Social Media

& The Church

by Subomi Plumptre

March, 2016

First things first - Definition!

3

In its simplest form, social media is any

interactive platform for media content –

words, graphics, photos, videos and

audio material.

5

But, social media is so

much more.

6

Social media is the arbiter of culture for

millennials – digital natives between

18 to 35 years old.

7

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

Social media is a generational

platform for expression; an arena

for political activism and

advocacy.

9

Social media is a wealth creator

and employer of labour.

It provides access to power

while simultaneously

disintermediating power.

10

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

Social media is therefore a

complete ecosystem for thoughts

& ideas that feeds on, supplies

and reinforces itself.

12

In view of all these,

should any church

ignore social media?

13

Media Trends

Source: NCC

Now: 100%

Source: NCC

Penetration: 54%

17

Source: Ministry of

Communication

& Technology

Cap

acity

Usa

ge

Source: We Are Social

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.

70 million

16 million

10 million

3.5 million

Estimated monthly active users in Nigeria

20

Source:

McKinsey & Co.

Cap

ac

ity

In u

se

Top: Digital Ads,

Broadband & Video

Games

Cap

ac

ity

In u

se

Source:

McKinsey & Co.

Top: Broadband, Video

Games & Cinema

Source: AMPS 2014

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

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

Therefore, culture is heavily

influenced by media - what a

generation consistently hears,

reads and watches.

36

37

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

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

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

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

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

Sources: UNICEF, National Population Commission

Women: 18 Men: 21

43

44

Source: www.jacknjillive.com

How Nigerian Youths Rate Pastors on the following parameters:

45

Source: Alder State of the Church Report (www.alderconsulting.com/soc)

Church, we have a problem!

We are losing this generation.

How?

46

We have failed to engage their

minds and influence popular

culture.

47

"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

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

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

What do we do

now?

51

―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

Digital media is NOT a fad.

It is not ―that thing‖ that youths do.

53

The true power of the church,

is its ability to distribute

media.

54

This is because the church is

in the media business. It is in

the business of spreading

the Gospel.

55

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

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

So, what tools and platforms

can the church use to

distribute the Gospel?

I will share just 3.

58

1. Website

59

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

Topics the church should develop content for:

61

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

2. Phone

63

Develop a community app.

64

Cells must extend beyond

home fellowships into

interest and location based

community apps.

65

An average church member

spends more time on his phone

than he does in church. How

can relationships be built using

mobile phones?

66

How can a church member who

is about to commit suicide

reach a counselor via chat or on

the phone?

67

A community app

will facilitate this.

68

3. Social Media

69

The church has a priceless

opportunity to dominate the

relatively virgin field of social

media in Nigeria. It can shape the

narrative.

70

To successfully use

social media, the

following rules

apply:

71

Social Media Rules

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

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

Set aside a budget

Skill matters

Attain a critical mass

Engagement is priceless

Personality matters

Social Media Rules Contd.

75

The church of the

future:

Someone hears about your

church on social media. He

reads a tweet or watches an

Instagram video.

77

He decides to attend your

church for the first time.

78

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

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

The message has also been

emailed to him and he receives

the praise & worship playlist

on Deezer.

81

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

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

That is the church of

the future!

84

In closing, I will reiterate 3

structures that are needed to

accomplish all the foregoing:

85

One

You need a media curation

and editing team

86

Two

You need a dedicated

technology team.

(Specialised app or website

development can be

outsourced).

87

Three

You need a dedicated social

media management team.

(Strategy development may

be outsourced).

88

I wish you success.

May the Gospel reach

the ends of the earth.

89

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

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

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

subomiplumptre