Kenya
During the month of December most parishes (equivalent to an LCMS circuit, ie consisting of 5-7 congregations) host theological seminars. They invite different pastors or church workers to teach on different topics. It may be practical topics like marriage or tithing. Other speak on dogmatic questions like eschatology (the End Times) or Baptism. Part of the time I was asked to teach on the topic, “The Office of the Keys.” But I was also called on to answer random questions. This is not easy! Imagine standing in front of 400 people and church members are invited to ask the missionary from America ANY question that is on their mind!
Name: Kenya
President: Mwai KIBAKI
Population: 39,002,772
Independence: 1963
National Language: English, Kiswahili
Other languages: 42 tribal languages
Literacy rate: 81.5%
90.6% males, 79.7% females
School Life Expectancy:
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2004)
Religions: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10%, other 2%
Life Expectancy: 57.86 years
male: 57.49 years
female: 58.24 years
Avg. Daily Salary: $4.38
My photo albums
January 2010
DECEMBER TEACHING BLAST!!!
People came from far distances by foot to spend four to five days studying different bible topics. I thought it would be hard to keep people engaged but because they are so hungry to learn and stud the bible the greatest effort was made on their part. I traveled to different parish towns over a two week period, including Monianku, Nyagesa, and Itierio. In the southwest region of Kenya there are many Seventh Day Adventist congregations who have caused much confusion in the Lutheran Churches. The is great confusion about the End Times and the manner and efficacy of Holy Baptism. In each place the question was asked, “Is is necessary to immerse? Who should be baptized?” There is much work to be done. Most congregations are served by evangelists who have little training.
ABOVE: Each participant got a copy of Habari Njema (Good News in Kiswahili) with the hope that they will continue studying themselves or the evangelist will begin using it as a weekly bible study employing the questions in answers found in the back of each issue.
RIGHT: One entire afternoon I was asked to address the youth. We studied Creation and the Fall. Creation is a widely accepted belief but few have read the story. The particular topic meditated upon was, “Why is the pain, suffering, and death? Did God create it? Where did it come from? What is the meaning of Genesis 3:15?” It was a great topic for Advent and the “seed/offspring” for which the children of Adam and Eve waited until the Virgin seed bore the Savior of the World.
ABOVE/RIGHT: Because so many congregations are served by evangelists, Christians do not often receive the Lord’s Supper. For many, this was the first time in a year! Another question I was asked, “Should we be seeking the Lord’s Supper more often?”
BELOW: After the first week of teaching I returned to Nairobi and bought 300 bibles with the help of LSRY (A Confessional Lutheran Finnish organization) for the Christians in southwest Kenya. They were all distributed within 3 days!!! The high schoolers were most eager not only to get a bible but to start digging in and finding out what the Bible really says rather than what does the pastor or missionary say.
Baptism and courtship were hot topics. Very rarely do any of the engaged couples receive pre-marital counseling. With polygamy, sexually transmitted diseases, and spousal abuse common, marriages are often strained. Communication in marriage is often limited to orders from a husband or constant complaints from a wife. A pattern of reconciliation is needed both for marriages and the church. See - Ephesians 5:25-33.
