Abstract:
This research stemmed up from the need to effectively understand demonization,
deliverance and inner healing ministry. In the recent times, the whole concept of the
reality of spirit world, demonization and spiritual warfare has been fading in the
church world as westernization continues to take its toll on the African worldview.
Most churches especially the mainstreams ones, tend to either ignore this subject or
do not really know how to deal with those affected. Even in those churches where the
subject is addressed, the approach followed to minister to those who are suffering
under demonic influence is either too ritualistic or acrobatic that people are confused
on the best effective way to carry out deliverance.
In this paper the researcher set out to seek to understand the causes of demonization
among young people and children by carrying out interviews with the people who
attend deliverance ministry at Neno Evangelism Centre, Nairobi. As the research
revealed, there are many factors that cause demonization ranging from involvement
with witchcraft, occultism, abortion, violence within family relationships among
others.
Violence within the family featured greatly as a major cause of spiritual problems
among the young people and children. As such, the church should make a deliberate
effort to promote healthy families by training parents on godly relationships and
biblical approaches to parenting.
From this research, it was discovered that not all cases of problems may necessarily
be as a result of demons and there is need for discernment to know which
therapeutical approach to use when ministering to those with deep rooted spiritual and
psychological problems. Secondly, deliverance should never be seen as a one time,
instant magical process where one person has monopoly over of power to cast out
demons. On the contrary, deliverance is a continuous process involving not just
'power encounter' but more importantly 'truth encounter' since as Jesus said, it is the
knowledge of the truth that sets people free. Depending on the cause, deliverance,
counseling and teaching may be necessary to address the problems and this may not
be a one day activity. All in all, deliverance ministry should be carried out with much
love and compassion for the affected and their dignity should at no time be
compromised.
