Church Members Research Articles

Inter-Church Committee’s Role in Resolving Inter-Clan Conflicts in Rumbek East County, Lake State, South Sudan

This study examines the role of the Inter-Church Committee in addressing inter-clan conflicts in Rumbek East County, South Sudan, where conflicts persist despite significant church-led peace efforts. The specific objectives were to analyze the nature of these conflicts, evaluate the effectiveness of the Church’s peacebuilding strategies, and assess the challenges encountered in resolving these conflicts. The research was grounded in Protracted Social Conflict Theory and Galtung’s “A Mini Theory of Peace.” Employing a descriptive research design, the study focused on church members, clergy, community leaders, elders, and opinion leaders in the crisis-affected areas of Cuei Kok and Malengakok. A sample of 358 respondents was selected through stratified and purposive sampling. Data collection involved questionnaires and interviews. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach, analyzing quantitative data using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis to identify key patterns and insights. Key findings reveal that inter-communal conflicts are driven by historical grievances, socio-economic issues like cattle raiding and resource disputes, and entrenched gender inequalities. The Church’s peacebuilding strategies, including peace meetings, forgiveness preaching, and mediation by local leaders, have been effective but face challenges such as financial constraints, community divisions, and inadequate government support. The study concludes that these conflicts are rooted in deep-seated historical and socio-economic factors, disproportionately impacting vulnerable groups. It highlights the potential of religious actors in peacebuilding while acknowledging the challenges they face. Recommendations include enhancing conflict resolution capacities, addressing root causes, securing sustainable funding, fostering inclusive community engagement, and implementing robust monitoring mechanisms. The study underscores the importance of integrating religious teachings with practical interventions to effectively mitigate conflicts and promote enduring peace in Rumbek East County.

Churches Political Participation in Indonesia: The Case Study of GKII

Indonesian churches face challenges and opportunities to engage in politics in certain situations. Responding to those, GKII through its teaching and discipleship demonstrates the political attitudes, beliefs and ethics regarding its political involvement in Indonesia. This research was conducted using a qualitative research approach to achieve the research objectives. The results show that GKII, as a church institution, is starting to be involved in nation-building after being inactive decades before. Practically, politics is the formation and distribution of power in society, which includes, among other things, the decision-making process, especially in state life. Therefore, GKII acknowledges and realises that its people, as church members and Indonesian citizens, have political rights, responsibilities and obligations towards the state. Every aspect of social, national, and state life is regulated by the political process in which the results are implemented accordingly. Politics is an integral part of humans as moral and social creatures with a divine mandate to rule. This implies that humans are both political and spiritual creatures. Religious institutions, such as churches, can mobilise people politically and act as intermediaries between individuals and the state. GKII also believes that the involvement of the past biblical figures in their world of politics can be a strong example for church members today. Those biblical figures and teachings have been deemed models by some Christians for their political involvement.

A Practical and Biblical Understanding of the Pastoral Rest: A Study for the Sustainable Ministry of the Korean Immigrant Churches

The ministry of the Korean immigrant church in the United States is quite demanding, and the Korean immigrant pastors who serve those churches work hard without adequate rest. Inspired by Bryan Stone and Claire Wolfteich’s book, Sabbath in the City: Sustaining Urban Pastoral Excellence, this paper examines the importance of rest for pastors and proposes pastoral rest for sustainable ministry among immigrant pastors in the United States. This study analyzes the circumstances that contribute to the lack of rest experienced by those engaged in Korean immigrant ministry in the United States. It then examines the theological concept of the pastoral rest and its potential for supporting contemporary Korean immigrant churches. This study subsequently presents several essential aspects of pastoral rest with reference to 1 Kings 19. It will be of assistance to Korean immigrant pastors and church members with regard to the maintenance of a healthy and balanced ministry, both physically and spiritually.

