Social media personnel and the effectiveness of the youth ministry at Presbyterian Church of East Africa, Nairobi Central Presbytery, Nairobi County, Kenya

David Ngigi Mburu; Kevin Muriithi Ndereba; Ndung'u Ikenye

doi:10.51867/ajernet.7.3.20

Auteurs

David Ngigi Mburu St Paul's University, Kenya https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8228-4817
Kevin Muriithi Ndereba St Paul's University, Kenya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6029-0826
Ndung'u Ikenye St Paul's University, Kenya https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8045-8998

DOI :

https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.7.3.20

Mots-clés :

Effectiveness, Kenya, Ministry, PCEA, Personnel, Social Media, Youth

Résumé

Youth ministry continues to face significant challenges of declining participation, weak engagement, and high attrition of young people from church, despite the rapid expansion of social media use. In Kenya, while churches increasingly adopt social media platforms, there is limited empirical and theological understanding of how specific dimensions of social media use influence the effectiveness of youth ministry. This study examined the influence of social media personnel on the effectiveness of youth ministry at the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), Nairobi Central Presbytery. The study was anchored on the socio-technical systems theory. A cross-sectional survey design was employed that targeted the population of 2,925 youths across seven parishes. A sample of 352 respondents was selected using stratified random sampling from which data was collected using questionnaires. Data was summarized using percentages and means while the relationship between social media personnel and effectiveness of youth ministry was tested using regression analysis. The findings revealed that social media personnel significantly influenced youth ministry effectiveness in terms of participation, membership, behaviour, and spiritual growth explaining 47.3% of the variance. The study concludes that the youth ministry effectiveness in a digital age depends not merely on social media adoption but on theologically informed and competent social media personnel. The study recommends that the presbytery should professionalize its digital presence by investing in specialized skills training and establishing a dedicated media team.

Téléchargements

Les données relatives au téléchargement ne sont pas encore disponibles.

Références

Abbas, R., & Michael, K. (2023). Socio-technical theory: A review. In S. Papagiannidis (Ed.), TheoryHub book. Newcastle University Press.

Ahman, H., & Thoren, C. (2021). When Facebook becomes Faithbook: Exploring religious communication in a social media context. Social Media + Society, 7(3), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051211041644

Akinsulire, O. (2021). An intergenerational approach to a sustainable youth ministry in an African context. Sapiential Foundation Journal of Education, Sciences and Gender Studies, 3(1), 369-382.

Akula, E., Orina, H., & Mathai, L. (2025). Impact of social media on church ministry in the Methodist Church, Nyambene Synod. Editon Consortium Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Studies, 7(1), 93-107. https://doi.org/10.51317/ecjahss.v7i1.633

Amankwa, E., & Gyampoh, R. (2022). Building the twenty-first century church: The role of the youth. Journal of Youth and Theology, 21(2), 148-171. https://doi.org/10.1163/24055093-bja10025

Animante, M., Akussah, H., & Ajei, N. (2021). Experiences and perceptions towards the use of social media for church activities among charismatic churches in Ghana. African Journal of Emerging Issues, 3(2), 97-117.

Aziz, G. (2019). Toward a contemporary understanding of youth ministry as a descriptive agency. In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi, 53(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v53i1.2403

Barna Group. (2020, March 12). Let's talk technology: Barna resources that explore findings from the digital age. https://www.barna.com/lets-talk-technology/

Bednar, P. M., & Welch, C. (2020). Socio-technical perspectives on smart working: Creating meaningful and sustainable systems. Information Systems Frontiers, 22(2), 281-298.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-019-09921-1

Borgman, D. (2013). Foundations for youth ministry: Theological engagement with teen life and culture. Baker Publishing Group.

Communication Authority of Kenya. (2025, June 13). Mobile data and digital services on the rise, CA report shows. https://www.ca.go.ke/mobile-data-and-digital-services-rise-ca-report-shows

Crano, W. D., Brewer, M. B., & Lac, A. (2023). Principles and methods of social research (4th ed.). Routledge.

https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003271734

Dean, K., Ellis, W., Forbes, J., & Rusert, A. (2020). Delighted: What teenagers are teaching the church about joy. William B. Eerdmans Publishing.

Garrett, W. (2024). Digital ministry in the church: Strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities (Doctoral dissertation, Liberty University).

Hanna, J. (2020). Dynamics of youth engagement in the local church (Doctoral dissertation, Liberty University).

