The purpose of this study is to suggest a paradigm shift that will enable the traditional pastor to effectively mobilize his congregation. An in depth look at the early history of the pastor of the Carletonville-AFM congregation and his idea of the ministry was undertaken. Due to certain frustrations he experienced trying to do everything himself, the Body of Christ model was proposed for the congregation whereby every member of the congregation has a function in fulfulling the Great Commision. Certain statistics of the Carletonville-AFM congregation were analysed to obtain information about membership involvement in service ministry. It became clear that a process for the mobilisation of the congregation was needed. Mobilising the congregation should be seen as the purpose of the pastor and considered to be very important. The pastor’s managerial approach was scrutinized from the paradigm shift of ‘purposefulness,’ and the recommendation made that as the leader, he should build a strong team around himself to whom he can delegate work, thus making his work load lighter. This will empower him to concentrate on the purpose of mobilising the congregation. The study argues that there is no such thing as an untalented member, in other words, everybody has received a talent to do service ministry. The potential in people must be developed by way of equipping the members. The pastor is responsible for this development and equipping of the members. This study is a contribution that endeavours to focus the managerial approach of the pastor in the mobilisation of the Body of Christ. / Prof. W.J. Hattingh

The aim of this study was to research the content of the Robertsham AFM congregation, as well as to identify growth areas in the congregation and to design and implement guidelines for mobilisation. The Robertsham AFM congregation was evaluated, in order to determine its profile at the commencement of the study. This profile enabled the pastor to offer members of the congregation the opportunity to join the growth towards bigger involvement. Questionnaires were used to conduct the evaluation. The mobilisation process of the Robertsham AFM congregation was preceded by a preparatory process, during which the pastor as well as the congregation were prepared. Church leaders had to be prepared in terms of mobilisation, a serious reflection on their reason for existence (raison d¡¦etre) and the way ahead. The upliftment of both the congregation and members of the congregation contributed as follows: ƒá The way members of the congregation experienced God, was promoted by positive preaching, word school presentations and spiritual growth classes. The church going experience of the congregation was enhanced, by implementing specific essential actions. ƒá The image of a congregation that had been uplifted created pride within members of the congregation. Currently, more members of the community are aware of what Robertsham AFM congregation stands for. ƒá Member¡¦s experience of their fellow human beings was promoted by interpersonal relationships and by creating specific opportunities. ƒá The needs of poor members of the community were addressed by implementing a number of services. These services also promoted job creation. Eight quality characteristics of growing churches, according to CA Schwarz, are currently still being used to evaluate and monitor the congregational context. A questionnaire was used to determine to what extent members of the congregation benefitted from the development process at an early stage. Testimonies from members of the congregation were provided to supplement the personal enrichment process. The research demonstrated the importance of knowledge of the background of members of the congregation, as well as the profile of the congregation. The preparation of the pastor is of importance, in order for the mobilisation process to support and promote the correct upliftment, resources and development of members of the congregation. The research contributes towards mobilising and structuring the Robertsham AFM congregation in such a way that it will result in members of the congregation developing their potential to the maximum. In turn, this will enable them to help develop other people¡¦s potential to the maximum. / Prof. W.J. Hattingh

Questionnaire responses of 244 active church members regarding the church's role in providing programs and services for family life needs and issues were analyzed. The sample were members of Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, 16 years old and older who attended at least one church service per month. The major predictors of a church member's general attitude concerning the church providing programs/services for family life are age and feelings of general needs of families in America. The younger members tend to be more interested in a wider variety of church sponsored programs/services while older members are less supportive of a broad spectrum of family life programs. The greater the church member's feeling of needs of families in general the more positive their expressed attitude about the church offering programs/services. There is also a systematic relationship between gender of the church member and their attitude toward the church providing family programs/services. Females tend to hold the stronger feelings, both positive and negative, while males tend to express the more moderate attitudes. A relatively strong positive correlation was found between the church member's awareness of the availability of a specific program or service and their perception of the appropriateness of the church offering the program or service. Counseling is perceived as a priority for the church to offer, with the exceptions of pregnancy counseling and financial counseling. Programs and services dealing with aging issues and for the elderly tend to be ranked low in priority for the church to offer, as well as programs and services in connection with community services. Systematic relationships between specific programs/services and various demographic measures or church involvement measures are also discussed. / Master of Science

