Project – IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON CHURCH GROWTH

CHAPTER ONE

                                 INTRODUCTION

• Background to the Study

The wheel of progress each day continues to turn bringing about significant changes in human endeavours. Man, the rational animal on the face of the earth, has from crude methods of communication developed highly sophisticated ways of communicating. The new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are rapidly changing our old ways of sending, receiving, storing and analyzing messages and data. Many barriers that militated against effective communication are day-after-day being dismantled. Every sphere of life is now caught in this inevitable web of information revolution. Reflecting on this era of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Toffler (1980) ascertained that a new civilization is emerging in our lives, and blind men everywhere are trying to suppress it. This new civilization brings with it new family styles; changed ways of working, loving and living, a new economy; new political conflicts; and beyond all this an altered consciousness as well. Pieces of this new civilization exist today.

Undoubtedly, ICT is rapidly constructing the rhythms of tomorrow’s style and no one can stop it. Communication strengthens life, makes it enjoyable and meaningful. McBride et al, (1980) explained that communication maintains life. It is also the motionand expression of social activities and civilization;it leads various processes and systems of enquiry,command and control; it creates a common pool ofideas, strengthens the feeling of togethernessthrough exchange of messages and translatesthought in action, reflecting every emotion andneed from the humblest tasks of human survival tosupreme manifestations of creativity-ordestruction.

The invention of the internet has greatly revolutionalized communication systems globally. This global network of computers has injected more strength into Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) dominated by thedeveloped countries. In developed and les developed countries many mediainstitutions, schools and colleges, organizations, individuals now maketremendous use of the Internet (Net) on daily basis to send and receiveinformation within and outside their countries. The “Global Village” is rapidlyturning into a “Global Parlour”. We now live in a world of “e-communication”.

Okoro (2006) opined that our world has become a world of faxmachines, mobile phones, computers, satellites,videotext, telex cable, you name it, thus giving riseto life of … e-learning, e-business, e-trading, email,e-library, e-fund transfer, e-banking, e-conferencing,e-enterprise, e-research, and thelike. In this globalize world of computer mediatedcommunication and cyberspace, life and thingsmove at a fast clip while man adapts his behaviourto match the tempo of change.

This global growth of telecommunications industry is making manycountries, especially the less developed countries, feel uneasy for they stronglybelieve that what is happening now in the field of telecommunications will setterms of life in the near future just as 19th country industrialization set terms oflife for our present ear. Indeed, many nations strongly believe that sovereignty,economic, social, political and religious affairs and other national issues, now and tomorrow, will greatly depend on telecommunications. It thus follows that to be left behind in the telecommunications “hot race” means disaster (Iyere, 2001).

The Church, being a human organization, cannot be a passive observer of the vast arrays of developments in Communication Technology. This is because she has to adequately use them for effective and efficient management, administration and evangelization of people in the world. In fact, the Church has to use the mass media available in our time to properly execute God’s mandate to her “Go, teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The views of Azuzu (1987) corroborates the expression that communication is a ministry and it is neededeverywhere in the Church today than ever before.This fact should strike a meaningful note in thehearts of every commitment Christian in our time.The response should be demonstrated in havingmen and women who identify themselvesprofessionally to tackle the challenging problems,and of enormous dimensions posed for the Churchin this media-invaded world of ours.This research work, therefore, aims to x-ray the impact of technology on church growth.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Important changes in different aspects of human life are recorded daily as a result of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). As a human organization, the Church cannot afford to be a passive observer of the fascinating benefits and challenges the new information revolution presents to mankind in this 21st century. Some Church authorities, especially those in urban areas in Nigeria, have taken dynamic and progressive steps to use some of the tools of information technology in their daily management, administration and evangelization of people. This study thus takes a firm stand by positing that Churches in the urban areas in Nigeria, should make adequate use of the abundant resources information and communication technology presents, if they are to be relevant and dynamic participants in the ongoing information revolution.

1.3 Research Objectives

The general objective of this study is to investigate the impact of technology on church growth. The specific objectives are:

1. To investigate the level of exposure of churches in Nigeria in area of Information Communication and Technology
2. To ascertain the benefits and challenges of computer literacy to religious leaders and members of Nigerian churches

• To determine the factors militating against better and wider use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Nigerian churches

1. To proffer solutions to the identified problems because of the importance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in effective management of church.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions will guide the study

1. What is the level of exposure of churches in Nigeria in area of Information Communication and Technology?
2. What are the benefits and challenges of computer literacy to religious leaders and members of Nigerian churches?

• What are the factors militating against better and wider use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Nigerian churches?

1. What are the solutions to the identified problems because of the importance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in effective management of church?

1.5 Research Hypotheses 

The following research hypotheses will guide the study.

1. There is no significant relationship between Information and Communication Technologies and spiritual growth of the church
2. There is no significant influence of Information and Communication Technologies on church development

1.6 Significance of the Study

The significance of the study is to make the church see the importance of the new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in management of Churches. It will also help the diocese in efficient and effective planning and execution of her daily pastoral programmes and activities within and outside the diocese. Equally, the study being the first of its kind in the diocese, future researchers will find it very useful as it forms a springboard for further research work in related areas.

1.7 Scope of the Study

As this study focus on the impact of technology on church growth and therefore will be carried out among selected churches in Nigeria.

1.8 Limitation of the Study

The researcher encounter so many problems such as; stress, time, poor response from the respondents.

1. Financial Factor:inadequate funds affected the way data were collected since the researcher had to travel long distances for the distribution of the research questionnaire forms.
2. Material Factor: Shortages of relevant materials for literature review to obtain more fact about the study.
3. Time Factor: limited time affected the size of the sample used for the study.

However, to eliminate and minimize these problems against future occurrence, the researcher suggested that enough time should be given in order to get quality information and better result. Materials should be made available in the school library to enable the researcher obtain more facts about the study.

1.9 Definition of Terms

The following terms were used in this study:

Administration: it is the organization and direction of persons in order to accomplish a specific goal or end. Its main focus is on getting things done through other people by planning, organizing, directing and controlling (Adebayo, 1982).

Internet: It is a global network of interconnected computers that communicate freely and share and exchange information. It contains vast array of information.

Project – IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON CHURCH GROWTH