CONSTRAINTS AND PROSPECT OF WOMEN MINISTRIES IN EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS IN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD NIGERIA
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Abstract
This study sought to examine the constraints and prospect of women ministries in evangelism and missions, using the Assemblies of God Nigeria 5 Emole Street, Port Harcourt as a case study. An ex post facto survey design was adopted and a random sampling technique was used to select one hundred and thirty three (133) worshipers from the church. Research questions was used as a guide to the study. The instrument for the study was the questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed and the finding of the study revealed that women are involved in evangelism activities in Assemblies of God Nigeria, Gender do affect women ministries in Assemblies of God Nigeria. Also, Women evangelists in Assemblies of God Nigeria do encounter challenges in their ministry. It was concluded that women ministries and leadership in evangelism and missions are not fully accepted by some denominations in the Christian community. It was recommended that church pastors/leaders should be more principled and unbiased in the selection and ordination of evangelists for mission’s duties in the church. Also, women should be given leadership roles in church to encourage them discover their redemptive gifts in Christ.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Evangelism was commanded by God as an abiding obligation of the church to the end of the age and successive generations of the Church. The 21st century church is faced with many challenges which threatens the existence of Christianity and the destruction of the Christian faith. The 21st century Church is not relenting in its effort in the direction of evangelism and missions. But there is still a lot of ground to be covered. The new century presents some great and exciting challenges to the Christian Church as series of changes – political, social, demographic, economic, philosophical, and religious – are daily evolving in the world. The world population is increasing and new communities are developing by the day. The world is becoming increasingly integrated and we are becoming more aware and knowledgeable of various illnesses, injustices, and suffering around the world calls for evangelism to be intensify if the church must convert the world to Christ.
Evangelism is defined as “the proclamation of the gospel.” The word is taken from the Greek word “euangelion”, translated “the gospel. Although the word “evangelism” does not appear in the New Testament, the term “euangelion” does. Within the word evangelism we see the word evangel, meaning “good news.” The evangel which lies at the heart of the Christian faith is the good news about who God is, and how he has provided reconciliation for sinful humanity. Just as the word “Gospel” and similar terms abound in the bible, so does the concept of gospel preaching and conversion to the Christian religion. So evangelism is to announce the euangelion, the good news (Romans 1:15). It is axiomatic that evangelization has been central to the Church’s global mission.
A great joy abound in heaven over one repented sinner that is saved here on earth, the church of God owe Christ the duty of reconciliation. For this reason was the son of God sent down to reconcile man back to God, in that while we yet sinners Christ died for our sins. After Christ’s resurrection he choose us (the church) to become the channel of reconciliation between the world and God as clearly stated in his word “ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you (the church), and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruits and that your fruits should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the father in my name he may give you” (John 15: 16kjv).
The Women’s ministry in the Assemblies of God Nigerian context is ultimately not about women. Nor is it about programs. It’s about the glory of God and the health of his church. Throughout the Bible, women have played significant roles in their services to God. In the Old Testament, women such as Huldah (2 Kings 22:14 – 20), Deborah (Judges 4:4), Jael, the wife of the Kenite who killed Sisera (Judges 4:17 – 22) played significant roles in their services to God. In the New Testament, women were among Christ’s devoted followers of Jesus Christ, and were members of the early church who played their roles in the missionary work of spreading the gospel. Many leadership roles in the organised church have prohibited women from mounting the pulpit to preach, but majority of churches today holds a different view regarding women’s roles in the church. In some Orthodox churches, only men may serve as priests or elders (bishops, presbyters and deacons) till date. A situation that has hindered women in such churches to effectively evangelize and partake in missions activities.
The preaching of the gospel is a call to all believers by God to carry out the great mandate given to everyone by Jesus Christ as in the book of (Matthew 28:19-22). However, there are several evangelistic approaches. Such as personal witnessing evangelists, open air revival or outreach, spontaneous addresses to informal gatherings, and converting a tribe’s leader. Toward the goal of getting everyone involved and creating effective evangelistic outreach, it is important to find out what the church think the role of women’s ministry in evangelism and missions. The Church needs to make every woman in church understand that evangelism is a serious matter. Apostle Paul had good relationship with the women and did not stop them from teaching and prophesying. He referred to the women as his co-workers who laboured with him in his ministry.
Yet, the passage (1 Timothy 2:11-15) has raised many contentions among Christians to date. Many theologians have written commentaries on (I Timothy 2:11-15), and have come up with many interpretations. Moreover, though Paul did not specifically say that women should not be pastors or priests, his statement has been used by some denominations to debar women from being ordained as priests; and others still contest the concept of ordained women pastors. Many Christians continue to cite the text as the foundation for their belief in male only leadership in the church (Belleville, 2009; Brown, 2015 & Pierce, Groothuis & Fee, 2005). It should be noted that Paul also said in Galatians 3:28, that “In Christ there is neither male nor female”. It is therefore important that the practical wisdom found in the text 1 Timothy2:11-15 is understood in the light of all the pastoral letters and the other letters Apostle Paul wrote.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The church has always faced obstacles to evangelism, from outright persecution to hostile cultural forces to evil spiritual forces in the heavenly places. Women in ministry face a lot of challenges in the church because of the misinterpretation of Apostle Paul’s statement in 1 Timothy 2:11-15;
“A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety” NIV.
