Contextualising the Gospel to Reach the Youth in the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Ireland

This study investigates youth in The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Ireland that exemplify the increasing global problem of dwindling youth church participation because of the lack of association between the old forms of evangelism and the new youth culture. The research design was pragmatic integrating qualitative research designs through 30 interviews, 2 focus groups, 119 surveys, and workshop observations. This methodology allowed not only for an extensive knowledge of the perceptions of the youth but also captured the context, lived experiences, and cultural aspects that could hinder effective Gospel message delivery and receipt. The results indicated that communication style, cultural rigidity through the insistence of traditional methods, and the lack of youth inclusion were major barriers to reaching the youth. Conversely, the results also indicated that digital evangelism, culturally epitomized messages, and relationship strategies positively contributed to youth involvement in the local church. Findings further indicated that the Gospel was better received by youth when the message contained greater fidelity and contextual sensitivity. Overall, results of the study suggest that contextualization is not just associated with making stylistic changes but also structural, relational, and cultural leadership changes. The study offered practical suggestions that church leaders could consider when following contextualized evangelism methods that appeal to young people in terms of their cultural realities. Based on the findings, I adopted a working model to enhance the effectiveness of youth ministry in the context of the diaspora churches and added to the fields of both theological and practical discourse. Future research could expand the sample to other diaspora churches in Ireland, Europe, and around the world.