventional top-down model of preaching Christianity via trained

priests, social media is enabling many ordinary Christians to have one-to-one

conversations about their faith with non-believers. As one minister, Rev Pam Smith,

author of Online Mission and Ministry, put it to me:

This provides a much more realistic picture of the church as a collection of followers of

Jesus rather than a monolithic organisation which occasionally pronounces

unfavourably on contemporary society and is, in turn, judged by its organisational

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failures. Jesus often encountered people individually. Social media gives us the same

personal access to people. This is an every-member ministry, and its exciting and

inspiring.

Many established churches, such as the Anglican and Catholic churches, have moved

from relying heavily on audience participation in their services over the last few

hundred years, to a passive model where the congregation receives a presentation. In

particular, the design of churches changed after the Reformation to reflect a wider

cultural shift from a networked, social form of religion to one where spirituality was

broadcast to more passive consumers. TV and radio have helped reinforce the idea that

they would quietly receive information rather than joining in the service.

Similarly, while many churches are finally starting to understand that engaging their

followers online is important, they still need convincing that the way to do this

involves more than just setting up a website. Many of those in the church have bought

into the idea that what happens online is virtual, rather than an embedded part of our

everyday lives.

Online communities

Social media offers much more space for congregations to actively engage with

sermons by tweeting along, asking questions, sharing photos of church activities, or

continuing discussions throughout the week, not just on Sundays. For example,

between 2010 and 2015, the Big Bible Project hosted online conversations about the
 19

bible for local reading groups and encouraged people to share digital case studies of

personal experiences. More experimental parts of the church have held online services

and used streaming to reach people who cant be there in person.

As well as becoming part of church practice, social media is taking church activities

back out into the online world. Faith is a full-time activity and social media is part of

our everyday lives, so it is not surprising that the two can overlap. For example, church

members can use Twitter to share insights from the bible or stories of their lives within

the organisation, but they can also bring their Christian viewpoint to discussions on

local, national and international politics.

View image on Twitter

View image on Twitter

Follow

Morgan Bell @morgan_bell15

.@UnvirtuousAbbey

3:35 AM - 10 Mar 2016 Toronto, Ontario

115 115 Retweets 130 130 likes

Social media is also helping to open up and humanise the church. The distance and

anonymity created between people when they communicate online can help shed

inhibitions in a way that is often blamed for abusive behaviour. But it can also
 20

encourage people to become comfortable enough to ask questions about faith,

especially via private messaging. The humorous nature of many social media posts can

also act as a starting point for more serious discussions about religion.

Church leaders involvement

Although much of this activity is happening outside the established hierarchy, some

church leaders are noticing the opportunity social media creates to change their

relationship with their members. We have watched the Pope, the Archbishop of

Canterbury, cathedrals, churches and both lay and ordained leaders join Twitter and

other social media. These media offer opportunities for 24/7 engagement, whether

experimental, or more profound, as in the recent revelations about Archbishop Justin

Welbys parentage.

Follow

Pope Francis @Pontifex

I am beginning a new journey, on Instagram, to walk with you along the path of mercy

and the tenderness of God.

12:29 PM - 19 Mar 2016

17,839 17,839 Retweets 47,502 47,502 likes

Follow
 21

Lambeth Palace @ lambethpalace

A personal statement from @justinwelby:

http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/5704/a-personal-statement-from-

the-archbishop-of-canterbury

10:39 PM - 8 Apr 2016

Photo published for A personal statement from the Archbishop of Canterbury

A personal statement from the Archbishop of Canterbury

A PERSONAL STATEMENT BY THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY JUSTIN

WELBYIn the last month I have discovered...

archbishopofcanterbury.org

138 138 Retweets 158 158 likes

There are many opportunities to experiment with simple, inexpensive ideas. Facebook

groups can give clear social and connection value, especially for those in their 20s and

30s and parent/toddler groups. Churches have used photo and video sites such as

Instagram and Vine to see what is going on inside their buildings. Theyve even also

created geocaches markers on online maps as part of an international orienteering

movement in their grounds to encourage people to visit.

As Smith says: There is no limit other than our imaginations in how we might use

these new communication opportunities to reach people.

Facebook
 22

Churches: use social media to reach your community

In the last few years, social media has become a major component of the Internet. Why is

it so popular? Anyone can do it. No technical or writing skills are needed. There are huge

opportunities, both for individuals and churches.

Read more: http://www.internetevangelismday.com/church-social-

media.php#ixzz4ZcH4zpyK

at Internet Evangelism Day

Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

This awareness is growing, and there are frequent social media training days springing up

in towns and cities. There are many webpages explaining how to use social media, either

as individuals or churches.

The biggest social networking tools are Facebook and Twitter. Pinterest and Google+ are

also becoming significant. There are regional equivalents of Facebook in some countries.
 23

YouTube is also a strategic component of social networking, because video clips are so

frequently shared within Facebook, Twitter and other platforms.

There are no clear boundaries within social networking all its elements intertwine,

integrate with fixed websites and blogs, and frequently enhance existing face-to-face

relationships. We should not try to compartmentalize these opportunities, or even think of

an offline/online divide. It all joins up!

Social networking basics

Many people and organizations have mistakenly tried to apply an old print culture model

to the Internet in general and social media in particular. Print was largely one-way, mass-

media, proclamational, preaching, publicity, or informational. Perceiving the Web as

print on a screen is limiting, even misleading.

We are now in a digital communication culture. It is not just that the tools we use to

communicate are different. The very way that we communicate, even think, is changing.

Len Sweets book Viral: How Social Networking Is Poised to Ignite Revival explains this

quantum leap.

These are key elements of social media:

relational and personal, not anonymous and generalized

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dialogue and discussion, not proclamation and preaching

widespread use of the visual photos and videos

frequently accessed 24/7 on mobile phones, not computers

Since biblical evangelism is usually relational and discussion-based, social media are an

ideal match. See this valuable chart explaining the differences between an older traditional

understanding of one-way evangelism, and a more effective relational approach which the

writer has called withreach.

Dont try to use social media as a pulpit for preaching, or as a one-way publicity tool.

The foundational key is to perceive it as a cafe for conversation.

The best way to understand the different social media tools is to use them and observe the

etiquette and procedures that others employ.

Church use of social media

Personal and church use of social media obviously differ somewhat. That which is

published in the churchs name represents the fellowship. Personal use relates more to an

individual set of friends and followers. Check these challenges and issues:

Many churches, including individual mininistries such as the youth group, use social

media to communicate internally. This is great, but should not be confused with reaching

out into the community. On the Web in general, and social media in particular, you have

no automatic audience, and there is virtually no trickle-down effect. In other words, your

insider communications about faith will not normally interest outsiders. Why should they,
 25

with the possible exception of people who are already seeking? Do you follow, on

Facebook or Twitter, posts from groups (eg. a sport or hobby) you have no interest in?

Why would you do that?

The Web is not a broadcast medium. Each user is highly selective, and only views

material they choose. This can, of course, include randomly-found unexpected eye-

catching material on topics that interest them.

To reach out into the community, a church should demonstrate interest and commitment to

the local community, by frequently posting about local issues, events and concerns

(though never, but never, party political views, or criticism of others social agendas).

Popular culture is also a valuable area of common interest, with built-in spiritual parallels

that we can use as conversation starters.

The respect and following you gain will then allow you to also share about church

activities or spiritual insights, sensitively positioned without use of jargon.

It is good for a church to create and train an informal social media team, who understand

the strategy and can share posts on Facebook and Twitter in the name of the church.

If a church has a Facebook fan page or Twitter stream, members can be encouraged to

Like, Share, or Retweet posts in their personal Facebook or Twitter streams. This is one

role of a digital advocate to enable the rest of the fellowship understand and use digital

outreach opportunities.

YouTube video shorts also have huge potential. Our digital communication era

communicates best through visual story. Video shorts can be posted with one click into
 26

Facebook or Twitter. Church teams and members can post resources from curated lists of

recommended conversation-starting video clips, such as YesHEIs.com.

It is also relatively easy to produce evangelistic or conversation-starting video shorts. This

could be a great project for your youth group. Learn more about all aspects of using video

shorts.

Pinterest can also be used both by individuals and churches. Learn how.

There is also a specialist way to use Twitter to locate and engage with hurting individuals

in your town or area.

Its also important that your static church website is outsider-friendly. Test it with our self-

assessment tool.

Learning more

church toolbox logo

Internet Toolbox for Churches is a one-stop resource for all things related to church digital

outreach, including websites, but especially social media. Subcribe to the newsletter, listen

to the podcasts.

Using Twitter one of the best practical introductions to this medium.

Using Facebook in outreach as an individual and a church.

Books on social media and other communication issues, some as free ebooks.

Our recent blog posts about social networking.

Please share your comments on this new page first draft, and also suggest best social

media resource links to add.

