Discipleship Approach for Local Church Leaders in the Kigali City – East Central Rwanda Field
Gerard Karasira Nsengiyumva 
Issue: Vol.5 No.6 Issue Article 17 pp.1015-1024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20245617 | Published online 21st June, 2024
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
The objective of this study was to examine the perception and practice of spiritual disciplines among local church leaders in the East Central Rwanda Field of the Seventh-day Adventist Church based in the City of Kigali. A total of 160 leaders, including elders and local department directors, from 38 churches in the area were randomly selected to participate in the study. Data was collected through a self-constructed questionnaire. The data underwent exploratory analysis and was assessed for reliability and validity using Cronbach’s alpha. The findings indicated that a lack of spiritual training was the primary factor contributing to disengagement. Church elders and local department directors expressed their willingness to serve but admitted their inefficiency due to lack of proper training. Consequently, it was recommended that local church leaders should receive training in spiritual practices to help enhance their discipleship as they care for the believers. Numerous research studies have been conducted, but none of them have specifically focused on the impact of discipleship on the leaders of the local church. Although the success of the church is closely linked to leadership at the local level, this study has emphasized the importance of discipleship at the local level in training lay leaders, an area that has not received much attention.
Keywords: Discipleship, Local Church Leaders, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Journaling.
Alemayehu Tsegaw, Melak. “Refocusing on Discipleship: The Heart of the Great Commission and the Hub of All Local Church Ministries.” Ministry Magazine, 2019. https://cdn.ministrymagazine.org/issues/2019/issues/MIN2019-04.pdf.
Asamoah‐Gyadu, J Kwabena. “‘Go Near and Join Thyself to This Chariot…’: African Pneumatic Movements and Transformational Discipleship.” International Review of Mission 106, no. 2 (2017): 336–55. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/irom.12190.
Baab, Lynne M. Fasting: Spiritual Freedom beyond Our Appetites. Lisle, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2009.
Boyd, L. A. “Discipleship and the Church.” Bibliotheca Sacra. Dallas Theological Seminary, 1980. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1250&context=lts_fac_pubs.
Byler, J. The Heart of a Christian Leader. Lancaster, PA: Global Disciples, 2010.
Carr-Chellman, Davin J., and Michael Kroth. “ The Spiritual Disciplines as Practices of Transformation.” In Religion and Theology: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice, 293–307. IGI Global, 2020. https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/the-spiritual-disciplines-as-practices-of-transformation/246193.
Chery, S. “Best Bible Study Methods for Discipleship Formation: How Bible Study as a Spiritual Discipline Shapes Believer .” Southeastern University, Fire Scholars, 2023. https://firescholars.seu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002& context=mdiv.
Coleman, Robert E. The Master Plan of Discipleship . Old Tappan, NJ: F.H. Revell, 1998.
Currin, Jim. “Sharing Faith .” Abingdon, Bible Reading Fellowship, 2011. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=sharing+faith&btnG=#d=gs_cit&t=1717152255568&u=%2Fscholar%3Fq%3Dinfo%3AIoOMFJHNALcJ%3Ascholar.google.com%2F%26output%3Dcite%26scirp%3D4%26hl%3Den.
Duron, S. “Discipleship Renewed: Returning to the Ancient Teachings of Jesus as the Manual for Modern-Day Christianity.” Southeastern University, 2023. https://firescholars.seu.edu/cgi/ viewcontent.cgi?article=1025&context=dmin.
Foster, R. J. Celebration of Discipline, Special Anniversary Edition: The Path to Spiritual Growth. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 2018.
Fox, E. H., and G. E. Morris. Faith-Sharing: Dynamic Christian Witnessing by Invitation. Nashville, TN: Discipleship Resources, 2006.
Horr, George E. “Family Worship.” The Biblical World 27, no. 2 (1906): 104–11. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/473702.
Horshall, Tony. Mentoring for Spiritual Growth: Sharing the Faith Journey. Abingdon, UK: Bible Reading Fellowship, 2008.
Hull, Bill. The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Making Followers of Christ. NavPress, Kindle Locations, 2014.
Mallison, J. Mentoring to Develop Disciples & Leaders. Lidcombe, Australia: Scripture Union and OpenBook Publishers, 1998. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f322e36d5e561588e310a43/t/5f59b5026fe5f14fe1ced5e2/1599714593743/Vol+22+No+1+Lukes%2BJournal%2B317%2Bweb.pdf#page=19.
Martin, Jim. “Journaling as a Spiritual Discipline.” Leaven 2, no. 4 (1992): 8. https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2066&context=leaven.