Anti-Corruption Education for Catechumens

Research with the theme of anti-corruption education for catechumens examines two things, namely why anti-corruption education material is given to catechumens and how catechumens view this material considering that they are only preparing themselves to fulfill the requirements for the sacrament of holy communion. The research method used is qualitative research. The data used are primary and secondary. The results showed (a) that the church seeks to empower and prepare church members to play an active role in the life of the nation and state. The church is called to convey its prophetic voice to realize the welfare of society. (b) Anti-corruption education for catechumens is urgent and relevant because they are part of society that has a role in preventing and eradicating corruption. As agents of change in society, Catechumens can show their existence as bearers of good news. This means that catechumens must endeavor to be part of the solution to the problems experienced by the people, nation, and state of Indonesia. The church is not a corruption-free area and can even be a safe area for corruption because of the forgiving character of the church. So, this material is very urgent and relevant to help create an attitude of concern for the impact caused by anti-corruption, and (c) The catechumens' view of the anti-corruption education material provided to them as a step forward because the impact of corruption is felt by the whole community including the church and catechumens so that apart from increasing knowledge, they also actualize anti-corruption values in their daily lives.

Soul Quest Ayahuasca Church of Mother Earth v. The DEA: Religious Sincerity and Situational Adjustments in the Process of Defining a Church and a Plant

Soul Quest Ayahuasca Church of Mother Earth Inc. (Soul Quest) is a domestic non-profit corporation based in Orlando, Florida. Its members practiced a Christian syncretic religion whose central sacrament was an Amazonian plant medicine called ayahuasca, an illegal Schedule I substance in the United States. Church members consumed ayahuasca to commune with the divine and heal a variety of conditions and illnesses. Soul Quest operated without approved religious exemption status by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The court battle between Soul Quest and the DEA highlights the ways Soul Quest situated itself within the law and under the direction of the DEA to be classed as a church that could use ayahuasca legally.

The Missionary-Colonial Forms of Marriages and Sexualities Within African Pentecostalism: A Sankofa-De-Colonial Perspective

Looking retrospectively at pre-colonial African marriages and sexualities is critical in the urge to transform the contemporary narratives about marriage and sexuality within African Christian spaces. In Africa, marriage and sexuality had cultural, spiritual, and religious intersectionality. However, the advent of the missionary-colonial enterprise reconstructed the concepts of marriage and sexuality by imposing the supremacy of Christianity and Civilization agendas. Thus, Africans were compelled to discard their views of marriage and sexuality to comply with the prescripts of Christianity, baptism, and church membership. This paper used the Sankofa and Decolonial theories to investigate the perpetual influence of the 19th-century missionary-colonial enterprise within the contemporary African Pentecostal views of marriage and sexuality. It debunked the heterotopias of the born-again experience which propels the supremacy of Christianity and civilization agendas. The findings indicated that these agendas manifest in the form of hetero-monogamous aspirations of missionaries that undermined the African views of marriage and sexuality, thus, rendering them as demonic, backward, barbaric, and something to be forgotten. Lamentably, the same narrative has shaped the views of Pentecostal Christians within the contemporary African context. However, this has created a myriad of problems for both Africans and Christianity in Africa. In conclusion, the study emphasized the need to delink from Western conceptualizations by rethinking African marriages and sexualities. This could be done by revisiting pre-colonial African marriage systems and sexualities to challenge the current distorted narrative while embracing the positive elements of Christianity.

Relevance of Language Learning Evangelism and Education in the Spread of Christianity in Nigeria

