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Browsing Doctoral Level by Author "Amegan, Semenu K."

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    A strategy for an effective small group ministry to foster discipleship in Kegue Seventh-day Adventist Church, Lome, Togo
    (Adventist University of Africa, 2017-02) Amegan, Semenu K.
    The mission of the Church is to make disciples of all nations as stated in Matthew 28: 18 – 20. Both Scriptures and Ellen G. White’s Writings show evidences that small groups constitute an environment propitious for the fulfillment of this God-given mandate. The Church in Togo has been introduced to this particular ministry since 1995. Kegue Seventh-day Adventist Church where this project was carried out, was established in 2000. From inception, it experienced a massive and rapid backsliding phenomenon which was a clear indication of a poor discipleship process. Many attempts to have small group ministry as a way of life in the church have been made, but they all failed. As soon as they were formed, they died out. The purpose of this dissertation was to design and implement an effective strategy for small group ministry to foster discipleship in Kegue Church . To fulfill this purpose, a theological and biblical foundation of small group ministry was laid from both Old and New Testaments. Then, a review of literature made to discover what scholars said about small groups as an instrument for Christian discipleship. Afterwards, a survey through a questionnaire was conducted to discover the perception of Kegue Church members on this ministry. The data collected through the survey were analyzed. The results of this analysis, combined with insights from the biblical foundation and the review of literature in relation with small group ministry, led to the design of a fourteen-point strategy to address the above-mentioned problem. As the end of the program implementation, seven small groups were formed. However, the success of such a program should not be measured by the number of groups constituted, but by the commitment of those involved in this ministry. These seven small groups are lively and are well prospering. Their members are enthusiastic about attending their meetings. Group members testify that they are committed to their group’s meeting because of the new insights they received on the biblical foundation of small group ministry. According to testimonies, the community factor of small group ministry gave them an altogether perception of this ministry. They have all written their group covenant in which everyone participated and have already their Relief Funds operational. Every third Sabbath of the sixth month has been voted as Small Group Ministry Day for the church. It can therefore be said that the program has been a successful one. It is true that more time is needed to say how successful was the program, but there are some signs--like the commitment of group members to gather besides the agreed meeting days to write the group covenant and the community bond they are already experiencing, which presage a better future for small group ministry in the Kegue Seventh-day Adventist Church.