An evaluation of church planting models in contemporary Pentecostal missions enterprise in Ghana

Abstract

Background: Over the centuries, various generations have used various models to not only evangelise people but organise them in communities of believers (or churches) for effective discipleship of these Christian converts as commanded by Jesus Christ. The various church planting models employed by mission organisations and churches have served different purposes at different times. A major hindrance to the church planting enterprise of missional churches is inadequate human resources. This is especially profound in the rural and peri-urban areas where the scourge of the impact of rural-urban migration is felt most. This phenomenon tends to put a limitation on the availability of human capital for the successful manning of newly planted churches. In most of these places, the common mantra among church planters and missionaries is ‘we lack leaders here so we are unable to plant more churches’.

Objectives: This research evaluates the various church planting models in the Church of Pentecost and proposes an indigenous model for planting Indigenous local churches and raising indigenous leaders for the same.

Method: This research employs participant observation, review of church reports as well as personal conversations with mission practitioners in the rural and peri-urban areas of Ghana.

Results: The Jesus Mission Model (JMM) proposed by this research seeks to proffer a contextual solution for challenges confronting church planting efforts in rural and peri-urban areas of Ghana.

Conclusion: The model proposed in this research addresses the challenge of raising indigenous leaders for sustainable indigenous churches in Ghana’s rural and peri-urban areas.

Contribution: The study proposes a contextualised church planting model, the JMM for rural and peri-urban areas in Ghana.