Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal
Vol-01, Issue-03 (Oct-Dec 2023)
An International scholarly/ academic journal, peer-reviewed/ refereed journal, ISSN : 2960-0006
Saved To Serve: Salvific Role Of Christian Education In Discipling Muslim Converts For Sound Church Integration
Aderele, Abiodun James
Associate Director, Institute of Family Life and Societal Development, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
Page Numbers: 160–177
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59231/edumania/9004
Subject : Christian Education, Theology, Discipleship, Missiology
Received: Jul 12, 2023
Accepted: Aug 24, 2023
Published: Oct 05, 2023
Thematic Classification: Salvation, Christian Education, Muslim Converts, Church Integration
Abstract
This paper is an exposition of the salvific role of Christian education in discipling Muslim converts for sound church integration. This is done by considering the responsibility of the great commission to disciple and the fact that Muslim converts need special attention in terms of discipleship for proper and sound church integration, which helps them become stable Christians. This situation is particular to but not limited to churches in North-East Nigeria. To achieve this, the writer employed the descriptive method for the study. Findings revealed that the role of Christian education is paramount to the physical and spiritual growth of Muslim converts and to integrate them into the church through engaging discipleship, which consists of the practical and biblical orientation of love, service, worship, proclamation, and advocacy, which are the tasks of Christian education according to Pazmino. This writer concludes that discipleship is a responsibility following salvation of individuals and groups to enhance the belief of Muslim converts. Moreover, there is no other option than for Christian educators in the church to care and teach with relevant resources considering the situation and the understanding of the Muslim converts who see the church as a community where they can love and be loved. This writer hereby recommends that churches in this changing world should be prepared for Muslims who will come to Jesus Christ and not wait until they come before thinking of what to do.
Keywords: Salvation, Christian Education, Muslim Converts, Church Integration.
About The Author
Abiodun James Aderele (B.A.ED English Language (OAU Ile-Ife), B.A. Religious Studies (ACU, Oyo), MDiv Th., Mphil., PhD(World Religions) “in View” (NBTS, Ogbomoso). He is a Baptist minister and theological educator who serves as an Associate Director (Research and Partnerships) & Journal Editor at the Institute of Family Life and Societal Development, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. He has lectured at the Baptist College of Theology, Igede-Ekiti and held Teaching Assistant position at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso. He has authored a book, chapters in books and journal articles nationally and internationally on Religious Theologies, Missiology, Comparative Religion, and Peace and Conflict Studies. He is also one of the researchers on “The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Transnational Young People of African Migrant Background” as one of the Young People’s Advisory Group of Glasgow University, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Impact statement
Muslim converts need special attention in terms of discipleship for proper and sound church integration, which helps them become stable Christians. This situation is particular to but not limited to churches in North-East Nigeria. To achieve this, the writer employed the descriptive method for the study. Findings revealed that the role of Christian education is paramount to the physical and spiritual growth of Muslim converts and to integrate them into the church through engaging discipleship, which consists of the practical and biblical orientation of love, service, worship, proclamation, and advocacy, which are the tasks of Christian education according to Pazmino. The paper hereby recommends that churches in this changing world should be prepared for Muslims who will come to Jesus Christ rather than waiting till they come before thinking of how to meaningfully engage them.
Cite This Article
APA Style (7th Ed.): Aderele, A. J. (2023). Saved To Serve: Salvific role of Christian education in discipling Muslim converts for sound church integration. Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 1(3), 160–177. https://doi.org/10.59231/edumania/9004
Chicago Style (17th Ed.): Aderele, Abiodun James. “Saved To Serve: Salvific Role Of Christian Education In Discipling Muslim Converts For Sound Church Integration.” Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal 1, no. 3 (2023): 160–177. https://doi.org/10.59231/edumania/9004.
MLA Style (9th Ed.): Aderele, Abiodun James. “Saved To Serve: Salvific Role Of Christian Education In Discipling Muslim Converts For Sound Church Integration.” Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, vol. 1, no. 3, 2023, pp. 160–177. International Council for Education Research and Training, https://doi.org/10.59231/edumania/9004.
Statements & Declarations
Authors’ Contribution: Abiodun James Aderele is the sole author of this study. He conceptualized the research theme, conducted the literature search and descriptive analysis regarding Christian education, discipleship, and church integration for Muslim background converts, synthesized the theoretical models, and drafted as well as finalized the complete manuscript.
Peer Review: This article has undergone a double-blind peer-review process organized by the editorial board and independent domain experts of Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal to ensure its academic standards, conceptual soundness, and contribution to educational and theological research.
Competing Interests: The author declares no competing financial, personal, or institutional interests that could have influenced or appeared to influence the findings, analytical conclusions, or recommendations presented in this paper.
Funding: The author declares that no external financial grants or funding were received from any public, commercial, or non-profit sector to support the research or preparation of this manuscript.
Data Availability: Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no empirical quantitative datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.
Ethical Approval: The study is descriptive and literature-based in nature. Information derived from personal interactions or interviews cited in the text was obtained with the consent of the individuals involved, maintaining standard ethical considerations regarding participant protection and confidentiality.
License: © 2023 International Council for Education Research and Training. This work is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), allowing for open access, sharing, adaptation, and distribution, provided that the original author and publication source are appropriately credited.
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