Evangelism journey begins…
Nairobi Kenya, January, 2011 – KELC pastors have been forced to travel long distance in hostile conditions as they visit congregations to provide spiritual services such as baptizing, burial or to offer prayers for the sick. Rev. Megiroo mission to Kenya was to change that trend.
“We can’t speak about mission without evangelism” this were the remarks made by Rev. Ezekiel Megiroo a pastor with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania at the opening of a Theological Education by Extension (TEE) training for 18 Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church lay persons.
Participants of a lay leaders training facilitated by Oldonyo Sambu TEE Lay leaders institute
Rev. Megiroo noted that evangelism is the backbone of any church and stressed that through evangelists new churches are born and later mission areas. The training conducted by layperson’s training institute “Theological Education by Extension” Oldonyo Sambu, Arusha Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania with support from the Lutheran World Federation and is expected to train 120 lay persons between 2010 and 2013.
The training of evangelists aims at increasing women and youth participation at the grass root, increase the number of children attending confirmation class and eventually increase KELC members. After successful completion of the training, students are expected to be skilled on teaching and preaching the gospel, conducting spiritual counseling and be able to provide support to the physically challenged, people living with HIV and AIDS. TEE training also provides contextual lessons in addition to the theological training.
“We wish such training started early when KELC was a Kenya synod of ELCT” lamented Rev. Megiroo. He was optimistic though, that the trained evangelists would assist in reaching out to millions with the Good News by baptizing and spreading the word.
When asked the criteria used to nominate students for the training. Rev. Megiroo said “we do not train fresh people, we only train those already exposed in the mainstream ministry”. He further reiterated that after two weeks of theoretical class the students will travel to Oldonyo Sambu in Arusha for an exposure visit.
Domnic Nyambese is one of the beneficiaries of the TEE training. He started active service in her congregation as a youth leader and in several occasions led Sunday worship at Nairobi International Lutheran Congregation. Though not a pastor; any work done [at church] required his organization. “I have been resisting to train as an evangelist but after meditation I accepted the call to serve God” he said.
The trained evangelists will go a long way to provide hope and salvation for millions of people compelled to travel for more than 20 kilometers to attend Sunday worship; in addition to strengthening the understanding of Christian faith and gospel message.