 27

Read more: http://www.internetevangelismday.com/church-social-

media.php#ixzz4ZcHWDPis

at Internet Evangelism Day

Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Tweeter Handle

WhatsApp

The http (website)

The e-mails

Instagram

Internet Telephoning

Live Streaming
 28

YouTube

Audio Visuals

At this juncture, we need to review what are the other associated technologies required

in setting up an e-Church. Some of them here under listed are further expatiated.

Church / Ministry Name

Website

Domain Name

Registration

Range

Speed
 29

Web Developer / Administrator

Studio

Tac-Team

2.3 HISTORY OF e-CHURCH: THE INTERNET

We are compelled to renew the history of multimedia so as to give us a deeper

understanding of its evolution up to modern day life.

The genesis of multimedia can be traced back to some notable inventions. A brief history

of the use of multimedia to communicate ideas might begin with newspapers, which were

perhaps the first mass communication medium, using text, graphics, and images.9 This

indeed was indeed the birth of multimedia. According to Taylor, The invention of the

printing press in 1450 by Gutenberg brought a revolution in the growth of recorded

knowledge. Audio transmission was invented by G. Marconi in 1885, and he detected

radio waves beamed across the Atlantic in 1901, which is now a major medium for audio

broadcasting.

9
Ze-Nian Li and Mark S. Drew, Fundamentals of Multimedia,5
 30

Photography, Cinematography, Optical Discs, MEMEX and Television

In the area of still pictures, the evolution of microfilm in 1839 and negative film in 1841

were revolutionary to say the least. Photography came into existence in 1851. Moving

pictures i.e. cinematographic film was invented in 1870 while sound recording discs came

into existence in 1877 and magnetic tape-recorder in 1898. Sound tape was used for the

first time in the year 1899. In 1908, video tape and Television were invented. Electronic

camera was invented in 193410. We have mentioned in passing that the evolution of

microcomputers in 1945 birthed the current revolution in the field of computer

technology. Optical storage systems (CDs and DVDs) was evolved in 1985, and it is

notable the applications and transformations that came along with it. Like social media in

our post-modern world, television was the new media for the twentieth century; it brought

video into home on a large scale and has changed the world of mass communication.

Taylor continues on the origin of multimedia ;(the) origin of multimedia is frequently

connected with the emergence of Memex. Memex is a mechanical device designed by

Vannevar Bush in 1945 for storing, organizing and retrieving information in the form of

text and graphics. Doug Englebart, in 1962, designed a system called

NLS (oN Line System) which had interactive multi-user editing and branching of different

files and texts having searching facility.

HyperText, Hypermedia, xandu and fress

The path to modern multimedia continued in 1965, according to Taylor when Theodor

Nelson designed a system named as hypertext in 1965, which was based on the concept of

Memex. Hypertext means a non sequential reading and writing, allowing authors to link

10
G. R. Taylor ,The inventions that changed the world: An illustrated guide to mans practical
genius through ages, Reader Digest, London, 1982.
 31

information create paths through a corpus of related material, annotate existing text, create

notes and points readers to either bibliographical data or the body of the referenced text. It

is text in electronic form that takes advantage of the interactive capabilities. When text is

stored in a computer, the computers powerful processing capabilities can be applied to

make the text more accessible and meaningful. The text can then be called hypertext,

because the words, sections and thoughts are linked. The user can navigate through text in

a nonlinear way, quickly and intuitively.11 Hypertext clearly was a major breakthrough

that expanded the frontiers and reaches of multimedia and continues to be relevant.

Hypertext systems are currently used for electronic publishing and reference works,

technical documentation, educational courseware, interactive kiosks, electronic

catalogues, interactive fiction, text and image databases.

Another development in this field is hypermedia. A multimedia program developed in a

hypertext environment is hypermedia. It is simply the extension of hypertext that

incorporates other media elements in addition to text. With hypermedia systems, author

can create linked corps of materials that include text, static and animated graphics, video,

sound, music etc.

In 1960, Theodor Nelson began a global literary system aimed as instantaneous repository

and delivery system for the published works like text, graphics, audio, video etc. The

XANDU project provider a means for user to rapidly get any frame or whole work(s).A

File Retrieving and Editing SyStem (FRESS) incorporating the best ideas of Engelbarts

NLS (oN Line System) and Hypertext Editing System was designed by Van Dam in the

late 1970s. This was followed by another system INTERMEDIA, designed by

Meyrowitz at Brown University for conducting research on use of hypertext in

11
Ibid.,
 32

teaching.12 All through the major part of the 1900s, the entire multimedia space was

meant as (a) combination of text with document images.

The Birth of the Internet

Multimedia technology got revolutionized with the introduction of Internet. A global

hypertext project known as World Wide Web was designed by Tim Berner Lee in 1991 to

allow people to work together by combining their knowledge in a web of hypertext

documents. Credit goes to Lee as the primary inventor of the World Wide Web and

HTML, the system of text links and multimedia capabilities that made the Internet

accessible to mass audiences.

In the twenty-first century, multimedia is used on the internet in various multimedia

applications. Now most of the websites on internet have multimedia capabilities. Blogs,

audio/video archives, podcasts, galleries, webcasts, Multimedia galleries, multimedia in

social networking websites etc are todays common applications of multimedia on

internet. According to Ze-Nian and Drew, as at 2000, the World Wide Web (WWW) size

was estimated at over 1 billion pages. 13

The size of the World Wide Web (The Internet) measured in terms of indexed pages is at

least 4.7 billion pages.14

2.3.1 Characteristics and Components of Multimedia Systems

There are five components of multimedia i.e. text, sound, images, animation and video.

These are explained in detail as under:

Text

Text or written language is the most common way of communicating information. It is one

of the basic components of multimedia. It was originally defined by printed media such as

12
Ibid.,

13 Ze-Nian Li and Mark S. Drew, Fundamentals of Multimedia,7

14
http://www.worldwidewebsize.com/(Friday, 09 September, 2016)
 33

books and newspapers that used various typefaces to display the alphabet, numbers, and

special characters. Although multimedia products include pictures, audio and video, text

may be the most common data type found in multimedia applications. Text also provides

opportunities to extend the traditional power of text by linking it to other media, thus

making it an interactive medium. Text could be static text laid out to fit in well with

graphics (just like the graphics and explanation given in the pages of the book) and the

information is well laid out and easy to read) or a hypertext system (consisting of nodes

which contains the text and provides the user with the flexibility and choice to navigate

through the material).Text should be used to convey imperative information and should be

positioned at appropriate place in a multimedia product.

Image

Images are an important component of multimedia. These are generated by the computer

in two ways, as bitmap or raster images and as vector images.

Animation

Animation consists of still images displayed so quickly that they give the impression

of continuous movement. The movement of that image along paths is calculated using

numerical transformations applied to their defining coordinates.

Sound

Sound is probably the most sensuous element of multimedia. It is meaningful speech in

any language, from a whisper to a scream. It can provide the listening pleasure of music,

the startling accent of special effects, or the ambience of a mood setting background

Video

Video is defined as the display of recorded real events on a television type screen. The

embedding of video in multimedia applications is a powerful way to convey information

and it can incorporate a personal element, which other media lack.

 34

2.3.2 Multimedia Hardware and Software Requirements

The special hardware requirement can be described in four categories i.e. Input devices,

Output devices, storage devices and communication devices. Input devices include:

keyboards, mouse, touch screens, scanners, voice recognition and digital cameras. On the

output side, we have monitors, audio devices (like speakers), video display devices (often

called graphics adapters), projectors and printers. Multimedia systems also require Storage

capacity devices which include, but not limited to Hard Disc, optical discs (found in the

form of CD-R, CD-RW, and DVD. e.t.c). The latest development in storage is the

evolution of the pen-drive (flash) and external hard-disc. Communication Devices are

needed to transport multimedia information across networks and include: Modems and

network devices.

Multimedia software are authoring tools, which provide an important framework for

organizing and editing the elements of multimedia including graphics, sound, animation

and video. Tools for authoring and programming in multimedia include: Adobe Premier,

Easy Worship, Director, Premier, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Macromedia, , CorelDRAW

and a host of others.

2.4 ADVANTAGES AND APPLICATIONS OF MULTIMEDIA

Multimedia is one of the most fascinating and fastest growing areas in the field of

information technology and can be seen at every aspect of our daily life in different forms.

The exponential growth of multimedia technologies has presented our society with

opportunities and challenges that in many cases are unprecedented. The Church will do

well to develop strategies that tap into the vast benefits that multimedia provides for

evangelization and church growth.

 35

Multimedia applications have progressed to the point of sparking a fundamental paradigm

shift in the very concept of information transfer and presentation. Dobrican makes a

fundamental remark on this point:Multimedia influences many aspects of our lives.15

This shift has indeed impacted the church and church leaders will need to reconsider past

beliefs and dogmas so as not to be left behind.

Aid To Sound Decision Making

The first major area where multimedia has shown great promise and returns is in the area

of aiding sound decision making. Multimedia has proven to be effective in decision

making across organizations and societies. The Church just like other brick and mortar

organizations/businesses need multimedia to enable prospects (read unbelievers or the

unreached) to make positive decisions for Christ.

