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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background of the Study

The world is in a “whole new ball game” because of the complex issues affecting today’s teens in our media-driven youth culture. Christian churches are discovering that the “old ways” of reaching teens with the gospel are no longer effective. Times have changed, and so must the methods of teens ministry and evangelism. An open and honest approach is essential as these challenges are faced. The response will dramatically affect the future of the churches.

According to David Kinnaman, the problem of young adults dropping out of church life is particularly urgent because most churches work best for ‘traditional’ young adults—those whose life journeys and life questions are normal and conventional. But most teens no longer follow the typical path of leaving home, getting admission into higher institution for conventional courses like Law, accountancy, medicine, engineering amongst others. More teenagers are opting courses like theater art, music and at a very young age. Life events are re-ordered and sometimes pushed completely off the normal track. The world for teenagers is changing in significant ways through remarkable access to the world and world view through technology. In order to address this challenge, many churches in recent time started Teens church to be able to minister to the needs of the teenagers. However, how effective has the Teens church impacted the teenagers.

The research work is to evaluate the teens church program and activities, how effective is it to attract this group of people to Christ compared to other distractions from peer pressure, illegal work for money by gambling, commercial sex workers, occultism amongst other vices. The attendance of teens church is to be checked to know how effective the various activities are, the effect of these programs on the teenagers, how it affects their lifestyle, the changes in their lives and character. The research work is to suggest ideas to the Teens pastors and parents on programs and activities such as Christian worship, conviction and conversion, church membership, bible study that will enhance the teenagers’ life, encourage the teenagers to be focused on their life goals and Christian believes as accepting Christ as savior, being sensitive to the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, church membership and witnessing for Christ.

1.2  Statement of the Problem

It is no more news that the teenage age bracket is full of confusion and questions that no one person can sort nor settle. In the struggle for identity and accommodation into the church setting the teen’s church is blatantly abused. This research is aimed at proffering solutions such as; attracting the teenagers to church, retaining the teenagers and how to encourage the teens to decide for Jesus Christ which are the challenges of the teen’s church and bringing about growth in the body of Christ. In achieving this, the teenagers will be challenged to seriously and constructively consider the implication of God’s word and how to interact with basic issues personally.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study is to assess the impact of teens church on teens ministry. Specific objectives include;

To make clarifications on the teens church activities.

To make thorough investigation on the characteristics of a teen church.

To determine the impact of teens church on the advancement of the teens’ ministry 

To find out the effects of the teen’s church on individual teenagers

To make recommendation(s) on ways the teens church can be more impactful.

1.4 Research Questions

What are the exact activities of the teen church?

What are the characteristics of a teen church?

To what extent does the teens church impact the advancement of the teen’s ministry? 

Does the teen’s church have any significant effect on the life of a teenager? 

Are there possible recommendations more ways by which the teens church can be made to be more impactful?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

Hypothesis I

H0: The teens church does not have any significant impact on the advancement of the teen’s ministry

Hi: The teens church has a significant impact on the advancement of the teen’s ministry

Hypothesis II

H0: The teens church does not have a significant effect on the life of a teenager 

Hi: The teens church has a significant effect on the life of a teenager

1.6 Significance of the Study

This research will be beneficiary to the followings;

The teenager’s parents. It will help them know how to create an atmosphere of peace in the family that presents God as creator of heaven and earth, and Jesus as savior.

The teenager’s counselors. It will help them give godly advice and instructions to teenagers whenever necessary.

The teenager’s Pastor. It will enable them to organize programs and activities that will promote spiritual growth for the teenager

The teenagers. It will help them personally to make right decisions about relationship with God through Christ.

The teens ministry leadership. It will help to be able to plan for teenagers and how to train the Teens workers.

Church organization. It will help to know what and how to finance the various activities of the teens church.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The research work is intended to only examine the impact on the teenagers of the effect of the teens ministry. The work will not consider other issues like the qualities and qualification of the teens pastor or counselor, the home setting (talking about the parents) of the teenagers, nor the denominational doctrine or believe of the church of the teenager. The research work only analyzed the effect of teens ministry on the individual teenager. Also, the research work has nothing to do with the other arms and departments of the FGC, NHQ church like the children and the adult church, the research work is concentrated on teens church, National Headquarters, Yaba.

1.8 Limitations of the study

Literatures related to dealing with Christian teens are scarce, materials are more available on youths and the church, even children, this is because teenagers who are unique in age and character are most times marginalized with the children or better still, the youth. Another limitation is availability of teens churches, the idea of teens church is still new in some churches hence the scope of getting a case study is limited.

The demanding schedule of respondents at work made it very difficult getting the respondents to participate in the survey. As a result, retrieving copies of questionnaire in timely fashion was very challenging. Also, the researcher is a student and therefore has limited time as well as resources in covering extensive literature available in conducting this research. Information provided by the researcher may not hold true for all businesses or organizations but is restricted to the selected organization used as a study in this research especially in the locality where this study is being conducted. Finally, the researcher is restricted only to the evidence provided by the participants in the research and therefore cannot determine the reliability and accuracy of the information provided.

Financial constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Teenager: A person between 13 and 19 years of age, an adolescent.

Church: An assembly of the call-out ones for God’s eternal purpose.

Relevance: Bearing upon or relating to the matter in hand, pertinent, to the point.

Contemporary: Happening or existing now or at the particular to which time you are referring.

TEENS Church: Assembly of teenagers (adolescents, people between age 13-18), for the purpose of worshipping GOD in the name of Jesus.