{"id":7232,"date":"2026-03-05T20:13:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T19:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pillartoday.ng\/?p=7232"},"modified":"2026-03-05T20:13:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T19:13:23","slug":"book-review-christian-relations-by-professor-nkereuwem-udoakah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"pillartoday.com.ng\/?p=7232","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: Christian Relations, By Professor Nkereuwem Udoakah"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reviewed by Sam Akpe<\/strong><\/p>\n

This book has six chapters, arranged across 82 pages\u2014from <\/span>the title<\/span> page<\/span> to the index page<\/span>. Aside from copious citations from relevant <\/span>articles<\/span> and chapters of the Holy Bible, the reference page has less than ten cited authorities. <\/span>The book itself is<\/span> uncommon<\/span>ly<\/span> en<\/span>title<\/span>d<\/span>: <\/span>Christian Relations<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

There<\/span> is something <\/span>unconventional<\/span> about the subject of this book: Christian relations. It sounds not just new, but unusual, unheard-of\u2014a coinage with no verifiable roots in <\/span>scholarly<\/span> history. If Christianity were a product or an industry, perhaps, <\/span>this<\/span> would be<\/span> a<\/span> logical concept.<\/span> The<\/span>eccentricity<\/span> is <\/span>heightened <\/span>the more <\/span>by the deliberate use of relations, not relationship<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Across the world, the term public relations<\/span>,<\/span> is an established phrase that defines and explains certain deliberate efforts by people versed in<\/span> communication<\/span>business <\/span>to create mutually benefitting <\/span>networks<\/span>between <\/span>institutions and their various publics. <\/span>Within corporate organisations, public relations <\/span>is<\/span> a managerial function.<\/span><\/p>\n

While public relations<\/span>,<\/span> as a discipline, <\/span>has a lot to do with inter-relationship and image creation, management<\/span>,<\/span>and sustenance, industrial relations, which is another specialised area of corporate relationships, is about <\/span>the connection<\/span> between employers of labour and the labourers or employees.<\/span><\/p>\n

A thin line separates the two concepts: i<\/span>n public relations, the focus is principally on the <\/span>connection<\/span>between an organisation and its various publics<\/span>,<\/span> while industrial relations <\/span>is<\/span> about the rapport between employers and employees and covers<\/span> issues <\/span>of<\/span> wage determination, operational conditions and such other factors that ensure harmony in a workplace.<\/span><\/p>\n

Christian relations<\/span> is<\/span> a new branch of study that <\/span>may<\/span> be<\/span>generating interests but <\/span>expectedly <\/span>lack<\/span>ing<\/span> in <\/span>straight academic or <\/span>hands-on<\/span> definition. Since I got a copy of this book out of curiosity<\/span>, I have tried to figure out <\/span>either a hypothetical, hands-on, or<\/span> conventional meaning of the concept. I am yet to reach an acceptable conclusion.<\/span><\/p>\n

The truth however is that<\/span> what a professor of communication cannot explain <\/span>in simple understandable terms <\/span>hardly exist. <\/span>Nkereuwen<\/span> Udoakah<\/span> is a journalist of the old breed. <\/span>D<\/span>ecades ago, he left the newsroom for the classroom. With a chain of scholastic degrees from Ghana and Britain, he rose to become a professor\u2014and has produced several other professors.<\/span><\/p>\n

With specialty in political communication and media studies<\/span>, <\/span>Professor <\/span>Udoakah<\/span> has been a visiting scholar <\/span>to the <\/span>University of Sheffield in the UK, and was in 2005 nominated by the World Press Institute for training in Transparency Reporting at the University of Minnesota Journalism Centre. He is the author of <\/span>Christian Relations<\/span>, <\/span>plus other brain-turning books <\/span>and <\/span>research <\/span>a<\/span>rticles <\/span>on journalism<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

It does not require any extraordinary sense to observe that none of Professor <\/span>Udoakah\u2019s<\/span> academic laurels qualifies him to dabble into spiritual matters<\/span>, except that beyond formal <\/span>scholarly<\/span> exploit, he is a spiritually regenerated person. <\/span>The professor<\/span> is reputed as the pioneer <\/span>minister <\/span>of the Church of Christ Community at the University of <\/span>Uyo<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

He traces the history of Christian relations to the time when Jesus Christ was physically <\/span>present <\/span>on earth<\/span>, regretting that despite its importance, the subject is yet to earn any <\/span>recognition<\/span> as an academic discipline<\/span>. <\/span>Udoakah<\/span> describes <\/span>his<\/span> book as a spiritually-inspired academic journey <\/span>into God\u2019s mind for a peaceful coexistence <\/span>by<\/span> humanity.<\/span><\/p>\n

The book, <\/span>Christian Relations<\/span> is basically about <\/span>how <\/span>Christians <\/span>should <\/span>develop, sustain, demonstrat<\/span>e<\/span>, and serv<\/span>e<\/span> as public conscience with the expected possibility of setting the tone for moral <\/span>decency<\/span> in <\/span>the<\/span> society.<\/span> T<\/span>he book underlines the necessity for every practitioner<\/span> of Christianity<\/span> to <\/span>demonstrate rudimentary principled <\/span>character <\/span>towards one another.<\/span><\/p>\n

