A NEW CHURCH IS BORN
In the recent past, Kenya has seen an increase in church-planting efforts especially by large, missionary congregations. As a result, various regions which previously had no single church soon acquired one. At the same time, however, one does not need to look too far to realize that more and more churches keep emerging in urban centers and their geographical locations are as DIFFERENT as their diversity in worship and leadership styles. Not only will you find ten or more churches differentiated only by name meeting in a radius of one kilometer, but a kind of loyalty by members that will not allow fellowship in any other congregation in the area, though all will claim to be Christian.
In future issues, we will probably the question of church unity. However, in this column,we would like to answer one question, vis-a-vis, why are more and more church-planters interested in planting new churches in the urban centers than in the rural areas where they are more needed.
“Reason” interviewed Rev. Steve Maina, General Secretary of Church Army Africa, himself a Christian minister and who has planted an urban congregation in Nairobi. The following is the dialogue between Rev. Maina and R. Kigame:
Kigame: How might you define church-planting?
Rev. Maina: Church Planting is the process of initiating a new congregation in an area that does not have one. Church planting should differ from Church transfer which is the process of drawing congregation members form other denominations into a new one.
Kigame: Could you give us a general picture of what is happening in the area of church-planting in Kenya right now?
Rev. Maina: The emergence of new Churches in Kenya today is unprecedented. All kinds of Churches are emerging in all sorts of places. Most of the Churches are being planted in the urban centers for a number of reasons. I think the urban centers are the home of many people with more differing views and tastes of expressions of worship unlike the rural areas. Modernity has magnified the element of choice even in the area of worship and that by itself causes a hunger in many people for a differing expression of Church. “Prosperity gospel” and the use of Church planting as a business venture is another reason for the proliferation of new church plants in the urban areas as some “men of God’ use this as a means of survival. Then the issue of conflicts within Church leadership lead some leaders to begin a new congregation where they can have some control. Obviously, there are Church planters who have healthy reasons for planting Churches in the urban areas. I will give some reasons the latter give. Urban centers may be more strategic because of their cosmopolitan nature. Secondly, Paul seems to have used that model as he moved from place to place. He planted Churches in key urban centers. Thirdly, rural-urban migration creates a great need for churches in the urban centers. Fourthly, many poor people live in the urban centers. Finally, demographers predict greater population growth in the cities than in the rural areas in the coming decades.
Kigame: Why isn’t there as much hurry to start churches in the rural areas in this country as there is in starting them in urban centers?
Rev. Maina: I think for the reasons above. I will add two more. One is that planting Churches in rural areas is more difficult because this is where many un reached people groups are. Secondly, ignorance. I think there is a general feeling among Church leaders that there is a greater need to plant Churches in the urban areas than rural areas.
Kigame: I have known situations in some urban centers in this country where various congregations are known to hire classrooms in certain schools to the point where you could find five or more groups meeting in various of these classrooms next to each other. I have also known situations where several churches have met in the same stadium or public park. Could you comment briefly on why Christians cannot just worship together, and why the congestion of churches in the urban centers, since this trend is not as common up-country?
Rev. Maina: I guess two reasons cause the above scenario. There is a saddening reality that although redeemed by Jesus, many Christians struggle to celebrate others’ accomplishments and want to compete. It is in human nature to want to be the winner and play the best cards. It is sad that Christian leaders are often not any different. We need more role models of true unity. When a pastor of a large congregation breaks away form his congregation because of a disagreement with the board or senior pastor and plants his own church with half his previous congregation, what example does that provide for the younger emerging pastors? Won’t they do the same? So one reason is competition and the other probably cost. Since most convenient and cost effective places to plant Churches are stadiums and schools, these tend to attract a lot of interest.
Kigame: How might the urban missionary congregations be more involved in motivating pastors to minister in the rural areas?
Rev. Maina: I think God has given every Church a unique gift. Every Church must prayerfully seek God’s heart on where to plant new churches. However, we need to help urban missionary congregations be aware of the needs in the rural areas and vice versa so that we can encourage interdependence and not independence. Unfortunately in Kenya, information about Church planting on a national scale is scanty and this makes Church leaders make decisions often without adequate information.
January 20th, 2010 at 5:57 am
Dear I want to be a member of your ministry to plant the churches in the remote and uncivalized Area’s.