This presentation describes the importance of social media to the Christian Church. It puts forward arguments for engagement and demonstrates how churches can engage the public and spread the Good News using social media platforms.

2. Social Media
& The Church
by Subomi Plumptre
March, 2016

3. First things first - Definition!
3

5. In its simplest form, social media is any
interactive platform for media content –
words, graphics, photos, videos and
audio material.
5

6. But, social media is so
much more.
6

7. Social media is the arbiter of culture for
millennials – digital natives between
18 to 35 years old.
7

8. Social media is the platform
where new mentors and role
models are discovered.
It is where breaking news is
heard first.
It is the oracle and curator
of real-time information.
8

9. Social media is a generational
platform for expression; an arena
for political activism and
advocacy.
9

10. Social media is a wealth creator
and employer of labour.
It provides access to power
while simultaneously
disintermediating power.
10

11. Just as the opinions of the last
generation were shaped by
television, radio and
newspapers; the ideologies,
language, attitudes, culture
and knowledge base of this
generation will be shaped
by social media.
11

12. Social media is therefore a
complete ecosystem for thoughts
& ideas that feeds on, supplies
and reinforces itself.
12

13. In view of all these,
should any church
ignore social media?
13

14. Media
Trends

15. Source: NCC
Now: 100%

16. Source: NCC
Penetration: 54%

17. 17
Source: Ministry of
Communication
& Technology
CapacityUsage

18. Source: We Are Social

19. Source: Ministry of
Communication
& Technology
Top social media platforms in Nigeria
Source: Africa Practice, Social Media Platforms
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

20. 70 million
16 million
10 million
3.5 million
Estimated monthly active users in Nigeria
20

21. Source:
McKinsey & Co.
CapacityInuse
Top: Digital Ads,
Broadband & Video
Games

22. CapacityInuse
Source:
McKinsey & Co.
Top: Broadband, Video
Games & Cinema

23. Source: AMPS 2014

25. Top 10 online content types in Nigeria (based
on top websites visited).
Knowledge
Social media
(including online gaming)
News
Shopping
Blogs/Gossip
Football
Banking
Business
services
Betting
Movies/music

35. Culture is a collection of thoughts
& beliefs that define a way of life.
Belief is gained by experience &
information.
Information is delivered by media.
35

36. Therefore, culture is heavily
influenced by media - what a
generation consistently hears,
reads and watches.
36

37. 37

38. Work
 Having a side job (private practice) when
you’re in paid employment is expected.
 You must know someone influential to get a
job in Nigeria.
 All rich men are members of secret cults.
 All na runs!
 I cannot come and die!
 It's "normal" to share profits from a contract
with the person who gave it to you.
 Hard work doesn't matter, only 'favour' does.
 You must 'do' weekend for security men.
38

39. Relationships/Gender/Family
 Exchanging sex for money/a good time is
expected of women.
 Women are inferior to men.
 The woman is to ―sacrifice‖ for the kids.
 A single lady should attend more weddings to meet
potential guys.
 A woman must always forgive her cheating husband.
 If you're a single lady with an SUV or you live alone,
you must be a prostitute or into ―runs‖.
 A relationship is incomplete without sex.
 A man must marry a woman he can ―control‖.
39

40. Citizenship/Government/Politics
 All Nigerian politicians are corrupt.
 Hausa people are intellectually slow.
 Ijebu people are thieves.
 Men from the South-South are lazy.
 No matter how inept a leader is, he must
continue because he is from "our region".
 You must have a Godfather before you can win
an election.
 Government doesn't care about people.
40

41. Socio-Cultural
 Cats, snakes and owls are witches.
 Having a "big" car is a bigger priority than a
more comfortable home.
 All good and perfect ideas come from abroad.
41

42. Religion
 If you wear trousers and jewelry as a female,
the judgment of hell is surely yours.
 Sex on Sunday morning between a man and
his wife is disrespectful to God. Keep the
Sabbath day holy!
 Church is big business.
 Discussing/talking about sex as a Christian is
a taboo, even in church.
42

43. Sources: UNICEF, National Population Commission
Women: 18 Men: 21
43

44. 44
Source: www.jacknjillive.com

45. How Nigerian Youths Rate Pastors on the
following parameters:
45
Source: Alder State of the Church Report (www.alderconsulting.com/soc)

46. Church, we have a problem!
We are losing this generation.
How?
46

47. We have failed to engage their
minds and influence popular
culture.
47

48. "Early in the 20th century, the Church
embraced motion pictures, radio, then
television and now the Internet and social
media.
But in the vast majority of cases
today, they're not using those
platforms to engage the greater
culture, but instead living inside a
bubble.
48

49. After all, why tweet, when you can join a
Christian alternative to Twitter?
From the web, to publishing, to record
labels, TV networks, universities and more,
the last 50 years have seen a remarkable
withdrawal from mainstream culture and a
move back to a cloistered, protective
bubble.
49

