Discipling Migrant Youth in an Informal Settlement in Agbogbloshie, Accra: Strategies for the Accra South Baptist Association

Abstract

The research in this dissertation took as its point of departure that the local church is called to have a transforming influence on all areas of society. This dissertation is about migrant youth in the informal settlement in Agbogbloshie, Accra. The main question of the dissertation is, “What strategies could the Accra South Baptist Association develop and employ to disciple the migrant youth in the informal settlement in Agbogbloshie, Accra?” The aim of this research is to develop a model that will help with reaching out to the migrant youth in informal settlement as well as discipling them so that there will be lasting transformation in their lives. In order to understand the situation at the informal settlement, a survey was conducted. Additionally, some of them were interviewed. The findings of the survey revealed that the migrant youth had come to Accra from all parts of the country, mainly for economic reasons. Despite their predicament in the informal settlement, it is apparent that some of them were open to Christian programmes; thus, the migrants are receptive to the gospel of Christ. For this reason, the church needs to consider the informal settlement as a mission field, where the gospel must be proclaimed and the migrant youth discipled, counselled, developed into mature Christians and integrated into existing churches, or where new churches in informal settlements must be planted, while their socio-economic needs are considered and met. Consequently, a discipling model or strategy based on the survey and the Bible is developed. The aim of the model is to help the Church with the proclamation of the gospel to the migrant youth and to disciple them to become new persons in Christ Jesus. Furthermore, churches can use the model when working with youth in slums, informal settlements or youth in other communities. This study recommends that similar studies be conducted in another informal settlement and recommends that the economic situations in the rural communities that force the youth to migrate to the urban centres be addressed.