Crossing the Year with God: A Theological Interpretation of Watch Night Church Attendance

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7833/125-1-2356

Keywords:

Watch night services, Lived theology, Selective worship, Sacred time, Pentecostal Christianity, Church attendance, African Christianity

Abstract

This study examines the theological meanings that shape Christians’ selective church attendance, focusing on the widespread practice of attending watch night services on 31st December despite irregular participation in worship services throughout the year. Using a mixed-methods approach combining interviews and structured responses across churches in Accra, the study explores how believers interpret the spiritual significance of watch night worship. The findings show that attendance on 31st December is driven primarily by gratitude for survival, desire for divine protection, and hope for the coming year. Participants frame watch night services as liminal moments that require intentional engagement with God, rather than as substitutes for regular discipleship. While most respondents affirm the importance of regular church attendance, they also articulate a hierarchical understanding of sacred time in which certain moments carry greater spiritual urgency. The study argues that watch night attendance reflects lived theology and theological prioritisation rather than religious inconsistency, offering important implications for pastoral practice and church engagement strategies.

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Author Biographies

Samuel Nana Yaw Agyei, North West University, South Africa

Rev Dr Samuel Nana Yaw Agyei is a theologian and researcher affiliated with the Unit for Reformed Theology, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Theology from North-West University, as well as a Master of Theology (MTh) and a Bachelor of Theology (BTh). His academic work focuses on financial integrity, leadership ethics, and ecclesiology within African Pentecostal and Charismatic contexts. His recent research explores the intersection of Christian ethics and financial management in church institutions. In addition to his research, Samuel is engaged in teaching, church-based leadership training, and theological writing, reflecting a strong commitment to reforming financial practices in faith-based communities across Ghana.

Nicholas Darko, Pentecost University

Dr Nicholas Darko holds a PhD in Practical Theology from the South African Theological Seminary, Johannesburg. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Pentecost University, Ghana, and a consultant in organisational development. As a pastor, he served for many years as the Finance and Administration Director of The Church of Pentecost in Ghana.

Michael Kumaglo, University of Ghana

Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

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Published

2026-07-03

How to Cite

Agyei, S. N. Y., Darko, N., & Kumaglo, M. (2026). Crossing the Year with God: A Theological Interpretation of Watch Night Church Attendance. Scriptura: Journal for Biblical, Theological and Contextual Hermeneutics, 125(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.7833/125-1-2356

Issue

Vol. 125 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Articles

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