Abstract:
More than 20 million copies of Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life (2002), were sold over the past 2 years. It is the best-selling hardback in U.S. history. Warren’s previous book, “The Purpose Driven Church” (1995), has sold over one million copies in 20 languages, and was selected as one of the 100 Christian books that. changed the 20th century. More than 415 churches/congregations in South-Africa have already purchased “The Purpose Driven campaign kit” and completed the 40 Days Campaign or are planning to do so. The name Rick Warren is synonymous with “Purpose Driven” and the popularity of his work as well as his influence in this country, justifies a study of this nature. This study wants to determine the effect of Rick Warren’s 40 days of purpose in the Circuit of Klerksdorp of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika. Warren (2002/3) provides five purposes for a believer in the church in his book, A Purpose Driven Life, which is according to him, the church’s purpose of existence. The book is divided into 40 brief chapters and participating congregations are motivated to use the book as part of their 40 days campaign. A Campaign Training Manual can be used complementary to the book helping congregations to prepare their campaign successfully. Chapter 1 of this study takes a look at the external and internal problems in the church. The question arises if the church is at all times sure of her purpose of excistence. There is a difference between efficiency (doing things correctly) and effectiveness, which is doing the right things correctly. The purpose of the church’s existence therefore involves choosing the right alternatives. The hypothesis of this study is that the 40 Days of Purpose is an excellent project for congregations to discover their purpose of existence while it also strengthens the process of building up the local congregation. With this hypothesis in mind, chapter 2 provides the underlying theological principles, concepts and some definitions of the subject of building up the local church. Chapter 3 contains a description of the preparation, the course and the ending of the 40 Days Campaign. The participating congregations in the circuit of Klerksdorp are evaluated according to the guidelines of the Campaign Training Manual. A theological view of each of Warren’s (2002) five purposes is also presented. Chapter 4 provides the quantitative and qualitative research which was done in the Curcuit of Klerksdorp. Eight congregations participated in the research project and the respondents reactions are discussed. Interviews that took place whith the pastors of participating congregations, are also discussed. Chapter 5 contains a critical evaluation of the 40 Days of Purpose as well as the book of Warren (2002/3). The conclusion reviews the hypothesis and whether it can be confirmed.
