LCCN Pastors gathered for workshop on communication and ICT

In furtherance of communication in the church and to enhance the capacity of the pastors in LCCN in the area of ICT the Communications Officer which is supported by Mission Afrika organized a three day workshop at Muryar Bishara Jos. The workshop drew participants from various dioceses within the LCCN and the Headquarters. 49 pastors participated in the workshop.

The pastors were taught how to use the 21^st century medium to improve their communication in their various levels. The resource persons considered the following topics as: the role of effective communication in leadership, Introduction to the use of internet, emails and the social media, e-banking and ecommerce, writing for specific purpose, local resource mobilization and the role of communication in crisis prevention and management.

Participants were very excited about the workshop, Rev. Emmanuel Gabriel from Bonotem Diocese said, “the workshop was very enriching beyond our expectation. Some of us thought since this was the first of its kind, it would be less than what we witnessed but to our amazement it was awesome.” The Secretary of the Archbishop Rev Danlami Elkanah also said, “The workshop has exposed the participants to the need to improve on their communication level in the church. It has also thrown a challenge for the pastors to imbibe the use of computer and the ICT.”

Participants during the discussion forum agreed that there is poor communication in the church and also agreed that there was need to improve on the communication processes in the church. They admonished one another to be updated and insisted that leaders should follow due process in communicating in the church.

The purpose of the Workshop was also to help the Pastors to get exposed to the various tools and methods available to foster knowledge sharing, and for the need to equip LCCN Clergy to leverage on the new age technology and also to enable sharing and discussion among the participants in developing and/or implementing knowledge strategies while practicing the ICT tools.

Training was mainly delivered by four trainers invited by LCCN Communications Unit.  Mr. Segun Ozique and Mr Bini K. Adiel, Rev Kinison Alfred and Rev Samuel Goro participated in the workshop and helped to orient the discussions on issues directly affecting LCCN. 49 participants from 9 Dioceses, the Arch-cathedral and LCCN Headquarters attended the Workshop.

The training Workshop was overall an exciting event, with maximum participation, sharing and real time discussion. Various tools and methods that help knowledge sharing were introduced and practiced; ICT experience and ideas of Communication in their respective Dioceses were exchanged and shared through the practicing of these tools and methods. The success of the Workshop was in the good integration of practicing tools/methods and substance which centered on ICT strategies in effective communication. 

The Workshop was able to introduce participants to the expediency of the knowledge of the ICT in Communication and also the need to keep to the rules of communication in leadership. Participants discussed various loopholes in their experiences as it affects effective communication and shared possible ways to mitigate the challenge of communication breaks and lack of information sharing at various levels. The workshop introduced participants to the trends of e-banking and ecommerce as well as taught some security tips in dealing with the World Wide Web. Participants were introduced to email communication, social media and the like. Practical sessions evolved where some participants were able to get their emails opened the first time.

Local Resources Mobilization (LRM) as a quick follow up on the prior training at Ghana Rev Kinison Alfred introduced the Participants to LRM and eyes were opened to the abundant resources in the Dioceses and Resource Mapping was used to showcase possible resources of church.

Relationships are considered integral to communication and much of what we do depends on our ability to connect one another. Participants were asked to expand their network and identify weakness on their network and suggest strengthening through effective communication.    

A Writer Hunt exercise was undertaken to enable participants to review their ability to write life touching books, articles and reports. The workshop established that everyone has a story to write and that every pastor must also learn to write out something so that wider audience may be reached either through the internet or in print. A lot of good ideas were generated and experience shared. 

Entrepreneurship session was organized to allow participants know how they can make use of what is available in the environment to improve living standard and create extra income. Home Makers (an NGO) made presentation on home-made goods and engaged the participant in a practical session on pomade making.   

Finally the Workshop itself undertook an After Action Review, and most participants expressed their satisfaction and feelings of the Workshop impact in their work as clergymen in the church and as leaders in society.

In additional to the ICT methods/tools used during the Workshop other issues were very prominent, this includes the need to follow procedure and hierarchy in communication in the church. Participants shared their frustration in the protocol breach and also confessed how they themselves have not been able to follow due process in information and communication. With this, it is believed that the workshop will in no small major affect the communication style of the participants. Developing and implementing ICT communication medium and strategies in the various Dioceses, Divisions, and District etc. are most helpful to the Communication work in the church.

Participants have returned to their various destinations with such excitement and enthusiasm for change in the way of communication in the church. The Communication Unit thanked the church for the motivation, encouragement and support to better the Publicity and communication work in LCCN. The workshop which started on 11^th of August ended on August 14.