A Missional evaluation of the LIFEPLAN® Training and Equipping Programme for youth in rural areas: A case study of its impact in the Christiana district of South Africa FE FREEKS orcid.org/ 0000-0002-2474-8756 Thesis submitted for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Missiology at the North-West University Promoter: Prof dr PJ Buys Graduation May 2018 10589686 DEDICATION This work is dedicated to all farm workers in the Christiana District who gave me the opportunity and privilege to train and equip them with the LIFEPLAN® Training and Equipping Programme, and whose cooperation and faithfulness have no monetary value. The Lord bless you richly. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First of all, the present study owes its existence to the Triune God and everlasting Father, for his faithfulness and indescribable grace on my life. Secondly, I wish to thank the following people who played a fundamental role to help complete my third doctorate thesis. My gratitude is expressed to: • My promoter, Prof PJ Buys for his eminent knowledge on the specific subject, and overall his guidance, patience, encouragement, motivation and inspiration. • The Institutional Research Support for funding my studies as emerging researcher. • Ms Hester Lombard, the librarian and her team at the Faculty of Theology at the North- West University, Potchefstroom Campus, who assisted and provided me with much- needed services to find literature. • The Rev Claude Vosloo: His professional linguistic, editorial and theological commentary as well as suggestions and advice, made the language editing a learning experience. • Ms Petra Gainsford for formatting my thesis. • Ms Marinda Nieuwoud my dearest friend and coordinator of the LIFEPLAN® Training and Equipping Programme in Christiana for her kindness and support with the study. • The farm managers in the Christiana District who supported and helped me train and equip their farm workers with the LIFEPLAN® programme since 2011. • The farm workers in particular, who did not only attend the programme but also participated in the empirical research. God bless you dearly. • My wife, Enanceata, and my dear children, Fagaria, Farodian and Elodian, for their love, caring, support, and sacrifices throughout my study. • Pastor Anthony Oral Constance who is my senior pastor, mentor and role-model for many years. • My parents in law, Grace and Denzil Pillay, for their prayers carrying my studies. i • My spiritual mother, Ms Thelma Davis (aunt Spannie), who continually prayed for me without ceasing. • My friend Heric Hendricks for showing interest in my study, for his sincere friendship and being a brother in Christ. • Dr Aldred Genade, my colleague and friend at the Faculty of Theology, for his motivation and inspiring words. ii ABSTRACT The youth in contemporary South Africa seemingly face immense challenges and experience severe problems. The farming communities in the Christiana District of the North-West Province South Africa, especially struggle with issues such as poverty, unemployment, alcoholism, violence, occultism and Satanism. Statistics obtained through empirical research prove a drastic decline in morals, values, standards, ethics, character and behaviour. This particular society seems to encounter one crisis after another. This is caused partly by millions of young people growing up as orphans and, even more so, without a father figure in their lives. The challenges are widespread with growing statistics of social ills such as substance use and abuse, violence, rape, child trafficking, or prostitution. As a result, the lives of numerous young people being destroyed. The present research has focused on the youth of the Christiana District of South Africa as target for holistic missional outreach programmes. The aim is to give hope and enrich the lives of young people despite the dilemmas communities are facing. The study did a missiological evaluation of an accredited community-engagement programme, LIFEPLAN® Training, Equipping, Programme. This programme was assessed in a constructive, creative-critical way, from a missio-Dei perspective. LIFEPLAN® focuses on various relevant aspects that deal with the above-mentioned problems. The programme seeks creative solutions to inspire and equip young people as responsible citizens in their communities. The goal is to provide a guide and aid for outreach to the youth of this district. This entails changing, resolving, improving, and enriching the lives of young people. The programme helps ensure a Christ-like behaviour as a valid alternative for destructive lifestyles and producing to a more meaningful and productive life. After a critical evaluation of LIFEPLAN®, recommendations are made on amending the programme for use as a tool by churches and organisations. The tool should help them reach out to broken communities with holistic mission as instruments of God’s transforming grace. iii Key words: Missional, transformation, LIFEPLAN®, youth, rural areas, case study, father absenteeism, Christiana District, South Africa iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... I ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... III CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background and problem statement – rationale .................................. 1 1.2 Youth challenges in the Christiana District .......................................... 2 1.2.1 School performance .................................................................................. 2 1.2.2 Teenage pregnancy................................................................................... 3 1.2.3 Substance abuse ....................................................................................... 3 1.2.4 Gangsterism .............................................................................................. 3 1.2.5 Low church attendance ............................................................................. 3 1.2.6 Unemployed youth..................................................................................... 4 1.2.7 Child neglect .............................................................................................. 4 1.2.8 Health issues ............................................................................................. 4 1.3 The LIFEPLAN® Training and Equipping programme ......................... 5 1.3.1 The history, goals and objectives of the LIFEPLAN® programme ............. 5 1.3.2 What is LIFEPLAN®? ................................................................................ 6 1.3.2.1 The aim, layout and design of LIFEPLAN® as a training and equipping manual ...................................................................................... 7 1.4 The importance of youth evangelism and missional outreach to the youth .................................................................................................. 8 1.5 Research problem, research question, aims and objectives ............ 11 v 1.5.1 Research problem ................................................................................... 11 1.5.2 Research question................................................................................... 12 1.5.3 Aim .......................................................................................................... 13 1.5.4 Objectives ................................................................................................ 13 1.6 Central theoretical argument ................................................................ 13 1.7 Methodology .......................................................................................... 14 1.7.1 Basic theory ............................................................................................. 14 1.7.2 Meta-theory ............................................................................................. 14 1.7.3 Empirical theory ....................................................................................... 15 1.7.4 Praxis theory ........................................................................................... 15 1.7.5 Feasibility ................................................................................................ 15 1.8 Concept clarification ............................................................................. 15 1.8.1 Youth ....................................................................................................... 15 1.8.2 Missio Dei ................................................................................................ 15 1.8.3 Youth development.................................................................................. 16 1.8.4 Outreach .................................................................................................. 16 1.8.5 Evaluation ................................................................................................ 16 1.8.6 Training ................................................................................................... 16 1.8.7 Equipping ................................................................................................ 16 1.8.8 Values ..................................................................................................... 17 1.8.9 Character ................................................................................................. 17