The Role of Church in Meeting the Growth and Survival of the Society
CHAPTER TWO
Objectives of the Study
The primary aim of this study is to examine the role of the church in meeting the growth and survival of the society, the specific objectives of the study include:
- To identify to what extent the Church can contribute to the growth and survival of the society.
- To determine to what extent the Church has been vital and relevant in growth and survival of the society.
- To determine the problems of development still facing the Church and how it can still contribute in developing our society.
- To examine the role of church in ensuring peace and harmony in the Nigeria.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
Several works have been done on various aspects of the Chapel of the resurrection, University of Ibadan, and the church as an agent of social transformation and development. Tamuno, Yoloye and Princewill (2008, pp.3- 68), give an overview of the era of its dynamics, growth and development since inception focusing on physical development, crises arising from change and adaptation as well as inter-denominationalism. They do not neglect the fact that society has benefited from the church in terms of material gains in addition to spiritual development. The view of Emerole and Iwayemi (2008, pp.157-168), is that the Chapel has always faced challenges of change. They emphasize that the Christian church experience at the Chapel is both evolutionary and revolutionary since worship commenced at the old university site Eleyele in 1948. The evolutionary phase coincided with the period prior to the 1980s and between 1990 and 2004. The revolutionary phase is identified with the late 1980s to early 1990s; and between 2005 and 2008. The agent of change were the Chaplaincy, Chapel Committee and lay members of the congregation. The changes are both spiritual and physical, and the challenges are identified as, transition from the interdenominational mode of worship to a more varied Pentecostal approach, constitution, long term investment, autonomy and spiritual development.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the role of church in meeting the growth and survival of the society. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of the role of church in meeting the growth and survival of the society.
Summary
This study was on the role of church in meeting the growth and survival of the society. Four objectives were raised which included; To identify to what extent the Church can contribute to the growth and survival of the society, to determine to what extent the Church has been vital and relevant in growth and survival of the society, to determine the problems of development still facing the Church and how it can still contribute in developing our society and to examine the role of church in ensuring peace and harmony in the Nigeria. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from selected members of selected churches in Uyo, Aka Ibom state. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
Church service is very important, but we must not separate the social and philanthropic work from the spiritual one as the charitable work of the Church is sacramental and pastoral and the social one is the concrete expression, of the former. The economic crisis, accompanied by a moral crisis, deepens the consequences of the deeply secularized life of today’s society. Man lives only for himself; he lives in an absurd rhetoric that characterizes life. Today when society is increasingly fragmented and suffers diverse mutations, what can the Church do to help the holistic development of the postmodern society? History shows that Christianity demonstrated over time a capacity for innovation and potential of adaptation matching the needs of the current time. Christian Church today also benefits from the potential required for the challenges and needs of contemporary society to adapt its working methods and those of approach to society and peers. Renewing human society has been and will always be possible through Jesus Christ from the inside out and from individual to society through the cleaning of the spring
Recommendation
. Youth development and empowerment programme should be adhered to, because the youths are the future hope of the country. Youth programme will enhance deep influence on the youth, for them to be economically balanced.
Entrepreneurship education should be encouraged by the government and made a compulsory general course in Nigeria higher institutions.
Federal Government should give loan to churches that have set up institutions like schools, hospitals in order to enhance successful running of the institution for economic development.
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