Development of Seminars to Improve Family Relationships and Spiritual Experience Among Ghanaian Emigrant Families in Adventist Immigrant Churches in New England
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 2011 Development Of Seminars To Improve Family Relationships And Spiritual Experience Among Ghanaian Emigrant Families In Adventist Immigrant Churches In New England John K. Amoah Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Amoah, John K., "Development Of Seminars To Improve Family Relationships And Spiritual Experience Among Ghanaian Emigrant Families In Adventist Immigrant Churches In New England" (2011). Dissertation Projects DMin. 364. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/364 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT DEVELOPMENT OF SEMINARS TO IMPROVE FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AMONG GHANAIAN EMIGRANT FAMILIES IN ADVENTIST IMMIGRANT CHURCHES IN NEW ENGLAND by John K. Amoah Adviser: Dr. Richard L. Trott ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: DEVELOPMENT OF SEMINARS TO IMPROVE FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AMONG GHANAIAN EMIGRANT FAMILIES IN ADVENTIST IMMIGRANT CHURCHES IN NEW ENGLAND Name of Researcher: John K. Amoah Name and degree of faculty advisor: Richard L. Trott, DMin Date completed: April 2011 Problem Family relational problems are on the rise, while family spiritual development is waning in the majority of immigrant Ghanaian churches in the Southern New England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. It is apparent that the changing dynamics in migration and the acculturation process have a significant impact on family relationships and spiritual experience. While the observation may be anecdotal, it begs for systematic study and improvement. This dissertation project seeks to improve immigrant family relationships and family spiritual development through seminars. Method This dissertation involves the development of a six-session seminar based on the areas of reported concern: family relationships, financial management, spiritual priorities, conflict management, communication, and parenting. A survey questionnaire was developed to corroborate the observed problems prior to the seminar and to test the effect of the seminar six months after its implementation. The pre-test and post-test were administered to families attending the New England Ghanaian, Hartford Ghanaian, and Providence Ghanaian Seventh-day Adventist churches of Southern New England. Results The findings supported the hypothesis that there were family relational problems among the subjects, which correlate to the decline in family spiritual experience. The effectiveness of this seminar was evaluated on the basis of its ability to improve family relationships and spiritual development and also the fact that a pastor in a local church can conduct it. Conclusion Healthy families make healthy churches. The participants acknowledged the fact that seminars addressing critical family issues, like the seminar offered, are needed, not only for the Ghanaian churches in Southern New England, but also for all churches on a regular basis, at least biannually or annually. This seminar can be repeated among different ethnic groups and in other countries to establish its generalizability. The impact of migration on family relationships and family spiritual growth needs to be seriously assessed on a wider scale. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary DEVELOPMENT OF SEMINARS TO IMPROVE FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AMONG GHANAIAN EMIGRANT FAMILIES IN ADVENTIST IMMIGRANT CHURCHES IN NEW ENGLAND A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by John K. Amoah April 2011 © Copyright by John K. Amoah 2011 All Rights Reserved DEVELOPMENT OF SEMINARS TO IMPROVE FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE AMONG GHANAIAN EMIGRANT FAMILIES IN ADVENTIST IMMIGRANT CHURCHES IN NEW ENGLAND A project dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by John K. Amoah APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Director of DMin Program Skip Bell TVfrlfe '{¡19 Jeanette Bryson Dean, SDA Theological Seminary Denis Fortin 3 / , J-Oll Trevor O’Reggio Date approved TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ..................................... vü LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................. - viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS........................................................................................ jx Chapter I. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................. 1 Problem ........................................................... \ Purpose of the Dissertation.................................... ................... '.. i Justification of the Dissertation ...................................................... 2 Methodology.................................................................................... 2 Expectations.................................................................................... 3 Limitations of the Dissertation........................................................ 3 Time .......................................................................... 4 Behavior Change.............................. 4 Method of Assessment .............................................. 4 Definition of Terms.......................................................................... 5 II. BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION OF MIGRATION................................................................ 6 Introduction...................................................................................... 6 Family.............................................................................................. g Types of Emigration......................................................................... 9 Involuntary ................................................................ 10 Adam and E ve .................................................. .................. io Descendants of Noah ...................... 11 Abraham and S arai............................................................... 12 Lot and His Fam ily............................................................... 13 Jacob and His Fam ily...................................................... 14 Mary and Joseph................................................................... 15 Voluntary: Elimelech and Naomi .............................................. 16 Family Problems in Emigration ....................................................... 17 The Family of Abraham .............................................. 18 The Family of Isaac ................................................................... 22 The Family of Jacob................................................................... 23 iii Maintaining Family Spiritual Practice in an Incident of Emigration ................................. 24 Building Altars, Worship and Sacrifice .................................... 26 Principle of Prayer ......................... 28 Principle of Unity...................................................................... 29 Purity of Race and Religion................................... 31 Faith ......................................................................................... 32 Conclusion ................................................... 34 III. FOUNDATION FROM CURRENT LITERATURE............................ 36 Introduction .................................................................................... 36 Background for the Project ....................... 36 Migration Among Ghanaians .................................................... 37 The Process of Acculturation.......................................................... 39 Models of Acculturation.................................................................. 40 Linear-Bipolar M odels......... ................................................... 40 Assimilation Orientation...................................................... 40 Acculturation Attitude M odel....................... 42 Two-Dimensional Models.......................................................... 42 Quadri-Modal Acculturation M odel.................................... 43 Acculturation-Biculturalism Model .................................... 45 Interrelationships between Ethnic Identity and the Dominant Identity...................................................................... 46 Acculturation and Cultural V alues .................................................. 47 Effects of Acculturation on Immigrant Children and their Upbringing . ................................................. .......................... 48 Analysis and Summary.................................................................... 50 IV. FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IN NEW ENGLAND GHANAIAN SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.................................. 53 Introduction................................................................ 53 Context of Family Issues.................................................................. 54 Summary of Discussion