Wheeler and Arunachalam make this point succinctly . it is necessary for organizations

to consider carefully the cognitive effect of multimedia elements in addition to the

affective effect.16 The cognitive aspect is defined in "terms of thoughts" and those

factors in decision-making (that) are beliefs about the state of the world (representations

of events, circumstances, and entities), while affective aspect is defined in terms of

feelings or emotions related to the goals of the individual. 17 This means that multimedia is

able to convince an individual to make emotive decisions deviant from those based on

time-held beliefs. This is the standout advantage of using multimedia. Jesus attracted

crowds by teaching in a practical, intensive way. The excited crowds were wowed and

amazed at his teaching! (Mark 10:1, 24). He must have employed multimedia strategies

15
Dobrican, "Multimedia and Decision-Making Process,36
16
P. Wheeler and V. Arunachalam, The effects of multimedia on cognitive aspects of decision-
making, International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Vol. 10, No. 2, June 2009 ,97-
116,
17
Ovidiu-Alin Dobrican, "Multimedia and Decision-Making Process,4
 36

using graphic imagery as the parables and other stories He shared revealed. Jesus used all

means possible to appeal to all the senses of His hearers. He was indeed using multimedia

to generate practical and specific results. The church has to recognize this component of

the evangelism strategy of Jesus and use present day multimedia tools for excellent

results.

Multimedia Is Advertisement in Disguise

We are compelled to note that it is the advertising and storytelling elements embedded in

multimedia that makes it a very powerful and effective tool in our society. Most church

leaders have assumed multimedia is a decoration or status symbol. This is indeed far from

the truth. The reality of multimedia affecting decision making is seen by how advertising

employs the concept of reinforcement in changing stereotypes, re-branding and igniting

new perspectives. Advertising and marketing gurus Dementrios and Tim noted

that:Advertising effects are classified into intermediate effects, for example, on consumer

beliefs and attitudes, and behavioral effects, which relate to purchasing behavior, for

example, on brand choice. So contrary to many people's beliefs, advertising does influence

them. But advertising's influence is subtle.18

We return back again to the affective and cognitive readjustment as critical components of

customer behavior. Nigel Hollis also reinforces this theme: "The reason .....(many) -- think

advertising doesn't "work" is that they think advertisements are trying to make them do

something immediately. They're wrong. Successful advertising rarely succeeds through

argument or calls to action. Instead, it creates positive memories and feelings that

18
Demetrios Vakratsas and Tim Ambler, How Advertising Works: What Do We Really Know? ,
Journal of Marketing, Vol. 63, No. 1 (Jan., 1999), pp. 26-43 Published by: American Marketing
Association/DOI: 10.2307/1251999 /Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1251999
 37

influence our behavior over time to encourage us to buy something at a later date".19 This

is the holy grail of advertising; the lifeblood of multimedia which is the reality the Church

must fully appreciate and tap into.

Storytelling The Movies, Music and Advertisements

We are indeed reminded that the movie industry Hollywood, Bollywood or Nollywood

(Nigeria Home video) - has shown that movies have the power to transform taboos into

fads, over time. You just have to keep the idea or thought visible and consistent overtime

and it unconsciously takes a life of its own in the general psyche and personal, individual

sentiments!

James Marshall was commenting on the power of the cinemas and movies: Today,

film and television are primary means for storytelling from which, as in earlier eras,

people learn informally. A good deal of evidence exists proving that these media can

encourage adoption of values, beliefs, and behavior across a range of topicsadult

literacy, sexual responsibility among teens, health education, and volunteerism. The

ability of multimedia rich movies to create new habits or vices is therefore no longer in

doubt..20 Or how do you explain the reality that abhorrent sentiments, such as same sex

relationships that were an abomination just over five decades ago have become the new

normal.

In the OBERGEFELL ET AL. v. HODGES, DIRECTOR, OHIO DEPARTMENT OF

HEALTH, ET AL. case, the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) in 2015, with the active

19
Nigel Hollis ,Why Good Advertising Works (Even When You Think It Doesn't) AUG 31, 2011-
The Atlantic (http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/08/why-good-advertising-works-
even-when-you-think-it-doesnt/244252/) (accessed August 23 2019)
20
James M. Marshall, Learning with Technology Evidence that Technology Can, and does,
support learning - Cable in the Classroom - A White Paper prepared for, Ph.D. San Diego State
University May 2002 , 14
 38

assistance from mainstream media and culture ruled in favor of gay marriages federally in

the USA and has also gone ahead to creatively carve out so-called rights to the Lesbian,

Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community.21 CNN, a major main stream News

Channel) was ecstatic: The decision affirmed growing public support (italics mine) in the

U.S. for gay marriage, with about two-thirds of Americans now in favor. And it comes as

gay rights groups have seen gay marriage bans fall rapidly in recent years, with the

number of states allowing gay marriage swelling most recently to 37 - that is, until this

ruling. Married same-sex couples will now enjoy the same legal rights and benefits as

married heterosexual couples nationwide and will be recognized on official

documents such as birth and death certificates.22 This was just the chicken coming home

to roost. The movie industry sublimally and creatively inserted the concept of same sex

relationships as normal in block buster movies and epic releases for decades and without a

corresponding rebuttal from the conservative camp (the Church in particular), using the

same medium, society came to the conclusion that it was a normal, natural lifestyle. So

with constant reinforcements, it was just a matter of time for the old guard to wither and

give way. There is even more controversy within the Church on this issue than ever

before. The new paradigm was born! No wonder even the scripture reminds us that: "For

as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with

you". (Prov.23:7).

Music artists have also deliberately inserted lyrics that promoted this philosophy too.

Music videos are a powerful medium because they combine the energy of music with the

power of visual images. While younger kids often dont pay a lot of attention to the lyrics

21
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf
22
Ariane de Vogue and Jeremy Diamond , CNN , Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex
marriage nationwide -Updated 1504 GMT (2304 HKT) June 27, 2015
 39

of their favorite songs, the visual images that accompany the same music on TV or the

Internet have a much greater impact because they are impossible to ignore. Some radio

stations (clearly because of Broadcast Regulations and not ethics!) will not play music

with explicit lyrics, but young children can easily access music by controversial artists by

watching their music videos online. Research has revealed that the rise of certain blend of

music (most times coming with explicit lyrics) has promoted rape and violence against

children and women.23

I daresay that mainstream glorifies violence.24 Cynthia M. Frisby and Jennifer Stevens

Aubrey in another finding also show that sex, race and the background music is able to

cause a change in behavior overtime, a sort of sublimally programming.25 26

Early sexual

activity (pre-marital sex), drugs and alcohol use are also promoted by music and their

loud content!27 This is indeed alarming and a source of worry. This is also corroborated

by Jennifer Stevens and her group.28

These revelations should encourage Christians to seek for Holy Spirit inspired music and

promote genres that bring out the truth of the Gospel and positive effect in the listeners.

23
Tobias Greitemeyer. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Exposure to music with pro-
social lyrics reduces aggression: First evidence and test of the underlying mechanism. Elsevier,
2010, 47 (1), 28.
24
http://feministing.com/2012/06/18/mainstreams-glorification-of-rape-culture-and-domestic-
violence/
25
Cynthia M. Frisby & Jennifer Stevens Aubrey (2012): Race and Genre in the Use of Sexual
Objectification in Female Artists' Music Videos, Howard Journal of Communications, 23:1, 66-87
26
Charles S. Areni and David Kim (1993) ,"The Influence of Background Music on Shopping
Behavior: Classical Versus Top-Forty Music in a Wine Store", - Advances in Consumer Research
Volume 20, eds. Leigh McAlister and Michael L. Rothschild, Provo, UT : Association for
Consumer Research, Pages: 336-340.
27
Brian A. Primack et al ,Exposure to Sexual Lyrics and Sexual Experience Among Urban Pages
- American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume 36, Issue 4, (April 2009) , A 317323
28
Jennifer Stevens Aubrey et al: Check That Body! The Effects of Sexually Objectifying Music
Videos on College Mens Sexual Beliefs
 40

Multimedia is vested in itself with all the elements of persuasion and indoctrination and it

is a disappointment that the church has not understood the pivotal power it wields to

transform society, evangelize and promote ethical and biblical truths and doctrines. Music

as a core element in multimedia is a crucial tool in affecting society: Music is able to

impact culture. In fact, the popular music of our day reflects the culture of our day.

Selwyn Duke states this succinctly: As Goes Music, So Goes a Culture.29 Belinda also

reminds us that music can also be morally persuasive and emotionally satisfying.30

Multimedia is indeed the most radical tool available to influence this present society and

re-programme humanitys mindset for Christ.

If there is any doubt whatsoever to the efficacy of multimedia in this task of directing the

discus and culture, consider the use of the online multimedia platform, YouTube by radical

terrorist groups such as ISIS to recruit new members (suicide bombers) and lone-wolf

sympathizers into their fold.31 Gods church can adopt this model of using multimedia

channels to engage prospects and build loyal members who are constantly provided with

relevant content to keep them abreast of current teachings and information about how to

live a wholesome life that brings glory to God in the midst of a perverse generation.

