Mass media and Christian evangelisation in the digital age: Towards sustaining ‘mission’ in the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18533/journal.v5i7.954Keywords:
Mass media, Christianity, Digital Age, Evangelisation, Mission, Catholicism, Protestantism, Pentecostalism.Abstract
Christianity has heralded a phase of religion that thrives on mission – the mandate to ‘evangelize’ or reach out to people who do not know Jesus Christ, his divinity and work of salvation. By the twentieth century when the global community began to grapple with the realities of modernity – part of which was a corresponding rise of immorality and loss of religious identity, even among traditionally Christian societies – the strategy of ‘mission’ changed to accommodate new ways of transmitting the word of God that would pierce the hearts of humans. In this information regime which offers the print, broadcast and social media platforms the impact of these on the new evangelisation is visible. The Pentecostal churches which are offshoots of the Catholic and Protestant churches have swiftly embraced this mass communication – aided technique for achieving mission thereby attracting unprecedented followership. The Catholic Church - although it imposes a strong, virile and seemingly unshaken image – is losing a huge number of its estimated one billion population, and if its media culture on mission does not change it would be a drawback. Drawing on the growing body of work which compares Catholic approach with Pentecostal mission strategy, the paper examines this distinction, and analyses the approach to the use of the media as a strategy of ‘mission’ in the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos – where Catholicism started in Northern Nigeria. Based on the analysis of mass media use in the Archdiocese, this paper argues that its communication strategy is, undoubtedly, driving the new evangelisation but needs to expand its media infrastructure for optimum results. The paper suggests that ‘mission’ can be strengthened through a robust and media-centred strategy.
References
Agbiboa, D. E., & Okem, A. E. (2011). Unholy trinity: Assessing the impact of ethnicity and religion on national identity in Nigeria. Peace Research, 43(2), 98-125,166-167.
Akinfeleye, R. A. (1985). Religious publications: Pioneers of Nigerian journalism. In O. Nwuneli (Ed.), Mass communication in Nigeria: A book of readings (pp. 34-37). Enugu: Fourth Dimension Publishing
Akingbulu, A., & Bussiek, H. (2010). Public broadcasting in Africa series : Nigeria. Johannesburg: Open Society Foundations.
Alten, S. R. (2008). Audio in media (7th ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth.
Asuzu, B. N. (1987). Communication strategy in the new era of evangelisation: case for the Catholic Church in Nigeria Roma: Domenici-Pecheux.
Benedict XVI. (2010). “Verbum Domini”: A post-synodal apostolic exhortation. Vatican: Congregation for the Propagation of Faith.
Benedict XVI (2012). [Lineamenta ]. 90.
Celli, C. (2009). Media and evangelisation. Dallas: NEA.
Danaan, N. G. (2006). The growth of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in less developed countries: Issues and problems. International Journal of Communication(6), 107-118.
Danfulani, U. H. D. (2006). The Jos peace conference and the indigene/settler question in Nigerian politics. Retrieved from http://www.ascleiden.nl/pdf/paper-danfulani.pdf
Daramola, I. (2006). History and development of mass media in Nigeria. Lagos: Rothan Press
Dominick, J. R., Messere, F., & Sherman, B. L. (2012). Broadcasting cable, the Internet, and beyond : an introduction to modern electronic media (7th ed.). New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill.
Dowd, R. (2014). Religious diversity and religious tolerance: lessons from Nigeria. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 1-28. doi: 10.1177/0022002714550085
Duyile, D. (1987). Makers of the Nigerian press. Lagos: Gong Communication Nigeria.
Egwu, S. (2015). Technology of power and dramaturgy of politics: ethnicity and democracy in Nigeria’s fourth republic. University of Jos, Jos. (72)
Fraser, C. (1999). God’s perfect child: living and dying in the Christian science church. New York: Metropolitan Books.
Gamson, J. (2001). Jessica Hahn, media whore: sex scandals and female publicity. Critical Studies in Media Communication, 18(2), 157-173. doi:10.1080/07393180128082
Häring, B. (1990). Evangelization today (New ed.). Slough: St Paul Publications.
Ihejirika, W. C. (2008). In-Line religion”: Innovative pastoral applications of the new information and communication technologies (NICTS) by the Catholic Church in Nigeria. Politics and Religion Journal, 2(2), 79-98.
Jick, L. (2002, December). The Word of Life launched: Kaigama lauds editorial board. The Word of Life, p. 1.
Koukoura, D. (2014). Evangelism in “Christian” societies: an Orthodox homiletic approach. International Review of Mission, 103(2), 275-286. doi:10.1111/irom.12062
Kuptong, P. (2001, December). Unto us a child is born. The Word of Life, p. 1.
McDonnell, J. (1989). Communicating the gospel in a technological age: rediscovering the contemplative spiri. In J. McDonnell & F. Trampiets (Eds.), Communicating faith in a technological age. Slough: St Paul Publications.
McDonnell, J., & Trampiets, F. (1989). Communicating faith in a technological age. . England: St. Paul Publications.
McLuhan, M., & Powers, B. R. (1989). The global village : transformations in world life and media in the 21st century. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Ojo, M. A., & Lateju, F. T. (2010). Christian–muslim conflicts and interfaith bridge‐building efforts in Nigeria. The Review of Faith & International Affairs, 8(1), 31-38. doi:10.1080/15570271003707762
Okalawon, S., & Igbokwe, C. (2004, April 7). The era of the Internet. Punch.
Okoro, M. N. (2006). The church in an era of information technology: issues, expectations and challenges. Paper presented at the A paper presented at the World Communications Day.
Oni, B. O., Oloyede, B., & Ifeduba, E. (2013). Contemporary christian organizations in the development of mass communication in nigeria: An exploratory study. New Media and Mass Communication, 16(1), 9-20.
Quinn, R., P., N., Mwangi, A., & Ogong’O, J. (2005). New evangelisation in Africa. Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa.
Rausch, T. P. (2010). Catholics and Pentecostals: Troubled history, new initiatives. Theological Studies, 71(4), 926-950. doi:10.1177/004056391007100407
Rodney, C. (2005). The internet technology. Ibadan: CB Publishers.
Santana, A. M. (2010). New media, new evangelization: The unique benefits of new media and why the Catholic church should engage them. (Thesis), St. Mary's University, San Antonio, Texas.
Ukonu, M. (2005). Dynamics of mass media development in Nigeria. Enugu: Rhyce Kerex Publishers.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
