Jeremiah Nwabueze is a pastor in Onitsha at Victory Resounding Revival Ministries. He uses ads to get more people to join online.
“We have more people joining us online now,” Nwabueze says. “People from far places like Lagos, Cameroon, and even outside Africa are joining in.”
His church doesn’t do the usual Sunday service. Instead, they have weekly programs that attract people from different churches.
Thanks to social media ads, more people are attending online from all around Nigeria and other countries.
Churches have always used ads, but the way they do it has changed a lot in recent years.
This article looks at why churches advertise, who pays for it, how they fund it, if they use ad agencies, how they measure the success of their ads, if ads help get more followers, and what types of ads they use.
How Church Advertising Has Changed in Nigeria
Churches in Nigeria have advertised for a long time using traditional methods like newspapers, radio, banners, posters, and billboards. They also spread the word through rallies where members go around telling people about upcoming events.
But after working as a social media manager for a Pentecostal church for over ten years and starting his ministry, Pastor Nwabueze noticed more use of social media.
“The rise in social media in Nigeria has made it easier for churches to reach people faster,” Pastor Nwabueze said.
Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have become very important. These platforms help churches connect with people in a way that traditional ads couldn’t, especially since more people now have internet access.
Why Churches Advertise
To understand why churches advertise, we spoke to pastors like Nwabueze and Pastor Gift Akanimo from Light to Life Ministries.
Both pastors said one main job of the church is to spread the gospel, as the Bible says. Pastor Nwabueze mentioned Psalm 68:11: “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it,” showing that sharing the gospel is like advertising.
Pastor Akanimo referred to Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15, which command believers to “Go and teach all nations” and “preach the gospel to every creature.” He also highlighted Acts 2:47, which talks about “adding to the church daily.”
Pastor Akanimo, whose church is in Maya, Ikorodu, said advertising helps grow church membership, reach more people, create a strong online presence, build the church’s identity, and increase attendance.
Pastor Nwabueze added that with so much content online, some of it against Christian values, churches need to be present online too.
“In today’s age where people see many different things online, churches must use advertising, especially on social media, to spread the gospel,” he stressed.
How Churches Fund Their Advertising
Pastor Akanimo said churches use donations from members, financial support from church leaders, and fundraising events to pay for ads.
They also set aside part of the church’s budget for advertising and outreach. Pastor Akanimo said this follows the biblical principle of managing resources wisely and encouraging giving to grow the ministry.
“We believe it’s our responsibility to reach more people, and that needs money,” he said.
Pastor Nwabueze agreed and added that church members often help with their skills, like managing social media, designing graphics, or making videos, without getting paid.
“Some members feel called to support the church with their skills, like media and advertising, without expecting payment,” Nwabueze explained.
This help reduces the financial burden of advertising, especially for smaller churches.
Types of Advertising Used by Churches
Churches in Nigeria use various types of advertising. While they still use print and broadcast media, they now focus more on digital advertising, which needs skills to engage audiences effectively.
Digital platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube are essential. Pastor Nwabueze said these platforms allow churches to create targeted campaigns and reach specific audiences.
“You need the right skills to make sure your message gets to the right people,” he noted.
There’s also influencer advertising, where faith-based influencers promote church events to their followers, helping spread the message wider.
Event-based advertising, using billboards and social media, is key for promoting events like crusades and conferences. These ads make sure time-sensitive events get maximum attention.
Livestreaming is becoming popular too. Ministries like Pastor Nwabueze’s and Pastor Jerry Eze’s NSPPD use platforms like YouTube and Facebook to reach global audiences. Livestreams let churches engage viewers in real time and grow their online congregation.
Do Churches Use Advertising Agencies? Insights from Industry Experts
Larger churches often work with professional ad agencies to handle their campaigns. These agencies offer comprehensive services like social media management and content creation to reach wide audiences.
Pastor Nwabueze said smaller churches tend to hire freelancers for specific tasks like video editing or content creation, which helps reduce costs while ensuring quality.
Emmanuel Chiefe from Centytech, who has worked with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and other ministries, said churches usually need help with setting up or growing their social media presence.
“Some churches don’t have a social media presence, while others need more traffic,” he said.
His fees range from N100,000 to N400,000, depending on services like ad campaigns, flyer designs, reels, and video editing.
Mrs. Gift David, a video editor and animator in Port Harcourt, said churches often hire her to create short videos to promote events. Her pricing ranges from N35,000 to N60,000, depending on the complexity of the project.
“It’s about making the message visually appealing while ensuring it resonates with the audience,” she explained.
Many churches are training their members in social media and content creation to reduce costs and maintain a strong online presence.
Measuring Success: KPIs and Soul-Winning in Church Advertising
Churches measure the success of their ads with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) based on their goals, such as raising awareness, increasing engagement, boosting viewership, or driving salvation efforts.
Digital campaigns are easier to measure due to the insights these platforms provide on performance.
On whether ads help win souls, it’s clear that while ads expand the audience reach, salvation-driven campaigns have been successful in leading people to Christ.
For example, Mrs. Gift David shared how an ad campaign video led her to repentance.
Outlook
More churches are using digital marketing to reach wider audiences. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube are key for promotion and engagement. Short videos work best, followed by pictures, while text is less effective.
Digital campaigns offer measurable insights, making it easier for churches to track success than traditional methods.
Many churches are also training members in social media and content creation to cut costs and keep a strong online presence. This helps them reach more people and connect globally while fulfilling their mission.