It lays bare<\/span> the need for Christians to <\/span>creat<\/span>e<\/span> a<\/span>deliberate<\/span>, enduring, bibl<\/span>e<\/span>-based attitude that is morally and spiritually<\/span> right. <\/span>The author sees <\/span>Christian relations <\/span>as being <\/span>more of a lifestyle that puts morality and ethics above all else<\/span>\u2014a lifestyle that would make even those who have never studied the Bible to appreciate the doctrines of Christianity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Expectedly, t<\/span>he book cites communication as the major tool of Christian relations. This goes beyond talking. It embodies symbols, codes, and languages. Beyond symbols which could be metaphorical, codes comprise verbal and non-verbal<\/span> signals<\/span>. The author state<\/span>s<\/span>authoritatively that non-verbal codes which include the way Christians dress,<\/span> their<\/span> body movements, use of time, among others<\/span>,<\/span> communicate <\/span>beliefs <\/span>extensively.<\/span><\/p>\n

Christian relations <\/span>as a concept <\/span>emphasise<\/span>s<\/span> behaviours or body language that<\/span> portrays or add value to the Christian doctrines in line with societal expectations. Either in verbal or non-verbal message transmission, <\/span>it <\/span>demands<\/span> the willingness to explain God\u2019s word, repeat advice, <\/span>and <\/span>encourage people.<\/span><\/p>\n

From the analysis of issues and conclusions drawn, Christian<\/span> relations as a <\/span>behavioural <\/span>concept<\/span>,<\/span> draws its inputs from both public relations and industrial relations principles. It emphasises Christ-like attitudes in dealings both with the external and internal publics of the church.<\/span>The concept therefore is an inter-section between public and industrial relations.<\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, the book discusses the expectations of the external publics which comprise different layers of believers but principally the unbelievers. In his opinion, the author sees Christian relations as divinely-guided public relations policy that must<\/span> be<\/span> conducted in a manner that cause<\/span>s<\/span> the unbelievers to yearn for things of the kingdom.<\/span><\/p>\n

As an industrial relations belief, the book presents Christian relations as a leadership and communication attitude that does not seek to rule, but to lead. It believes that every church leader should first see himself as a steward who is positioned to attend <\/span>to the people, and not a ruler who demands complete loyalty and subordination without consideration for the Christ-like attitude <\/span>of stewardship <\/span>which the scripture promotes.<\/span><\/p>\n

The book goes beyond Christian virtues of morality and ethics <\/span>in depicting Christ-like thoughts <\/span>to focus on specific<\/span> purposes, limitations and the power of<\/span> public communications<\/span> in the preaching of the gospel. From the differences between speaking and writing to the ethics of public speaking, the author discusses how messages should be presented to the different publics and what constitutes good speaking.<\/span><\/p>\n

He<\/span> discusses interpersonal communication as a tool in Christian relations and how it can be effectively utilised<\/span>\u2014especially in a one-one evangelism programme<\/span>, t<\/span>hen focusses on the use of modern<\/span> or the new media in effective evangelism, and how Christians can choose who to work with for maximum result.<\/span><\/p>\n

From all indications, Professor <\/span>Udoakah<\/span> is trying to introduce and push a new specialised communication idea into the academic market to make-up for the gaps he must have observed among his fellow preachers of the gospel. Th<\/span>e book<\/span> seeks to answer the question<\/span> of <\/span>not just how the church or Christians <\/span>should <\/span>communicate the gospel to the people, but how the preachers <\/span>must <\/span>conduct themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

In<\/span> a society that is over sensitive on religious matters, this theory, no matter its beauty and originality, comes with the possibility of a still birth. Perhaps, if the focus had <\/span>covered<\/span> what every other religionist should do to impart godly attitudes to the people, instead of focussing exclusively on Christianity,<\/span> there would have been hope for its application as a discipline and field of study.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, there is <\/span>still <\/span>some <\/span>anticipation<\/span>! Teachers of Christian religion in our universities might find the concept appealing and worth <\/span>their<\/span> attention. That again, would depend on a lot of factors. On the whole, this is a book for every Christian, especially those involved in evangelism. <\/span><\/p>\n

Published in 2025 by the University of <\/span>Uyo<\/span> Printing Press, <\/span>Christian Relations<\/span> draws its inspiration from the Holy Bible. It brings to memory the mannerisms that made Christianity of the early days to stand out, win converts and cause King <\/span>Aggripa<\/span> to confess to Apostle <\/span>P<\/span>aul in Acts 26:28: \u201cyou almost persuaded me to become a Christian.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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Reviewed by Sam Akpe This book has six chapters, arranged across 82 pages\u2014from the title page to the index page. Aside from copious citations from relevant articles and chapters of the Holy Bible, the reference page has less than ten cited authorities. The book itself is uncommonly entitled: Christian Relations. There is something unconventional about […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":7233,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7232"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7232\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"pillartoday.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}