Enhancing Faith Proclamation in Nigeria: Christian Missions and Michael Hecht’s Communication Theory of Identity

Proclaiming the gospel is the central feature of Christian mission, thus making communication a critical challenge as missionaries attempt to share the message by learning language and culture. However, very few consider the influence of identity on communication. In this interdisciplinary work, Dr. Benjamin Isola Akano engages with Michael Hecht’s communication theory of identity, which argues that it is a multi-layered phenomenon with interlocking and shifting frames that leads to an identity gap between the speaker and audience. Therefore, the employment of Hecht’s theory aids in gospel proclamation for people’s holistic transformation into those with a kingdom identity. Practical and contextual, Dr. Akano provides a historical overview of missional practice in Nigeria, analyzes missiological concepts of faith proclamation as a communicative experience, and applies Hecht’s theory to three selected indigenous missions to accurately convey the current state of missional faith proclamation in Nigeria. He argues that the establishment of identity, language and cultural learning, and contextual biblical translation are all necessary elements for successful intercultural proclamation. Written in accessible language, this book provides missionaries, pastors, and theologians with a framework for powerful and transformative communication practices.