A missional study of the use of social media (Facebook) by some Ghanaian Pentecostal Pastors

Social media as a new phenomenon has become a tool used by many televangelists and pastors all over the world. It is against this background that this research sought to explore the Facebook activities of some Ghanaian Pentecostal pastors from a missional perspective. The article deals with the concept of social media, Facebook and its potential for mission purposes, the Facebook phenomenon among Ghanaians and how Ghanaian Pentecostal Pastors are using Facebook for missional purposes, as well as some of concerns on the negative uses of social media. The study revealed that Ghanaian pastors are followed by people from different religious and societal backgrounds. It has also offered the pastors and their congregations the opportunity to form relationships with a wide and diverse range of people without being bound by geographical space. Sosiale media as nuwe fenomeen het ‘n instrument geword wat deur meeste TV-evangeliste en pastore regoor die wêreld gebruik word. Dit is teen hierdie agtergrond dat die Facebookaktiwiteite van sommige Ghanese Pentekostale pastore vanuit ‘n missionale perspektief ondersoek word. In hierdie artikel word die volgende ondersoek: Die konsepte van sosiale media en Facebook, veral dan in terme van hulle potensiaal vir missionale doeleindes; die Facebookfenomeen, spesifiek onder die Ghanese; en die wyse waarop Ghanese Pentekostale pastore van Facebook gebruik maak vir missionale doeleindes. Die navorsing bevind dat Ghanese pastore deur mense van verskillende godsdienstige en sosiale agtergronde op sosiale media gevolg word. Dit bied aan pastore en hulle geloofsgemeenskappe die geleentheid om verhoudings met ‘n wye verskeidenheid mense te ontwikkel, sonder om deur die grense van geografiese gesitueerdheid beperk te word.