Developing Biblical Strategies for Young Adults’ Ministry in the Ghanaian Churches in Sydney, Australia

Abstract

Diasporic congregations within the African communities in Australia experience a decline in attendance and the younger generation dominate the dropout rate. The study aimed to develop biblical strategies for young adult attraction and retention for the Ghanaian churches in Sydney, the most inhabited Australian city. The research further explored the factors responsible for the decline in the young adults' ministry. Twelve research hypotheses emerged from the conceptual framework under three themes on retaining the youth in the church. The study employed a convergent mixed-method approach with Swinton and Mowat's practical theology methodological framework for the qualitative research. The quantitative data were collected from three hundred and forty-five respondents using a five-point Likert scale. Three hundred and forty-one participants responded, and data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23) and Partial Least Squares (PLS). Fifteen interviewees were interviewed for the qualitative study, and data were analysed using ATLAS.ti.

The findings revealed that fifteen factors are responsible for youth church decline among the Ghanaian churches in Sydney. The quantitative study statistically ranked eight causes of youth church decline and found the influence of poor teachings as the first factor, and the eighth factor being poor pastors’ messages (sermons/teachings). The absence of genuine leadership was second. The third was the lack of true discipleship; the fourth was the lack of care from the church. The fifth was a lack of contemporary church activities; the sixth was poor worship style, and the seventh was a lack of parental church commitment.

The qualitative data discovered seven extra themes ATLAS.ti grouped as equally potential decline factors, coming up with a total of fifteen causes. The other seven additional findings include unrelated sermon/teachings, language barrier, lack of relationship, and hypocritical/judgmental attitude. The rest are poor time management, lack of unity in the church, migration/economic situation, and societal/ peer influence.

The main research question uncovered twenty-one merged outcomes, as biblical young adults' retention, and attraction influences in Sydney. These findings were further grouped based on the hypothesis into four: Human influences (adopting changes, caring, relationship building, leadership skills/youth leadership and appreciating gifts/talents); Educational impact (mentoring, teaching/sermon/language, evangelism, discipleship, cell group, active children service, and faith formation); Peer/friendly Church (youth programs, technology/social media, welcoming church). The final one is parental influences (cultural differences, counselling, motivation, creating opportunities to partake in decision making, loyalty/faithfulness, and strategic youth management).

The findings of this study bridge the gap in the theological discipline by developing biblical mechanisms for the retention of young adults. The study has contributed to the diasporic mission bank mobilising migrants for faith formation as they seek economic security outside their home country.

The study recommends that pastors/leaders and the congregation should be committed to youth ministry and establish rapport with each family to have direct contact with the children. Above all, there is need for resolute efforts to build an all-inclusive church. Though the study achieved its stipulated objectives, it identified areas for future research. These include adapting only the qualitative research design to unearth all the decline situations and the mechanisms for the retention, and extending the empirical study to other parts of Australia, including other African denominations.