CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Evangelization as a direct consequence of the obedience to the Great Commission has been a principal preoccupation of the Church since inception. It has been commanded as an abiding obligation of the church to the end of the age and successive generations of the Church have taken this mandate seriously over the centuries. The Acts of the Apostles reveals the zeal of the apostles in this direction and the early church is also not left out in the venture as through it the gospel spread to the nook and crannies of the Roman Empire. In the same vein, the church of the nineteenth and the twentieth century witnessed a tremendous quest for and emphasis on world evangelization. This is apparent by the myriad of independent missionary bodies which came into being during the time.

Many conferences on world evangelization have been held in the recent past and many declarations made. These have been backed with concrete actions which have seen the gospel message promoted into many countries of the world. Many Church denominations have over the years developed their own Mission Boards and Evangelistic groups which have performed tremendously in this regard. The Bible Societies around the world are continually making the Bible available in the indigenous language of the people so as to expose them to the word of God.

Millions unreached by resident missionaries have access to the gospel through missionary radio and virtually every province and village is being penetrated with the gospel in one way or the other. Also, Muslim lands are known to be listening to Christian messages through broadcast in their own language or in one that may be understood in part.

The need to spread the Gospel to every person has engaged evangelists since the time of Jesus Christ. This is sequel to what has become popularly known as the Great Commission as recorded in the book of Matthew (28: 18-20) thus: Then Jesus came to them and said, „All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Evangelization is a key factor in Christianity. Christ desires that His church will continually expand. He expects it to grow both quantitatively and qualitatively, from age to age, through the efforts of his disciples. The greatest tool that he has provided for this is evangelization. Evangelization is acknowledged as the major reproductive mechanism for the church.

Hunter (2003) expresses this view when he defines evangelization as the reproductive process by which Christianity expands and fills the earth. In the words of Stott, if the church is to expand, it must embrace as its foremost responsibility, the chief task of taking the Gospel into the entire world and making disciples of all nations (Stott, 2005). The consensus within Christendom is that evangelization is the urgent and supreme task of the church.

Meeks (2005) says it is the responsibility of the entire church, and every individual is mandated to be personally involved in it. It is not a concept to be discussed, but a mandate to be fulfilled. It is the primary and permanent task of the church, without which it has no right to exist. The Christian community is here because of the Gospel. It exists to proclaim and enact the Good News of Jesus and to see the fulfillment of that Gospel in the Kingdom of God (Knight & Murray, 2002). Evangelization is therefore the work and heritage of the church.

1. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Youth evangelism is very important for the development of the churches and the effectiveness of ministration in Nigeria. There are some challenges which believe to impede the performance of youths in evangelism in Nigeria. Some of these challenges could be as a result of cultural changes in the society, the life style and family background of youths in Nigeria. Secondly there have been series of studies on evangelism but not even a single study is based on the causes of ineffectiveness of youths in effective evangelism. It is to this regard the study is based on the causes of ineffectiveness of youths in effective evangelism in assemblies of God Edo-central district as observe by pastors and youth leaders.

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim of this study is to determine the causes of ineffectiveness of youths in effective evangelism in assemblies of God Edo-central district as observe by pastors and youth leaders. The objectives of the study are:

1. to determine the effect of assemblies of God Edo-central doctrine on the youths in effective evangelism as observed by youth leaders and pastors
2. to determine the relationship between the society today and ineffectiveness of youths in effective evangelism in assemblies of God Edo-central district
3. to examine whether the lifestyle of youths affects their effectiveness evangelism in assemblies of God Edo-central district
4. to recommend ways to improve the effectiveness evangelism in assemblies of God Edo-central district

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The research questions for the study are:

1. What is the effect of assemblies of God Edo-central doctrine on the youths in effective evangelism as observed by youth leaders and pastors?
2. What is the relationship between the society today and ineffectiveness of youths in effective evangelism in assemblies of God Edo-central district?
3. Does the lifestyle of youths affect their effectiveness evangelism in assemblies of God Edo-central district?
4. What are the ways to improve the effectiveness evangelism in assemblies of God Edo-central district?

1.5 STATEMENT OF THE HYPOTHESIS

H0: there is no significant relationship between the society today and ineffectiveness of youths in effective evangelism in assemblies of God Edo-central district

H1: there is significant relationship between the society today and ineffectiveness of youths in effective evangelism in assemblies of God Edo-central district

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study on the causes of ineffectiveness of youths in effective evangelism will be of immense benefit to the assemblies of God Edo-central district, the pastors and youth leaders. The study will help churches plan their evangelism strategies. The study will guide the assemblies of God church in decision making and policy formulation. The study will also serve as a repository of information to other churches, pastors and youth leaders of the church. The will contribute to the body of the existing literature on the causes of ineffectiveness of youths in effective evangelism.

1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study covers on the causes of ineffectiveness of youths in effective evangelism with focus on assemblies of God Edo-central district.

1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

TIME CONSTRAINTS: One the challenges experienced by the researcher is the issue of time; the research will simultaneously engage in departmental activities like seminars and attendance to lectures. But the researcher was able to meet up with the deadline for the submission of the project.

FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS: Every research work needs funding; however lack of adequate funds might affect the speed of the researcher in getting materials for completion of the project.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

EVANGELISM: The spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness