CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Christianity is fundamentally a missionary faith, and evangelism remains one of the central responsibilities of the Church. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18–20 commands Christ’s followers to go into the world, make disciples, baptise believers and teach them to observe the teachings of Christ. Similarly, Acts 1:8 presents Christians as witnesses who are expected to communicate the gospel beyond their immediate communities. Christian mission therefore involves the participation of believers in communicating the Christian message and demonstrating the implications of the gospel through their lives and relationships. Bosch (1991) explains mission as participation in the mission of God, involving proclamation, witness, service and engagement with human beings and their circumstances. This understanding makes evangelism a continuing responsibility that must respond to changes in society and communication.

The nature of communication has changed considerably in the contemporary world. The development of the internet, smartphones and social media has transformed how individuals communicate, access information, establish relationships and participate in communities. Communication is no longer restricted by geographical distance or physical gatherings. Through platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, individuals can create, share and respond to information almost immediately. These developments have consequently affected religious communication and created new spaces within which religious beliefs, practices and identities are expressed.

The emergence of digital religion demonstrates the increasing interaction between technology and religious practice. Campbell (2013) explains that religion in the digital age involves the ways religious beliefs and practices are communicated, negotiated and experienced through new media. Digital religious activities do not necessarily exist separately from physical religious practices. Rather, online and offline religious experiences can intersect and reinforce one another. The Oxford Handbook of Digital Religion similarly recognises that contemporary religion increasingly takes place across both online and offline environments, including social media, websites and other digital technologies.

The development of digital religion has significant implications for Christian evangelism. Conventional Christian evangelism has historically involved preaching, crusades, house-to-house visitation, personal witnessing, Bible studies, missionary journeys and church programmes. These approaches remain relevant, but digital technology has created additional avenues through which Christian messages can be communicated. Churches and individual Christians can now share biblical teachings, sermons, testimonies, devotional materials, Christian music, videos, livestreamed services and evangelistic messages with audiences beyond their immediate geographical locations.

Digital evangelism can therefore be understood as the use of digital communication technologies and online platforms to proclaim the Christian gospel, communicate Christian teachings, engage people in faith-related conversations and support discipleship. Its importance lies not merely in the ability to transmit information but also in the possibility of creating interaction and relationships around Christian faith. Digital platforms allow users to comment, ask questions, share content, participate in discussions and establish online Christian communities.

This development is particularly relevant to young people. Youth are among the groups most actively involved in contemporary digital communication. Golan (2023) observes that young people have become prominent participants in digital culture and that religious youth increasingly use online platforms to express religious identities, communicate with others and participate in religious practices. The study notes that social media and other digital platforms provide young people with spaces for expressing religious affiliations, establishing connections and negotiating their religious identities.

The relationship between young people and digital media creates an important opportunity for Christian youth ministry. Young Christians are not merely recipients of religious communication; they can also become producers and distributors of Christian content. They can share Bible verses, Christian messages, testimonies, worship materials and evangelistic videos. They can participate in online Bible studies, prayer groups and Christian discussions and use their peer networks to communicate the gospel. Amankwa and Awuku-Gyampoh (2022) identify social-media engagement, evangelism, leadership development, Christian education and other activities as important areas through which young people can contribute to contemporary church life.

Digital evangelism also has the potential to extend the geographical reach of Christian mission. A physical evangelistic programme is generally limited by location, transportation and the number of people who can physically attend. Digital content, by contrast, can be accessed by individuals in different communities and locations. A sermon, Bible study, testimony or evangelistic video produced by a church in Benue State can potentially reach young people outside the immediate community. Digital communication therefore provides an opportunity for churches to move beyond the boundaries of their physical congregations.

Another important feature of digital evangelism is accessibility. Young people who are unable to attend physical church programmes because of school, employment, distance or other responsibilities may still access Christian materials through digital platforms. Sermons, Bible studies, devotional messages and prayer sessions can be made available online, allowing young Christians to interact with Christian teachings at different times and locations. This flexibility may strengthen continuity in Christian learning and fellowship.

Digital platforms can also support Christian discipleship. Evangelism is not limited to introducing people to the Christian message; the Great Commission also involves making disciples and teaching believers. Online Bible studies, prayer groups, Christian mentoring platforms and digital follow-up can support the continuing spiritual development of young Christians. Digital communication can therefore serve both evangelistic and discipleship functions.

The interactive nature of digital media further distinguishes digital evangelism from many traditional communication methods. Conventional preaching may involve one-way communication from a preacher to an audience, whereas social media and other digital platforms allow immediate responses. Young people can ask questions, comment on messages, share personal experiences and engage with Christian leaders and other believers. Campbell (2013) notes that digital religious environments raise important questions concerning religious community, identity, authority and participation. These developments suggest that digital evangelism can create new forms of Christian interaction rather than merely reproduce traditional church communication online.

