THE CHALLENGES OF RURAL CHURCH PLANTING IN THE PRESTEA AREA OF THE WESTERN REGION

Abstract

There seem to be some perceptions concerning the rural environment. These perceptions are based on the fact that the rural area is a difficult terrain for all sort of activity. The rural context is seen as lacking in many social amenities, and the inhabitants are usually considered as poor. This perceived deprivation of the rural context seem poses to a great challenge to many activities including missions and church planting. Despite the many difficulties of the rural environment, the church has been mandated to carry or propagate the Goodnews of salvation to everyone everywhere. We are told in Luke 8:1 that Jesus went to every town and village to proclaim the Goodnews of the Kingdom of God. In this same sense Jesus has commanded us as a church to go everywhere including the rural areas to proclaim the gospel. Our faithfulness to the Lord Jesus is therefore measured by how we heed his call and how we walk by his example. Thus, nowhere is a “no-go” area to the gospel. Despite the seeming challenges in rural ministry, the church has what it takes to carry out its mandate of evangelism and missions. Wayne Grudem has noted that the church has a ministry towards the world, and this involves evangelism and social concern.1 In his view declaring the gospel is the primary ministry that the church has toward the world. On his part Kenneth Gangel, has noted that evangelism is a legitimate task of the church. Every believer is responsible to communicate the gospel.