Towards an Effective Approach of Communicating Scripture for Evangelising the Oral Communities in Central Gonja, Ghana

Abstract

The main aim of this study is to develop an effective approach of communicating Scripture for evangelizing oral communities, with special reference to Central Gonja, Ghana.Firstly, the study provides a literature review of the main developments of the Orality Movement in the history of the Church,regarding the work of evangelism and discipleship especially among the oral cultures.There is also a critical evaluation of the Orality Movement in this first part of the study. Secondly, the study investigates the main obstacles to communicating Scripture for evangelizing the oral communities in Central Gonja, Ghana.It is an empirical survey of the perceptions of church leaders regarding the main reasons why certain oral Scriptural tools are least used by the churches in Central Gonja in the ministry of evangelism.The purpose was to determine the need for an effective oral approach of communicating Scripture for evangelizing the large oral communities in the district.Thirdly,the study presents the Biblical foundations regarding the appropriate styles of communicating God's message to oral cultures, with special reference to Mark 4:33-34. In particular, it deals with a Biblical survey of the oral communication of Scripture, which includes a survey of the both the Old Testament and the New Testament, and a Biblical exegesis of Mark 4:33-34.Finally, the study proposes practical strategies that can be implemented by churches in Central Gonja to effectively communicate Scripture for evangelizing their oral communities.This approach was based on the findings of the empirical survey in Chapter 3 and the Biblical foundations of communicating Scripture to oral communities in Chapter 4.The approach provides seven practical strategies for an oral approach to effectively evangelize and disciple the large oral masses in the world, with special reference to the Gonja people of Ghana.

The main aim of this study is to develop an effective approach of communicating Scripture for evangelizing oral communities, with special reference to Central Gonja, Ghana.Firstly, the study provides a literature review of the main developments of the Orality Movement in the history of the Church,regarding the work of evangelism and discipleship especially among the oral cultures.There is also a critical evaluation of the Orality Movement in this first part of the study. Secondly, the study investigates the main obstacles to communicating Scripture for evangelizing the oral communities in Central Gonja, Ghana.It is an empirical survey of the perceptions of church leaders regarding the main reasons why certain oral Scriptural tools are least used by the churches in Central Gonja in the ministry of evangelism.The purpose was to determine the need for an effective oral approach of communicating Scripture for evangelizing the large oral communities in the district.Thirdly,the study presents the Biblical foundations regarding the appropriate styles of communicating God's message to oral cultures, with special reference to Mark 4:33-34. In particular, it deals with a Biblical survey of the oral communication of Scripture, which includes a survey of the both the Old Testament and the New Testament, and a Biblical exegesis of Mark 4:33-34.Finally, the study proposes practical strategies that can be implemented by churches in Central Gonja to effectively communicate Scripture for evangelizing their oral communities.This approach was based on the findings of the empirical survey in Chapter 3 and the Biblical foundations of communicating Scripture to oral communities in Chapter 4.The approach provides seven practical strategies for an oral approach to effectively evangelize and disciple the large oral masses in the world, with special reference to the Gonja people of Ghana.