NEED BASED EVANGELISM AND THE TRANSFORMATIVE ROLES OF THE METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA IN ABIA STATE

Abstract

The Methodist Church has a long history in Nigeria and a significant ministry presence in Abia State, yet its conceptualization and practical implementation of need-based evangelism remains under-researched. Through a qualitative document analysis methodology, this study analyzes published sources and direct documentation from the Methodist Church Nigeria to gain an in-depth understanding of its evangelistic strategies, processes, and outcomes regarding how spiritual ministry and social concerns are integrated as a holistic ministry tailored to local needs assessments. Key frameworks including the Social Gospel theory provide lenses to investigate how the church engages communities, spreads innovative practices, fosters empowerment and autonomy, and embeds the gospel message culturally. Findings reveal the depth and effectiveness of the Methodist Church's cultural embedding of evangelism content and leadership within Abia State communities. Insights into contextualization levels, information diffusion patterns relating to innovative strategies, and outcomes concerning empowerment and social transformation hold implications for strategic planning in various ministry contexts. Addressing gaps in existing literature, this study offers empirical insights into need-based evangelism as practiced within this specific church-region nexus.