Date
5-23-2025
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
Chair
Dennis Wilhite
Keywords
Discipleship, Haitian, Sunday School, Bible study, Multigenerational, Voodoo, Spiritual Formation, Culture
Disciplines
Christianity | Religion
Recommended Citation
Jean, Evans, "Developing A Contextualized Discipleship Pathway for Spiritual Formation and Multiplication Through A Culturally Relevant And Sustainable Model" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 6921.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/6921
Abstract
Philadelphia Church of the Newborns (PCN) is a multigenerational Haitian church that has been serving the Haitian community for over 36 years. The church has an average of 375 members who regularly attend Sunday services. Since its establishment, PCN has embraced a traditional approach to discipleship, which is conducted through Sunday school and Bible study. Its ministry context includes Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. Many members were raised in Haiti and understand how church traditions operate within the Haitian context. Discipleship takes place through church activities rather than structured programs. PCN is recognized for its solid biblical teaching of the Scriptures.
Haitian culture dramatically influences how individuals participate in spiritual formation. These elements arise from Haiti's religious history, mainly shaped by the interplay of Vodou and Catholicism. This influences the approach of many Haitian churches toward biblical discipleship. Joseph elaborates, stating, “The Haitian experience in religion is full of complexity and ambivalence.” Although Christianity is the dominant faith at PCN, remnants of past religious beliefs that many members have not fully renounced still exist. Joseph continues, “One of the major goals of the church, which was also the goal of the state, was to eradicate Vodou from the Haitian soil.” This presents a unique opportunity to examine critically the internal factors influencing how the church understands discipleship. These underlying influences and barriers move toward a solution that can help implement a structured discipleship process for PCN members. The historical and cultural identity cannot be overlooked due to the religious syncretism that often shapes how the church approaches spiritual formation.
