Social media sites can be considered some of the worst or best inventions. Generally, reports say the sites have a potential audience of 1.11 billion people that could see or hear the Word of God. Woman Editor, TEMITOPE DAVID-ADEGBOYE, takes a look at how modern Nigerian pastors have applied it.
(L-R)Pastors Chris Oyakhilome, Enoch Adeboye and Prophet T. B. Joshua.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media networks have received both knocks and praises. Reason: While some people then have been able to utilise it positively, others choose to see the ills they have been used to propagate.
Centuries ago, Johannes Gutenberg and Martin Luther made their effort to get Scripture into the hands of the masses. Today, with technologies far exceeding any they could have imagined, their vision has been fulfilled at a stunning pace.
Not only do billions around the world now have access to the soft copy of the Bible in their electronic gadgets, and many of them actually reading it, they’re also actively engaging with the Word of God.
Nigerian clergymen are not left behind, as they have engaged in its use massively, with many enjoying huge followership, particularly on Facebook and Twitter.
Adeboye (Facebook 2,008,922; Twitter 162,000)
Perhaps, the Nigerian cleric who enjoys more followers on Facebook is the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye.
Since he opened his account on Facebook, many RCCG faithful and admirers have either clicked the ‘like’ button or typed ‘Amen’ to some of the prophetic utterances and prayers he constantly puts on his wall. Occasionally, the Open Heaven daily devotional texts are also posted on his wall for members’ reading pleasure or for reference purposes. Also, programmes and events of the church are advertised there regularly.
Members and non-members agree that this has assisted the cleric to reach more people with the Gospel.
During the week, a picture emerged on Pastor Adeboye’s wall where he was thanking his followers for hitting the 2,000,000 mark. The message read: “I would like to thank you all for 2 million followers on Facebook. May the Lord bless you and speedily answer all your prayers in Jesus Name. Let’s continue to spread the good news!!!”
As at afternoon of August 27, 2014, Adeboye had 2,003,682 Facebook followers, with 162,000 Twitter followers.
While aides to the humble man of God have not come out to refute the picture or message, reaching a two million mark is a feat because even very popular celebrities, home or abroad, cannot claim to have achieved this. It is, however, pertinent to note that he has more than 100 Facebook accounts opened in his name making it difficult to know the original one.
Pastor Chris (Facebook 1,410,650; Twitter 1,340,000)
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (simply known as Pastor Chris) of Believers’ LoveWorld runs a global prayer network using social network platforms to send messages to Christians around the world regularly. His account is @PastorChrisLive on these platforms. He currently has over 1,410,650 followers on Twitter, as well as his own social networking website called Yookos. Oyakilome also enjoys over 1,340,000 following on Twitter.
His ministry runs several arms, including the Healing School, Rhapsody of Realities (a daily devotional with global reach), and a non-governmental organisation (NGO) called the Innercity Missions, as well as three Christian television channels: LoveWorld TV, LoveWorld SAT and LoveWorld Plus. Oyakhilome’s television programmes feature his faith healings, miracles and large meetings which his ministry organised around the world, with a congregation of over 2.5 million people in a single night’s event.
T.B. Joshua (Facebook 1,263,925; Twitter 108,000)
Prophet Temitope Balogun (TB) Joshua of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN), has a Facebook followership of 1,263,925 and 108,000 on his Twitter handle, @SCOANTBJoshua.
With nuggets like “If we fail to see that there are powers that cause people to be bowed down in bondage, we are fighting the wrong battle.” #TBJoshua; and “The mind of Christ is an independent mind” #TBJoshua, the prophet constantly preaches the gospel.
Oyedepo (Facebook 699,543; Twitter 44,900)
Bishop David Oyedepo received the mandate to “liberate the world from all oppressions of the devil through the preaching of the word of faith” in 1981. The Living Faith World Outreach Ministry he founded then has grown to become one of Africa’s largest congregations.
The Faith Tabernacle, where he hosts four services every Sunday, is said to be Africa’s largest worship centre, with a seating capacity of 50,000. He also owns Dominion Publishing House, a thriving publishing company that publishes all his books (which are often centred on prosperity). He founded and owns Covenant University, one of Nigeria’s leading private tertiary institutions, and Faith Academy, an elite high school.
To move with the trend, Papa (as he is fondly called by many of his faithful), his wife, Pastor Faith Oyedepo (known as Mama), and Bishop David Abioye (Senior Pastor of Living Faith Church, Goshen City, Abuja) also have sizeable number of followers. While Oyedepo has 699,543, Mama has 1,230 and Abioye has 11,592 followers on Facebook.
Bishop Oyedepo also enjoys 44,900 followers on Twitter @davidoyedepo and over 100 Facebook accounts opened in his name.
Every week, and during major programmes like the annual Shiloh, members around the world also watch the services through live streaming on the internet.
Sam Adeyemi (Facebook 66,576; Twitter 152,000)
Perhaps one of the first churches to have introduced payment of tithes, as well as remitting of offerings and pledges online is Daystar Christian Centre. The church is led by the Senior Pastor, Sam Adeyemi, who has a knack for technology and gadgets. However, Pastor Sam (as he is regularly called) is one who believes these gadgets should be used positively.
Currently, he has about 66,576 followers on Facebook. He and his wife, Nike, are also very active on Twitter.
Ashimolowo (Facebook 641,710; Twitter 42,000
Matthew Ashimolowo, Senior Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), also has made his presence felt on the social media.
With about 641,710 followers on Facebook and 42,000 Twitter followers, the man who reportedly owns the largest Pentecostal church in the United Kingdom has more than 39,126 talking about him also.
Chris Okotie (Facebook 4,657; Twitter 1,626)
Other pastors who propagate the gospel, pray for members and others, and constantly update their members on church programmes online are Chris Okotie, Senior Pastor of Household of God Church, who has 4,657 followers on Facebook and 1,626 on Twitter.
Mike Okonkwo (Facebook 8,740)
Bishop Mike Okonkwo of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) has over 8,740 followers on Facebook.
Itua Ighodalo (Facebook 5,779)
Senior Pastor of Trinity Church, Itua Ighodalo, has over 5,779 Facebook followers.
Whither Orthodox churches
Pope Francis (Facebook 1,421,255; Twitter 4.4m)
Amazingly, it would, however, appear that only Pentecostal pastors are active on the social media in Nigeria, as most Orthodox Churches have not made their presence felt on the medium. Where they are present, their walls are not regularly updated.
This is worrisome considering that head of the Catholic Church, the Pope, has over 4.4 million followers on Twitter (@Pontifex) and over 1,421,255 followers on Facebook.
Onaiyekan 1,133; Kukah 360 on Facebook
However, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, has about 1,133 followers on Facebook. Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has 360 friends on Facebook. But Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Alfred Adewale Martins, does not have a visible presence on Facebook.
No matter how one looks at it, the social media remains one of the greatest opportunities to spread the Good News to so many people all over the world, if utilised in a positive manner.
