CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The word church is a translation of the Greek ekklesia, which means “a calling out.” The Septuagint, the Greek version of the Hebrew O.T. uses the Hebrew qahal, which stands for “gathering,’ “assembly,” or “congregation” (Deut. 9:10; 18:16; 1 Sam. 17:47; 1 Chron. 13:2). The proper definition for the church is “the body of Christ, a community of faith of which Christ Himself is the Head. The church is the bride for whom Christ died that He might sanctify and cleanse her” (Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs) Believe), 2013). Another fitting definition by Carlos G. Martin, professor of Mission and Church Growth, states, “Church is a local community of Christians voluntarily congregated, correctly baptized, and properly organized, which meets to worship God, observe the ordinances, and carry out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ at home