Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 2002 Strategies for Evangelizing the Upper-Class People in Ghana Ampofo Benjamin Akyiano Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Akyiano, Ampofo Benjamin, "Strategies for Evangelizing the Upper-Class People in Ghana" (2002). Dissertation Projects DMin. 510. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/510 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 STRATEGIES FOR EVANGELIZING THE UPPER-CLASS PEOPLE IN GHANA by Ampofo Benjamin Akyiano Adviser: William MacCarty J ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: STRATEGIES FOR EVANGELIZING THE UPPER-CLASS PEOPLE IN GHANA Name of researcher: Ampofo Benjamin Akyiano Name and degree of faculty adviser: William MacCarty, D.Min. Date completed: September 2002 Problem The Seventh-day Adventist Church, which began its ministry in Ghana in 1888, is experiencing difficulty evangelizing upper-class people. The traditional method of soul-winning, public evangelism, has been successful to evangelize middle and lower social classes but not the wealthy and well-educated class. Currently, the church and the upper-class minority are far apart. The church must update its evangelistic methods to reach all classes to finish the gospel commission in Ghana. Method This study presents Ghana's upper-class, their social characteristics, lifestyles, world-views, population, and social and religious groups. Interviews and questionnaires were used to discover the factors that hinder the upper class from Adventist membership. These include Sabbath observance, extramarital affairs, health principles, and lack of suitable church buildings, style of worship, ancestral worship, consultation of psychics, materialism, intellectualism, and worldly amusements. Results Information gathered reveals that the Seventh-day Adventist Church must update its evangelistic methods to reach all classes and finish the gospel commission in Ghana. Because of this research, strategies are designed to help all conferences in Ghana to meet the challenges of evangelizing the targeted group, the upper class. Conclusion Strategies discussed in this dissertation may help the Ghana Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to evangelize the upper-class people more easily in this millennium. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary STRATEGIES FOR EVANGELIZING THE UPPER-CLASS PEOPLE IN GHANA A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Ampofo Benjamin Akyiano September 2002 STRATEGIES FOR EVANGELIZING THE UPPER-CLASS PEOPLE IN GHANA A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Ampofo Benjamin Akyiano APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Advisor “‘^uTrec^Srof D . Program William MacCarty Skip Bell Member: Bruce Bauer Dean, S gial Seminary John McVay Alarch 4,£003 Member: Gorden Doss Date approved Dedication To my late father, Pastor Emmanuel Bruce Akyiano, who encouraged me to labor for the lost people in order to be saved in God's kingdom; and my late mother, Felicia Offiwaa Akyiano, who devoted her time and money so that I can become a prominent figure in society; and my dear family, Martha, Ebenezer, and Hannah, who supported me with love and concern, I dedicate this work. i n TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................... vii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION .................................... 1 Purpose of the Project Report .................. 2 Justification of the Project .................. 2 Description of the Project Report .............. 3 Limitations of the Project .................... 6 Definition of Terms ............................ 7 2. SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS IN GHANA .............. 8 Profile of Ghanaian Population ................ 8 Social Classes ................................ 9 Lower and Middle-Class Lifestyles ......... 10 Social characteristics .................. 10 Social lifestyle ........................ 13 The Upper-Class People and Their Lifestyle . 14 Social lifestyle ........................ 22 Education................................2 7 Religion in Ghana .............................. 2 9 Traditional Religion ........................ 32 I s l a m ....................................... 37 Christianity in General .................... 38 A d v e n t i s m ................................... 41 3. BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL BASIS FOR REACHING THE UPPER-CLASS PEOPLE .......................... 45 Upper Class as a Cross-Cultural Mission Field . 48 Old Testament B a s i s ............................4 9 New Testament Basis 54 Ellen White's Counsels ........................ 60 Christian Authors ............................... 63 4. CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM TECHNIQUES IN GHANA .......... 69 Roman Catholic Evangelism for the Upper Class . 70 Erection of Magnificent Cathedrals .......... 72 Establishment of Schools .................... 72 Opening of Hospitals or Clinics ............ 73 Disaster-Relief Programs and Charitable Organizations ................ 73 Friendship Evangelism ...................... 74 IV Educated Priesthood ........................ 74 Pentecostal Evangelism for the Upper Class . 76 Healing by P r a y e r ........................... 76 Worship Style .............................. 77 Invitation through Family Members .......... 78 Quarterly Conventions ...................... 79 Public Evangelism .......................... 79 Seventh-day Adventist Evangelism for the Upper Class .......................... 79 Public Evangelism .......................... 81 House-to-House Evangelism ........ 81 Literature Evangelism ...................... 82 Camp Meeting................................. 84 5. SUGGESTED EVANGELISTIC STRATEGIES FOR UPPER-CLASS PEOPLE................. 86 Factors Hindering Acceptance of Adventism Among the Upper C l a s s ....................... 86 Sabbath Observance .......................... 87 Extramarital Affairs ........................ 88 Health Principles; Healthful Lifestyle .... 89 Austere Church Buildings .................... 90 Worship Style .............................. 90 Belief in Ancestral Worship ................ 90 Consultation of Psychics .................... 91 Materialism................................. 92 Intellectualism ............................ 93 Cultural Festivals .......................... 94 Lack of Evangelistic Methods................. 94 Baptismal Goals'Influence on Evangelistic Strategy .................... 95 Strategies for Overcoming Barriers Among the Upper C l a s s ....................... 95 Strategy #1: Spiritual Preparation ........ 99 Adopt upper-class member in the twenty-first century ................ 101 Prayer warrior action group ............ 103 Strategy #2: Intellectual Preparation . 104 Literature ministry workshop . 105 Bible study and sermon-tape ministry . 107 Video-taped biblical drama ............ 108 Programs in all Adventist schools .... 109 Strategy #3: Bridge-Building Strategies . 110 S e m i n a r s ................................ 110 Healthful living ...................... 113 Marriage and family focus enrichment . 114 Creative parenting .................... 115 Time and stress m a n a g e m e n t .............. 116 Grief seminar............................ 117 Suggested seminar time schedule ........ 119 Buffet-System Strategy (BSS) .......... 120 Operating a health-food store .......... 122 v Renting church buildings .............. 123 Reaching kids ministry ................ 123 Marketplace evangelism ................ 124 Strategy #4: Upper-Class Outreach Programs (UCOP).......................... 125 Building recreational center chapels . 125 Formation of Adventist Upper-Class Fell o w s h i p .............................. 127 Friendship Evangelism .................... 129 Organize Upper-Class People Luncheon .... 131 Modification of Sabbath Worship Style . 134 Spiritual activities at the beach .... 134 Worshiping at recreation centers .... 135 Planting an English-speaking church . 135 Strategy #5: Proclamation Approach .... 136 Public evangelism meetings ............ 136 Satellite communication ................ 140 Strategy #6: World Wide Web Strategy .... 141 Adventism on-line ministry ............ 141 Electronic mail (E-mail) network ministry ....................... 142 Post-evangelistic Programs for Upper-Class People ........................ 143 Ministerial Training ........................ 145 Sponsoring the Projects ...................... 149 6. SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND REFLECTIONS .... 151 Summary........................................ 151 Recommendations..........•...................153 Reflections.................................... 155 Appendix A. ELLEN WHITE QUOTATIONS ON REACHING THE HIGHER CLASS .................................... 157 B. QUESTIONNAIRES.................................... 167 C. NEEDS OF COMMUNITY SURVEY ...................... 174 D. SUGGESTED EVANGELISTIC TOPICS .................. 177 E. LETTER FROM P R E S I D E N T ............................ 179 F. SURVEY R E