50. In all honesty, the Church hasn't been
losing its voice, it's been giving it away. As
a result, they've lost remarkable influence
in culture.
It's a tragedy, because Christianity has
been a powerful engine behind social
service outreaches, educational
institutions, hospitals and more".
Phil Cooke, Church Media Expert
50

51. What do we do
now?
51

52. ―The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or
fight our battles that way—never have and never
will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing
or manipulation, but they are for demolishing
that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our
powerful God-tools for smashing warped
philosophies, tearing down barriers erected
against the truth of God, fitting every loose
thought and emotion and impulse into the
structure of life shaped by Christ‖.
2 Corinthians 10: 3-6 (MSG)
52

53. Digital media is NOT a fad.
It is not ―that thing‖ that youths do.
53

54. The true power of the church,
is its ability to distribute
media.
54

55. This is because the church is
in the media business. It is in
the business of spreading
the Gospel.
55

56. In a broad context, the Gospel
incorporates the "good news" as
it pertains to the Word of God, the
plans of God and the gifts of God.
56

57. The Gospel is the
power of God unto salvation
(Romans 1:16).
It renews mindsets and sets
men free (John 8:32).
Words can ―set on fire the
course of a life and cycle of
man’s existence‖ (James 3:6 AMP).
57

58. So, what tools and platforms
can the church use to
distribute the Gospel?
I will share just 3.
58

59. 1. Website
59

60. A church’s website must provide
resources for life and not just
information about the church.
This requires significant
investment in curation and
adaptation of information
for online distribution.
60

61. Topics the church should develop content for:
61

62. If your church does not
have a curation and editing
team, it is not yet ready to
use its website to distribute
the Gospel.
62

63. 2. Phone
63

64. Develop a community app.
64

65. Cells must extend beyond
home fellowships into
interest and location based
community apps.
65

66. An average church member
spends more time on his phone
than he does in church. How
can relationships be built using
mobile phones?
66

67. How can a church member who
is about to commit suicide
reach a counselor via chat or on
the phone?
67

68. A community app
will facilitate this.
68

69. 3. Social Media
69

70. The church has a priceless
opportunity to dominate the
relatively virgin field of social
media in Nigeria. It can shape the
narrative.
70

71. To successfully use
social media, the
following rules
apply:
71

72. Social Media
Rules

73. Define a clear
purpose
Define your
audience before
choosing a
platform
Create
compelling
content
Be real
Social Media Rules
73
Be mindful of the Hollywood effect – a
small group of influencers who shape the
narrative and popular culture

74. Tell the truth
Celebrate good
Mind your language. Don’t
speak ―Christianese‖
Amplification
matters (to
escape the
noise)
Measure everything
Social Media Rules Contd.
74

75. Set aside a budget
Skill matters
Attain a critical mass
Engagement
is priceless
Personality matters
Social Media Rules Contd.
75

76. The church of the
future:

77. Someone hears about your
church on social media. He
reads a tweet or watches an
Instagram video.
77

78. He decides to attend your
church for the first time.
78

79. As he's recognised as a first
timer, he's handed a tablet to fill
in his details which are uploaded
directly to a database.
79

80. When he leaves church, he
notices that he's been added to
the church's Facebook or
Whatsapp group where he can
participate in a robust debate
on the Sunday message.
80

81. The message has also been
emailed to him and he receives
the praise & worship playlist
on Deezer.
81

82. He also gets a download link
for the church's community
app. As he logs in and fills his
residential address and
interests, he is added to a
relevant community and
assigned a mentor.
82

83. In the app, he can see the
contact details for a church
mentor close to his home who
is available for counseling via
chat or phone.
83

84. That is the church of
the future!
84

85. In closing, I will reiterate 3
structures that are needed to
accomplish all the foregoing:
85

86. One
You need a media curation
and editing team
86

87. Two
You need a dedicated
technology team.
(Specialised app or website
development can be
outsourced).
87

88. Three
You need a dedicated social
media management team.
(Strategy development may
be outsourced).
88

89. I wish you success.
May the Gospel reach
the ends of the earth.
89

90. Resources
Social Media for Churches: The Basics
https://www.udemy.com/social-media-for
churches/
Pro Church Tools
http://prochurchtools.com/
Think Digital Academy
http://thinkdigital.com/
90

91. Resources contd.
Church Tech Today
http://churchtechtoday.com/
The Social Book
http://socialchurchbook.com/
The Cs of Social Media
http://subomiplumptre.com/category/the-
cs-of-social-media/
91

92. Resources contd.
The Tao of Twitter
http://www.amazon.com/The-Twitter
Revised-Expanded-
Edition/dp/0071841156/ref=pd_bxgy_14_i
g_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0X04T0PAQZZ22Y
CTNXX
92

93. subomiplumptre