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REVIVAL MOVEMENT: A CATALYST FOR CHURCH GROWTH
ABSTRACT
This research work focused on “Revival Movement: A Catalyst for Church Growth: A Case Study of Christ Apostolic Church, His Mercy District.” The historical method of research was employed, and several books were consulted in the library of LIFE Theological Seminary Ikorodu, Lagos State, along with personal library for information. Oral interview and questionnaires were used to collect adequate information on the case study. In today’s world of endless wars, failing economies, corrupt governance, rampant secularism and unbridled cultural perversions there is a need for solution to all these man’s ills. This motivated me to research on the need for a fresh global move of the Holy Spirit which is God’s ultimate solution to world’s multitude of problems. This can be carried out by His grace and power through an awakened church. Revival is the cure of all human evils. Revival, then, is what the church and the world needs. And revival is just what God wants to give. Believers ought to pray for it consistently and prepare themselves for it continually. However the researcher concludes by recommending that, the church need to spend time in prayer asking for an out pouring of God’s Spirit, the church need to focus on church growth through the power of God when witnessing Christ by pursuing divine leading than focus on activities that they think would work, the church need to take spiritual discipline seriously by following Christian ethics and the church needs to focus on the scriptures, so that they may learn the word and observe what it says.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
- Background to the Study
- Statement of the Problem
- Purpose of the Study
- Significance of the Study
- Delimitation of the Study
- Limitation of the Study
- Research Procedure
- Definition of Terms
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
- The Concept of Revival
- Concept of Church Growth.
- Historical Trend of Revival in the Western World
- Historical Trend of Revival in Africa
- Factors that Hindered the Sustainability of Revival in Europe and Africa
- Impacts of Revivals on the Growth of the Church
CHAPTER THREE: THE BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF REVIVAL MOVEMENT
- In the Old Testament
- In the New Testament
CHAPTER FOUR: CRITICAL ANALYSIS ON REVIVAL MOVEMENT AND ITS IMPACT ON THE GROWTH OF CHURCH. A CASE STUDY OF CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH HIS MERCY DISTRICT, IBADAN
- Brief history And Origin of Revival Movement in Christ Apostolic Church in
Nigeria.
- Brief History of Christ Apostolic Church, His Mercy District, Ibadan.
- The Reasons for Revival Movement in Christ Apostolic Church, His Mercy District, Ibadan.
- The Challenges facing Revival Movement in Christ Apostolic Church, His Mercy District, Ibadan.
- Impacts of Revival Movement on Church Growth in Christ Apostolic Church, His Mercy District, Ibadan.
4.6 Data Presentation Analysis and Discussions
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusions
5.3 Recommendations
APPENDIX
BIBLIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the Study
Revivals are an endemic aspect of Christianity, in recent times; the term revival has become popularized widely in the Pentecostal churches. Based on the ground that the essence of worshipping God which ought to be the paramount of our services to Him has been defeated with the subtle influence of worldliness on the Church. Christianity continues as the predominant religion. However, the proportion of the population affiliated with Christlikeness continues to decline. At several points in time, a movement would flare up as an evidence of divine visitation. The outpouring of Holy Spirit, would be emphasized enough to compel a new expression of its spirituality and structure. There would be a great excitement and popular interest beyond what may have been witnessed in years.
‘Revival’ is a very broad term that covers a wide range of culture as well as religious phenomena. The word revival is derived from two Latin words re which means ‘again’ and vivo which means ‘to live’; the literal meaning is ‘to live again.’” The Webster Dictionary defines ‘revival’ as restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, etc.; an instance of something becoming popular, active, or important again, a new production of an old play or similar work, a showing of an old motion picture; an awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion, a reawakening of religious fervor, mainly by means of evangelistic meetings. According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, revival is “an improvement in the condition or strength of something”; “the process of something becoming or being made popular or fashionable again” like a religious revival; “a new production of a play that has not been performed for some time.” It also defines “Revivalism” as “the process of creating interest in something again, especially religion”; the “practice of using ideas, designs, etc. from the past.” Other words to describe the revival movements, like the Great Awakening or Awakening are also used by scholars, especially in describing the religious revival in American history. The focus of this thesis is the need of revival in the religious sphere of Nigerian Church.
- Statement of the Problem
It has been observed by the researcher that most of the Local Churches are growing cold, due to lack of outpouring of the power of the Holy Spirit which have been caused by sin or lack of intimate fellowship with the Holy Spirit in this twenty first century. An elderly man observed to a young man and said, “young man, don’t let me deceive you, your generation is overdue for revival.”[5] This is the burden of the researcher to invite the contemporary church to experience a fresh move of the Holy Spirit.
This research work is set out to address the following problems:
- The intrinsic meaning of Revival
- The core meaning of a Revival Movement in the Church.
- The need for a Revival Movement in the Church.
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The impact of a Revival Movement on Church Growth.
- Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study is:
- To elaborate the core meaning of a Revival Movement.
- To examine what gave rise to a Revival Movement in the Church.
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To investigate how Revival Movement can serves as a catalyst for Church Growth.
- Significance of the Study
In pursuit of a clear understanding of the subject matter, the following are the benefits that this research work will offer. The importance of this research work is as follows;
- It would help churches or ministries to understand the basis of Revival Movement.
- It would help churches and ministries to develop a working policy towards raising concerned movement or coalition for Revival in the Church.
- It would help churches and ministries to invest resources (material and immaterial) to make the plans work out effectively.
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It would help churches and ministries to give more attention or encourage Revival Movement in the Church.
- Delimitations of the Study
This research work looks extensively at the essence of a revival movement in the church setting mostly by those having the burden for the unprecedented move of God in the Church. Hence with the focus on this, my interest is to observe how it impacts on Church growth.
This study is however looking microscopically at Christ Apostolic Church His Mercy District, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. This chosen population is to further relate the subject under study so as to have a realistic outcome to the research.
- Research Procedure
The approach to this research is historically based. This involves investigating systematically and objectively by collecting, evaluating, verifying, and synthesizing evidence to establish facts and reach defensible conclusions.
This procedure also involves library work with oral interview conducted with the target population which in this case is Christ Apostolic Church His Mercy District, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. This makes it possible to seek information in several ways at various stages explicitly.
- Limitation of Study
This research work is somehow limited in terms of the sampling population. This is because for a subject matter like this, much option would have to be explored so as to have wider sampling population which would also give more authenticity to the findings.
More so, to give a scientific validation to this research work, an empirical research methodology could have also been of immense importance to this research work as this would investigate possible cause and effect relationships by exposing one or more experimental groups to one or more treatment conditions and comparing the results to or more control groups not receiving the treatment.
- Definition of Terms
Revival:
A period of spiritual rebirth where the spiritual state of one is brought to life, also a time of renewed religious interest.
Revival Movement:
An organized effort or activities toward achieving or promoting a spiritual objective. A tactical or strategic maneuver towards an attainable end.
Church:
Church is a building used for public Christian worship. A particular Christian organization with its own distinctive doctrines. Institutionalized religion as a political or social force. Historically, the Christian church is a community founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ and striving to bear witness to Christ’s gospel in its worship and faith, work and memory. Theologically, the church is a spiritual communion of the whole people of God. It is rooted in the ancient covenant with Israel and the divine promise to deliver God’s people.
Catalyst:
A substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate or under different conditions than otherwise possible. An agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action. An agent, person, or a group of people that provokes significant change or action.
Growth:
It is a process of progressive development. It is also an anticipated progressive increase in value both quality and quantity.
