Church Growth in African Diaspora Communities

There are influential forces militating against church growth, especially in the diasporic context. In this book, Dr. Ayokunle critically investigates contemporary realities influencing church growth among African diaspora congregations in Liverpool. This book, without any reservation whatsoever, is hereby recommended.

Deji Ayegboyin, PhD
Professor of Church History, Doctrinal Theology, and African Christianity,
University of Ibadan, Nigeria

In this book, Dr. Ayokunle has employed a church growth perspective that argues that Liverpool’s African diaspora congregations (ADCs) are missional communities whose growth embraces an African-shaped ecclesiology to thrive amidst Christian contraction and secularity. This work contributes new research impetus that embellishes our understanding of ADCs beyond what currently exists in the literature.

Bosco Bangura, PhD
Assistant Professor of Missiology, World Christianity, and Intercultural Theology,
Evangelical Theological Faculty, Belgium

Once in a while, a book appears that opens up new avenues of discussing a subject in exciting ways that can potentially reshape the discipline for future generations. This book is one of those. It will be helpful to teachers of theology and missions as well as leaders of diaspora congregations around the world. It comes with my recommendation.

Harvey Kwiyani, PhD
Executive Director, Missio Africanus
Lead, African Christianity Programme and Diaspora Centre,
Church Mission Society

This is a well-written and thoroughly researched book focusing on African diaspora congregations in Liverpool, but it also has findings that resonate more widely, both for the African diaspora and white British churches.

Cathy Ross, PhD
Lead, Pioneer Mission Leadership Training Centre,
Church Mission Society
Canon Theologian, Leicester Cathedral, UK

Dr. Ayokunle’s groundbreaking book offers a profound exploration of the complex dynamics shaping the growth of African diaspora congregations in a UK context. It fills a critical gap in the literature by examining the church growth phenomenon within this specific – and marginalized – context. I heartily commend the book as essential reading for those interested in the intersection of culture, theology, and church leadership.

Joseph Ola
Lecturer in African Christianity,
Church Mission Society

1. Abstract
2. Acknowledgments
3. List of Abbreviations
4. Chapter 1 Introduction
5. Chapter 2 Literature Review
6. Chapter 3 Methodology
7. Chapter 4 Theories of Church Growth
8. Chapter 5 Church Growth and Development of African Diaspora Congregations in Liverpool
9. Chapter 6 Research Findings and Implications
10. Chapter 7 Omolúàbí-Shaped Ecclesiology
11. Chapter 8 Church Growth and the Dynamics of Race
12. Chapter 9 Church Growth and Adaptive Leadership
13. Chapter 10 Summary and Conclusions
14. Bibliography
15. Appendix I Expanded Code List
16. Appendix II Religious Affiliation Among Adults in Great Britain NATCEN’s British Social Attitudes Survey
17. Appendix III List of Some ADCs in Liverpool
18. Appendix IV Interview Questions
19. Appendix V Research Information Sheet
20. Appendix VI Sample Interview Transcript