An Investigative Study of the Contributions of Deliverance Ministry to Church Growth
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
Specifically, the research addresses the following objectives:
- Discuss the concepts of ill-health, healing and deliverance as well as church growth
- Examine the belief and practice of healing and deliverance in the GEC
- Explore the relationship between healing and deliverance and church growth in the GEC.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
Healing, deliverance and church growth are major themes considered very central to this research. These main themes have received scholarly discussions in their distinctive senses but not in how they relate with each other into details. For the purpose of this thesis, literature on general and specific areas of healing, deliverance, church growth and the history of Charismatic Pentecostal Churches in Ghana are considered for review. Allan Anderson’s work is considered one of the fundamental works which provides historical background to understanding the origin of the Charismatic Pentecostal phenomenon in Christianity. It also illustrates how the movements started and their subsequent development into distinctive new Christian religious movements and independent churches worldwide. He asserts that the contemporary Charismatic Pentecostal phenomena defeats universally acceptable definition due to the diversity in the seemingly common Charismatic Pentecostal practices. However, he defines the Charismatic Pentecostal phenomenon broadly as one that describes ‘globally all churches and movements that emphasize the working in of the gift of the Spirit, both on phenomenological and theological grounds’. Asamoah-Gyadu uses organizational structures to identify three categories of Charismatic Pentecostal churches in Ghana. These include the non-denominational groups which comprise individuals who belong to other established churches, the renewal movements that exist and operate within their mother churches, and the independently established Charismatic churches. Despite the diversity of their organizational status, these Charismatic Pentecostal religious groups, according to Anderson, have common practices and are similar in their approaches to religious activities. Among these practices are emphasis on the reliance on the Holy Spirit and the demonstration of his eminence in the activities of believers. Such activities include spontaneous praying, joyful singing, handclapping and dancing, periodic Bible study meeting, fast, public evangelistic crusades, healing and deliverance, prophesying, testimonies, and speaking in tongues.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain an investigative study of the contributions of deliverance ministry to church growth. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of an investigative study of the contributions of deliverance ministry to church growth
Summary
This study was on an investigative study of the contributions of deliverance ministry to church growth. Three objectives were raised which included: Discuss the concepts of ill-health, healing and deliverance as well as church growth, Examine the belief and practice of healing and deliverance in the GEC and Explore the relationship between healing and deliverance and church growth in the GEC. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from Global Evangelical Church in Lagos state. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
This chapter discusses the impact of healing and deliverance as an instrument of church growth. The chapter takes into consideration the prevailing situation within the Christian religious milieu prior to the formation of the GEC which occurred concurrently with the introduction of healing and deliverance as a routine religious practice of the church. It argues that healing and deliverance since its introduction into the GEC has contributed immensely to the growth of the church as it has proven to be an effective tool in revitalising the church to its core religious responsibilities. In addition, the practice has proven to be an effective tool with transformational effect on the lives of individual members and non-members of the church. This is made possible though the various activities that constitutes the healing and deliverance practice. The ability of the practice to bring about transformative effect on the lives of individuals, consequently has affected the numerical, conceptual, incarnational, organic growth and hence the physical wealth and infrastructural development of the church. It is discovered that healing and deliverance as a routine practice of the GEC is not only an instrument of church growth but it is also a mechanism by which new churches can be born. Thus, the effective practice of healing and deliverance when combined with other ministry gifts can regenerate the church which in turn develops healing and deliverance to strengthen and revitalizes itself.
Recommendation
The study recommended Christians should believe in the lord Jesus Christ, in him alone we have deliverance
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