This study explores the significance of language learning evangelism and education in the dissemination of Christianity in Nigeria. With over 500 indigenous languages, Nigeria presents unique linguistic and cultural challenges for evangelism. This paper examines how language proficiency enhances effective communication of Christian teachings, fosters community engagement, and promotes cultural sensitivity. By analyzing existing literature, conducting surveys, and observing evangelistic practices in diverse communities, the research highlights the positive correlation between language learning and the successful spread of Christianity. The aim of this study was to investigate the relevance of language learning education in the spread and growth of Christianity in Nigeria. The sampled group consisted of 540 mainline Christian churches, Pentecostal/Neo-Pentecostal Movement and Christian religious leaders. The methodology adopted in this study is, survey research design. The population of the study consisted of 540 respondents comprising 313 Mainline Christian Church Members, 192 Pentecostal/Neo-Pentecostal Movement Members and 35 Christian Religious Leaders, from which 230 respondents was determined using YARO YAMENT formula and was sampled through stratified random sampling technique. A 30 item questionnaire was used in collecting data constructed, validated and its reliability of 0.84 determined by using CRONBACH alpha formula. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions; whereas the null hypothesis was tested with ANOVA. The study found that, language learning education is a necessary requirement for cross cultural evangelism as well as successful penetration of Christianity to all the ethnic groups available in Nigeria and the study found that the 15 factors identified, were relevance of language learning education and has immensely contributed to the growth and spread of Christianity in Nigeria. It was recommended that language is the life of every human group in the universe. Recommendations include integrating language education in evangelistic programs to enhance outreach efforts. More so, there was a positive relationship between the spread and growth of Christianity and language learning education in Nigeria.

Biblical and Theological Training in Response to Spousal Violence in Seventh- Day Adventist Church in Chemamul, Kericho County, Kenya

The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church in her multifaceted mission to serve humanity is challenged to prioritize the family, which is the spousal church. However, the reality of abusive marriage relationships is not taken seriously as a matter of church concern to the extent that it is not even recognized by the church members themselves. This paper aimed at examining the training needs of the church in areas of biblical and theological studies for both members and church leaders in response to spousal violence in Chemamul District, Kericho County, Central Rift Conference, Kenya. This was informed by the prevalence of spousal violence among believers in the church in the study area. The study used a descriptive research design with a mixed methodologies approach (qualitative and quantitative) to describe and assess the function of the church in reducing domestic violence in the SDA church. The target population included baptized members, couples or families, family life leader and district pastor from ten SDA churches in the district. They were 20 family life leaders, 221 families or couples, one district pastor and 1119 baptized members of the church. Victims of spousal violence, family life leaders and baptized church members were the sampling unit. The district has only one pastor. A sample of 112 baptized church members, 64 families or couples, 20 family life leaders and 1 pastor were used for the study. The study depended on questionnaires and interview schedules to gather primary data from respondents drawn from ten SDA churches in the district. Data was collected from a cross-section of baptised members of the church, victims of spousal violence, family life leaders and district pastors.

Pendekatan Konseling Pastoral sebagai Solusi dalam Mengatasi Kecemasan

Anxiety is a significant mental health issue that affects the emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of individuals, including church members. This study aims to develop an integrated pastoral counseling model to assist congregants in addressing anxiety holistically by combining psychological principles with Christian values based on the Bible. The research employs a qualitative methodology through library research, drawing from theological, psychological, and pastoral counseling literature. The findings indicate that pastoral counseling plays a pivotal role in providing emotional and spiritual support through emotional healing, sustaining individuals during challenging times, guiding decision-making, and reconciling relationships with God, others, and oneself. This approach not only alleviates symptoms of anxiety but also strengthens the faith and spiritual connection of congregants with God. The church serves as a healing community that offers a safe environment for sharing, spiritual reflection, and faith reinforcement. The study concludes that pastoral counseling based on the integration of theology and psychology can be an effective solution for addressing anxiety, reducing mental health stigma, and enhancing the holistic quality of life for congregants. The designed model offers practical guidance for churches to train leaders and pastoral counselors in supporting the emotional and spiritual well-being of their members.

DOCUMENTS FROM REGIONAL ARCHIVES ON NEW HOLY MARTYRS AND CONFESSORS - PATRONS OF SOBRIETY (ON EXAMPLE OF THE MOSCOW DIOCESE)

