Towards a ministry strategy for improving witnessing at Bulawayo Baptist Church
- Johannesburg South African Theological Seminary 2020
- 97 PDF A4 Abstract, TOC
The low level of participation in mission activity at Bulawayo Baptist Church has become an area of growing concern over time, especially when the church emphasises a life that is better connected, to God, to others, and connecting others with God. My observation has been that fewer members and adherents are participating in mission activities and initiatives prepared for them, such that the faithful few who are active are feeling the strain and burden of the ongoing work, which has increased in the face of a country that has been facing immense socio-economic challenges for a long time. The objective of this study was to formulate a theologically-informed strategic ministry plan to ensure that the praxis of BBC with respect to witness is faithful to God and optimally relevant to its current impoverished witness and ministry context. Overall, the research employs Don Browning’s (1991) four-step approach to strategic practical theology towards devising the strategic ministry plan for BBC. The study therefore begins with an investigation and interpretation of the operative theology of BBC regarding witness using a small- scale empirical study. The result is contrasted with a biblically-faithful operative theology regarding witness for BBC that is determined through Lewis and Demarest’s (1996) model of integrated theology study where the concept of witness is reflected biblically, historically, and systematically. From here, the study develops a strategic plan to gain acceptance and implementation of the operative theology regarding witness for BBC through a communicative action plan. The study found that there were weaknesses in theoretical knowledge on how to be effectively equipping members to witness, such that the practical area in witnessing at BBC was in need for improvement. The other findings demonstrated that a more biblically-faithful witnessing praxis can be found as well as a ministry strategy to implement it and gain its acceptance.