Online Reporter
H-Metro Reporter
POPULAR Goodness and Mercy Ministries leader, Prophet T Freddy is happier reaching out to online audiences amid suggestions that a number of churches that used to draw huge congregants are now struggling for numbers.
With suggestions that interest in the “newer” churches is waning as seen by the dwindling numbers at services, it is therefore interesting that Prophet Freddy has been celebrating attaining one million followers on Facebook.
Critics have always argued that churches likes Prophet Freddy’s GMM thrive on physical attendance which guarantees ‘income’ in form of what is commonly referred to as free offering.
As such, the numbers that matter are of those who turn up at church as opposed to those who follow online. However, the preacher-cum-musician is of a different opinion.
“We are so happy that we now have 1 1million followers on Facebook this year. We are so excited because 1 million is not a small number, it is a huge number and that is why we are celebrating that milestone.
“The followers that we have are organic, it has been a gradual growth because we have been on the platform for a long time. Times are changing. In the past, the focus was on people who physically turned up for church services but now its all about social media.
“I believe social media is the way to go. The good thing about social media is that it is accessed via mobile phones, which means we actually reach out to people who would have not been able to reach us physically in Glen Norah.
“Technology is advancing. Look at music now, musicians are now struggling because of the impact of Artificial Intelligence. It’s going to affect the church as well. Some might think we are targeting numbers from engagement and views, it is not even worth mentioning.”
He says it actually costs him money to stage services as what congregants give as offering does not cover what the church would have spent.
“It’s actually a misconception that we make money from offerings. If I tell you, even when we fill a stadium, the money from offerings is nowhere near what we would have spent to stage the service.
“Church has to find ways to survive. We do not survive on offerings, actually a number of church leaders and men of God, including myself, we are funding church from our own pockets for the love of the gospel and not the other way.”
Despite the demands of his position, Prophet Freddy has been regularly releasing music videos.
“I love music. It is difficult for me to separate the ministry side and music. I do music because I love it, it is a passion. Also, it is a way of preaching and reaching out to many people because music is a universal language where someone can be getting God’s message while vibing.
“So I am able to reach people who would not have made it to church.”
Mathew Masinge