Reassessing Pauline Discipleship as a Framework for Addressing Youth Disengagement in Nigerian Pentecostal Churches: Evidence from Christ Apostolic Church Oke-Itura District, Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria

Youth disengagement in contemporary Christianity is the process whereby young people drift away from church attendance and activities because they find institutional environments relationally isolated, intellectually shallow, or disconnected from real-world issues. This trend poses a significant challenge to the long-term sustainability of the church. This paper reassesses the Pauline concept of discipleship as a model for addressing youth disengagement within Nigerian Pentecostal churches. The rate at which youths raised in Christian homes abandon active participation in church life has become a major concern globally; the Christ Apostolic Church is not exempt from this challenge, as many young adults have migrated to other denominations. Adopting historical and empirical research methods, this study utilizes oral interviews conducted among pastors, youth executives, and church youths to investigate the causes of youth disengagement and propose actionable solutions. The study is anchored on the Relational Discipleship Theory, which emphasizes spiritual growth through intentional relationships, mentorship, modelling, and interpersonal influence. Findings reveal that relationship gaps, the strict enforcement of certain doctrinal regulations, and vocational and economic challenges are among the major factors contributing to youth disengagement in the church. This paper argues that Apostle Paul’s discipleship model was deeply relational and mentorship-oriented, emphasizing spiritual fathering, guidance, and intentional mentoring. Accordingly, the study recommends that church leaders adopt innovative, relational, and mentorship-based discipleship strategies to minimize youth disengagement rates. Furthermore, it recommends that church authorities intentionally address the spiritual, emotional, vocational, financial, and social needs of the youth to promote commitment, a sense of belonging, and long-term participation in the church.