This article presents an overview of documents of state regional archives (the Central State Archive of the City of Moscow and the Central State Archive of the Moscow Region) which may be a source about life and activity of new martyrs and confessors of the Russian Orthodox Church of the 20th century - active figures in the temperance movement of the Moscow diocese. The performed search for new biographical data about holy martyrs-confessors of sobriety of Moscow diocese allows us to conclude that the parish and consistorial church documentation of the late 19th - early 20th centuries, stored in the funds of the Central State Archive of the City of Moscow, has a significant information potential. First of all, it is necessary to note such a type of church sources as parish registers and clergy lists containing information about the clergy and church servants and members of their families. Additional information on the genealogy of the Orthodox clergy of the pre-Soviet period can also be found in census tales, confessional lists and marriage searches. In the funds of the regional archives of the Soviet period, the most informative sources on the subject are the service records of the clergy and church servants of the 1920s-1930s and documents of the Soviet judiciaries established after the October revolution. The publication will help everyone who studies the biographies of the martyrs and confessors of Russia and is interested in obtaining new information about their lives.

Pembinaan Warga Gereja sebagai Landasan Penguatan Pelayanan Kristen

The development of church members serves as a crucial foundation for strengthening Christian ministry. This effort aims to nurture a congregation that is mature in faith, character, and service, enabling them to actively introduce Christ to the world. The church faces significant challenges in increasing congregational participation, particularly among the younger generation, who are often more focused on digital life. Therefore, continuous training is essential to fortify the faith of the congregation and prepare them to engage in Christian ministry. Effective training methods include fellowship, Bible teaching, mentoring, and social service. This development not only strengthens relationships among congregation members but also equips them to serve in various aspects of life. Through ongoing development, the church will produce a congregation that is strong in faith, active in ministry, and ready to face the challenges of the times.

Impact of COVID-19 on Christian Wellness: A Study among Adventists in Kajiado County

Background: Pandemics disorganize society, and COVID-19 was no exception. COVID-19 significantly impacted the religious practices and lifestyles of millions of believers worldwide. Following COVID-19 guidelines from the World Health Organization, social gatherings, including church attendance, were discouraged, affecting members’ spiritual well-being and church life. This study aimed to determine how COVID-19 impacted Christian wellness from the perspective of church members. Methods: This study used a descriptive survey design to collect data on how COVID-19 affected the Christian wellness of Seventh-day Adventists in Kajiado County through a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the extent of these changes and identify the key factors contributing to wellness outcomes. Results: The findings indicated that spirituality, stewardship, and fellowship practices declined significantly during virtual worship compared to face-to-face worship. Conclusion: These results provide insights that may enhance support mechanisms toward mitigating the unique challenges religious communities face during global health crises.

Stakeholders’ Training Initiatives by Neo-Pentecostal Churches can Alleviate Domestic Water Scarcity in Tigania West Constituency

Church teachings and doctrines are expected to be all-inclusive. Therefore, Neo-Pentecostal Churches (NPCs) in Tigania West should incorporate water stakeholder training into their spiritual and community responsibilities. By partnering with NGOs, Bible schools, and technical institutions, NPCs can equip leaders with skills in sustainable water management to address domestic water scarcity, improve access, reduce diseases, and enhance livelihoods. This study explored the training initiatives for water stakeholders by Neo-Pentecostal churches on alleviation of domestic water scarcity in Tigania West constituency, where 97% of the population faces severe water challenges. Despite biblical mandates in Matthew 28:20 and Ezekiel 34:17-19, which call for addressing both spiritual and practical needs, NPCs however perceive water stakeholder training as outside their biblical mandate. This narrow focus on spiritual matters highlights a gap in their involvement in addressing water scarcity menace. Using the Theological Reflection Theory, the study adopted a qualitative approach and phenomenological research design. It targeted 22 registered NPCs in Tigania West, with a sample of 59 participants who were sampled using cluster sampling technique. Respondents were pastors and church members. Data was collected through interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis, with pre-testing ensuring validity and reliability. Thematic analysis technique was applied to analyze the collected data. Findings revealed that NPCs lacked formal water management training programs, although some churches expressed interest in vocational initiatives like rainwater harvesting and infrastructure development. The study concluded that NPCs’ limited engagement with water scarcity represents a missed opportunity to align spiritual teachings with community development. The study recommends collaboration of NPCs, Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs), NGOs, and Bible schools, with technical institutions in organizing workshops, seminars, and other capacity-building initiatives regarding water management and access. These initiatives would provide practical knowledge on water catchment protection, rainwater harvesting, and infrastructure development, thus enhancing NPCs' role in bridging faith and social responsibility.

