Digital Communication and Evangelistic Outreach among Selected Christian Denominations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria

Abstract This study examined digital communication and evangelistic outreach among selected Christian denominations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The study specifically compared the challenges and limitations faced by selected denominations in adopting technological innovations for proselytization and evaluated the differences and similarities in technological proselytization practices and their implications for contemporary religious outreach. The study was anchored on the Functionalist Theory, which explains how social institutions adapt to technological changes to maintain relevance and fulfil their societal functions. A mixed-methods research approach using a convergent parallel design was adopted. The study population comprised members, clergy, media personnel, and administrative staff from Salvation Ministries, RCCG Province, Anglican Diocese, and Presbyterian Church, with an estimated population of 31,700. A sample size of 400 respondents was determined using the Taro Yamane formula, while 380 valid questionnaires, representing a 95% response rate, were used for analysis. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and documentary sources and analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.The findings revealed that infrastructure deficiencies, technical skill gaps, resistance to technological change, and organisational barriers constituted the major challenges to technological adoption, particularly among the Anglican Diocese and Presbyterian Church. The study further found that Salvation Ministries and RCCG Province demonstrated higher levels of technological innovation, digital integration, adaptability, and evangelistic effectiveness than the Anglican Diocese and Presbyterian Church. The study concluded that technological innovation significantly enhances evangelistic outreach and has become an indispensable tool for contemporary Christian proselytization. It recommended inter-denominational knowledge sharing, digital capacity-building programmes, and sustained investment in technological infrastructure to strengthen digital evangelism and religious outreach.