JORAS - Nigerian Journal of Religion and Society

This study examines the shepherding mission of the Church in Nigeria, highlighting hopes and challenges faced by pastoral agents. The research explores the theological foundations of pastoral ministry in the Nigerian context, and the experiences of pastoral agents. Many of the Ministers of the Gospel in Nigeria are passing through a lot of persecution and circumscription to freedom of religion from Islamic terrorist groups like Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen etc. As a result, lives have been lost, properties destroyed, Churches have been destroyed and deserted in some places. This work employs the spiral cycle method of Pastoral theology in order to create a deeper understanding of the shepherding mission of the Church by the identification of key challenges and hope for pastoral agents. This work argues that if Shepherding mission of the Church is properly studied and understood, Ministers of the Gospel would persevere and continually take active steps in the spread of the gospel irrespective of the setbacks because God is its source. This study contributes to Pastoral theology and practice? Church growth and development in Nigeria which calls for interfaith dialogue and collaboration.

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