Pentecostal ecclesiology in the new adaptation era:

The Synod of the Gereja Bethel Indonesia/GBI (Bethel Church of Indonesia) is Indonesia’s largest Protestant and Pentecostal denomination, with over 7,000 local churches and nearly three million church members. It is, therefore, significant to discuss this church. Over the past three years, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced churches worldwide to adjust to the off-site system of worship and ministry. The pandemic also led to the speedy acceleration of digital technology. Consequently, it called for redefining and repositioning our ecclesiology and praxis. This article presents the theological position of GBI in a new era of adaptation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article uses a systematic approach, by briefly introducing the concepts of ecclesiology and fellowship, then developing these concepts further with concrete and relevant examples in the context of the GBI church.

Reorientation of mission and its action plans for a reformed missional ecclesiology in Africa

The quest to understand and practise the church’s missionary calling will remain a significant exercise in the church’s life of every age. This article aims to provide a reorientation of the mission and its action plans for a reformed missional ecclesiology in Africa today. This is prompted by existing concerns around the demise of Christendom and the decline in numbers among some of the reformed churches in Africa. This is coupled with challenges of dualism, syncretism and Sunday-cult Christianity, which are accompanied by no or less societal impact because of a missionless and inward-looking ecclesial praxis. These are some of the reasons, as well as the professionalisation of mission at the expense of the involvement of the laity in the missio Dei, that led to this sorry situation (among these churches) towards the missional ecclesiology and ecclesial praxis of the Reformed Churches in South Africa (RCSA), which are used as an interlocutor from time to time. The main research question is: What kind of missional ecclesiology and praxis should the Reformed churches embrace to facilitate active participation in the missio Dei, resulting in numerical growth and having a societal impact in Africa today? Having investigated the missionary ecclesiology and missional ecclesial praxis of the Reformed churches through a literature review of readily available missiological publications, this article suggests that it should be a missional ecclesiology that is founded and grounded on the missio Dei, biblical, historical, contextual, practical, and eschatological impact.Contribution: This missionary ecclesiology not only rediscovers the giftedness of individual church members but also encourages them to participate in the missio Dei through their lifestyle mission or actions in Africa today.

Religious Motives in the Autobiographical Writings of Exile Estonian Writers (On the Basis of the Collection “The Land of My Youth” (1964))

The article offers the analysis of the motifs related to religion and the church in the collection of autobiographical essays of exiled Estonian writers “Minu noorusmaa” (1964). Twenty-four mostly well-known authors were asked to describe experiences of their childhood and youth that influenced the development of their personality. The essays reflect local life in various Estonian cities and rural areas at the end of the tsarist era and during the interwar period. However, religion is one of the main topics only for two authors out of 24, while five do not mention it at all. For the rest, the treatment of religious topics is limited to a few paragraphs or often only a few references in passing. Typically, religion is mentioned in association with the need to behave decently, death and difficult life situations, family and community traditions, and classes of religion at school, but also describing peculiar, exceptional people.The treatment of religion and the church as a topic of marginal interest in the autobiographical writings seems to be characteristic not only of exile Estonian writers, but also of other biographers from different backgrounds, both in exile and at homeland. Comparative studies, especially with other post-communist countries, could show how this phenomenon can be related to the fact that, similarly to Czechs and East Germans, Estonians stand out in Europe today for their low practice of religion and low membership of churches.

The Challenge of Church Leaders with the decline of Youth Spirituality during the period of the Society 5.0 Revolution

This research can provide theoretical advantages to provide new facts and important information about the progress of science in the field of Church leadership during the era of the 5.0 social revolution. This research will examine the problem which is a new phenomenon and has never been researched before. For this reason, a qualitative approach with a systematic literature review was chosen so that the results were more focused and in-depth. With this approach, researchers hope to gain a deeper understanding and produce a broader and more comprehensive picture of the issues researched. The paradigm shift towards digital integration in various fields, including education, social services, and churches, presents challenges and opportunities for conventional organizations, especially religious organizations. Church leaders must prioritize adaptability and agility to navigate the complexities of the new challenges of this era. Embracing technological advances and involving all church members, especially young people, is essential for effective religious ministry. By fostering strong relationships and promoting spiritual growth, Church leaders can guide their communities toward a prosperous and relevant future in the digital age.

