Browsing by Author "Jallah, Sahwo Karbah Sr."

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    Bridging the gap: understanding church-community disengagement among Seventh-day Adventist members in Abidjan through a phenomenological lens
    (Adventist University of Africa, 2026-06) Jallah, Sahwo Karbah Sr.
    Despite being located in a rapidly growing, socially diverse urban context, Seventh-day Adventist churches in the Abidjan communes of Cocody and Yopougon appear largely disengaged from sustained, contextualized community ministry. Preliminary observations suggest a disparity between the Church's missional identity and its practical engagement in addressing the social, economic, and spiritual needs of the local population. Members demonstrate reluctance to participate in community ministry, resulting in isolation from the very communities the Church is called to serve. Method The study employed an existential-phenomenological research design to explore the lived experiences of church-community disengagement among Seventh-day Adventist members in Abidjan. Following Heidegger's existential-hermeneutic phenomenology and informed by van Manen's interpretive approach, the study used two primary data collection methods: (1) semi-structured interviews with church members, leaders, pastors, elders, and departmental directors; and (2) participant observation in natural settings. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis to identify core meanings and patterns across participants' stories and observed practices. The study focused on understanding how participants perceive, interpret, and respond to the apparent disconnect between church life and meaningful community involvement in the communes of Cocody and Yopougon. Results Findings revealed that church-community disengagement is experienced not merely as inactivity but as a profound loss of clear purpose, relational distance, and decreased sense of mission. Contributing factors included leadership practices that failed to mobilize members effectively, limited training and equipping for community ministry, organizational priorities that favored internal programs over external engagement, and socio-cultural pressures inherent in Abidjan's urban setting. Conversely, moments of genuine engagement—characterized by inclusive leadership, discipleship through service, and visible acts of compassion—were described as spiritually revitalizing experiences that affirmed the Church's mission and strengthened members' sense of purpose. Conclusion Revitalizing church-community engagement requires intentional discipleship, participatory leadership, and strategies contextually tailored to the local Abidjan setting that integrate spiritual growth with practical service. The study concludes that when churches move beyond mere residency to active presence in the community, members experience transformation that enhances their witness and strengthens the Church's missional identity. By emphasizing lived experience through an existential-phenomenological lens, this research contributes to practical theology and missiology, providing actionable insights for strengthening the Adventist Church's witness through genuine presence and faithful involvement in community life. The findings demonstrate that mobilizing members for community ministry is essential not only for external impact but for internal spiritual vitality and mission fulfillment.