THE ROLE OF MUSIC IN SERMONIZING AMONG SELECTED CHURCH DENOMINATIONS IN NNEWI METROPOLIS, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

his study investigated the role of music in sermonizing among three selected church denominations in Nnewi metropolis, Anambra state, Nigeria. The research focused on the perspectives of selected preachers from St. Paul‟s Anglican Church Nnobi representing the Anglican Church, St. Mary‟s Catholic Church Nnewi representing the Roman Catholic Church and Save the Lost Mission Inc. in Nnewi representing the Pentecostal Church. The study explained why sermonists irrespective of church denomination use music in their sermons. The method of data collection was based on interview and observation. The subjects of the study comprised two preachers and selected congregation members of the concerned churches cutting across gender and age brackets. The researcher in his findings arrived at the fact that the use of relevant music (songs) in church sermons plays vital roles in motivating and arousing the minds and emotions of listeners prior, during and after sermons. In summary, he concluded that sermon preachers of all denominations should endeavor to use relevant songs in their sermon deliveries for reaching and winning of souls for Christ. The study recommends that further studies should be extended to other church denominations like the Cherubim and Seraphim, Celestial Church and other white garment churches as well as other indigenous and orthodox churches to authenticate the outcome of this research hence the study did not necessarily exhaust the whole truth intended to emerge in the subject matter discussed.