Winning Souls for the Church through Propaganda: The Changing Narrative

Keyword : Propaganda .Persuasion .Faith .Heres

Author(s) : Josephat I. Okoye & Nnedi Anikpo

Abstract :

The paper attempts to ascertain how diverse Christian denominations in Nigeria use propaganda and persuasion for membership acquisition and retention. The paper also investigated the veracity or otherwise of the claim in certain quarters that propaganda and persuasion are potent machinery for acquiring, retaining and sustaining church membership in Pentecostal churches as opposed to what obtains in Catholic and Anglican religious denominations. In line with the rabid quest and consequent unhealthy rivalry prevalent among diverse Christian religious denominations in the country, it is imperative to devise alternative strategies that would make the rat race for membership acquisition and retention among Christian churches in Nigeria less competitive. The need for Christians to imbibe the virtues of practicing their faith with good deeds and loving their neighbours as they love themselves triggered this study. Questionnaire and personal interviews served as the measuring instrument. To ensure good outcome, 15 participants were selected from the leaders of catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal churches in Port Harcourt, Lagos and Abuja as well as members who have been affected by either propaganda or persuasion. Using survey research design and interviews, it was unveiled amongst others that albeit most Christian churches in Nigeria and elsewhere frown at the utility of crude forms of propaganda and persuasive devices, they extensively use subtle gimmicks ranging from evangelization, conversion, adoration, hour of grace, dead arising, lame walking, blind seeing, dumb talking as well as barren becoming pregnant to attract and retain membership. The paper therefore recommended amongst others that CAN and other relevant religious umbrella
bodies should enhance monitoring and regulation of the activities of Christian churches in Nigeria.

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