Recent African evidence further demonstrates the relevance of new media to youth evangelisation. Rabwoni (2026), in a study of youth evangelisation in the Catholic Church in Uganda, found that new media can enhance youth engagement by providing accessible, interactive and creative avenues for spiritual formation and community building. The study specifically identified digital catechesis, peer-to-peer faith sharing, pastoral care and youth leadership as areas that can benefit from new media. Rabwoni further emphasised that successful digital evangelisation requires openness to technology, digital literacy among youth ministers, culturally relevant content and appropriate digital infrastructure.

Similarly, recent research among selected mainstream churches in Vihiga County, Kenya, found that social media can enhance evangelisation, prayer, Bible study and communication within youth ministry. However, the study also identified tensions involving church leadership, older members and young people as factors that may limit the adoption of technology. This suggests that digital evangelism does not become effective simply because a church has access to social media. Leadership attitudes, institutional support, technological competence and willingness to adopt new methods are also important.

The potential of digital media for Christian evangelism has also been recognised within theological discussions of contemporary mission. Valdez (2022), in examining digital apostleship and evangelisation, argues that new media has become an important environment for spiritual engagement and that the Church can use digital communication to spread the Word of God. However, the study also emphasises that digital communication should be approached with appropriate moral and theological considerations. This is important because digital evangelism involves not only technological competence but also the responsible communication of Christian teachings.

Digital evangelism may also influence the nature of youth Christian engagement. Christian engagement should not be understood simply as exposure to religious information. It may involve active participation in worship, Bible study, prayer, fellowship, discipleship, witnessing, church programmes and Christian service. Digital platforms may strengthen such engagement when young people move from simply watching or reading Christian content to discussing it, sharing it, applying it and participating in Christian communities.

However, digital exposure does not automatically result in meaningful Christian engagement. A young person may follow Christian pages, watch sermons or receive Bible verses without becoming more involved in church activities or Christian service. This distinction makes it necessary to empirically examine the relationship between digital evangelism and youth Christian engagement rather than assuming that increased digital exposure automatically produces stronger Christian commitment.

Digital media can also expose young Christians to a wide variety of religious teachings. Young people can access Christian messages from different denominations, countries and theological traditions. While such access may broaden knowledge, it can also create confusion concerning doctrine, authority and Christian practice. They may encounter teachings that conflict with the beliefs of their local churches or content produced by individuals without appropriate theological training. Consequently, digital evangelism requires biblical literacy and digital discernment.

Another issue concerns the credibility of Christian content online. Digital platforms enable almost anyone to create and distribute religious content. Some materials may be carefully prepared and biblically grounded, while others may contain inaccurate interpretations, sensational claims or misleading teachings. Churches therefore have a responsibility to equip young people to evaluate digital religious content critically and responsibly.

The use of digital technology also presents opportunities for youth leadership. Young Christians who possess digital skills can assist churches in producing videos, managing social media pages, organising online programmes and communicating Christian messages. This can transform young people from passive recipients of ministry into active participants in the missionary activities of the Church. Amankwa and Awuku-Gyampoh (2022) similarly emphasise the importance of youth participation in church development, evangelism and leadership.

The Nigerian context makes the subject particularly important. Nigeria has a large youthful population and an increasingly digital communication environment. Young people use mobile phones and social media for education, communication, entertainment, business, relationships and religious activities. Christian churches operating in Nigeria therefore face the need to consider how the gospel can be communicated effectively within this changing social environment.

The Nigerian religious environment also provides a complex context for digital evangelism. Christian messages circulate alongside Islamic teachings, traditional religious beliefs, secular perspectives and diverse ideological positions. Social media has consequently become an important environment for religious communication and interaction. Churches can use these platforms to communicate Christian teachings, but young Christians must also navigate competing messages and interpretations.

The role of youth within Nigerian Christianity makes the issue even more important. Ogidi and Chiroma (2021) argue that youth ministry should be understood through the concept of lived religion, focusing on how young people actually practise their faith within everyday social environments. This perspective suggests that youth Christian engagement should not be measured only by attendance at church programmes but also by the extent to which young Christians live out and communicate their faith within their communities.

Digital evangelism can provide an important extension of this lived Christian experience. Young people can communicate Christian beliefs within their existing peer networks, participate in online prayer and Bible study, share testimonies and invite others to Christian programmes. The digital environment can therefore become an additional space where Christian identity and practice are expressed.