The world we are living in today is at a time of the rising tide of evangelism. Nothing in the religious realm is more evident than the worldwide interest in evangelism. This phenomenon cannot be overlooked and its impact can be seen in the many independent churches that are coming up especially in Nigeria. From the times of the early church to the present, women have been involved in various church activities. There is a lot of evidence in the Bible that women have been involved in evangelism and other church activities (John 4:39, Luke 3:1-3, Romansl6: 3-4), In the contemporary society some women have gained pre-eminence in the church activities at a time that gender equality is being advocated for in all spheres of life. Some women evangelists such as Helen Akpabio among others have been very successful in their Ministries and have been able to draw large crowds to their ministries. However, despite the fact that it is evident that the involvement of women in evangelism has been widespread, it has not been properly understood and appreciated by the general church leadership. This lack of appreciation and understanding raises many questions in the minds of many Christians such as:
- Are women involved in evangelism activities in Assemblies of God Nigeria?
- Does gender affect women ministries in Assemblies of God Nigeria?
- Do women evangelists in Assemblies of God Nigeria encounter challenges in their ministry?
- What are contribution of women ministry in the propagation of the gospel in Assemblies of God Nigeria?
- What is the contribution of women evangelists in the modem church?
- What impact has women evangelist had in the spread of the gospel?
- Whether women should be involved in the major activities of the church, which include preaching, teaching, guidance and counselling?
The above questions and many other not mentioned above led to the study on constraints and prospect of women ministries in evangelism and missions, in Assemblies of God Nigeria.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main aim of this study is to examine the constraints and prospect of women ministries in evangelism and missions, in Assemblies of God Nigeria. Specifically, the study intend to:
- Determine the extent to which women are involved in evangelism activities in Assemblies of God Nigeria.
- Ascertain the influence of gender inequality in 1 Timothy 2:11-15 on women ministries in Assemblies of God Nigeria.
- Identify the challenges that women evangelists in Assemblies of God Nigeria encounter in the ministry.
- Determine the contribution of women ministry in the propagation of the gospel in Assemblies of God Nigeria.
- Research Hypotheses
The following hypotheses will be tested at 0.05 level of significance in the course of the study;
H0: women are not involved in evangelism activities in Assemblies of God Nigeria
H1: women are involved in evangelism activities in Assemblies of God Nigeria
H0: Gender does not affect women ministries in Assemblies of God Nigeria
H2: Gender affect do women ministries in Assemblies of God Nigeria
H0: Women evangelists in Assemblies of God Nigeria does not encounter challenges in their ministry
H3: Women evangelists in Assemblies of God Nigeria do encounter challenges in their ministry.
1.5 Significance of the Study
It is often imperative to question what would be the significance of any endeavor, be it academic or otherwise. This is also applicable in this study. The researcher anticipates that at the completion of this study, it will give a clear insight on the knowledge about women ministries in evangelism and missions.
The findings of this will exalt the role of women and give them tremendous ministry in the body of Christ. This study will be of immense importance in the sense that it will help theologians have a better understanding about the concept of evangelism, it origin and impacts on the society.
The study will benefit pastors, church leaders and women leaders in helping them determine the various challenges associated with evangelism and mission outreach.
The study findings will serve as a gap-closer to existing literatures on this subject as it affects the Great Commission and women ministries that are not specifically tailored to the African, Nigerian, and Assemblies of God Nigeria Church contexts. Finally, the data from this research will serve as a reference materials to future scholars and researchers.
1.6 Delimitation of the Study
Given that the Assemblies of God Nigeria is one of the renounce Pentecostal churches in Nigeria and considering the fact that there are many other Pentecostal churches in the State, it was not the objective of the researcher to critically examine constraints and prospect of women ministries evangelism and missions in Rivers State. Instead, the research focused specifically on using a Biblical perspective to examine constraints and prospect of women ministries evangelism and missions in Assemblies of God Church 5 Emole Street Mile 2 Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
1.7 Limitation of the Study
Every research work has some shortcomings which arise as a result of problems encountered by the researcher in the course of the work.
The researcher encountered some difficulties in getting the questionnaires to those concerned, some women leaders and women evangelists given questionnaire were hoarding relevant information. A good number of others did not return their questionnaire.
There was limitation due to funds which made it difficult to get to all the necessary materials for the study.
Notwithstanding these foregoing limitations, the researcher still had the opportunity to distribute and collect the questionnaires from the respondents as well as gain access to relevant information from people that were interviewed. The researcher believes that these limitations did not hinder the researcher to present reliable compilations of the research work.
1.8 Operational Definition of Terms
The following are the definitions of the basic terms employed all through the research:
Constraint: A constraint is something that limits or controls what you can do. It is something that limits the range of a person’s actions or freedom.
Prospect: This is simply the possibility that something good might happen in the future.
Evangelism: Evangelism means preaching, announcing, or otherwise communicating the gospel, our salvation. In Christianity, evangelism is the act of preaching the gospel with the intention of sharing the message and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Missions: This is an important assignment given to a person or group of people, typically involving travel abroad, or the vocation or calling of a religious organization, especially a Christian one, to go out into the world and spread its faith.
Women ministries: A women’s ministry is a community of women who gather to fellowship, mentor, and connect in a safe, supportive environment. Women’s ministries are where women engage with God while uplifting and encouraging one another in their faith.
Assemblies of God Church: The Assemblies of God, officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 144 autonomous self-governing national groupings of churches that together form the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination.
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