FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD
10/19/2007 - 19:59
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WHOEVER BELEIVE IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. JOHN 3:16
MAKING DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST:
EFFECTIVE AND RELEVANT USE OF GIKUYU AGE GROUP
AMONG THE YOUTH IN P.C.E.A.
By
John Karanja Kamau
A Masters Thesis
submitted to the faculty of
in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of
Master of Theology
2007
MAKING DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST:
EFFECTIVE AND RELEVANT USE OF GIKUYU AGE GROUP
AMONG THE YOUTH IN P.C.E.A.
By
John Karanja Kamau
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First Reader
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Date
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Second Reader
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Accepted by:
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Director of Advanced Studies
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Date
COPYING AGREEMENT
In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for an advanced degree at Columbia Theological Seminary, I agree that the Library shall make it freely available for inspection and circulation in accordance with its regulations governing materials of this type. I further agree that permission for “fair use” copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the Seminary Librarian. It is understood that any copying or publication of this thesis for potential financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission.
John Karanja Kamau
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Date
DEDICATION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work is dedicated to my parents Rev. Samuel Kamau Nganga, Mary Wambui Kamau, my wife Rev. Margaret Wambui Karanja, sons Samuel Kamau Karanja, Joseph Nganga, James Ndirangu Karanja, brothers, sisters and members of my family. They have all played a key role in my relationship with God and with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The acknowlegement of the following is gladly registered:
- The Columbia Theological Seminary for their support, love and great encouragement.
- The two advisors, Dr.Steven Hayner and Dr. Dent Davis and the instructors Dr. Carlos Orlandi-Cardoza and Dana Campbell for theirs great encouragement, guidance and support.
- To Jim Yao and Katherine Miller for formatting and editing the thesis.
- To the Presbyterian Church of East Africa for the chance to serve God and humanity in their midst.
- To Rev. Dr. Marvin Simmers and his wife JoAnn for providing the computer and their great support.
- To all the young people who have continued to shape my ministry and for their great insights and love.
- To dear wife and children for permitting me to be away from them for close to one year to do this work. God’s blessings are to you all.
ABSTRACT
MAKING DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST:
EFFECTIVE AND RELEVANT USE OF GIKUYU AGE GROUP
AMONG THE YOUTH IN P.C.E.A.
by
John Karanja Kamau
April 2007
91 pages
The Presbyterian Church of East Africa is possibly facing one of her worst crises in her 116- year history. The challenge: How does she remain meaningful, relevant, effective and fruitful among the young people of the changing generation? If the church is to remain relevant, she needs to be always prepared to carry out research and study and to continually re-evaluate her performance. Research and deep reflection will enable her to understand contemporary issues facing not only the young people but also humanity in general. The current study aims to look at the age group (riika) principle as used by the Gikuyu people and draw out lessons for making disciples of Jesus Christ particularly among the young people. The research involves a look at the contribution of various and diverse authors, who have analyzed issues of the Gikuyu culture from various perspectives. The call of Jesus Christ to go and make disciple of all nations is interpreted as including making disciple among the young people, and finding ways of integrating the age group and making disciples of Jesus Christ are explored.
While the Gikuyu age group (riika) principle, which used to bind young people together is not utilized in Christian discipleship; it can be applied to make initial Christian discipleship more relevant, effective, and fruitful among the youth in the Presbyterian Church of East Africa.
The age group (riika) played a major role in all aspects of the Gikuyu community. In religious, cultural, political, social, economic, and educational issues, the age group had a central role. Nobody among the Gikuyu people was left out of the age group principle and it was as natural as being born.
The age group principle can be used in making disciples of Jesus Christ among the young people, mostly between the age of 12 years and 30 years. The main idea is to provide them with a space where they can belong before they believe. The forum will be a place where the seed—the Word of God is planted among the young people preferably at a tender early age. The result will then be left to God. The space will also emphasize tending and nurturing of believers in Jesus Christ. The space will offer a chance for the young people to develop intimacy. It was, however, observed that great care needs to be taken in applying the age group principle (riika), because there are some cultural practices among the Gikuyu which are not compatible with faith in Jesus Christ. In applying the age group principle no emphasis is put on the physical ritual whatsoever. The key idea is to use the positive lessons of addressing the challenge of the young people at an early age before the world damages their characters and human dignity. The church and all with interest of the young people at heart must always keep abreast with current developments and be prepared always to work out new ways of reaching out to the young people in their generation. The problems facing various generations differ and suitable solutions need to be worked out continually.
CONTENTS
Chapter
- INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………… 1
Goals of the study
- THE GIKUYU PEOPLE ………………………………………………… 3
Gikuyu age group …………………………………………………… 5
Positive lessons from age group principle
Culture and making disciples ………………………………………… 12
- THE
PREBYTERIAN CHURCH OFEAST AFRICA …………………… 16
- MAKING DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST ……………………………… 22
The case for Christian discipleship
Messengers with Divine authority
Definition of disciple
All are important
Discipline
Message: Good News
The Great Commission ………………………………………………… 37
Go
Messengers of peace
Eating and drinking together: Communion
Healing and proclamation
Judgment
Conversion experience ……...………………………………………… 51
Witnessing
Holy Spirit
5. THE HUMAN DESIRE AND SEARCH FOR INTIMACY ……………… 57
The human desire and search for intimacy
Cultivating intimacy
6. CHRISTIAN TENDING / NURTURING ………………………………… 61
Christian nurturing
Follow up
Growth
Fellowship
7. METHODOLOGY ………………………………………………………… 69
Methodology
Joining church
8. LIMITATIONS …………………………………………………………… 75
9. SIGNIFICANCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS ………………………… 77
Significance
Recommendations
10. CONCLUSIONS…………………………………………………………… 79
Conclusions
APPENDIX
1. Map of with location in
2. Map of ……………………………………………………… 83
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Christendom is in a crisis. Of all crises to hit the church, none is as acute as the dwindling numbers of the youth, begging the question: Does Christ still inspires the youth? … According to a September edition of Zenit, a news service from the Vatican, believers in the younger age groups tend to go to church less often, and there is a progressive decline in belief as the age drops, with few churchgoers in the younger age bracket, The survey reported that, It is a worldwide phenomenon: Fewer and fewer young people feel attracted to the message of Jesus Chris
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