This persuasion should be encouraged and utilized in house by incorporating multimedia

technologies in teaching, preaching and worship inside the church. Michael G. Bausch and

29
Selwyn Duke, Influential Beats: The Cultural Impact of Music,
http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/item/17311-influential-beats-the-cultural-impact-of-
music Thursday, 09 January 2014

30
Belinda Huan , What Kind of Impact Does Our Music Really Make on Society? Musician
Success Guide, Motivation & Inspiration Aug 24, 2015 11:00 AM Musician Success Guide,
Motivation & Inspiration Aug 24, 2015 11:00 AM
31
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-20/isis-using-social-media-to-recruit-fighters-promote-
violence/5540474
 41

Douglas Adams have recommended this throughout in their exemplary work.32 But the

challenge here is to make sure the multimedia incorporated must be Christian-themed and

biblically verified. It must be biblically sound, to edify. We cannot sacrifice true

spirituality on the altar of digital relevance. This is the basis for our Christian life and

ethics as revealed to us through the Pauline Epistle to the Philippian Church: Finally,

brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just,

whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if

there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things

(Phil.4:8).

Education and Training

Next we now consider another major area where multimedia is clearly visible in modern

society. Education is perhaps the next most important impact of multimedia the church

must embrace and rapidly too. In fact education is the basis for which decisions are made.

Education provides facts which is processed into information and ultimately forms the

bedrock of knowledge. The debate however is whether the knowledge is relevant, true or

reliable. Also, because no knowledge is wasted, it must be applied, one way or the other.

The revolution in the information and communication technology arena has produced a

techno-savvy and rich-media-hungry generation, which uses digital media as a way to

learn and share with each other. It is affecting communication strategies in education and

influencing the ways teachers teach and students learn.

Meyer tells us why. According to him: These technologies prompt learning because they

use multiple media to present information. Educational technologies have the ability to go

beyond audio. Not only can they present multiple media, but they can also prompt the

32
Michael G. Basusch and Douglas Adams ,Silver Screen, Sacred Story Using Multimedia in
Worship Alban Institute, 2002
 42

learner to contemplate information, perform tasks, refine thinking, and demonstrate

understanding. Multiple modalities (audio, visual) and active learning make this possible.

Researchers posit that explanations presented in words and pictures, as opposed to words

or pictures, make for increased comprehension for the learner.33 The statement that a

picture is worth a thousand words, takes full

expression only in this current multimedia globe. Multimedia conveniently provides an

almost limitless number of pictures and images, audio and voice! James M. Marshall

emphasizes that: "Extensive research into learning with technology provides conclusive

evidence that people can, and do, learn from educational technologies. Historical evidence

suggests that technology can, and did, teach ".34

The Church can use multimedia for preaching, membership; follow up, discipleship and

training, counseling and prayer, community fellowship, service and development. The

Church cannot afford to miss out in this new paradigm where multiple digital media

elements in an interactive learning application has become the trend in the communication

of educational information across various sectors and institutions. James has echoed by

saying:Research that describes the process of learning, including the linking of

existing knowledge to newly acquired content, suggests that technology can, and does,

facilitate learning. Technology can present new knowledge and support the task of making

connections between what is known and new knowledge.35

33
L. Meyer, New Challenges: Overview of state data tables. Education Week on the We b.
2001,Available: http://www. e d we e k . o r g / s repo rt s / t c 0 1 / t c 0 1 a rt i c l e . c f m ? s l u
g=35challenges.h20
34
James M. Marshall, Learning with Technology Evidence.., 8
35
Ibid.,
 43

Multimedia also offers an excellent alternative to traditional teaching by allowing students

to explore and learn at different paces where every student has the opportunity to learn at

his or her own potential. People enjoy multimedia and they prefer multimedia learning

materials because the multiple media help them to learn. Many educators now consider

multimedia as a burning topic in education, because it represents the topic through various

media elements and introduces new ways of thinking in the classroom. Studies have

shown that multimedia based instruction increases effectiveness more than the traditional

or any other form of instruction. Wiman and Mierhenry have concluded that generally

people will: remember 10 percent of what they read, 20 percent of what they hear, 30

percent of what they see and 50 percent of what they hear and see"36 37
This means that

learning is facilitated when multimedia is employed and the church has to take notice of

this fact and design tools and educational packages to enhance Christian education across

all levels.

Multimedia Stimulation and How the Brain Learns New Information

When we understand how the brain learns new information through stimulation, we can

better appreciate the awesome impact of multimedia triggers. It is known that TV and

radio can dramatically help to reinforce knowledge. For example, according to James:

Programs like Sesame Street brought content to life, reinforcing and extending that which

was taught to children in schools.38 These primary multimedia platforms have not been

exhaustively used by the church. Many educational programmes still need to be designed

and pushed forward to the entire world to see and learn from. This revelation of how

37
R.V Wiman and W.C. Mierhenry, Editors, Educational Media: Theory into Practice
.Columbus, OH: Charles Merrill Publishing. (1969)
38
James M. Marshall, Learning with Technology Evidence that Technology Can, and does,
support learning.10
 44

multimedia impacts learning doesnt apply only to toddlers or children, it is also

applicable to adults when we clearly understand how our brains learn and acquires new

information.

Brain Neuroplasticity and Learning

Neuroscientists have noted that lasting memories always trigger new learning. The

process starts in when brain cells (neurons) are stimulated it could be an internal

thought, such as a brainstorm, or an external event, such as a media input i.e.

television viewing. Eric Jensen describes how this process occurs: [a] cell is electrically

stimulated repeatedly so that it excites a nearby cell. If a weaker stimulus is then applied

to the neighboring cell a short time later, the cells ability to get excited is enhanced 39

Through a process called brain plasticity, some brain cells grow by way of dendritic

branching as we learn something new. This results in brain cells making more and more

connections. Jenson reminds us that:[W]hen we say cells connect with other cells, we

really mean that they are in such close proximity that the synapse (spaces between the

cells) is easily and almost effortlessly used over and over again. New synapses usually

appear after learning.40 These connections (or neural networks) become stronger the more

often they are used.

Marilee says these networks are like paths created in the woods: The first time you create

a path, it is rough and overgrown. The next time you use it, its easier to travel because

you have previously walked over the weeds and moved the obstacles. . . . In a similar

fashion, the neural networks get more efficient, and messages travel more quickly. 41 So

simply put: The more the brain cells are excited, more connections are made and more

39
Jensen, E. , Teaching with the Brain In Mind. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and
Curriculum De ve l o p m e n t ., (1998).14
40
Ibid.,
41
Marilee Sprenger , Learning and Memory: The Brain in Action (1990)
 45

information can be carried, stored/or processed. This shows that multimedia is invested

with latent and naturally aids to learning. Many other learning theories provide further

evidence that entertaining media can engage the learner, activate emotional states, initiate

interest in a topic, and allow for absorption and processing of information.42 It is easy

therefore to say that here must be Christian entrepreneurs who have the vision to acquire

TV and/or radio licenses with the aim to reach the society with the message through

movies and other related content. These types of interventions will

go a long way to provide a platform and capacity to re-in force biblical truths and over

time counteract negative ideas and stereotypes. Over the past 30 years, a number of film

and television producers have intentionally sought to educate the public about important

issues using these media. Some examples include the 1970s television series Roots, about

the history of African-Americans journeys from slavery to freedom; Schindlers List,

about the holocaust; Mississippi Burning, about the civil rights movement in the South;

and Cry Freedom, about apartheid in South Africa43

Civilians were also drafted to the battle ground with instructional films during World War

II.44 Some Christian Radio/TV/Audio content pioneers are noted but profound

interventions and more decisions (and of course resources) are needed for greater impact -

MyFaith TV on DSTV and Parables TV on the digital paid platforms and many other

ministries producing content for free-to-air channels (such as Mount Zion

Ministries).45These channels must be consistent and ultimately transit into mainstream

media to influence more for Jesus Christ. Video on demand or movies on demand is a

service that provides movies to television sets on an individual basis at homes. Movies are

42
B. Seels et al , Research on Learning From Television ,345
43
Jensen, E., Teaching with the Brain In Mind.,14
44
James M. Marshall, Learning with Technology Evidence
45
www.myfaithtv.com , www.parablestv.com
 46

stored in a central server and transmitted through a communication network. More Digital

TV Providers the viewer access with a remote control device to

select a movie and manipulate play through start, stop, rewind, and visual fast forward

buttons. The service can provide indices to the movies by title, genre, actors, and director.

Services to the home that provide video on demand will also provide other,

more interactive, home services.

The e-Learning and New Media Opportunities

Multimedia with its capability to present information using multiple media is also being

increasingly used worldwide in e-learning. E-learning is the use of new multimedia

technologies and the internet to improve the quality of learning by facilitating access to

resources and services as well as remote exchanges and collaboration46. Multimedia use in

distance learning through stored presentations, live teaching, and participation by the

students means that churches must invest in media learning development especially in

message recording and capture devices (such as CD/DVD recording machines), quality

capture devices (cameras) and media management and manipulation software. The church

must attract qualified personnel to assist in this area.

