Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 1990 An Approach to Seventh-day Adventist Radio Evangelism in Ghana Ebenezer Obodai Sackey Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Missions and World Christianity Commons Recommended Citation Sackey, Ebenezer Obodai, "An Approach to Seventh-day Adventist Radio Evangelism in Ghana" (1990). Dissertation Projects DMin. 223. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/223 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]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. 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Order Number 9106811 An approach to Seventh-day Adventist radio evangelism in G hana Sackey, Ebenezer Obodai, D.Min. Andrews University, 199G Copyright ©1990 by Sackey, Ebeneser Obodai. A ll rights reserved. UMI 300 N. Zeeb Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary AN APPROACH TO SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST RADIO EVANGELISM IN GHANA A Project Report Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Ebenezer Obodai Sackey August 1990 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. c Copyright 1990, Ebenezer Obodai Sackey All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. AN APPROACH TO SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST RADIO EVANGELLISM IN GHANA A project report presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Ebenezer Obodai Sackkey APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Benjamin D. Schoun, Adviser Dean, SDA Theological Seminary /^reven Vitrano U s />p ?/? Russell L.^SlapJes^5 LcTpJes Date approved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT AN APPROACH TO SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST RADIO EVANGELISM IN GHANA by Ebenezer Obodai Sackey Adviser: Benjamin D. Schoun Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Abstract of Graduate Student Research Project Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: AN APPROACH TO SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST RADIO EVANGELISM IN GHANA Name of researcher: Ebenezer Obodai Sackey Name and degree of faculty adviser: Benjamin D. Schoun, D.Min. Date completed: August 1990 Since Ghana gained independence from colonial rule, religious broadcasting has undergone self- and governmental censorship. Post-independence governments have either clamped down on the activities of church organizations by disagreeing with them or have intimidated them in numerous ways to tone down some aspects of their activities that the government considers unacceptable. In recent times, both individual Ghanaians and government functionaries, especially, have looked at the Christian church with suspicion and skepticism. Many of them consider the Christian message, at 1 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. least in the way it is presented, out of touch with, and irrelevant to the everyday needs and realities of the Ghanaian society. This criticism is justified in part in the Adventist attempt at radio evangelism in Ghana. For example, in the 1960s, the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church began airing the American Voice of Prophecy radio broadcast in Ghana. This broadcast was used verbatim, just as it was first broadcast on American radio. Many of the examples and the illustrations used in the broadcast were alien to the Ghanaian public. The messages were good, but the illustrations were so irrelevant and foreign that they obviously colored the understanding of the message. This project develops an approach to a Seventh-day Adventist radio evangelism in Ghana. It does this first, by developing a theological perspective as explained in Paul's philosophy of Christian service: "by all means to save some" (1 Cor 9:22). Secondly, by using the great gospel commission of Jesus Christ in Matt 29:16-20, which forms the basis for all Christian communication and witness. Relating the biblical concept and the contemporary situation points to a religious radio ministry that is both cross-cultural and cross-religious. The message will be shaped to reach directly to the hearts of all human beings irrespective of their religious affiliation. In addition, the study suggests that evangelism must be done by means of innovative holistic ways of Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. presenting the gospel message, in a participatory and practical format. These practical approaches respond to the revolutionary, ideological situation in Ghanaian society, and reflect felt needs and problems that will assist the government in its economic and moral revolution. Reviewing current methodologies in radio programming, the project develops program scripts for pilot programs under four selected formats: the teaching- preaching, talk show/commentary, radio spot, and the religious news and commentary. These program scripts are aimed at presenting the gospel through teaching, and discussion, to show the government and people of Ghana that the Christian church is committed to addressing social issues to bring about change. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................. vi Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ................................ 1 Statement of the Problem ................ 1 Justification of the Project ............ 3 Limitations .............................. 5 Organization of the Project .............. 6 II. SPECIAL APPROACHES TO EVANGELISM: A THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE .................. 15 Radio as a Form of Evangelism............ 15 The Bible and the Media Evangelism .... 16 Cross-cultural Evangelism ................ 18 Evangelist's Identification with God . 21 Evangelist's Identification with Himself . 22 Evangelist's Identification with Respondents.......................... 24 Ghanaian Criticism of Foreign Evangelism . 26 Understanding the Ghanaian Culture .... 29 Evangelism in a Revolutionary Society . 32 Revolution as a F a c t .................. 32 Revolution and Ideology .............. 34 Economic Freedom ...................... 41 The Call for E q u i t y .................. 43 Outcome and Effects on Politics .... 45 Revolutionary Leaders and the Church . 47 Christian Response to Revolutionary Ideologies............................ 52 Evangelism and Social Change .......... 52 The Church's Social Responsibility . 60 Faith and Social Responsibility .... 69 Suggested Principles for Ghanaian Cross-cultural Evangelism ............ 76 Holistic Evangelism: A Solution to Social I l l s ........................ 78 Practicing Holistic Evangelism ........ 80 A Holistic Understanding of Daily Life . 82 Holistic Evangelist: The Daniel E x a m p l e .................... 84 The Babylonian Example ...............