Towards Understanding the Limitations of Internet Ministry as an Alternative Ministry Opportunity in Churches in Nigeria in the COVID-19 Pandemic Situation

Abstract

The advent of COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant lockdown of many public places including churches have made people to seek alternative ways of doing things without violating the laid down guidelines of concerned authorities in order to curtail the spread of the pandemic. Many church pastors and other church leaders in Nigeria adapted to the use of the Internet and other technological tools in ministering to their church members and other people, that is, Internet ministry. However, there are some limitations to this in pastoral ministry. A research was carried out in which a semi-structured questionnaire was served to some randomly selected pastors through WhatsApp Messenger. The respondents answered through WhatsApp Messenger, email and phone calls. It was discovered through the research that Internet ministry to some great extent has become an alternative ministry opportunity during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Nevertheless, some other limitations to effective use of Internet ministry are also discovered. This paper (a follow up to other papers based on the research) attempts to identify the limitations of Internet ministry as an alternative means of performing pastoral ministry in churches in Nigeria during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and proffers possible solutions to the limitations. It also presents some themes for further studies.