Many examples abound as a testimony of the effectiveness of stored multimedia. For

example, the University of Melbourne has initiated a project GISWEB (Geographical

Information System) in 1999 to develop new delivery mechanisms aimed at improving the

quality of teaching and learning using multimedia.47 A Multimedia based teaching and

46
M. Garg, and M.K. Jindal , EduSat: E-learning through satellite - reaching the unreached.
International Journal of Recent Trends in Engineering, 1(2), 2009,149-151.
47
F. Escobar et al , Evaluating a multimedia based tool for self-learning geographic information
systems. Retrieved June 20, 2010 from http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/ auckland02/
proceedings/ papers /192.pdf
 47

learning system with a web-based environment that aims to provide students with a

flexible, decentralized and background. designed by the church to teach Gods word

directly to the global audience ,irrespective of their backgrounds .48

Social media is now the real king of media! We have mentioned previously the role of

YouTube in this area. Social media platforms can now be used effectively as a channel to

broadcast movies and other materials. "For example, video presentation platforms, such as

Skype, Google Hangouts, or Web video conferencing have allowed instruction to be

delivered across great distances".49 Snapchat, Instagram, Watsapp Periscope ,Twitter,

Facebook and many more apps and programmes have transformed social media as the new

face of education ,thanks to the increase in internet penetration as a result of increased

internet speeds ,bigger bandwidth and lower entry cost.

Mobile and Online Games

Multimedia made possible innovative and interactive games that greatly enhanced the

learning experience. Games come alive with sounds and animated graphics. Groups of

people could play a game together, competing as individuals or working together in teams.

Live internet pay for play gaming with multiple players has also become popular, bringing

multimedia to homes on internet. Sound and animation have been particularly important in

this type of applications to make the games thrilling and exciting to the user. Movies,

songs, jokes can be downloaded from internet. Home shopping, food preparation methods,

gardening, interior designing, all is available on the internet integrated with photographs,

audio and video clips. The church can leverage on these opportunities to build a massive

48
H. Huai et al, Integrating internet-based multimedia technology into technical education.
International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Lifelong Learning, 13 (3/4), 387 -
398.
49
Bruce Hopkins,Impact of Social Media on Education, https://www.academiaapps.com/impact-
social-media-education (Accessed September 9 2016).
 48

community who will eventually be sold the message of the gospel of Jesus. It requires

strategic planning and investments to realize this target. It is a worry that most games and

cartoons available today are full of occultic and satanic content teaching witchcraft and

wizardry, rape, violence and orgies .Why not a Christian cartoon or Christian game that

leverages on these opportunities that multimedia provides?

2.5 LIMITATIONS OF MULTIMEDIA

We have reviewed some benefits of Multimedia to propel the church as an innovative

organization to adopt critical multimedia usage for community building and growth. With

all these benefits mentioned, multimedia is known to distract from the main message.

According to Dobrican the feedback (needed for the information to be assimilated.) is

disrupted by the rich information transmitted using multimedia and the smart aspect of

the presentation might distract users attention from the main message, thus decreasing the

efficiency of the feedback.50 On this point Philip They have noted that:cognitive
51 52
feedback give more information for future forecasting So with less interference,

feedback provided an opportunity to properly reinforce information.

50
Ovidiu-Alin Dobrican, "Multimedia and Decision-Making Process,36.
51
H. L. Kai, M. J. OConnor and W. E. Remus, The impact of presentation media on decision
making: does multi-media improve the effectiveness of feedback?, Information & Management,
Vol. 42, No. 2, 2005., 305316.
52
Philp Hans Franses ,Expert Adjustments of Model Forecast Theories ,Practice and Strategies
for Improvements Cambridge University Press UK,2014,100-101
 49

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 BIBLICAL BASIS FOR THE EFFECT OF MULTIMEDIA ON

CHURCH GROWTH

3:1 BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE TO MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES

The importance of multimedia in the success of a spiritual organization such as the church

is not in doubt at the same time admitting that this target is not being realized is to be

modest to say the least. This is because most church leaders (pastors, e.t.c) have failed to

acquire skill in this area. There is no doubt that the place of expertise is key in resolving

problems. No wonder the church seems to be facing major challenges in reaching many

with the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore my people have gone into captivity,

because they have no knowledge; (Isaiah 5:13). Ayo Ajileye has noted that rather than

relying on common sense, the pastor would (should) call on the best expertise in these

(areas) available to him among the church members or in the society.53

This also presupposes that church leaders are expected to be able to recognize the tools

required to succeed and ultimately adapt them to be able to influence society. Peter

Drucker was apt on this transformational impact of the church when he quipped: Every

one (institution) is an organ of society and exists for the sake of society. 54 Scriptures has

53
Ayo Ajileye, Effective Conflict Management in the Contemporary Church :A Case Study of

Foursquare Gospel Church, Agege District ,Life Theological Seminary, Ikorodu ,Lagos State,

Nigeria. November 2012,page 52

54
Peter Drucker, Management, (New York: Harper & Row, 1974), 41.
 50

noted this interdependence: And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or

if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it

(1 Cor.12:26).Once again, Ajileye remarks: What is true of the human body and of the

body of Christ seems true to the social body.55 We cannot agree more on this point! The

church as an active member of society is expected to chart the course for the

transformation of society and she can become successful and efficient in this task with

careful application/use of the contemporary tools at her disposal.

We have emphasized already that Multimedia Technologies remain the best channels

available in this age for evangelization and preaching the gospel. Also we have noted that

for any multimedia work to be very persuasive and educative, it must have a rich

combination of text, audio, video and animation. God uses the dragnet of multimedia to

preach the gospel. We read: "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast

into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore;

and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.(Mathew

13:47-48). The reach of multimedia is wide and the impact awesome to say the least.

Indeed integrating these tools in preaching and education is the key to building an

innovative church that is relevant to this contemporary society.

3.2 MULTIMEDIA IN THE BIBLE

Scripture is rich with insights on the use of multimedia components and clearly the Old

Testament is full of varied imagery and implications of multimedia in communicating the

message of Gods love for humankind. From the creation story to the close of the Old

Testament, God reveals His desire for the use of multiple communication channels to

connect with man. The point is that, we find ourselves in the age of enlightenment the
55
Ayo Ajileye, Effective Conflict Management,50
 51

gifted Daniel, under Divine Inspiration predicted: "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and

seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall

increase." (Daniel 12:4). This is indeed the time of the end and this enlightenment is a

paradigm where information is at the tip of our fingers. And we dare say that multimedia

is the vehicle which makes the bundling of such awesome vast amount of information in

one fell swoop!

The entire Scriptures reveal the multiple dimensions of how God speaks. God understands

how we can perceive Him through multi-media elements. Man indeed is captivated by

what he hears, sees, tastes and feels! Thomas Aquinas made a point about this nature of

mans reception in The Summa Theologica about HOW GOD IS KNOWN BY US.56

On whether the essence of God can be seen with the bodily eye, he states:The essence of

God is not seen in a vision of the imagination; but the imagination receives some form

representing God according to some mode of similitude; as in the divine Scripture divine

things are metaphorically described by means of sensible things.57 Wainwright on this

states clearly Humans are embodied creatures; and , while we are more than our senses,

we receive through our senses 58

So it is safe to interpret this to mean that it is possible

that man can get a picture of what God is revealing through the senses of perception.

Geoffrey Wainwright was on point when he stated that Gods word is compelling. He

also remarks:.Christ the word addresses and gives Himself to us in our five-fold

sensate existence for our salvation. First we are summoned to hear Him For He

56
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, HOW GOD IS KNOWN BY Us, [1947], at
http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/aquinas/summa/sum015.htm (accessed September 3 2016).
57
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, HOW GOD IS KNOWN BY Us.
58
Geoffrey, Wainwright, For Our Salvation: Two Approaches to the Work of Christ (Grand
Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997), 15.
 52

speaks. 59
This is note worthy because sound is a primary component of

multimedia.

Musics ability to communicate emotion and influence mood has been widely noted.

Even preschoolers and infants as young as eight months can reliably discriminate happy

and sad music.60 The bible clearly informs us of Gods multifaceted communication

with man (in many instances) : that more than one combination of the senses are required

for man to completely perceive communication and the works of God. Oh, taste and see

that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (Psalms 34:8) (sight and

taste) and The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both.

(Proverbs 20:12) (sound and video).Scripture is replete with these multimedia instances

but the two above should be enough to trigger us to appreciate and actively incorporate

more of multimedia effects/tools in our outreach to the society.

It is instructive to also note that the bible shows us that Gods Words/instructions are laced

with varied multimedia components all targeted at creating the awe moment. This is

the central thought Geoffrey was trying to emphasize: This word has a sound

component. The prophet Amos tells us this:"The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the

Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?" (Amos 3:8) and "Is not my word like as a

fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" (Jeremiah

23:29) explains the light or video component of God's word. Having established the truth

that God speaks to human kind using the various components of multimedia, we will now

preoccupy ourselves with direct mentions or events that establish this fact.

