A study of the spirit of prophecy counsels on constructing and managing church facilities

Abstract

The Spirit of Prophecy, a term that refers to the writings of Ellen G. White, has guided the Seventh-day Adventist Church since its inception on critical issues including doctrinal purity, church organization, outreach, education, and health. A critical assessment of the Spirit of Prophecy shows that it also offers several counsels on the construction and management of church facilities, which include land acquisition and documentation, church facility construction, maintenance and general church facility management. Adopting a historical and case study approach, the study dived into the writings of Ellen G. White to unearth her counsels on the built environment and its usefulness in the Church of God. Questionnaires were administered and interviews were also conducted in selected churches within the Mid-North, and Mid-West Ghana Conferences to understand how Elders and Pastors knew the availability of the Spirit of Prophecy counsel on church estate management, as well as its relevance in managing the built environment of the church. A program was developed and implemented for two years by conducting training workshops for church leaders on the importance of the counsels of the Spirit of Prophecy and the need for Church leaders to consult it in their decisions with regard to the construction and management of church facilities.