Appraisal of Strategies for Integrating Conversion Experience into Discipleship Program: A Case Study of the Redeemed College of Missions, Ede

Abstract

This study looks into how conversion encounters can be incorporated into discipleship programs in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), a study of the Redeemed College of Missions. Data was collected by sending structured questionnaires (Google Forms) through WhatsApp to 49 students selected from a population of 132 from different RCCG regions. The study uses a descriptive research design and is supported by the Bridge Conversion Model by Richardson and Stewart (2021). Findings discloses that all participants (100%) have a personal conversion encounter, with 42.6% portraying it as sudden and 51.1% as gradual, while 80% considered their conversion highly significant to their Christian growth. Only 33.3% of respondents reported becoming a Christian to their leaders within a week, and 21.3% had no exposure to discipleship, indicating gaps in the conversion-to-discipleship process. Despite this, 83% of respondents engaged in discipleship activities and 89.4% attended baptismal classes; all respondents expressed satisfaction with the effectiveness of discipleship experiences in meeting conversion needs. 70.2% of respondents said that immediate mentorship was the most successful integration strategy. However, 83% of respondents identified insufficient follow-up as a significant obstacle. The study comes to the conclusion that although RCCG has robust discipleship programs, improved follow-up and individualised mentoring are essential for more effective integration of conversion experiences.