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis has its title: ‘A Church Historical Enquiry Regarding Growth of Membership in the Church of Central Africa, Presbyterian-Harare Synod (1912-2012). As the denomination celebrated hundred years of existence in Zimbabwe in June 2012, this thesis focuses on the aspect of the growth of membership in the church in question. In order to study this growth of membership in the named denomination, one should take note of the fact that the Church of Central Africa, Presbyterian-Harare Synod is in many ways the resultant of migrant labour in Malawi, Mozambique and North- Eastern Zambia to the mining industries and farms in Zimbabwe. One should also put into consideration the fact that the C.C.A.P in Malawi originated from the Free Church of Scotland as well as the Established Church of Scotland through Dr David Livingstone in 1875. In order to understand this growth of membership, the thesis also attends to the leadership of the Church of Central Africa, Presbyterian-Harare Synod. This leadership includes the pioneer missionaries, ministers and evangelists. Also linked to the growth of membership in the C.C.A.P-Harare Synod is the development of congregations. This study therefore, explores on the establishment of congregations in chronological order. In this thesis the term “membership” is used mostly in its more official sense. It involves the full communicant members as clearly stipulated on Article 6 of the Constitution of C.C.A.P-Harare Synod as well as those receiving instructions in the catechumen class (the confirmed members).The Women’s Fellowship and the Men’s Fellowship as well as the Youth Groups are also involved in this membership. The research reveals various factors affecting the growth of membership in this denomination. The Synod identified the following as possible factors: -Retrenchments, -Deaths, -Unreliable Statistics, -Lack of Revival Meetings and -Lack of Vision by the Synod. In addition to these, the researcher included the Synod’s confinement to towns, mines and farms; the language barrier and inter-racial marriages and the socio-economic hardships as contributing factors affecting the growth of membership. In conclusion, the research reveals that the membership is neither growing drastically nor dwindling but is more or less stable, leading to the questions regarding the lack thereof. As a result, the following suggestions are put forward to help improve the growth of membership in --the Church of Central Africa, Presbyterian-Harare Synod: -The use of Shona and Ndebele alongside Chewa in the Church, -The Resumption of the much needed Evangelists Training Programmes, -Proper Statistics by Congregations and -Intensification of Evangelism Programmes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis se titel is ’n kerkhistoriese ondersoek aangaande die groei in lidmaatskap in die Kerk van Sentraal-Afrika, Presbiteriaans - Harare sinode (1912-2012). Aangesien dié denominasie hule 100ste bestaansjaar in Junie 2012 gevier het, sal hierdie tesis fokus op die aspek van groei ten opsigte van lidmaatskap in die kerk Om die groei in lidmaatskap te ondersoek, moet `n mens kennis neem dat die Kerk van Sentraal-Afrika, Presbiteriaans - Harare sinode as gevolg van die instroom van buitelandse arbeid vanaf Malawi, Mosambiek en Noord-oos Zambië na die myne en plase in Zimbabwe ontstaan het. `n Mens moet ook in die feit in ag neem dat Kerk van Sentraal-Afrika, Presbiteriaans - Harare sinode sy oorsprong aan die gevolg van die werk van Dr David Livingstone te danke het. Om die groei in lidmaatskap te verstaan, fokus hierdie navorsing ook op die kwessie van leierskap in die Kerk van Sentraal-Afrika, Presbiteriaans - Harare sinode. Die leierskapsprofiel sluit die aanvanklike sendingwerkers, predikers en evangeliste in. Die ontwikkeling van gemeentes sal ook ondersoek word. Die vesting van gemeentes word op ‘n kronologiese wyse aan die orde gestel. Die navorsing onderstreep dat verskeie faktore ‘n beduidende rol speel in die groei van lidmaatskap (of die gebrek daaraan) in die bogenoemde kerk gespeel het. Die faktore sluit in: -Persone wat hulle werk verloor het -Sterftes -Onbetroubare statistieke -Tekort aan `n evangelisiewerk -‘n tekort van visie binne die sinode. Bykomend word aangetoon hoe taalverskille, gemengede huwelike en sosio-ekonomiese uitdagings ook bydraende faktore is wat die groei in lidmaatskap affekteer. Ten slotte, wys die navorser vanuit `n ondersoek na die kerkrekords dat die lidmaatskap egter nie drasties afgeneem of gegroei het nie. Dit lei na die volgende aanbevelings/voorstelle vir die Kerk van Sentraal-Afrika, Presbiteriaans - Harare sinode: -Die gebruik van Shona en Ndebele saam met Chewa in die Kerk, -Die bevordering van die nodige Evangelisasie opleidingsprogramme, -Die noodsaaklikheid van betroubare statistieke deur gemeentes en -Die intensifisering van evangelisasie programme.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 304-310)

Project Thesis (D. Min.)--Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 173-178).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-160).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, 1986. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 167-187).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-126).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2006. / "November 22, 2006" Includes bibliographical references (l. 121-124)