Mission and development in the International Central Gospel Church in Ghana

Abstract

Objective: The study investigated the relationship between mission and development in the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) in Ghana and applied sustainable approaches making impactful contributions reflective of mission and global development concepts. Necessitated by majority of Charismatic churches inability to prosecute sustainable, impactful national mission and development activities that improves people’s lives; except few Churches in four decades after their emergence since 1979, the study asked: What factors facilitated the emergence of Charismatic churches? What mission approach accounted for sustainable, impactful national mission? What accounted for sustainable development activities relative to SDGs, and participants’ human and socio-economic well-being? Population: The International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) was purposefully sampled from Charismatic churches in Ghana for the national character and scope of her mission and human development activities. The Clergy, members and non-members of (ICGC) associated with above mentioned programmes were sampled purposefully for interrogation. Method: The qualitative ‘case study’ research design was employed for in-depth information. Both primary and secondary data were employed. Primary data on “opinions and views” were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews of key respondents, focused group discussants and participatory observation. Inductive data analysis was employed to analyze the data. Findings: Analysis of responses show the existence of relationship between mission and development in the Charismatic church in Ghana and applied sustainable approaches, reflecting mission and development concepts, making impactful national mission and human development contributions. It also established correlation between the mission and socio-economic challenges of the 1970s and 1980s in sub-Saharan Africa and the emergence of Charismatic churches in Ghana. Conclusion: Based on findings, I conclude that “God centered” and “members centered” approaches help ensure sustainable mission with national spread reflective of mission Dei, mission ecclesiae and Henry Venn’s indigenous Church concept. And that human development initiative combined with elimination of anti-sustainable issues, occasion sustainable development, reflective of SDGs Agenda 2030. Application: Findings will enable smaller and stagnant churches adopt above approaches to facilitate sustainable mission and development activities for growth and improvement of followers’ holistic human development and well-being.