At the same time, the use of digital media may present challenges for churches. Some church leaders may lack the technical skills required to manage digital platforms effectively. Churches may also lack financial resources for digital equipment, internet access, content development and training. In some cases, older church members or leaders may be reluctant to adopt digital approaches because of concerns about inappropriate online content or the perceived negative effects of social media.

The experience of churches in other African contexts demonstrates that these challenges should not be ignored. The Vihiga County study found that although social media had potential to advance youth ministry, tensions surrounding technology adoption limited its full utilisation. This suggests that effective digital evangelism requires cooperation between church leaders and young people.

Benue State provides an important context for examining these issues. Christian churches constitute important institutions within many communities in the state, while young people participate in education, employment, agriculture, business, social activities and increasingly digital communication. The changing communication habits of young people therefore create both an opportunity and a challenge for churches seeking to maintain meaningful youth engagement.

Selected churches in Benue State provide an appropriate setting for investigating the impact of digital evangelism. Different churches may have different levels of technological adoption, approaches to youth ministry and strategies for evangelism. Some may use WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages, YouTube channels, livestreaming and online Bible studies, while others may depend primarily on physical programmes. Examining these differences can provide useful information concerning the extent to which digital evangelism contributes to youth Christian engagement.

The issue is also important because young Christians need to be prepared for responsible participation in digital environments. Digital evangelism should not merely encourage young people to post Christian content; it should equip them to communicate respectfully, accurately and ethically. Christian youth need to understand that digital witnessing should reflect Christian values of truthfulness, love, respect and responsible engagement.

The contemporary evidence from Africa strengthens the need for such investigation. Rabwoni (2026) found that new media can significantly enhance youth participation in faith-based activities, digital catechesis, peer-to-peer faith sharing and pastoral engagement when supported by appropriate training and infrastructure. Similarly, the Vihiga study demonstrated both the opportunities and institutional challenges associated with social media in youth ministry. These findings suggest that digital evangelism should be studied within specific social and church contexts rather than assumed to have the same effect everywhere.

It is against this background that this study examines the impact of digital evangelism on youth Christian engagement in selected churches in Benue State. The study focuses on the extent to which selected churches use digital platforms for evangelism, the level of youth exposure and participation in digital evangelistic activities, the relationship between digital evangelism and youth Christian engagement, and the challenges affecting digital evangelism. The study is expected to provide empirical information that can assist churches and youth ministry leaders in developing effective and contextually appropriate digital evangelism strategies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Christian evangelism is a fundamental responsibility of the Church, and young people constitute an important group through which the Christian message can be communicated to contemporary society. However, the communication environment in which young people live has changed significantly. Digital platforms have become important spaces for communication, social interaction, information sharing and identity formation. This creates a challenge for churches because traditional evangelistic methods may not be sufficient on their own to engage young people who spend significant amounts of time within digital environments.

The major problem is the apparent gap between the increasing importance of digital media in the lives of young people and the extent to which churches intentionally employ these platforms for evangelism and youth ministry. Although many young Christians use smartphones and social media regularly, some churches continue to depend predominantly on physical gatherings, conventional preaching, crusades and other traditional approaches. This raises questions about whether churches are adequately adapting their evangelistic strategies to the communication patterns of contemporary youth.

A further problem concerns whether digital evangelism actually produces meaningful Christian engagement. Digital platforms can expose young people to sermons, Bible verses, Christian videos, worship programmes and other religious materials, but exposure does not necessarily translate into active Christian participation. A young person may watch Christian content without participating in Bible study, prayer, discipleship, church activities or evangelistic outreach. There is therefore a need to distinguish between passive consumption of digital religious content and meaningful Christian engagement.

Another concern is the quality and credibility of Christian information available online. Young Christians have access to religious teachings from numerous churches, ministers, denominations and independent content creators. While this can provide opportunities for learning, it can also expose youth to conflicting doctrines, inaccurate interpretations and misleading religious claims. The digital environment therefore creates a need for Christian youth to develop both biblical knowledge and digital discernment.

There is also a problem of inadequate institutional preparedness among some churches. Effective digital evangelism requires more than creating social media accounts. Churches may require trained personnel, digital equipment, internet access, appropriate content, consistent communication strategies and leadership commitment. Rabwoni (2026) found that successful new-media evangelisation depends partly on digital literacy among youth ministers, institutional openness to technology, culturally relevant content and sustainable digital infrastructure.

Another problem relates to possible resistance to technological change within church structures. The study of selected mainstream churches in Vihiga County found that social media could enhance evangelisation, prayer, Bible study and communication, but tensions among church leaders, older members and youth affected the extent to which technology was embraced. Similar challenges may exist in churches where leaders and youth have different understandings of the value and risks of social media.

