Textbooks for African Bible Colleges

This dissertation examines the effectiveness of using books that are primarily narrative as textbooks in African Bible colleges. The importance of narrative communication is frequently discussed in the literature. Narrative is considered an important tool in communicating the gospel in many situations. The research upon which this dissertation is based sought to measure the effect of narrative against the effect of essay in an experiment conducted with ninety-three subjects at George Benson Christian College in Zambia and thirty-five subjects at Ghana Baptist Seminary.
This study is important because it attempts to examine empirically the theory that narrative communication of the gospel is desirable in Africa or in the third world in general. In this respect it carries forward the work of Steffen and Klem. It also addresses related issues often discussed in the literature, such as field dependency and educational goals in Bible college education. In this respect it carries forward the work of Bowen and Buconyori.
This study will be of particular interest to those involved in the training of Christian workers in Africa. It may also be of use to church planters in Africa and to theological educators in other parts of the world.