A Biblical Model of Evangelism to Reach the Ijebus in South-West Nigeria

Abstract

At the departure of Jesus Christ from the earth, he mandated his followers to preach the gospel message to all nations, kindred and to all ethnic groups in which the Ijebus are not left out of this mandate (Matt.28:19 – 20). It has been observed that the gospel message of Seventh-day Adventist Church has not reached the people of Ijebu land, South-West Nigeria in totality, except for few towns and villages around the church institution (Babcock University). Even where the presence of the church had been established, only a few indigenes of Ijebus are members of Adventist Church. The need to reach out to the Ijebus has given birth to this research project where strategies are designed to ameliorate this challenge. The purpose of this study was to develop and implement a biblically based model of evangelism to reach the Ijebu ethnic group with the Adventist message. In the process of investigating this challenge and developing various possible strategies to be implemented, a careful study of the scriptures on God’s purpose to reach other nations of the world was carried out. Then, various literature were consulted and reviewed on church planting and reaching unreached groups of people. Ilisan-west District has been carefully chosen to carry out this study where qualitative research method was used with focus groups and interview. At the end of the focus group discussion, the result was analyzed, and an intervention was designed to meet up this challenge. The intervention designed are; the establishment of an “Indigenous Church: Yoruba Speaking Church” and the second is “Members Involvement in Evangelism.” At the end of the whole exercise, the intervention was evaluated, and it was confirmed successful with the establishment of another Yoruba Church which will serve as a base to send pioneers and missionary teams to the mission field. With the use of Yoruba speaking as members especially, Ijebu indigenes, a church was established in Isara - Remo with many indigenes as members, and the recent baptism records during this program confirms that most of them are the Ijebus. Lastly, members joyfully participated in the two programs which was revealed through their involvement, and the end results really encouraged them to continue. The implementation of the intervention re-generates the awareness of involving the members in evangelism activities. The members and the church leaders appreciate their involvement in this intervention. This has informed them of their participation in witnessing will revive the church, increase soul-winning, and improve their spiritual life.