The problem is also connected with the changing expectations of Christian youth. Young Christians increasingly interact through digital platforms, and many of their social relationships are mediated by technology. If church communication remains disconnected from these environments, there is a possibility that youth may perceive church activities as less relevant to their everyday communication experiences. This does not mean that physical church activities have become unnecessary; rather, it suggests the need for churches to consider how online and offline forms of Christian engagement can complement each other.

Furthermore, there is insufficient empirical evidence concerning the impact of digital evangelism on youth Christian engagement in Benue State. Existing African studies provide useful evidence from contexts such as Uganda and Kenya, but differences in denominational structures, culture, technological access and social conditions mean that their findings cannot simply be generalised to Benue State. Rabwoni’s (2026) Ugandan study, for instance, demonstrates the potential of new media for youth evangelisation, but the study was conducted within the Catholic Church in Uganda and therefore does not directly establish what occurs among Christian youth in selected Nigerian churches.

The absence of localised evidence creates a practical challenge for church leaders and youth ministry practitioners. Without reliable evidence, churches may either fail to utilise digital evangelism adequately or invest resources in digital programmes without knowing their actual contribution to youth Christian engagement. There is therefore a need to determine whether digital evangelism is associated with meaningful participation in Christian activities among young people.

The problem is further complicated by the fact that digital media can produce both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, digital platforms can increase access to Christian teaching, facilitate peer-to-peer witnessing, support online Bible studies, strengthen communication and create opportunities for youth leadership. On the other hand, they can expose young people to distractions, misinformation, competing religious ideas and inappropriate content. The effectiveness of digital evangelism therefore depends on how churches and young people use these technologies.

Consequently, the central problem of this study is the uncertainty regarding the extent to which digital evangelism influences youth Christian engagement in selected churches in Benue State. While digital technology has created new opportunities for communicating the gospel, there remains inadequate empirical evidence concerning whether these opportunities translate into stronger Christian participation, discipleship, fellowship, evangelistic involvement and other forms of Christian engagement among young people.

This study therefore seeks to examine the impact of digital evangelism on youth Christian engagement in selected churches in Benue State. It will provide evidence on the use of digital platforms for evangelism, youth participation in digital evangelistic activities, the relationship between digital evangelism and Christian engagement, and the challenges affecting digital evangelism within the selected churches.

1.3 Aim of the Study

The main aim of this study is to examine the impact of digital evangelism on youth Christian engagement in selected churches in Benue State.

1.4 Objectives of the Study

The specific objectives are to:

1. examine the extent to which selected churches in Benue State use digital platforms for evangelism;
2. determine the level of youth exposure to and participation in digital evangelistic activities;
3. examine the relationship between digital evangelism and youth Christian engagement; and
4. identify the major challenges affecting the use of digital evangelism for youth ministry in selected churches in Benue State.

1.5 Research Questions

The study will answer the following research questions:

1. To what extent do selected churches in Benue State use digital platforms for evangelism?
2. What is the level of youth exposure to and participation in digital evangelistic activities?
3. What relationship exists between digital evangelism and youth Christian engagement?
4. What major challenges affect the use of digital evangelism for youth ministry in selected churches in Benue State?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

The following null hypothesis will be tested at the 0.05 level of significance:

H₀: There is no significant relationship between digital evangelism and youth Christian engagement in selected churches in Benue State.

1.7 Significance of the Study

The study will be significant to church leaders and pastors because it will provide empirical information on the extent to which digital evangelism contributes to youth Christian engagement. The findings may assist church leaders in evaluating existing digital communication strategies and identifying ways of improving their use of technology for evangelism and youth ministry.

The study will be useful to youth ministry leaders because it will provide information on how Christian youths interact with digital evangelistic content. The findings may assist youth leaders in developing online Bible studies, prayer groups, digital discipleship programmes, social-media evangelism and other technology-supported activities.

The study will benefit Christian youths by highlighting opportunities for constructive use of digital media in Christian life and ministry. It may encourage young people to move beyond passive consumption of online Christian materials and become active participants in evangelism, discipleship, Christian fellowship and digital Christian communication.

The study will also be useful to mission and evangelism organisations. The findings may provide evidence that can guide the development of youth-oriented digital evangelism programmes, particularly in contexts where young people have substantial interaction with social media and other digital platforms.

The study will contribute to theological and academic scholarship by adding to the growing literature on digital religion, digital evangelism and Christian youth engagement. In particular, it will provide context-specific evidence from selected churches in Benue State and thereby contribute to understanding how global technological changes are affecting Christian ministry within a Nigerian context.

Finally, the study will be useful to future researchers interested in digital religion, youth ministry, Christian evangelism, social media and contemporary missionary practice. It may serve as a basis for further studies comparing denominations, geographical areas and different forms of digital Christian engagement.