This study investigated the impact of training Baptist pastors in using the Internet to disseminate information in their ministries. Quasi-experimental research design was used to examine the impact of training in some aspects of Internet information dissemination and the effects it would have on the ministries of the pastors. Thirty pastors were randomly selected and trained from the pool of pastors without experience in the use of the Internet. A course content was designed for the training.
A questionnaire was administered to the pastors before the training as a pre-test and the same questionnaire was administered again to the pastors after the training as a post-test. Ten church members were also randomly selected from each of the churches of these pastors who assessed the impact of the training after the pastors have used the acquired knowledge in their ministries for one month. After the pastors have been using the knowledge in their ministries for one month another questionnaire was administered to the church members for the appraisal. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the data collected.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
Introductory Statement
Background to the Study
Statement of the Problem
Research Questions
Purpose of the Study
Significance of the Study
Scope of the Study
Operational Definitions of Terms
CHAPTER TWO
Concepts of Communication
Purpose of Communication
Means of Communication
The Pastor’s Ministry
Internet as Means of Communication: A Focus on its Features
Elements and Uses of Internet
Internet as a Means of Information Collection
Internet as a Means of Interaction among Christians
Impact of Internet on the Pastoral Ministry
Internet and Christian Ministry
CHAPTER THREE
Research Design
Population and Sample
Sampling Techniques
Instruments for Data Collection
Validity and Reliability of the Instruments
Procedure for Data Collection
Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
Analysis of Data
Discussion of Results
CHAPTER FIVE
Summary
Conclusions
Recommendations
Suggestions for Further Research
Research Objectives and Themes
This study assesses the impact of training Baptist pastors in the Ibadan metropolis on their capability to disseminate information to their church members via the Internet. The primary goal is to address the digital divide among clergy and improve their pastoral communication methods.
- The role of the Internet in modern Christian ministry and evangelism.
- Evaluating the current level of Internet literacy among Baptist pastors.
- Assessing the effectiveness of digital tools like e-mail, SMS, and websites for pastoral work.
- Identifying barriers to Internet adoption for church leadership and potential solutions.
- The correlation between pastor training and improved information dissemination to congregants.
Excerpt from the Book
Internet as a Means of Information Collection
In spite of the fact that this is not part of the scope of this study, it is essential to review some of what other people have said on this sub-topic. There is no gainsaying in the fact that the Internet has become a major source of information. There are many different types of information resources available through the Internet. According to Tonta (1995), “the amount of information on the Internet currently occupies about a few terabytes (1012 bytes) worth of space. Yet the amount is increasing tremendously as more multimedia information sources are added to the network” (Tonta, 1995). The retrieval of this information is relatively fast and accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a weeks (Ureigho et al. 2006, 55). In Lovheim and Linderman’s (2005) words,
The Internet greatly increases the possibility for an individual seeker to find information about established as well as alternative religious organizations. The relatively low cost and effort of setting up a web page have furthermore inspired millions of people representing different religious groups or various personal beliefs to spread their message to an ever widening audience. Through browsing on the Internet, young and old people alike can explore religious beliefs and practices very different from their own without leaving the comfort and safety of their homes, and without the risk of being harassed by importunate representatives (126).
Many people that use the Internet are doing so mainly to get information (information-age, 2008). The best way to do this is using search engines. Search engine is simply a robot that goes and looks in thousands of web sites for the words one asks it to find. When it finds those words, it gives a list of websites in order of how frequently those words appear on the website. Search engines are free to use and are operated by private companies like Google, Yahoo, Live, and the likes. The quality varies, depending on how many and which websites they will search to find your words. A search engine may return no results because a valid query correctly
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: Introduces the study, providing the background on the Internet as a global communication tool and stating the research problem regarding pastors' limited digital utilization.
CHAPTER TWO: Reviews related literature, discussing communication concepts, the pastor's ministry role, and the specific challenges and opportunities the Internet presents for Christian witness.
CHAPTER THREE: Outlines the quasi-experimental research methodology, including the sampling of pastors, the training procedures, and the instruments used for data collection.
CHAPTER FOUR: Presents the analysis of the data collected from the questionnaires, highlighting the improvements in pastors' Internet knowledge and usage following the training.
CHAPTER FIVE: Summarizes the study findings, offers formal conclusions, and provides practical recommendations for future pastoral digital integration.
Keywords
Internet, Pastoral Ministry, Information Dissemination, Baptist Pastors, Digital Literacy, Christian Evangelism, E-mail, Web-based SMS, Online Chatting, Website Posting, Information Age, Church Leadership, Ibadan Metropolis, Communication Technology, Great Commission
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research investigates how formal training in Internet usage impacts the information dissemination capabilities of Baptist pastors in the Ibadan metropolis.
What are the primary themes of the study?
The study centers on the intersection of modern information technology, pastoral ministry, and the effective communication of the Gospel to congregants.
What is the primary objective of this work?
The main objective is to assess whether training pastors on tools like e-mail, websites, and SMS enhances their ability to communicate with and support their church members.
Which research methodology was utilized?
The researcher employed a quasi-experimental design, which involved pre-testing and post-testing pastors before and after a structured training program.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body examines communication theory, the specific roles of a pastor, the technical aspects of Internet services, and the challenges pastors face when adopting these technologies.
Which keywords best characterize this publication?
Key terms include Internet, Pastoral Ministry, Information Dissemination, Baptist Pastors, Digital Literacy, and Christian Evangelism.
Why was the Ibadan metropolis chosen for this study?
The location was selected due to the presence of multiple Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and a high concentration of Baptist churches, providing a viable environment for evaluating Internet usage.
What did the results reveal about pastor training?
The results showed a significant improvement in the pastors' knowledge and confidence in using Internet tools for ministry purposes following the training sessions.
- Quote paper
- Adebayo Afolaranmi (Author), 2009, Training baptist pastors in internet information dissemination capabilities in their ministries. An appraisal of the impact, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1154300
