Using a Small Group Approach to Increase Church Growth in the Gikondo Seventh-day Adventist

180 Pages·2017·1.85 MB·English

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Project Documents Graduate Research
2014
Using a Small Group Approach to Increase Church
Growth in the Gikondo Seventh-day Adventist
Church
Schadrack Nsengimana
Andrews University
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Nsengimana, Schadrack, "Using a Small Group Approach to Increase Church Growth in the Gikondo Seventh-day Adventist Church"
(2014).Project Documents. 253.
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/253
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ABSTRACT

USING A SMALL GROUP APPROACH TO INCREASE CHURCH
GROWTH IN THE GIKONDO SEVENTH-DAY
ADVENTIST CHURCH

by
Schadrack Nsengimana

Adviser: Nancy J. Vyhmeister
ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH
Dissertation

Andrews University
Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Title: USING A SMALL GROUP APPROACH TO INCREASE CHURCH GROWTH
IN THE GIKONDO SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

Name of researcher: Schadrack Nsengimana
Name and degree of faculty adviser: Nancy J. Vyhmeister, Ed.D.
Date completed: October 2014

Problem
Although many people are baptized at the Gikondo Seventh-day Adventist Church
each year, about 70% leave the church shortly after baptism.

Method
The biblical principles of church growth were studied and theological reflection
focused on four biblical themes. First, the call to integrate the Great Commission into the
daily life and relationships of the individual believer in Christ was examined. Second,
church growth as faithfulness to God was explored as a biblical teaching. Third, the view
that a healthy church embraces multiplication of disciples as its core responsibility was
studied from a biblical perspective. Fourth, the role of the pastor as equipper and trainer
was also studied.
Ellen G. White’s books and the writings of other Christian authors dealing with
small groups were studied; literature on strategies of church growth was also consulted.
Books and articles on the principles, strategies, and programs to help pastors develop
small groups in the local church for evangelism and nurture were consulted.
A church growth study covering the ten previous years was conducted and then
all 14 church elders and 30 additional members were interviewed to ascertain their views
regarding a small group approach. All of them were open to using small groups as a basis
for the church’s ministries, so a strategy was developed and implemented to start such a
program. A training program was developed to train small group leaders in the Gikondo
Church.

Results
The Gikondo church members learned how to use a small group approach as a
basis for the church’s ministries, which led to increased church growth. The small group
approach contributed to both quantitative and qualitative growth. Groups increased from
44 in 2012 to 103 in 2014. In addition, 55 pre-Christians joined the small groups and 38
of them have been baptized.

Conclusions
I discovered that for continued numerical and spiritual growth, a local church
must continue to multiply its small group ministries. Intentional discipleship through a
small group ministry is one way to help believers and non-believers experience God in
their lives and to support them in their journey towards becoming deeply committed
disciples of Christ. Small groups have also increased the involvement of many church
members in Bible study and in the different church ministries.
Andrews University
Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

USING A SMALL GROUP APPROACH TO INCREASE CHURCH
GROWTH IN THE GIKONDO SEVENTH-DAY
ADVENTIST CHURCH

A Dissertation
Presented in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Ministry

by
Schadrack Nsengimana
October 2014
© Copyright by Schadrack Nsengimana 2014
All Rights Reserved
USING A SMALL GROUP APPROACH TO INCREASE CHURCH
GROWTH IN THE GIKONDO SEVENTH-DAY
ADVENTIST CHURCH

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

by
Schadrack Nsengimana

APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE:
________________________________ _________________________________
Adviser, Director, DMin Program,
Nancy J. Vyhmeister Skip Bell

________________________________ _________________________________
Bruce L. Bauer Dean, SDA Theological Seminary,
Jir̂ì Moskala

________________________________ ________________________________
Wagner Kuhn Date approved
DEDICATION
I would like to dedicate this dissertation to my wonderful
wife, Venantie Nikuze.
Without her love
patience,
confidence
and encouragement,
my dream of completing the Doctor of Ministry would never have happened.
She has never complained during all the months
I was gone to continue my course work
and all the nights I spent at home
studying and researching.
Thank you so much for being a good partner in ministry.
I also dedicate this dissertation to my children
Honorine,
Joel
Lois
and Goel,

who missed me during this long journey.
Thank you so much for
your patience and for being good children.

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