Intercultural Appraisal of Christian Youths’ Involvement in Cross-cultural Missions among Fali People of Mubi North Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria
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Date
2025-12
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Lead City University, Ibadan
Abstract
In the light of the low involvement of the Fali Christian Youths in the continuity of the Great Commission, this study examined intercultural appraisal of Christian youths’ involvement in cross-cultural missions among Fali people of Mubi North Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The objectives were to examine the evolution of Christianity among the Fali people; the incoming of cross-cultural missionary work to the Fali people; identify the responses of Fali Christian youths to cross-cultural missionary work between 2014 and 2024; identify the prospects of cross-cultural missionary work among the Fali Christian youths; and identify strategies to enhance the response of Fali Christian youths to cross-cultural missionary work. Positive Youth Development theory which was adopted as the framework for this study, posits that youths are resources to be developed rather than problems to be solved. This study adopted the descriptive survey research design. Two sets of instruments -Questionnaire and in-depth interview guide were designed and used. The total sample used was two hundred (200) respondents, one hundred and fifty (150) for the Questionnaire and fifty (50) for the in-depth interview. Cronbach’s Alpha reliability test was used to test reliability of the research instrument which had the value of 0.947. Data were collected and analysed using percentages, descriptive analyses content and thematic analysis. The findings revealed that Christianity arrived the Fali communities selected for this study at different times from about 1958 to 1990s. White Catholic priests came before 1960 followed by indigenous Nigerian cross-cultural missionaries between the 1980s to 1990s.The indigenous missionaries had initial challenges and barriers, but had holistic impact among the Falis, established the Christian Faith, planted churches, engaged in literacy-educational, medical and agricultural extension services. Despite the missionaries’ positive impact, Fali Christian youths have had a decline in involvement in cross-cultural missions between 2014-2024. The low educational and vocational skills level of most Fali youths, insecurities orchestrated by Boko
Haram terrorist insurgencies, reduced level of spiritual formation and discipleship have hindered Fali Christian youths’ involvement in intercultural interactions with the Gospel. For continuity of the Great Commission from Fali youths, leadership of mission/churches should develop youths’ capacities by facilitating tertiary and higher education, vocational skills acquisition, more missions and theological training schools, incorporate creative access methods of missions-sending, financial and moral support for youths. This study fills the gap of providing literary work about
Fali people, their state of Christianity, challenges and contributions of indigenous cross-cultural missionaries among them, and strategies for the development of Fali youths holistically and towards the Great Commission.
Keywords: Cross-cultural missions, Intercultural interactions, Unreached People Groups, Youths, Fali people
Word count: 427
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Keywords
Cross-cultural missions, Intercultural interactions, Unreached People Groups, Youths, Fali people
Citation
Kate Turabian