Using Latent Class Analysis to Characterize Sickness Signaling in Relation to Familism and Public and Private Religiosity in a Stratified US Sample.

In response to contracting an infection, individuals usually display a suite of external signs (including sickness behavior) as an outward indication of illness. This context-dependent phenomenon seems to weigh the benefits and costs of eliciting sympathy by indicating sickness versus hiding signs of illness to avoid exposing others to potential infection. In a dynamically social species like humans, non-kin may be as likely to respond to these signs with care as family members, particularly fellow church members. We explore the relative contributions of religiosity and familism in shaping self-reported sickness signaling styles as two dimensions central to human altruism using latent class analysis (LCA). LCA was used to characterize the signaling styles of the study participants. Data come from a large 2018 survey (n = 1259) of sickness and health behaviors among US adults. We used denomination public (church attendance) and private religiosity (time spent in prayer, meditation, etc.) and the God Locus of Health Control scale to assess the impact of God on health. Sickness signaling style was assessed with the SicknessQ and three additional items. Covariates included age, gender, education, and income. We identified four classes (Familiar, Moderate, Gregarious, and Stoic) tied to signaling styles. The Familiar Signaling class displayed sickness verbally to familiar others, were the oldest, and were least guided by an internal sense of religion. The Moderate Signaling class was younger and had lower public and private religiosity (except regarding health issues) than the Stoic and Gregarious Signaling classes. The Gregarious class signaled to both close others and strangers and scored highest in familism and religiosity. The Stoic class did not verbally signal but indicated sickness worsening when around both close others and strangers, were less likely to be married or endorse private religiosity, and were least likely to recall recent illness as severe. The signaling classes strongly resembled aspects of the introvert-ambivert-extrovert spectrum. We conclude that variation is important at multiple levels, including personality types, and potentially prevents the loss of immunological diversity.

The Moderating Role of Educational Attainment in the Association Between Social Support and Depressive Symptoms Among African Americans

ABSTRACT General social support is commonly studied as a psychosocial resource that improves African Americans’ well-being; we know less about how varied indicators of social support influence African Americans’ depressive symptoms. Further, it is unclear how social support affects depressive symptoms differently when considering the moderating role of education. Using the National Survey of American Life (NSAL) (n = 3,278), we examined (1) the association between educational attainment and depressive symptoms, (2) the association between social support and depressive symptoms, and (3) whether education moderates the social support—depressive symptoms relationship among African Americans. Results revealed that higher educational attainment; emotional support from family, friends, and church members; and receiving instrumental support from family were associated with lower depressive symptoms. Receiving instrumental support from church members and providing instrumental support to friends were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Finally, educational attainment moderated the association between five indicators of social support, such that individuals with some college education or degrees psychologically benefitted while those with a high school education or less generally did not. Findings highlight ongoing disadvantages for African Americans with less formal education and suggest that psychological benefits of social support are elusive for the most educationally disadvantaged African Americans.

Faith-based Messaging and Materials for Colorectal Cancer Screening in the United States: Application of Boot Camp Translation within the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Black Church has long been an institution of refuge, mobilization, and healing in Black or African American communities. While health promotion interventions have been implemented in the Black Church, little is known about ways to incorporate faith into colorectal cancer (CRC) screening messages. Using modified boot camp translation, a community-based approach, we met with 27 members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia, for in-person and virtual sessions to co-create faith-based CRC screening messages and identify channels for sharing information within the church community. Examples of messages developed included "Faith over fear" and "Honor God by taking care of your body." Identified dissemination channels included Sunday service, community events, and social media. Churches serve as key partners in delivering health information, as they are among the most trusted institutions within the Black or African American community.