Hill, S. (2022). Hybrid Christian youth ministry: A study of closed-group social media (Doctoral dissertation, Middlesex University).

Hunt, J. (2019). The digital way: Re-imagining digital discipleship in the age of social media. Journal of Youth and Theology, 18(2), 91-112. https://doi.org/10.1163/24055093-01802003

https://doi.org/10.1163/24055093-01802003

Hunt, J. (2020). And then there was Zoom: A Catholic theological examination on the development of digital youth ministry. Religions, 11(11), Article 565. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11110565

Imanirumva, A., Ndayishimiye, S., Nyisabyimbabazi, J., Ndikumwenayo, E., Havyarimana, E., & Simeon, N. (2022). Determining youth involvement in Rwanda Pentecostal Church activities with reference to Tyazo Parish. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 10(4), 179-194. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2022.104013

Kagwiria, D., Bururia, D., & Mathai, L. (2023). Evaluating the effectiveness of youth programmes offered by the youth ministry department in character formation in Methodist Church in Kenya, Kaaga Synod. Journal of Pastoral and Practical Theology, 2(1), 89-98. https://doi.org/10.51317/jppt.v2i1.390

Kapoor, K., Ziaee Bigdeli, A., Dwivedi, Y. K., Schroeder, A., Beltagui, A., & Baines, T. (2021). A socio-technical view of platform ecosystems: Systematic review and research agenda. Journal of Business Research, 128, 94-108.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.01.060

Kent, M. L., & Li, C. (2020). Toward a normative social media theory for public relations. Public Relations Review, 46(1), Article 101857.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2019.101857

Kock, J., & Norheim, B. (2022). The five questions: An academic handbook in youth ministry research. Wipf and Stock Publishers.

Lusweti, S., & Omieno, K. (2023). Using i-hubs for bridging the digital divide in rural Kenya. BIT-CS, 4(2), 54-62. https://doi.org/10.36805/bit-cs.v4i2.5165

Makhutla, N. (2021). Effectiveness of using social media for preaching during COVID-19 lockdown. Pharos Journal of Theology, 102(2).

https://doi.org/10.46222/pharosjot.102.22

Markley, B. (2024). Effects of new media on youth ministry (Master's thesis, The College at Brockport).

Mbithi, J., Kinuthia, R., & Kamwaria, A. (2023). Use of social media platforms in youth ministry activities by Protestant churches in Kenya: A case of Kesses Sub-County, Uasin Gishu County. Journal of Popular Education in Africa, 7(6), 27-37.

Mugenda, O. M., & Mugenda, A. G. (2003). Research methods: Quantitative and qualitative approaches. ACTS Press.

Ndereba, K. (2022). A holistic approach to youth ministry models in Africa. Journal of Youth and Theology, 22(1), 1-12.

https://doi.org/10.1163/24055093-bja10030

Njoroge, S. (2019). An analysis of youth participation in church programs in Presbyterian Church of East Africa, Kajiado Presbytery, Kenya. African Research Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 6(1), 100-108.

Omollo, E., Kinuthia, R., & Wamalwa, M. (2023). Measures to enhance use of social media platforms among SDA churches in Rachuonyo North Sub-County, Homa Bay County, Kenya. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 11(9), 429-439. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2023.119028

https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2023.119028

Parker, J. (2023). Ministry strategy for retaining youth and young adults in the Australian Union Conference (Professional dissertation, Andrews University).

Pekkala, K., & Van Zoonen, W. (2022). Work-related social media use: The mediating role of social media communication self-efficacy. European Management Journal, 40(1), 67-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2021.03.004

Root, A. (2021). The congregation in a secular age: Keeping sacred time against the speed of modern life. Baker Publishing Group.

Sparkman, H. (2021). Strategic social media for small congregations (Master's thesis, Lindenwood University).

Ugboh, G. (2023). The church and techno-theology: A paradigm shift of theology and theological practice to overcome technological disruptions. Journal of Ethics in Entrepreneurship and Technology, 3(2), 59-78. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEET-02-2023-0004

Verma, A., Frank, P., & Lamsal, K. (2021). An exploratory study of skill requirements for social media positions: A content analysis of job advertisements. The Journal of Social Media in Society. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2106.11040

Wiedemann, T. (2022). Social media as a tool for evangelism among youth and young adults. Great Commission, 14(1), 19-34.

Williams, A. (2023). Social media: A tool for discipleship (Doctoral dissertation, Liberty University).

Yamane, T. (1973). Statistics: An introductory analysis (3rd ed.). Harper & Row.