Abstract:
Nairobi, "the city in sun" is the gateway to the east of Africa and a home to
many international organizations, which include the United Nations. In fact, Nairobi
is the organizations regional center for aid, trade and commerce. The population of
Nairobi is over three million people, two thirds of them living in slums. The slum
conditions in Nairobi can be described as wretched and unfit for human beings. Such
conditions makes it necessary for theological schools to establish models of training
that would produce ministry leaders who would bring transformation by appropriately
and effectively dealing with issues and needs of the slum communities.
Thus, the broad question this research study has attempted to answer is: "How
do theological schools train ministers so that they are relevant for ministry in slums?
The study sought to find out what constitutes an effective and appropriate training
practice for ministry among people in slum communities.
The study focused on the training practice of Tafakari Center for Urban
Missions (TCFUM), located in Kibera slums in the city of Nairobi. Qualitative study
methodology was engaged in this study. Data was collected through open-ended
interviews, through participant observation as well as information from documents.
Having analyzed and interpreted the data, the researcher found out that the training
practice at TCFUM constitutes the following:
o Exclusive curriculum is sensitive to the needs and issues of the slum
communities.
o Learning takes place in an institution, located within the community.
o Students who study here have a specific calling for slum ministry and
connected to a ministry in slums, apart from having sound academic
qualifications
o Methodologies that seek to engage the student are preferred in the training
process.
o Faculty is academically and professionally qualified and has experience in
areas they are asked to teach.
o Education process goes beyond graduation (continuity).
The center has attempted to provide the way forward in training ministers for the slum
ministry. This model of training may be a solution to the challenges facing
educationists and missiologists in responding to the mandate to reach the poor in
Africa and the world at large with the Good News of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ.
