ii

APPROVAL
This research has been read and approved as meeting the requirements of Gindiri
Theological Seminary an Affiliated to the University of Jos.

_____________________________ _________________________
Rev. Prof. Jotham Maza Kangdim Date
(Project Supervisor)

_____________________________ _________________________
Rev. Dr. Hezekiah H. Goholshak Date
(Dean of Academics)

_____________________________ _________________________
External Examiner Date
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DEDICATION
This write up is dedicated to our Lord Almighty God, the giver of life to all
mankind. To him be the Glory forever.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I acknowledge a special divine assistance of God towards the completion of

this work. At a point it appears as if it is impossible to continue, but he who makes

way where there is no way has seen me through.

My supervisor Rev. Prof. Jotham Maza Kangdim, I thank you sincerely not

only for being my supervisor but, for your interest, patience, care and love. Above

all, the diligence and commitment with which you corrected my work is

overwhelming, and it has made me to be proud of you and of this work resulting

from our Labour. God bless you.

I wish to express my indebtedness to my beloved wife and children, Mrs

Na’anbilip Bamaiyi, my children’s; Peace Bamaiyi, Mission Bamaiyi, Alheri

Bamaiyi, Godiya Bamaiyi, Kauna Bamaiyi, and Victor Bamaiyi, for their prayers

and support.

I sincerely appreciate all those whose works I consulted to enrich my ideas as

found expressed in this project. For the gift of one another in the literary world, to

God be the glory forever and ever Amen. I am grateful to my lecturers for shaping

my life and help me learned a lot during my study; I thank God for the privilege to

learn under them. I earnestly own up errors and mistakes possibly to be found in this

work as mistakes of the heard and not of the heart.

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TABLES OF CONTENT

TITLE PAGE - - - - - - - - i

APPROVAL - - - - - - - - - ii

DEDICATION - - - - - - - - iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT - - - - - - - iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS. - - - - - - - v

ABSTRACT - - - - - - - - - viii

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY - - - - - 1

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM - - - - - 3

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY - - - - - - 5

1.4 AIM AND THE OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY - - - 5

1.5 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY - - - - 6

1.6 METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY - - - - 7

1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY - - - 7

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS - - - - - - 7

1.9 RESEARCH QUESTIONS - - - - - - 8

CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 A CALL TO PASTORAL WORK. - - - - - 9
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2.2 THE PURPOSE OF HIS CALLING - - - - - 12

2.2.1 Family or parental influence - - - - - - 14

2.3 THE SPIRITUAL REASONS FOR PASTOR’S CALL - - 14

2.3.1 It is a ministry which links men with God. - - - - 15

2.4 THE SPIRITUAL REASONS FOR PASTOR’S CALL - - 16

2.4.1 It is a spiritual ministry - - - - - - 16

2.4.2 It is a ministry which links men with God. - - - - 16

2.4.3 It conserves all true values of a believer. - - - - 17

2.5 THE PASTOR AND HIS WORK - - - - - 17

2.6 OLD TESTAMENT EDUCATED SHEPHERD - - - 19

2.7 NEW TESTAMENT EDUCATED SHEPHERD - - - 21

2.8 THE NEED FOR EDUCATION IN PASTORAL WORK - - 23

2.9 A THEOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHURCH - 27

2.10 THE UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF PASTOR IN THE CHURCH

AND SOCIETY - - - - - - - 28

2.10.1 Pastoral Ministry - - - - - - - 28

2.10.2 The Work of the Pastor - - - - - - 32

2.10.2 The Associate Pastor and His Role - - - - - 33

2.10.3 The Leading Pastor and His Role - - - - - 35

2.10.4 Significance of Team Work in the Pastoral Ministry - - 36

2.10.5 The Pastor and Team Work - - - - - - 37

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2.10.6 The Theology of the Church - - - - - - 37

2.10.7 Local Church and Earthly Assembly - - - - - 39

CHAPTER THREE
BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF COCIN RCC GOMBE

3.1 EARLY HISTORY - - - - - - - 42

3.2 ARRIVAL AND LOCAL SPREAD: - - - - 46

3.3 THE EMERGENCE OF THE OFFICE OF ASSOCIATE PASTOR

IN CHURCH OF CHRIST IN NATIONS (COCIN) - - 49

3.4 EARLY BEGINNINGS OF CHURCH OF CHRIST IN NIGERIA

(COCIN) - - - - - - - - 50

3.5 METHODOLOGY - - - - - - - 53

CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 DATA COLLECTION ANALYSIS - - - - - 55

CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 SUMMARY - - - - - - - - 63
5.2 CONCLUSION - - - - - - - 64
5.3 RECOMMENDATION - - - - - - 65
WORKS CITED - - - - - - - 66
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ABSTRACT
The research is aimed at finding out the relevance of Pastoral Relationship between
the Leading Pastor and Associate Pastor in COCIN especially in COCIN RCC
Gombe. This research is to help the COCIN Leading Pastors and Associate Pastors
work together as Light and Salt of the world. This will enable them get right their
responsibilities and make positive impact to the lives of their members thereby
enhance the Church growth. The researcher will emphasise on the importance of the
practice of the office of the Associate Pastor in COCIN and its implication in
Pastoral Ministry. Lastly the researcher will make suggestion for the Church to
encourage the Leading Pastors to embrace Unity and Love with their Associate
Pastors and Associate Reverend because doing that will help the Church grows
stronger.