A presentation for Oral defence of thesis for Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies

1. ORAL DEFENCE FOR
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

3. Victor Mwila, BCE, MTh, DCLM & PhD
Student Number: GLU1-170035

6. Specific Objectives
My specific objectives are:
1. To understand the contextualization of
discipleship in Zambia
2. To discuss the Biblical and theological
teachings of discipleship
3. To explain the role of discipleship in church
growth and church establishment

7. Specific Objectives (Cont.)
4. To assess what forms of discipleship is practiced in
selected Zambian Church
5. To suggest ways local churches can engage
discipleship dynamics for church growth and church
establishment

8. Research Problem
■ The church today is faced with the challenge of church growth
and church establishment due to lack of understanding the
concept of discipleship and the lack of Knowledge on how
discipleship can be practiced in growing church members in
the local churches.
■ Other issues include ignorance and lack of accurate
information among Pastors and Christian leaders. Also, the
majority of Pastors and Christian leaders are not properly
trained in the word and their church members not well
discipled.

9. Research Background and Context
■ The purpose of the study was to establish how
discipleship could be used effectively in assisting
Pastors and Christian leaders in local churches to
enhance church growth and church establishment.
■ Since 1990’s, new churches in Zambia have been
increasing fast and have multiplied in great numbers
but the majority has been Charismatics,
Pentecostals and a few from the mainline churches.

10. Research Background and Context
(Cont.)
■ In 1991 the nation experienced a rapid growth of
churches though the Zambian church has failed to
produce quality people as disciples of Christ. In
Zambian church, the reoccurring failure of
discipleship has been as a result of various issues.

11. Research Background and Context
(Cont.)
■ According to Rev. Madalitso K. Banda, the church is
not performing to its best due lack of Biblical
formation and the abandonment of the holiness
ideals both in pastors and congregations. Therefore,
the lack of spiritual formation or discipleship in the
local churches is one of the reasons the church in
Zambia is struggling.

12. Research Questions
The questions addressed in this study are:
1. How do pastors define discipleship in their local churches?
2. What forms of discipleship is practiced in the local churches?
3. What does the Bible say about discipleship and disciple
making?
4. What is the role of discipleship in church growth and church
establishment?
5. What are the suggestions that can help engage discipleship
dynamics in local churches?

13. Research Background and Context
(Cont.)
■ Other issues include cause of the lack of disciple
making ministries in the local churches to help and
produce disciples. However, the church can talk
about discipleship but it is not practically
involvement in discipling its members for church
growth and church establishment.

14. Research Rationale

15. Research Rationale (Cont.)

16. Literature Review
■ This chapter aimed at reviewing the literature in
three themes: understanding discipleship, and
disciple making, the forms of discipleship practiced
in local churches and the role of discipleship for
church growth and church establishment.

17. Research Methodology
■ The primary methodology chosen for the study was
focus group research. The study used focus group
research to explore the attitudes of Pastors and
Christian leaders and their perceptions, feelings and
ideas about discipleship and disciple making in the
local churches.

18. Research Design
■ The study used a case study design to provide a plan
for the research and it was also regarded as a
strategy of inquiry.

19. Data Collection Methods
■ The data collection methods consisted of semi-
structured interviews, participant observations and
document reviews. Firstly, the required information
to meet the objectives of the study was obtained
using semi- structured interviews.

20. Data Collection Methods (Cont.)
■ Secondly, participant observation was used as a
data gathering-instrument because the researcher
was interested in the ways in which Pastors and
Christian leaders thought about discipleship and the
involvement of the local church in disciple making
process.

21. Data Collection Methods (Cont.)
■ And lastly, the interview and observation methods as
main data collection strategy was supported by
document reviews such as Church constitutions,
books, articles and journals.

22. Research Sampling
■ The study used purposive sampling to identify and
select Pastors and Christian leaders based on their
involvement and experience in church ministry.
■ A sample size of 120 pastors and Christian leaders was
taken for the purpose of the study. The population
included Pastors and Christian leaders of different
churches in the region of Kabwe and the sample was
collected from those who were doing church ministry
presently.

23. Data Analysis Methods
■ The study employed qualitative approach in
collection and analysis of data. Data was analyzed
using content and thematic analysis. Content
analysis involved recording of data and note taking
to provide the content to the interviews and thematic
analysis helped to identify themes from data
collected.

24. Research Findings
The research of the study has shown that the following results
are reason why the church has the challenge of church growth
and church establishment:
 Lack of understanding the concept of discipleship
 Little knowledge on the subject of discipleship
 Lack of proper disciple making ministries in the local churches
 And the lack of church leaders’ involvement in disciple making
process

25. Conclusion
■ The research has found that inadequate training of
pastors and church leaders and the lack of accurate
information on the subject of discipleship and
disciple making hinders church growth and church
establishment.

26. Recommendations
■ To establish how discipleship can be used effectively
in assisting pastors and Christian leaders in local
churches to enhance church growth and church
establishment.
■ To train pastors and Christian leaders, and come up
with disciple making ministries that can facilitate
church growth and church establishment in the local
churches.

27. References
Bernhard Udelhoven. The changing face of Christianity in Zambia.
www.fenza.org/documents/churches. Accessed: July 6, 2017
Braun V. & Clarke V., 2006, Using thematic analysis in psychology, Qualitative Research in Psychology
3, pp.77-101.
Burns, N & Grove, 2001, The practice of nursing research: Conduct, critique &utilization, 4th edition,
WB Saunders, Philadelphia.
Churchill, GA. & Iacobucci, D., 2005, Research Designing exploratory research, and qualitative data,
marking research, methodological foundations, South Western, Delhi.
Creswell, J. W., 2009, Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches,
Thou-sand Oaks, Sage, Calif.
Creswell, J. W. & Plano Clark, V. L., 2007, Designing and conducting mixed methods research,
Thousand Oaks, SAGE, CA.
Madalitso Khulupirika Banda. The changing face of Christianity, Fenza May 2010, Lusaka, Zambia.

28. Thank you