Theses
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Item Strategies for Church Growth in the Cameroon Baptist Convention(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg) Nkwelle, Ngome Joseph 1974; Joubert, Callie W. T.This research concentrates on the CBC churches among the Bakossi people of the South West Region of Cameroon. These churches do not increase in church membership despite the fact that the Baptists in general and the CBC churches, in particular, have existed among the Bakossi people of the South West Region for as long as 50 years or more. Thus, this thesis seeks to develop effective strategies that will promote church growth in CBC churches amongst the Bakossi people. The researcher did an empirical study by distributing questionnaires to twelve Baptist churches and seven to other denominations all of which he received responses. The data collected was analyzed and interpreted. The outcome of the data reveals that not only have Baptist churches failed to grow numerically throughout the over fifty years of their existence in the land but also that they did not have any intentional plans and strategies to do so. Proof of this is the fact that over ninety-nine percent of the members that make up these churches are non-indigenes who originate from other parts of the country. Therefore, through various resources, the researcher carried out a historical, theological, and biblical framework that formed the basis to develop strategies that will enhance effective church growth in CBC churches among the people. The researcher contends that the topic itself, proposed strategies, recommendations, and action plans must be embraced and implemented by individual Baptist churches, probably facilitated by the Cameroon Baptist Convention, if any meaningful growth has to take place in CBC churches among the Bakossi people.Item Bible Translation as Mission: Towards an Assessment of the Use of Translated Scriptures and their Missional Impact in Bakossi, South West Cameroon(South African Theological Seminary Johannesburg) Ngole, David Some 1970; Kipimo, Jesse F.; Kipimo, Jesse F.This thesis entitled, Bible Translation as Mission: Towards an Assessment of the Use of Translated Scriptures and their Missional Impact in Bakossi, South West Cameroon, researches the impact of the mother tongue scriptures as an evangelistic tool for missions amongst the Bakossi people in the South West Region of Cameroon. This study attempts to ascertain the impact the Bakossi Bible Translation Project (BBTP) of the Cameroon Association for Bible Translation and Literacy (CABTAL) has had on the socio-cultural and spiritual lives of the Bakossi people. It tries to emphasize the importance of the local language and how it shapes people’s world views, as well as how it is a tool for Bakossi churches in carrying out the mission of God. This thesis traces the historical aspects that led to the translation of the Word of God into the Akoose language. The missionaries identified the local language as an adequate medium for gospel communication. The emergence of the churches and the Bakossi Bible Translation Project is a realisation of the dream to bring the Word of God to the Bakossi people in their heart language. Since the time missionaries brought Christianity in 1896 and promoted the use of the local language for gospel communication to the recent translation of scriptures in the Akoose language, great strides had been made towards this goal. The Bakossi Bible Translation Project has been operational in Bakossi since 1996, leading to the translation of the book of Ruth, 1 Samuel chapter 1 and 2, the New Testament (Melle Mekoole), Parables, the Jesus Film, an audio form of the New Testament and posters for scripture exhibition. Moreover, a literacy program is put in place to teach people how to read and write the mother tongue and a program to promote the use of the translated scriptures called “Scripture Engagement.” 7The author consulted other literary or academic works in order to decipher what others have written towards the importance of mother tongue scriptures for missions. An empirical study was done by distributing questionnaires to the clergy, lay preachers, Christians, and scripture engagement personel. This study analysed the contextual engagement of the mother-tongue Scriptures with its socio-cultural and spiritual impact within the Bakossi churches. To buttress this, the author looked at the theological relevance and significance of Bible translation as a tool for effective missions. He developed theological models for the promotion of the Akoose scriptures in the Bakossi churches and studied its implications for evangelism, discipleship, and church growth. The results showed that despite the presence of the local scriptures, there is an absence of proper strategies and a need for more work promoting their use for evangelism and discipleship. Thus, the author sought to devise strategies for the effective use and promotion of the mother tongue scriptures to fulfil the missional goal of effective evangelism and discipleship. Finally, the author offered recommendations and action plans to be implemented by church leaders, lay preachers, literacy teachers, scripture engagement promoters, and Christians to promote the translated scriptures in the effective transformation of lives and church growth.