Small Groups as a Strategy for Membership Retention in the Ado-Ekiti Community, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

Problem Over the years, hundreds of Ado-Ekiti indigenes have been baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church. In the church membership records; there are over 1000 baptized adults but it appears that they do not remain active in the church longer than three months. The question is why has it been difficult for Ado-Ekiti people to be retained in the SDA Church after they have been baptized? Could it be the problem of the approach, or mission strategy? The purpose of this dissertation was to develop and implement a small group ministry strategy to increase membership retention Method This research employed methodology which involved five branches of data gathering: participant observation, interviews, case studies, focus group questions, and 24 well trained men and women small groups coordinators which served as key informants. Also, relevant books, journals and selected unpublished works from the elders in council were also consulted. On the basis of these findings, an implementation strategy was developed using two week contextualized family centered small groups meetings (Outreaches). This pilot project was implemented in three SDA Churches in the Ado-Ekiti community and evaluation was carried out in these churches. At the end, the researcher employed the use of a SWOT analysis to present a clear overall reason for using small groups’ strategy for membership retention. Results A new strategy was developed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of retention using small groups. This was implemented, monitored, evaluated and further recommendations were given to the conference administration and the churches concerned. This strategy clearly enhanced the activities of small groups, and encouraged meaningful and reliable means of retention of members within Ado-Ekiti community. Conclusion It was discovered that when effective, contextualized small groups programs were developed, relevant capacity building programs designed and implemented by giving regular training to the coordinators, local church leaders, and the entire churches are involved in soul winning using small groups strategy, retention of persons baptized into the church can be retained in the Ado-Ekiti community of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.