3.3 OLD TESTAMENT MULTIMEDIA REFERENCES

59
Geoffrey Wainwright, For Our Salvation, 14.
60
Donald F. Roberts, Peter G. Christenson, and Douglas A. Gentile, The Effects of Violent Music
on Children and Adolescents,156
 53

In the Beginning - The creation story began with God employing light, images, video and

animation in His relationship with creation and man in particular. "The earth was without

form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was

hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was

light". Genesis 1:2-3. Again we note the use of motion or "animation as God's Spirit was

hovering. All through we see God employing sound (audio), sight and imagery. We can

safely say that God appreciated the "senses" because we note that He was "peculiar about

everything working in sync to bring out the best in creation - He "saw" it was good. His

mention of the word image in Genesis 1:26 connotes that He was keen in making man

with a unique blend of qualities that will make him "exciting" and not "monotonous" to

divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good" 1:18.This is exactly

what multimedia seeks to achieve. It makes the perspective clearer and the truth easier to

perceive through the active participation of all the senses.

The Burning Bush

This is one of the very visible multimedia events in the Old Testament. The story begins

like an epic Hollywood moviefilled with animation sound, action and drama.: And the

Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he

looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then

Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn."

(Exodus 3:2-3).This was just the thriller. From this point Moses was commissioned to

deliver Israel from slavery in Egypt but we must not forget that it was this awesome

multimedia event that God used to attract Moses. The whole episode was remarkable

and left a lasting impression on Moses. This is the exact feeling we create when we adopt

multimedia in our preaching and evangelism.

 54

The Imagery of the Good Shepherd - The book of Psalms and Proverbs are replete with

many mentions of the multimedia content in the nature of Gods word and by extension

the reception of man.: Psalm 23 is the epitome of drama and animation .No other book of

Scripture brings out providential power of God like". He makes me to lie down in green

pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the

paths of righteousness For His name's sake".(Psalm 23:2-3).No wonder it is the most read

Psalm. The scenery and "movie-like" scenes brings out the beauty and reminds us of God's

power at work. That is indeed what multimedia does to the preaching of the Gospel. It

brings the point home .It brings it to life and remember Jesus said:"My words are life".

The church will need to employ multimedia tools to bring the message home into the

"senses" of the hearers. That is multimedia at work.

Printing and Publishing the Message

We are introduced to printing and publishing in How beautiful upon the mountains are

the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of

happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns.

3.4 THE NEW TESTAMENT AND MULTIMEDIA

We are reminded from two wonderful scriptures on the importance of always employing

multimedia in the preaching of the gospel."The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore

your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole

body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is

that darkness!" Matt 6:22-23."Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things

are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely,
 55

whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything

praiseworthy --- meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and

heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you". Phil 4:8-9. These

scriptures clearly emphasize multi-media elements usage in publishing the gospel.

The Transfiguration on the Mount

This single event is vintage multimedia in action! We once again that Wainwright

speaking on Mathews account of the Transfiguration remarked: Perhaps the greatest

multimedia event of all time was the transfiguration of our Lord. The visual predominated

but it also had the tactile.61 Just for emphasis we discover that Wainwright is not far from

the truth because we can see all multi media elements on display "Now after six days

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by

themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His

clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,

talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be

here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one

for Elijah."While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and

suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am

well pleased. Hear Him!" (Matthew 17:10). This was truly a remarkable sight and it left a

great impression on the Apostles! Clearly the point we try to stress here is that the

multimedia components were actively on display.

The Parables

Jesus also shows us the template on how to capture the attention of our prospects using

parables to teach and drive home the point. Clearly, parables are Gods movies or
61
Geoffrey, Wainwright, For Our Salvation, 20.
 56

stories if you like that used to drive home spiritual truths. These parables were multi-

media: rich in content and action packed action. All these things spake Jesus unto the

multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be

fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I

will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. (Mathew

13:34-35).By simple extrapolation, it is expected that we follow in the footsteps of our

Lord by weaving the gospel message using multimedia devices. Once again Wainwright

was alluding to this established principle when he blurted:Liturgically ,the spoken

proclamation of the gospel is multiform62 That is affirmation of the need to apply

multimedia.: Anthropologically, speech and act are interlaced modes of communication.

Actions may sometimes, as the proverbs goes, speak louder than words..63

End Time Revelations

In closing, we will briefly look at the Events of the End Time as another case in point

where multi-form elements are generously employed to drive home the application of

imagery and action by God in communicating to man. Right from the beginning of the

book of Revelations, we are told:"Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And

having turned I saw seven golden lamp stands, and in the midst of the seven lamp stands

One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the

chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and

His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and

His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His

62
Geoffrey Wainwright, For Our Salvation, 27.
63
Ibid 34
 57

mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its

strength".(Revelations 1:12-16).This is looks like we are in the turf of Science Fiction or

Fantasy! But I daresay it was stories like this we see throughout Revelations that could

have "birth" the science thrillers we now see.

Another captivating and compelling imagery is revealed in the opening of seals and the

other events of the Tribulation. We notice words like "living creatures", "voice like

thunder,"Come and See,"angels blowing trumpets" and "great battles and wars". I

believe God used "multi-media" to maximum effect in this apocalyptic book because He

realizes that the only way to get humankind's full attention to this soon-to-occur event is to

make this information interactive by employing all his senses.

The Church has to indeed as a matter of devotion seek to use the various combinations of

multimedia in the gospel task. That is the only way we can drive home the point to

achieve maximum response and elicit a change of behavior.

CHAPTER FOUR

MULTIMEDIA AND CHURCH GROWTH IN THE FOURSQUARE CHURCH

AGBADO AND YABA DISTRICTS

4.0 MULTIMEDIA IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY CHURCH

We will now delve into comparison of the use of multimedia in the Foursquare Gospel

Church in Nigeria in the urban centers (Lagos) and in the hinterland (Agbado Ogun

State). But before this, we will have to note the peculiar nature and structure society the

twenty-first Century Church is operating in..

This post-post modern Contemporary world is one awash with knowledge, fueled by the

multimedia revolution. Various authors have proposed different terms to describe the
 58

paradigm shifts society has experienced over the ages. They mention Modernism (19th

century to 1940s), Postmodernism (1950s to 1990s), and Post-Postmodernism (2000s to

present).These periods overlap but clearly there was a either a sudden or gradual cultural

shift. Dustin gives a simplified philosophical background: "Modernism, as a cultural

paradigm, developed from the pursuit of objective truth through reason. Postmodernism

developed as a cultural paradigm in the middle of the twentieth century as a response to

modernisms claim of universal truths.64 He continues the discus:Post-postmodernism as

a cultural paradigm has developed mostly during the last decade alongside the advances in

technology that have radically

shaped how people learn and communicate in this globally interactive society.

Preaching the Gospel in a Post-Post Modern World

Much discussion surrounding post-postmodernism is not complete without talk of

globalization. Globalization is the phenomenon of the whole world being connected

economically, technologically, politically, and socially.65 Again Dustin is instructive in his

summary:Postmodernism is dead or at best dying and has been replaced by a new

cultural paradigm.it appears that whatever is coming after postmodernism is largely

being defined by global advances in technology and the increased interaction of people via

digital media. Central to the philosophy and worldview of any cultural paradigm is a

search for truth and how that truth needs to be appropriately communicated. So we The

ways in which truth and meaning are understood and communicated evolve from one
64
Dustin Conner, Communicating The #Gospel Message Within A Post-Postmodern, Digitally

Connected Culture ,M.Div. in Missiology student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary,

Wake Forest, NC (Published at www.GlobalMissiology.org ) October 2013 , 2

65
Paul G. Hiebert, Transforming Worldviews: An Anthropological Understanding of
How People Change (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008),242
 59

cultural paradigm to another; and the roles of the author, text, and recipient likewise

change to fit the new form of communication.

Much has been written about contextualizing the gospel story for a modern and

postmodern culture, but very little has been written about contextualizing the message and

meaning of the gospel story for a post-postmodern, digital culture.66 Put simply, how can

the church effectively use multimedia to produce growth? The benefits of multimedia

have already been highlighted .The only way is for the church to vigorously adapt the

message by using all multimedia opportunities available without fail. The more the gospel

of Jesus spreads, the more the impact and growth is the end result.