Monaghan, R. S. “Spiritual Disciplines.” JacobsWellNJ.org, n.d. https://static1.squarespace.comstatic/5021315e24acdbbf56e6893f/t/58b872f8b3db2b27f6440a2a/1488483067306/disciplines_web_jw.pdf.
Nelson, A. E. Spirituality & Leadership: Harnessing the Wisdom, Guidance, and Power of the Soul . Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2016.
Newman, David B, John B Nezlek, and Todd M Thrash. “The Dynamics of Prayer in Daily Life and Implications for Well-Being.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 124, no. 6 (2023): 1299. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2023-35376-001.
Nouwen, H. J. M. Reaching out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life . Kampala, Uganda: Fountain Publishers, 1996.
Nsengimana, Schadrack. “Using a Small Group Approach to Increase Church Growth in the Gikondo Seventh-Day Adventist Church.” Andrews University, 2014. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/253/.
Oikonomou, Dimitri. “Christian Fasting.” Mozaik 10, no. 2 (2002): 16–18. http://www.koed.hu/mozaik10/dimitri.pdf.
Olan, Stubbs. Bible Crawling: Finding Joy in God by Journaling through the Psalms. Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2023.
Olesberg, L. The Bible Study Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to an Essential Practice . Westmont, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2012.
Peck, R. G. “Theological Education in Context: A Pilot Extension Program for the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Rwanda.” Andrews University, 1992. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/643.
Peterson, E. H. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society. Westmont, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2019.
Rivera, S. L. “Intentional Discipleship: Implementing a Theology of Discipleship for Spiritual Growth.” Liberty University, 2023. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6079&context=doctoral.
Robinson, N. S. Mentor for Life: Finding Purpose Through Intentional Discipleship. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016.
Ryan, T. P. Disciplines for Christian Living: Interfaith Perspectives. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1993.
Shaw, Luci. Life Path: Personal and Spiritual Growth through Journal Writing. Regent College Publishing, 2004.
Shirley, Chris. “It Takes a Church to Make a Disciple: An Integrative Model of Discipleship for the Local Church.” Southwestern Journal of Theology 50, no. 2 (2008): 207–24. https://swbtsv7.s3.amazonaws.com/media/Theology_Journal /50.2/50.2_Shirley.pdf.
Sievert, Louis J. “Worship in the Home: Family Devotions,” 1978. http://essays.wisluthsem.org:8080/bitstream/handle/123456789/3725/SievertDevotions.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.
Smith, Chuck. Effective Prayer Life. Word for Today, 2000.
Todd M., Fink. Biblical Discipleship: Essential Components for Attaining Spiritual Maturity. Sutherlin, OR: Selah Book Press, 2017.
Vos, Beverly. “The Spiritual Disciplines and Christian Ministry.” Evangelical Review of Theology 36, no. 2 (2012). https://professorphanor.com/wp-content/uploads/ 2014/09/SpiritualDisciplines.Simplicity.Week6_.Highlighted.pdf.
Wallace, Robin Knowles. “Worship and Becoming Disciples.” Quarterly Review-Nashville-United Methodist Publishing House- 23, no. 2 (2003): 131–40. https://www.academia.edu/ 20295658/Disciples_of_the_Future.
White, E. G. “ Pastoral Ministry .” In Ministerial Association, General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, 1995.
Whitney, D. S. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life . Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2014.
Willard, Dallas. “Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Formation, and the Restoration of the Soul.” Journal of Psychology and Theology 26, no. 1 (March 8, 1998): 101–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/009164719802600108.
Wilson, T. “Christian Spiritual Formation.” Emerging Leadership Journeys 10, no. 1 (2017): 126–37. https://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/elj/vol10iss1/ELJ_Vol10_Iss1 _full_issue.pdf#page=115.
Gerard Karasira Nsengiyumva is a highly experienced and ordained pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Rwanda, with an impressive 30-year record of serving in various capacities. He completed the Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology from the prestigious Adventist University of Africa in 2017. His academic pursuits have continued and he is currently engrossed in pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry from the same esteemed university. His experience ranges from serving in local churches to holding the prestigious position of executive director of the conference, which speaks to his vast knowledge and expertise. Gerard finds immense joy in preaching to congregations of all sizes, and he also has a keen interest in teaching and training pastors and lay people. He has a particular passion for mentoring new and young pastors, which is a testament to his dedication and commitment to the growth and development of the church community. His research interests are centered around the development of effective discipleship strategies and the process of spiritual formation. He is particularly interested in exploring the intersection of theology and practical methodologies, intending to identify best practices for nurturing the spiritual growth of individuals and communities.
Nsengiyumva, Gerard Karasira. “Discipleship Approach for Local Church Leaders in the Kigali City – East Central Rwanda Field,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 5, no.6 (2024): 1015-1024. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20245617
© 2024 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
