Development and Implementation of an Effective Training on Servant Leadership Among the Youth

178 Pages·2017·1.26 MB·English

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Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research
2017
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Fred M. Okemwa
Andrews University
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Okemwa, Fred M., "Development and Implementation of an Effective Training on Servant Leadership
Among the Youth in the Gekomu II Seventh-day Adventist Church" (2017). Dissertation Projects DMin.
303.
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/303
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ABSTRACT

DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
AN EFFECTIVE TRAINING ON SERVANT
LEADERSHIP AMONG THE YOUTH IN
THE GEKOMU II SEVENTH-DAY
ADVENTIST CHURCH

by

Fred M. Okemwa

Adviser: Boubakar Sanou
ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH
Project Document
Andrews University
Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary
Title: DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EFFECTIVE
TRAINING PROGRAM ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP AMONG THE
YOUTH IN THE GEKOMU II SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

Name of the researcher: Fred M. Okemwa
Name and degree of faculty adviser: Boubakar Sanou, PhD
Date completed: May 2017

Problem
The Gekomu II Seventh-day Adventist Church has a membership of about 1,500.
The youth account for 35% of this membership; however, many of these young people
are unwilling to play active leadership roles in the church. The absence of leadership
trainings for the youth to develop skills and acquire knowledge to enhance their
leadership abilities is one of the causes for their lack of involvement in the leadership
roles. As a result, the leadership strengths and talents possessed by these young people
are underutilized thus affecting the overall leadership quality of the church.
Method
In response to the above stated problem, I conducted a training on servant
leadership. Participants that took part in this training were young people (10 males and 10
females) of the Gekomu II Seventh-day Adventist Church. These young people were
within the range of 18-25 years of age. During the training, various themes on Christian
leadership were explored. In addition, the training involved workshop times for
participants to gather in groups to practice some of the leadership skills learned during
the sessions.
Each participant was asked to complete an evaluation that was collected at the end
of the workshop. This was to determine the impact of the training upon the participants.
Focus groups, personal interviews, and reflective journals were the main means of
evaluation. In both focus groups and personal interviews, participants were asked open-
ended questions that were derived from the various subjects presented during the training.
Participants were also asked to write reflective journals featuring their experience during
the training.
Results
The assessments of the impact of the training revealed that the participants had a
better understanding of the concept of servant leadership. Also, the participants were
motivated and willing to serve in leadership capacities in areas of their spiritual
giftedness.
Conclusion
For youth to be effective in serving as Christian leaders they have to be trained
on what good leadership entails. The Gekomu II Seventh-day Adventist Church must
plan and effect periodic leadership trainings through which young people can have access
to current information on Christian leadership. Also, church leaders of experience have a
role to play in mentoring, empowering, and creating opportunities in which the youth will
exercise their God-given talents and gifts to enhance their growth in becoming better
leaders.
The youth will also develop as effective Christian leaders if they have good
examples to imitate. Therefore, church leaders, beginning with the elders, should live and
exemplify the life of a servant leader. Leadership behaviors such as coercion and
authoritarianism corrode the spirit of servant leadership and if tolerated will have ripple
effects upon the development of young people as servant leaders. Setting an example of
servant leadership is not an overnight endeavor but a continuous daily surrender to the
Lord Jesus Christ who is the embodiment of servant leadership. Such daily surrender will
be optimized through engaging in biblical practices.
Andrews University
Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
AN EFFECTIVE TRAINING ON SERVANT
LEADERSHIP AMONG THE YOUTH IN
THE GEKOMU II SEVENTH-DAY
ADVENTIST CHURCH

A Project Document
Presented in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Ministry
by
Fred M. Okemwa
May 2017
Copyright by Fred M. Okemwa 2017
All Rights Reserved
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
AN EFFECTIVE TRAINING ON SERVANT
LEADERSHIP AMONG THE YOUTH IN
THE GEKOMU II SEVENTH-DAY
ADVENTIST CHURCH

A project document
presented in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree
Doctor of Ministry

by
Fred M. Okemwa

APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE

________________________________ ______________________________
Adviser, Director, DMin Program
Boubakar Sanou Kleber D. Gonçalves

________________________________ ______________________________
James Wibberding Dean, SDA Theological Seminary
Jiří Moskala

_______________________________ ______________________________
Jaspine Bilima Date approved
Dedicated to my dear wife, Miriam, who has been the source of encouragement and
inspiration. She has been my prayer warrior in this academic journey and has given me
total support both physically and mentally to come this far. To my children, Isaiah
Abigael, Abel, and Daniel, may God bless you and let this accomplishment inspire you to
conquer great academic heights in your lifetime
.