This is clearly proven in the early church. The biblical book of Acts shows how the

Church enjoyed massive growth which resulted in the increase in the word of God

preach:Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three

thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles'

doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:41, 42).We

notice throughout the book of Acts that massive church growth was recorded whenever the

word of God gained prominence (Acts.6:7). In other words, the more the word of God is

preached, the more growth is recorded. This preaching is defined as delivering the word

of God to man.67 When we truly preach Gods word, it transforms and leads to a change

of mind. A.W. Tozer emphasizes that:Nothing is more foolish and insignificant than

teaching biblical doctrines for its own sake....Theological truth is not at all useful until

humans obey it. The purpose in the back of all doctrines is to cause humans to act

66
Dustin Conner, Communicating The #Gospel Message Within A Post-Postmodern, Digitally
Connected Culture
67
Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1972), 52-53.
 60

morally.68 Indeed Peter Wagner has stated that one of the characteristics of a growing

church is that: Believers preach the gospel with their ultimate goal in making

disciples.69 George Peters (who established homiletics and church growth study at

Dallas Theological Seminary) calls this powerful preaching, that is when the church is

spiritually alive to powerfully evangelize.70 To lead this contemporary generation

through the digital multimedia culture demands that the church has to communicate (read:

preach) the message via digital media platforms. Web 2.0, interactive digital media, and

ever evolving smart

technology devices have redefined how people create, interact, communicate, and

influence others thereby shaping our current cultural paradigm. By communicating the

gospel message in ways that are better understood and easily shareable in a digitized post-

postmodern culture, the Church will be more effective in communicating the gospel

message and making disciples of all cultures. If the Word spreads, the final result is

church growth,71 This is why multimedia is very important and the church must position

itself to effectively use contemporary multimedia channels to communicate the gospel.

4.1 PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF DATA

This aspect deals with the analysis, interpretation and discussion of data mined from the

responses from respondents. These respondents consisted of lay members, departmental

leaders and pastors of some selected Foursquare Churches in the Districts in mainland and

high brow areas of Obalende, Yaba, and Lagos Island and in hinterland of Agbado District

68
A. W. Tozer, Of God and Men (Harrisburg, Pa: Christian Publications, 1960), 26-27
69
Peter Wagner, Translated by Kwon, Dal Cheon, The Principle of Church Growth (Seoul, South
Korea: The Word of Life Co, 1990), 251.
70
Jong-Yoon Lee, Ho-Jin Jeon, Il-Seon Na, Church Growth Theory
71
Dustin Conner, Communicating The #Gospel Message Within A Post-Postmodern, Digitally
Connected Culture
 61

of Ogun State. The responses were analyzed, compared, contrasted and evaluated in order

to arrive at a reasonable interpretation and outcome.

4:1: 1 Presentation Of Data

I. MEANING , REACH & APPLICATIONS OF MULTIMEDIA

Table 1/ Question 1: Multimedia is the use of presentation screen& projector in church

services and other programs

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 43 43%

No 57 57%

Total 100 100

43% of the population agreed that multimedia means only the use of presentation software

and projector while 57 percent of the population said No.

Table 2

Question 2 : The messages and other training programmes are recorded?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 33 33%

No 67 67%

Total 100 100

33% of the population admitted that messages and training materials are recorded in the

Church as against 67 percent of the population that said No.

Table 3

Question 3: Is there a multimedia team in your church?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 38 38

No 62 62

Total 100 100

 62

38 members responded positively while 62 said No.

Table 4

Question 4 Do you know the roles and functions of the multimedia team? ?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 15 15

No 85 85

Total 100 100

Only a slight 15% of the population admitted that they were aware of the functions and

roles of the multimedia team, while 85 % said No.

Table 5

Question 5: Does multimedia affect church growth and maturity of a Christian believer?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 54 54

No 46 46

Total 100 100

54 % of respondents admit that multimedia does impacts on spiritual maturity and growth

while 46% said No.

Table 6

Question 6: The internet and other digital & streaming technologies affect the church

positively

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 53 53

No 47 47

Total 100 100

53% of the sample population supported the question while 47% said No.
 63

Table 7:

Question 7: My church has vision/policy for multimedia ministry?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 38 38

No 62 62

Total 100 100

38% of respondents agree that church leadership does have a vision/policy for the

multimedia ministry while 62% answered in the negative.

Table 8

Question 8: My church has a policy and specific budget for training and equipping the

singing and multimedia & ministry?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 36 36

No 64 64

Total 56 100

36% said that there was enough time resources budgeted for the multimedia unit/ministry

while a whopping 64% said Churches do not plan and allocate adequately for this unit.

II. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED SPIRITUALLY BY USING THE FOLLOWING AT

LEAST ONCE:

Table 9

Question 9: CDs/VCDs/DVDs ?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 64 64

No 36 36
 64

Total 100 100

64% respondents agree positively that CD/DVDs/VCDs multimedia channels have blessed

then spiritually while 36 % were averse to using them.

Table 10/Question 10: Mobile/Online Games

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 47 47

No 53 53

Total 100 100

47% saw the benefits of mobile /online games as beneficial to their spiritual welfare while

53% largely opposed it use in the church and that they have nothing to do with church

growth.

Table 11

Question 11: Live Streaming Services/Message Streaming?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 56 56

No 44 44

Total 100 100

56% loved the streaming opportunities of present day multimedia to their growth but also

44% of respondents we negative about it.

Table 12

Question 12: Online Website/Ministry blogs/devotionals/e-magazines?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 56 56

No 44 44

Total 100 100

 65

56 % of respondents also agreed with the idea that online website/blogs/e-devotional and
Christian magazines served online were beneficial to spiritual education and hence
growth. while 44% said No.
Table 13/ Question 13: Bible softwares /concordances/e.t.c

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 82 82

No 18 18

Total 100 100

An overwhelming 82% respondents were positive that bible software and related resources

promote spiritual growth while 18% said No.

Table 14

Question 14: Presentations Projected on white screen

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 77 77

No 23 23

Total 100 100

77% were ecstatic about the impact of projected presentation in the church as against 23

who gave a negative response.

Table 15

Question 15: Online Christian Course e.g. Bible Study/Training/University e.t.c

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 38 36

No 62 62

Total 100 100

38% of respondents have benefited and were positively disposed towards online Christian

training and study while 62 said No to this idea

Table 16
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Question 16: Use of Email/ Use of Social Media (Facebook ,YouTube etc)

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 58 58

No 42 42

Total 100 100

58% of respondents were positive towards the use of email/social media in the church for

training and evangelism and expected church leaders to use these channels extensively to

keep in contact with them and in other uses awhile 65 said No.

Table 17

Question 17: Downloading &Use of eBooks and eReaders

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 42 42

No 58 58

Total 100 100

About 42% of respondents were eager to use read spiritual content using e-book formats

such as kindle or pdf while 58% were lethargic to this idea.

Table 18

Question 18: I have heard the use of radio/jingles and other video thrillers in evangelism

advertisements

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 62 62

No 38 38

Total 100 100

 67

62 % of respondents were positively inclined to the use of radio programmes/jingles and

conventional advertisement channels in the preaching of the gospel responded positively

while 38 said No

Table 19/Question 19: Do you use videos, cartoon or games in your children church

education curriculum

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 59 59

No 41 41

Total 100 100

59% of respondents expected videos, cartoons and games to be inserted in Christian

curriculum while 41 said this was not relevant.

Table 20

Question 20: I use an online/digital devotional material and subscribe to at least one Christian

digital magazine or Christian TV channel.

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 46 46

No 54 54

Total 100 100

46% of respondents were positively in favor of online Christian content in the form of

magazines or digital programmes (from pay-per-view, set-up boxes) Christian artistes/pay

channels or terrestrial TV options while 54% were not enthusiastic about these offerings.

4:1: 2 Analysis of Data

The research carried out was administered to and accessed by over One Hundred (100)

Leaders, workers and members of the Church in the Lagos high brow areas and Ogun

State hinterlands.
 68

30 questionnaires were sent out manually, filled and returned and the rest respondents

accessed the questionnaire online using an online form specially designed for this purpose.

The respondents included lay members, children workers, Sunday school teachers,

Evangelists, ICT Team members, Deacons and Deaconesses, Elders, Choir members,

Ushers, Youth and Teenagers Pastors, Assistant Pastors, General Sunday School

Superintendents, Assistant General Sunday School Superintendents, Elders, CFM and

FWI Leaders, Head of Departments and Ministries, Record Keepers etc.

4:1:3 Testing of Hypothesis

The Study will attempt to test the hypothesis:

Ho: That multimedia in the Twenty-First Century Church does not significantly impacts

on Church growth.

Hi: That multimedia in the Twenty-First Century significantly impacts on Church growth.

The result of Questions 5 would have been the blanket proof of both Ho and Hi but the

result seemed inconclusive. So we bootstrap the result from Question 9, 13, 14 and 18 to

test this hypothesis. It is trite to state that respondents have unanimously admitted that

multimedia significantly impacts on church growth.

The analysis of the responses to all the other questions shows that more training is

required by leadership and lay members on the components of multimedia. Indeed all

other responses show that with more coordination, vision and budgeting the church is

bound to grow in leaps and bounds by riding on the wings of multimedia.

69
 70

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 SUMMARY

This Study was undertaken to understand the role of multimedia tools and opportunities

available. To highlight the different approaches/strategies to assist the Church key leaders

to innovate using multimedia in our ever dynamic world and ultimately how to use our

acquired skill set for the Twenty-First Century Church growth.

