CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Church Growth Movement is a movement within evangelical Christianity which focuses on growing churches based on research, sociology, analysis, etc. The Church Growth Movement kicked off with a passion for the Great Commission, and seeing people come to the knowledge of who Christ is. "It is God's earnest desire that man become followers of Jesus Christ and accountable members of Christ's church.
The church is one of the NGOs attributed to and has been making significant and notable attempts to boost the socio-economic status of the people. It is delightful to know that, despite the inherent emphasis on rural development through different projects, the Government has encouraged, financed and assisted private operations. This is entirely in line with the church’s teaching on social development, specifically as drafted by the Church.
Church growth is a procedure that always gives birth to a new (local) Christian church. It is meant be differentiated from church development, where a new service, new worship center or fresh expression is created that is unified with an already established congregation. For a local church to be established, it must eventually have an independent life of its own and also be able to function without its main body, even if it persists to stay in relationship denominationally or through being part of a network (Wikipedia, 2015).
Christians particularly the missionary and clergy men have perpetually believed that the ultimate efficient way to influence the entire globe for Christ is by starting new churches. This is why every people group and community needs a church. According to many scholars, the church is the hope of the world which is why they are committed to building missionally-minded, transformational churches among every people group and community in the world.
Our global society today is undergoing significant constant proliferation and planting of churches which have brought not only changing values, but also greater source of solutions to people’s problems. This rapid multiplication of churches is borne out of the understanding that in Nigeria, there is freedom of religious worship. Central to the constant planting and proliferation of churches is the problems of its environmental effects on the people in the society and the prospects as it’s provide solution to peoples problems which this research is out to address. To an observant mind, the pace at which churches are spreading like a wildfire in Nigeria is alarming. In the country, there is freedom of worship, places of worship are full, pilgrimages are over-booked and there is evidence of religious expansion all over the places.
Rural development has been a major solicitude for so many developing countries around the world. In Kenya, for example, over 80 per cent of the entire population live in rural areas. The present Development Plan (1989-1993) is tailored towards the very same goal, with pointers laid on mutual responsibility for the implementation of rural development policies. Here, all the body, be it private or public, have a responsibility of satisfying rural needs and aspirations. The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are encouraged to engage in rural development.
This study, therefore, sought to investigate the effect of Church Growth on Rural development (a case study of Church of God Mission Church, Eket)
1.1 PROBLEM OF THE STUDY
In recent times, the neglect of church activities by many local churches inflict a significant threat to World Evangelization as commanded by Jesus through the Great Commission recorded in Matthew 28:18-20. This neglect could be could be as a result of passion for mission by the church leadership on financial limitations.
The total or partial carelessness and neglect of the church activities by a number of Local churches is huge challenge which the researcher aims to address.
Bearing in mind the multitude of challenges of evangelism which includes funding problems for churches with its scary effects on the growth of the body of Christ and the lack in the propagation of the gospel in reaching the unreached. Additionally, having observed the insufficiency and neglect in the propagation of the gospel as a result of some chronicle in ethics of the ministers and funding role, this study proffered viable solutions to check and restrain this threat that limits the propagation of the gospel churches today.
The body of Christ, which is so much focused in the cities and urban centres, seem not to be aware of the great potential for souls in some regions. For this reason, many of the souls there, for which Christ died, are overwhelmed with their myriads of fetish beliefs and dying daily without the true gospel. Many ministers in these fields are leaving in lurch their duty posts by the day, and many churches shorting down as a result of the numerous problems they encounter. Considering all these challenges, this research will examine the effects of church growth on rural development. The study will be a source of encouragement to workers to the regions not to abandon their aspirations along the way, encourage sending churches to get dogged in their mission.
1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The major objective of the study is to examine the effects of church growth in Nigeria. following objectives include,
- To examine the factors encouraging the proliferation of churches in Nigeria.
- To examine how church growth affects rural development.
- To analyse whether the Church’s involvement in rural development has contributed to changes in the district’s development process.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- What are the factors encouraging the proliferation of churches in Nigeria?
- How does church growth affect rural development?
- How has Church’s involvement in rural development contributed to changes in the district’s development process?
1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
H01: Church growth has a significant effect on rural development.
1.5 Justification of the Study
This study will look intensively on the effects of church growth on rural development. It will be beneficial to stakeholders in the educational sector such as teachers, parents, students, school management, and ministries of education, educational researchers, and the society at large. It will also be beneficial to religious leaders.
The study sheds light on the specific effects of church growth on rural development. The study can serve as a valuable resource for students, scholars seeking to research more on the topic, religious leaders seeking to make informed decisions regarding the topic in question.
Educational researchers will see it as an addition to the literature on the effects of church growth on rural development; giving them a concise and significant outlook of the topic.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The scope of the study is limited to the effects of church growth on rural development only. The study was carried out in selected churches in the Cross River. The study made use of both primary and secondary data. Questionnaires will be distributed and used for data collection from respondents.
