A Training Program To Equip Local Churches for Small Group Evangelism in the East Ghana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Problem Many Adventists in the East Ghana Conference like others in the global church erroneously perceive ministry as limited to activities at the church premises on the Sabbath or specific programs or events like a three-week evangelistic series, rather than a lifestyle. Even so few participate in ministry leaving the bulk of the membership in the pew as spectators. Method My research was based on the study of the Bible, E. G. White counsels, literature on church growth, statistics on growth trends of the East Ghana Conference, and the church in Ghana, as well as my personal journey as a worker in many fields in Ghana (the entire research was done on campus). Results A review of the statistical report of the East Ghana Conference revealed that the Conference grew at an average rate of 4 percent per annum from 1999-2009 while the ratio of the baptized membership to the population of the Eastern Region of Ghana, for the same period, stood at 1:75. The research further indicated that the Ghanaian cultural context presents bright opportunities such that when harnessed will accelerate the rate of growth as well as the membership to population ratio. There is the need therefore, to find the best working sub-structure of the local church that will change the members’ attitude to go beyond mental accent to serving and living the gospel for rapid growth. Conclusion To address the problem, local churches need to change the status quo. Doing this will involve careful study of Christ’s teaching on kingdom expansion, and also the immediate environment and understanding their reason of existence, casting the right vision and developing strategies that would involve the entire membership through small working groups for ongoing ministries like prayer, study, spiritual growth, care, outreach, and accountability