The Role of Small-Group Practices on Members’ Participation in Church Mission in North-West Rwanda

Mutuyimana Nkundakozera
President North-West Rwanda, Field
School of Theology Seminary, Adventist University of Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.
Email: mutuyimanan@aua.ac.ke

https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6579-5846

Abstract: A lot of literature relating to small group practices in the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) exists, but they have not done enough to address the growing need of the church members to fully participate in the ministry. This study examined how small-group practices enhance members’ participation in the Ministry. It specifically examined small group practices in the Old Testament (OT), New Testament (NT), in the SDA Church, in the North-West Rwanda Field (NWRF) of the SDA Church, and how they are adopted there. The study used a scoping review approach which included secondary data from the Bible, religious and non-religious literature, and reports from the NWRF. Data analysis was thematically performed to identify various group practices. These were presented according to the study objectives. Findings showed that small groups existed in the OT and NT and included commitment to service, faith in God, obedience to God, leadership, worship, mission care, Christ-centered, community-centered, selfless, and nurturing. In the SDA Churches, practices like community, prayer, nurturing, cell fellowship, and social were exercised. In the NWRF, they practiced training and nurturing. However, most of the established small groups in the NWRF seemed to have departmental structures. This study provided additional knowledge to the understanding of the practical functionality of small groups in the NWRF. The study concluded that small groups in OT, NT, SDA Church, and in NWRF had both similar and varying practices that can be used to enhance church members’ participation in the NWRF ministry. The study recommends the establishment of small groups whose practices are based on the OT, NT, and SDA Church models. The study further recommended the use of mixed methods in future studies to corroborate the findings of this study.