Towards a Theologically-Informed Strategic Plan to Enhance Discipleship Among the Christian Brethren in Rural Northern Zambia
Samungole, Collins
Towards a Theologically-Informed Strategic Plan to Enhance Discipleship Among the Christian Brethren in Rural Northern Zambia - Johannesburg, South Africa South African Theological Seminary 2019 - 134 pages PDF A4 Abstract, TOC
Most Christian Brethren assemblies (preferred to the term churches)in rural northern Zambia are growing in numbers through church planting. This seems to be impaired by academically disadvantaged and marginalised believers spearheading such service in this region. The result has been churches of low levels of spiritual maturity. This situation has been further weakened by inadequate or no discipleship available for both disciple makers and their disciples. To address this critical problem I therefore embarked on a research project of formulating an effective discipleship strategy to meet the perceived discipleship needs of the local Christian Brethren assemblies(or the Christian Brethren which is more commonly used)in rural northern Zambia. The study begins by reporting on a field research project conducted in rural northern Zambia, predominantly among the Christian Brethren’s academically disadvantaged and marginalised believers indifferent locations of this region. This was in order to initially ascertain the Christian Brethren’s understanding and practice of discipleship. The next stage in the study is a presentation of different perspectives on discipleship: biblical, systematic, historical, scientific, contextual and practical. After this, the study integrates the results of these two parts to develop an operative theology with respect to discipleship, especially among the marginalised believers of the Christian Brethren of rural northern Zambia. This developed normative discipleship praxis is then defended on the basis of the inspired Scriptures, the different perspectives drawn on, the importance of raising the marginalised to spiritual maturity, and the eternal reward associated with such discipleship. Finally, this study formulates strategic plan to assist Christian Brethren assemblies in rural northern Zambia to practically achieve the proposed operative theology with respect to effective discipleship especially among the academically disadvantaged and marginalised believers.
Most Christian Brethren assemblies (preferred to the term churches)in rural northern Zambia are growing in numbers through church planting. This seems to be impaired by academically disadvantaged and marginalised believers spearheading such service in this region. The result has been churches of low levels of spiritual maturity. This situation has been further weakened by inadequate or no discipleship available for both disciple makers and their disciples. To address this critical problem I therefore embarked on a research project of formulating an effective discipleship strategy to meet the perceived discipleship needs of the local Christian Brethren assemblies(or the Christian Brethren which is more commonly used)in rural northern Zambia. The study begins by reporting on a field research project conducted in rural northern Zambia, predominantly among the Christian Brethren’s academically disadvantaged and marginalised believers indifferent locations of this region. This was in order to initially ascertain the Christian Brethren’s understanding and practice of discipleship. The next stage in the study is a presentation of different perspectives on discipleship: biblical, systematic, historical, scientific, contextual and practical. After this, the study integrates the results of these two parts to develop an operative theology with respect to discipleship, especially among the marginalised believers of the Christian Brethren of rural northern Zambia. This developed normative discipleship praxis is then defended on the basis of the inspired Scriptures, the different perspectives drawn on, the importance of raising the marginalised to spiritual maturity, and the eternal reward associated with such discipleship. Finally, this study formulates strategic plan to assist Christian Brethren assemblies in rural northern Zambia to practically achieve the proposed operative theology with respect to effective discipleship especially among the academically disadvantaged and marginalised believers.
Towards a Theologically-Informed Strategic Plan to Enhance Discipleship Among the Christian Brethren in Rural Northern Zambia - Johannesburg, South Africa South African Theological Seminary 2019 - 134 pages PDF A4 Abstract, TOC
Most Christian Brethren assemblies (preferred to the term churches)in rural northern Zambia are growing in numbers through church planting. This seems to be impaired by academically disadvantaged and marginalised believers spearheading such service in this region. The result has been churches of low levels of spiritual maturity. This situation has been further weakened by inadequate or no discipleship available for both disciple makers and their disciples. To address this critical problem I therefore embarked on a research project of formulating an effective discipleship strategy to meet the perceived discipleship needs of the local Christian Brethren assemblies(or the Christian Brethren which is more commonly used)in rural northern Zambia. The study begins by reporting on a field research project conducted in rural northern Zambia, predominantly among the Christian Brethren’s academically disadvantaged and marginalised believers indifferent locations of this region. This was in order to initially ascertain the Christian Brethren’s understanding and practice of discipleship. The next stage in the study is a presentation of different perspectives on discipleship: biblical, systematic, historical, scientific, contextual and practical. After this, the study integrates the results of these two parts to develop an operative theology with respect to discipleship, especially among the marginalised believers of the Christian Brethren of rural northern Zambia. This developed normative discipleship praxis is then defended on the basis of the inspired Scriptures, the different perspectives drawn on, the importance of raising the marginalised to spiritual maturity, and the eternal reward associated with such discipleship. Finally, this study formulates strategic plan to assist Christian Brethren assemblies in rural northern Zambia to practically achieve the proposed operative theology with respect to effective discipleship especially among the academically disadvantaged and marginalised believers.
Most Christian Brethren assemblies (preferred to the term churches)in rural northern Zambia are growing in numbers through church planting. This seems to be impaired by academically disadvantaged and marginalised believers spearheading such service in this region. The result has been churches of low levels of spiritual maturity. This situation has been further weakened by inadequate or no discipleship available for both disciple makers and their disciples. To address this critical problem I therefore embarked on a research project of formulating an effective discipleship strategy to meet the perceived discipleship needs of the local Christian Brethren assemblies(or the Christian Brethren which is more commonly used)in rural northern Zambia. The study begins by reporting on a field research project conducted in rural northern Zambia, predominantly among the Christian Brethren’s academically disadvantaged and marginalised believers indifferent locations of this region. This was in order to initially ascertain the Christian Brethren’s understanding and practice of discipleship. The next stage in the study is a presentation of different perspectives on discipleship: biblical, systematic, historical, scientific, contextual and practical. After this, the study integrates the results of these two parts to develop an operative theology with respect to discipleship, especially among the marginalised believers of the Christian Brethren of rural northern Zambia. This developed normative discipleship praxis is then defended on the basis of the inspired Scriptures, the different perspectives drawn on, the importance of raising the marginalised to spiritual maturity, and the eternal reward associated with such discipleship. Finally, this study formulates strategic plan to assist Christian Brethren assemblies in rural northern Zambia to practically achieve the proposed operative theology with respect to effective discipleship especially among the academically disadvantaged and marginalised believers.