A Biblical and Missiological Approach to Discipling Muslim Background Believers in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

The Seventh-day Adventist Church was established in northern Nigeria in the 1930s. To-date, the church has grown to a Union Conference of three local Conferences with a total membership of about 39,984 members. In over 80 years of the church’s existence in the north, converts from a Muslim background in the church today still compose less than 0.07% of the total membership. Having served as the Adventist-Muslim Relations Coordinator for three years, it is evident from my experience that the church passionately desires for the conversion and spiritual nurture of Muslims; yet, the active involvement of membership and the achieved results are regrettably below expectations. Over the years, the few converts from Islam that were accommodated in the homes of either pastors or members turned to be a burden to them and to the churches. It is also very unfortunate to hear that some of the converts robbed the churches or families where they were accommodated and ran away. These kinds of experiences raise suspicions, affect mutual relationships, and kill the spirit of witnessing. This dissertation studied the challenges of discipling converts from Muslim religious backgrounds and developed, implemented and evaluated a process for empowering church members to disciple MBBs in a way that will maximize their retention in the church. The study first established a theological foundation for discipling the MBBs. Beginning from the last command of Jesus to his disciples that required them to make disciples of all nations, the study described who a disciple is and what is discipleship. Moreover, reaching all nations entails transcending cultural and language barriers, contextualizing the message become inevitable. Hence, the study defined and provided a biblical basis for contextualization. The study researched literatures to glean what Missiologists and others have said and done in regard to MBBs discipleship. Bevans, Hiebert, and Travis models of contextualization were studied. The two outstanding approaches that are experimented by many in discipling MBBs are Extractionism and FDIC (Insider) methods. However, the form, nature, and extent to which these contextualization approaches are to be done has remained a point of debate. This study agreed with the extraction approach because it is more biblical. In order to increase the retention of the very few converts from Islam, it was necessary to discover the challenges that such converts are faced with and possible factors that give rise to backsliding among them. The study designed survey instruments and gathered information from well informed individuals. It was revealed by the surveys that: The MBBs faced real challenges; The The church needs an MBBs discipleship ministry; Relevant discipleship materials and frequent training are necessary, and there is a need for MBBs empowerment. On the basis of the foregoing findings, the study designed and implemented the following interventions. First, awareness-creating and motivational workshops and seminars were held. Second, a special MBBs discipleship ministry was formed, trained and equipped in the local church. Third, an empowerment scheme for helping the convert to become self-reliant was to be put in place. Fourth, a discipleship manual is developed and members are motivated and trained to disciple MBBs. This project has started well. When this ministry survives and is replicated in all the churches in northern Nigeria, it is potentially going to increase the overall retention of the MBBs.MBBs are better nurtured individually; The Church does not have ongoing Discipleship programs for MBBs;