Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Professional Dissertations DMin Graduate Research 2010 Creating a Culture of Community Involvement in the Adventist Church in Gugulethu Township, South Africa Jongimpi Papu Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Papu, Jongimpi, "Creating a Culture of Community Involvement in the Adventist Church in Gugulethu Township, South Africa" (2010). Professional Dissertations DMin. 632. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/632 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 Professional Dissertations DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT CREATING A CULTURE OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE ADVENTIST CHURCH IN GUGULETHU TOWNSHIP, SOUTH AFRICA by Jongimpi Papu Adviser: Trevor O’Reggio ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: CREATING A CULTURE OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE ADVENTIST CHURCH IN GUGULETHU TOWNSHIP, SOUTH AFRICA Name of researcher: Jongimpi Papu Name and degree of faculty adviser: Trevor O’Reggio, PhD Date completed: July 2010 Problem Most Adventist churches in South Africa live in isolation from their communities. Christianity in general and Adventism in particular are becoming irrelevant to the needs of the church, with serious implications for church growth. Methodology Tembalethu Adventist church in Gugulethu Township in South Africa was used to pilot a community services program by adopting a school nearby. A mixed approach of both qualitative and quantitative methods was used. This consisted of structured interviews, both personal and by telephone, and questionnaires. An analysis of a government census was also done. Results Tembalethu started an after-care program which was attended by 150 learners. The program has been running for more than three months (as of the date of the dissertation) and accepted with enthusiasm by the school. i Conclusions The Adventist Church has to create an awareness of the importance of community involvement. Meeting the needs of the learners is the only way they will have interest in Christianity and the Church. ©Copyright by Jongimpi Papu 2010 All Rights Reserved Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary CREATING A CULTURE OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE ADVENTIST CHURCH IN GUGULETHU TOWNSHIP, SOUTH AFRICA A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Jongimpi Papu July 2010 The Moral Crisis Facing South A frica ........................................... 26 Role of Religion in Community Development ............................ 27 Church a Center for Community Outreach, not a Community C enter............................................................................................ 28 Conclusion ................................................................................... ................ 28 III. LITERATURE REV IEW ...................................................................... 30 The Socioeconomic Reality of Post-Apartheid South A frica ............... 31 Christianity in the Social History of South A frica .................................. 34 Role of Christianity During Apartheid Era .............................................. 37 The Prophetic Role of the Church ....................................................... 39 Why the Church Has Failed the Poor ....................................................... 44 Role of Christianity in the Post-Apartheid E r a ........................................ 46 Ways of Responding to Socioeconomic Issu es........................................ 52 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 53 IV. DATA ANALYSIS AND IMPLEMENTATION .............. 54 Profile of Gugulethu .................................................................................... 56 A ges......................................... 56 Levels of Incom e..................................................................................... 57 Unemployment and R eligion...................................................................... 57 History of the Intshinga Primary School .................................................. 58 The Needs of the School ......................................................................... 60 History and Background of Tembalethu SDA C hurch............................ 61 Church Statistics ...................................................................................... 62 Finance and Church Budgets ................................................................. 62 Community Projects and Church Involvement ................................... 63 . Church Survey ......................................................................................... 63 Other Adventist Churches in the Same A rea ............................................ 66 Interview With an Adventist Pastor Involved in Community Projects . 67 Requirements for Ordination in the Seventh-day Adventist Church .... 69 Interview With the Reverend Dr. X hapile................................................. 70 General Observation and Conclusion ........................................................ 71 Internal Ministry ...................................................................................... 71 External Ministry ..................................................................................... 72 What Still Needs to Be Done .................................................................. 73 Project Implementation and Process.......................................................... 73 Process Leading to Implementation....................................................... 73 The Decision ......................................................................................... 73 Preparation............................................................................................ 74 Researching the Community and Church ........................................ 75 Presentation and Reflection ................................................................ 76 Planning and Review ........................................................................... 77 Implementation ......................................................................................... 78 IV Conclusion 79 V. PROGRESS EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............. 80 Attendance...................................................................................................... 80 Reasons for the High Attendance .......................................................... 81 Negative Factors That Affected Attendance ........................................ 82 Support From the Church.............................................................................. 82 Reasons for the Dwindling of Support.................................................. 83 Insufficient Funding for the P roject........................................................ 84 Lack of Clarity in the Church Manual .................................................. 84 The Role of the Local Pastor .................................................................... 85 Actual Program .............................................................................................. 86 Supervising of Homework........................................................................ 86 Further P lan s.................................................................................................. 87 Recommendations.......................................................................................... 87 Involvement in the Life of the Primary School Children ................... 88 Use of Church Facility for Community Programs ................................ 88 Establishment of Vacation Bible School .................................................. 88 The Local Church ........................................................................................... 89 Full Utilization of Church B uilding..........................................................89 The Design of the Church Building ..................................................... 90 Involvement of Local Church Departments in the Community ........... 91 Coordination of Community Services ..................................................... 91 Dorcas Society ........................................................................................ 92 Adventist M en ......................................................................................... 92 Restructuring of Vacation Bible School Programs .................................93 Organization of a Congregation into a Church ....................................... 94 Community Services at the Conference L evel .............................................95 Meals on Wheels Community Services ........................................... 95 Community Services Department at the Conference ............................. 96 The Pastorate....................................................................................................96 Training of Pastors...................................................................................... 97 Requirements for Ordination