This study has shown that multimedia remains the true channel to available to influence

the thinking and trigger positive action from all the members of our present society.

The first Chapter introduced the definition/concept of multimedia, the background to the

study, purpose of study limitation of study, as well as the delimitations, definition of terms

and the hypothesis.

5.2 CONCLUSION

The church currently faces arguably its most challenging season ever in terms of how to

effectively preach the message to an audience that is awash with innovative tools and

technologies never seen before. These technologies are always changing and so the church

must also be truly innovative to not only striving to catch up with the flow but also set the

vision for the discussions and standards.

5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS

These recommendations arising from this Study are under listed and put forward as

follows:

1. It is recommended that church organizations as a whole must

put in place
 71

a robust policy that clearly seeks to maximize and use all the components of multimedia

text ,sound (audio), animation and video.

2. This vision must include the need for every church to have

multimedia

Department and also appoint a multimedia leader who primary task is to execute the

church media strategy.

3.To deliberately factor resources (finance) e.t.c for the smooth running of te multimedia

department.

4. Leadership is advised to see multimedia as a key ally in the true task of

evangelism. We will be continue to playing second figure or catch up if multimedia is

assumed to mean only the use of presentation software/projector.

Digital multimedia is the only way to go. The church has to contextualize the message for

this generation by understanding that people now learn and communicate based on the

community discussing rather than by the intent of the original author. So the key is that

for the church to stay culturally relevant, it must not sacrifice doctrine on the altar of the

open conversation, leaving essential truths of the gospel message open to anyones

interpretation. Many in the emergent church are criticized for questioning key doctrines

such as the atonement, reality of hell, and the virgin birth. The last decade has seen

numerous books and articles on ministry in a postmodern culture that were meant to equip

Christian pastors, leaders, teachers, and laymen to be able to appropriately engage a

postmodern worldview. These resources are extremely beneficial and relevant to those

doing ministry in a postmodern setting, The Church should not be content with merely

reacting to a shift in culture but must learn to lead the evolving culture through its

changes. The key is to flood the new digital multimedia space with the doctrines and begin
 72

to be the engine, or moderator of the trending issues. The challenge is to become an

active participant who determines the issues and proffers the solutions rather than be on

the receiving end in the social space.

 73

APPENDICES

Appendix A

I. MEANING , REACH & APPLICATIONS OF MULTIMEDIA

Table 1/ Question 1: Multimedia is the use of presentation screen& projector in church

services and other programs

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 43 43%

No 57 57%

Total 100 100

43% of the population agreed that multimedia means only the use of presentation software

and projector while 57 percent of the population said No.

Table 2/ Question 2 : The messages and other training programmes are recorded?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 33 33%

No 67 67%

Total 100 100

33% of the population admitted that messages and training materials are recorded in the

Church as against 67 percent of the population that said No.

Table 3 / Question 3: Is there a multimedia team in your church?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 38 38

No 62 62

Total 100 100

38 members responded positively while 62 said No.

Table 4
 74

Question 4 Do you know the roles and functions of the multimedia team?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 15 15

No 85 85

Total 100 100

Only a slight 15% of the population admitted that they were aware of the functions and

roles of the multimedia team, while 85 % said No.

Table 5

Question 5: Does multimedia affect church growth and maturity of a Christian believer?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 54 54

No 46 46

Total 100 100

54 % of respondents admit that multimedia does impacts on spiritual maturity and growth

while 46% said No.

Table 6

Question 6: The internet and other digital & streaming technologies affect the church

positively

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 53 53

No 47 47

Total 100 100

53% of the sample population supported the question while 47% said No.

Table 7:

Question 7: My church has vision/policy for multimedia ministry?

 75

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 38 38

No 62 62

Total 100 100

38% of respondents agree that church leadership does have a vision/policy for the

multimedia ministry while 62% answered in the negative.

Table 8

Question 8: My church has a policy and specific budget for training and equipping the

singing and multimedia & ministry?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 36 36

No 64 64

Total 56 100

36% said that there was enough time resources budgeted for the multimedia unit/ministry

while a whopping 64% said Churches do not plan and allocate adequately for this unit.

II. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED SPIRITUALLY BY USING THE FOLLOWING AT

LEAST ONCE:

Table 9

Question 9: CDs/VCDs/DVDs ?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 64 64

No 36 36

Total 100 100

 76

64% respondents agree positively that CD/DVDs/VCDs multimedia channels have blessed

then spiritually while 36 % were averse to using them.

Table 10/Question 10: Mobile/Online Games

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 47 47

No 53 53

Total 100 100

47% saw the benefits of mobile /online games as beneficial to their spiritual welfare while

53% largely opposed it use in the church and that they have nothing to do with church

growth.

Table 11

Question 11: Live Streaming Services/Message Streaming?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 56 56

No 44 44

Total 100 100

56% loved the streaming opportunities of present day multimedia to their growth but also

44% of respondents we negative about it.

Table 12

Question 12: Online Website/Ministry blogs/devotionals/e-magazines?

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 56 56

No 44 44

Total 100 100

56 % of respondents also agreed with the idea that online website/blogs/e-devotional and
Christian magazines served online were beneficial to spiritual education and hence
growth. while 44% said No.
 77

Table 13/ Question 13: Bible softwares /concordances/e.t.c

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 82 82

No 18 18

Total 100 100

An overwhelming 82% respondents were positive that bible software and related resources

promote spiritual growth while 18% said No.

Table 14

Question 14: Presentations Projected on white screen

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 77 77

No 23 23

Total 100 100

77% were ecstatic about the impact of projected presentation in the church as against 23

who gave a negative response.

Table 15

Question 15: Online Christian Course e.g. Bible Study/Training/University e.t.c

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 38 36

No 62 62

Total 100 100

38% of respondents have benefited and were positively disposed towards online Christian

training and study while 62 said No to this idea

Table 16

Question 16: Use of Email/ Use of Social Media (Facebook ,YouTube etc)
 78

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 58 58

No 42 42

Total 100 100

58% of respondents were positive towards the use of email/social media in the church for

training and evangelism and expected church leaders to use these channels extensively to

keep in contact with them and in other uses awhile 65 said No.

Table 17

Question 17: Downloading &Use of eBooks and eReaders

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 42 42

No 58 58

Total 100 100

About 42% of respondents were eager to use read spiritual content using e-book formats

such as kindle or pdf while 58% were lethargic to this idea.

Table 18

Question 18: I have heard the use of radio/jingles and other video thrillers in evangelism

advertisements

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 62 62

No 38 38

Total 100 100

62 % of respondents were positively inclined to the use of radio programmes/jingles and

conventional advertisement channels in the preaching of the gospel responded positively

while 38 said No
 79

Table 19/Question 19: Do you use videos, cartoon or games in your children church

education curriculum

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 59 59

No 41 41

Total 100 100

59% of respondents expected videos, cartoons and games to be inserted in Christian

curriculum while 41 said this was not relevant.

Table 20

Question 20: I use an online/digital devotional material and subscribe to at least one Christian

digital magazine or Christian TV channel.

Responses Respondents Percentage

Yes 46 46

No 54 54

Total 100 100

46% of respondents were positively in favor of online Christian content in the form of

magazines or digital programmes (from pay-per-view, set-up boxes) Christian artistes/pay

channels or terrestrial TV options while 54% were not enthusiastic about these offerings.

Appendix B

L.I.F.E. Theological Seminary (International)

Ikorodu Lagos
 80

(Sango-Ota Study Center)

August 12 2016

Dear Sir/Ma,

QUESTIONAIRE ON: THE EFFECT OF MULTIMEDIA ON CHURCH

GROWTH: A CASE STUDY OF FOURQSUARE GOSPEL CHURCH YABA AND

FOURQUARE AGABDO DISTRICT HQTRS CHURCH.

I am a final year student L.I.F.E. Theological Seminary (International) Ikorodu (Sango-

Ota Study Center), Lagos.

I am currently carrying out a study on: The Effect of Multimedia on Church Growth: A

Case Study of Fourqsuare Gospel Church Yaba and Foursquare Agbado District Hqtrs

Church.

This study is purely an academic pursuit and in effect any information supplied fro you

will be treated with pristine confidence and used precisely for academic purpose(s).

Thank you indeed for your cooperation.

Yours faithfully,

EJOGHENETA PETER ONOJAKE

Appendix C

LIFE Theological Seminary

P.O. Box 56
79, Obafemi Awolowo Road,
Oke Ota- Ona, Ikorodu
Lagos State
Nigeria-West Africa
 81

Tel:01-793813

Date

The Chief Librarian,

Dear Sir/Ma,

REQUEST FOR THE USE OF LIBRARY

This is to introduce . To you as one of the B.Th Students of L.I.F.E.

Theological Seminary, Ikorodu .The is working on his Final Year Project.

We humbly request that you grant him any assistance that he will require towards the

research work.

Thank you as we anticipate your cooperation

Yours sincerely,

Rev.J.E.Akinwoye,

Coordinator, L.I.F.E. Theological Seminary, Ikorodu (Sango-Center)