Op pad na ’n volwasse gemeente – ’n empiriese ondersoek met die oog op die ontwikkeling van ’n bedieningsmodel

Abstract

Towards a mature congregation - an empirical study of the development of a ministry model. This article describes an empirical study conducted in the Re- formed Church Randburg during January 2009. The objective of the study was to gather information with the aim of improving or modifying the congregation's ministry model in terms of minis- tering within the congregation. The congregation's initiatives outside of the congregation were not addressed. The ultimate goal is a congregation of which the members serve each other, as God prescribes in his Word, and as such, mature to the glory of his Name. Firstly, the role that an empirical study should play within the development of a ministry model is discussed. Then, the historical run-up to the empirical study within the Reformed Church Randburg is described. This includes the ministry model followed up to the time of the study, as well as the degree to which it was successful. The research methodology and its re- sults are then discussed. In conclusion, the guidelines deduced from the results of the research for the development of a mi- nistry model are discussed.