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Browsing Published Articles by Author "Angela E. Nwaomah"

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    Evangelism Strategies, Conversion Patterns, and Membership Retention Strategies in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sub- Saharan Africa: Report of Findings for West-Central Africa Division of Seventh-day Adventist Church
    (Digital Commons @ Andrews University, 2024) Williams Kwasi Peprah; Rei Kesis; Warren S. Simatele; Angela E. Nwaomah; Daniel Dei; Davidson Razafiarivony; Africa Seventh-day Adventist Study Group (ASDASG)
    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The initiative for this study began in December 2021 when a team of Seventhday Adventist educators and researchers from the Adventist University of Africa (Kenya), University of Eastern Africa, Baraton (Kenya), Rusangu University (Zambia), and Valley View University (Ghana) formed the Africa Seventh-day Adventist Study Group (ASDASG). The group’s primary aim is to use research to support the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in sub-Saharan Africa. After communicating with divisional leadership across the continent, the East-Central Africa Division and West-Central Africa Division endorsed the initiative and provided funding for the first phase of the study. Consequently, the fieldwork was conducted between April and August 2023 in these two divisions. The analysis of findings and the writing of the report began in late 2023. We hope and pray that the findings and recommendations of this study will significantly contribute to advancing the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in these divisions. The Africa Seventh-day Adventist Study Group (ASDASG) conducted a comprehensive study to understand the dynamics between evangelism strategies, conversion patterns, and membership retention in the Seventhday Adventist Church in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study, which used a quantitative method, aimed to interpret the demographic segment relationship between conversion patterns and retention factors. It sought to provide insights and strategies for strengthening evangelism and member nurturing within the Church in the West-Central Africa Division (WAD). Research Team The study was led by Sampson M. Nwaomah, Ph.D., with a team of distinguished academicians and researchers from various universities and institutions across Africa and the United States. They are: Rei Kesis, Ph.D., Warren S. Simatele, Ph.D., Angela E. Nwaomah, Ph.D., Daniel Dei, Ph.D., Davidson Razafiarivony, Ph.D., and methodologist Williams Kwasi Peprah, Ph.D. . Research Ethics and Declaration The research adhered to current ethical guidelines in the conduct of procedures involving human subjects. The team obtained the necessary ethical clearances and acknowledged the obligations and rights of the participants . Contents Overview The report covers the introduction, including the background of the study, statement of the problem, goals and objectives, significance, definition of terms, and conceptual framework. It then details the findings and recommendations in two main parts: the current members’ report and the former members’ survey. A current member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church refers to an individual who actively participates in and is officially recognized by the Seventh-day Adventist Church as part of its congregation. On the other hand, a former member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is someone who was once an active and officially recognized member of the church but has since disassociated or been removed from the membership roll. The sections encompass various aspects of evangelism strategy distribution, effectiveness of strategies, discipleship, membership retention strategies, and factors influencing membership retention and loss . Key Findings and Recommendations 1. Evangelism Strategy Distribution: The study presents a detailed analysis of the most common evangelism strategies, including their effectiveness based on education levels and age ranges. Recommendations focus on diversification, training, integration, measurement, community engagement, and media expansion. a) Discipleship and Membership Retention Strategies: The study examines programs organized for new converts, discipleship programs, and factors influencing member integration, retention, and nurturing. It emphasizes the need for tailored strategies, inclusive training programs, and collaboration among members from diverse educational backgrounds and age groups. b) Former Members Survey: This section delves into the reasons for leaving the Church, the route to Adventism, perception of the Church environment, duration of membership, and analysis of programs for new converts. It provides a critical understanding of factors influencing conversion to and departure from the Church. The report concludes with a comprehensive set of references, underlining the extensive research and data collection that underpin the findings and recommendations. Significance The findings and recommendations of this study are crucial for the Seventhday Adventist Church in the West-Central Africa Division. They provide a roadmap for enhancing evangelism strategies, improving member retention, and effectively nurturing new converts. The insights gained can significa