Browsing by Author "Masereka, Paul B."

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The role of small groups in the nurture and retention of members of Hoima Central and Hoima Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Western Uganda Field
(Adventist University of Africa, 2017-06) Masereka, Paul B.
The purpose of this study was an attempt to reduce membership loss in Hoima and Central SDA Churches, using small groups strategy. The researcher sought to observe the role of small groups in the nurture and retention of church members of Central and Hoima Churches. The researcher also explored the biblical foundation of small groups, their importance or role in keeping God’s people on His mission. It was observed that small groups were found in the Old Testament and the New Testament, and Jesus used them during His ministry. Even the early church continued with the same principle. Hence a model for the contemporary church. The study observed that the youth and the middle aged make 97.9% of church membership of Hoima and Central Churches. But because of the lack for nurture and retention techniques the church is likely to lose most of them. However, because of the role of small groups, the dropping from membership was minimized from 75% to 45% in one year. The study that took nine months ended having observed that 99% of the respondents agreed that, indeed, small groups is an effective tool in the nurture and retention of the church members of Hoima and Central SDA Churches. This was because, in these groups, believers were cared for better than when they were in large congregations, and that believers were expressing themselves more than before. However, there was weakness in visitation on a weekly basis among small group members which needed more attention in order to keep these groups on fire. Small groups concept should be embraced in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in order to reduce membership loss.