A strategy for equipping Adventists as witnesses to pentecostals in Libreville

Abstract

While the Adventists in Libreville intend to witness to non-believers and to other denominations - including the fast growing Pentecostals, their evangelistic methods rather focus on Catholics. No specific strategy has been developed to reach the Pentecostals. This research intended to develop a training programme for Libreville, aiming at increasing the number of informed Adventists who can fearlessly reach out to the group under scrutiny. After a book review which intended to discover some equipping principles that could be useful for the study, and the general characteristics of these people, some surveys were conducted. The first were to check the recent trends of the growth of Pentecostals, as well are the cause that led people to join the movement, which may inspire Adventists. Another survey conducted among Adventists searched for how effective they reach these people and their need for equipping. Other questionnaires were addressed to Pentecostals of different denominations in non-ecclesiastic settings to check what attracted them in their denominations. These surveys moved for an empirical (questioning individuals) to a quantitative (questionnaires) and qualitative research. The book review revealed that centripetal and centrifugal approaches that may be taught in the disciple-making model. Reaching Pentecostals is that task of both the clergy and the laity in a collaborative work. Various witnessing approaches must be taught to members. Form the questionnaires it was observed that Pentecostals were fast growing due to promises and care taking done by their clergy. Adventists had Pentecostal friends (80.49%) but 46.7% affirmed that they were a bit afraid to encounter them. Only 24.4% actually shared their message with them and 84.4% claimed that they needed training to witness to them. Actually, Adventists did not know much about the Pentecostals’ belief system. The conclusions were that there was need to reduce the fear factor among Adventists, increase their knowledge of Pentecostals’ belief system, through a seminar, and field training. The programme was implemented and knowledge of those equipped increased; the percentage of those witnessing to them increased by 50.6% and the fear factor was reduced by 26.7%.