Assessing the impact of social media use on Christian evangelism: Case study of the Kumasi diocese of the Methodist Church, Ghana

Abstract

Regardless of the importance of social media in enhancing christian evangelism, its utilization is still far stretched for many churches. In regards to this, the study assesses the impact of social media uses on Christian evangelism, looking specifically at the positive influences on evangelism in the Methodist Church of Ghana with Kumasi Diocese as a case study. In designing the study, the researcher used a quantitative (descriptive) research design in assessing the impact of social media on Christian evangelism. Data were collected from some selected leading Circuits within the Kumasi Diocese of the Methodist church Ghana in Ashanti Region. A variety of measurements including purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used in selecting the participants for the study. The questionnaire was the main instrument for gathering data for the study. Then, the Computer statistical package for social scientists (SPSS version 20) was used to process all the quantitative responses from the questionnaire. The results reflect a positive relationship between social media and Christian evangelism. The study found that illiteracy, high cost of accessing the internet, inadequate power supply and low pastoral desires on the part of the people are hindrances to the successful use of social media in communicating pastoral messages especially in the Kumasi Diocese of the Methodist Church Ghana. By applying the empirical and theoretical evidence from the study, the creation of websites, blogs and virtual communities is recommended to the Methodist Church Ghana and others churches to maximise the positive potential of social media in Christian evangelism.