Theses and Dissertations

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NEGST exists primarily as an evangelical post-graduate theological institution to promote excellence in African Christianity. This over-arching mission is promoted through: NEGST training men and women in necessary ministry skills;developing in students a deeper understanding of biblical and theological foundations;studying the major issues and challenges facing Christianity in Africa; and engaging in research and publication to address the concerns and needs of African Christianity.

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LEADERSHIP CRITERIA AND THEIR SOURCES AMONG ECWA CHURCHES OF NIGERIA:
(1982-11-30) Cole, Babajide Victor
COGNITIVE STYLES OF AFRICAN THEOLOGY STUDENTS AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THOSE STYLES FOR BIBLIOGRAPHIC INSTRUCTION
(1984-12-30) BOWEN, NACE DOROTHY
Discourse Connectivity and Constraints on Relevance in Sissala
(1988-11-30) Blass, Regina
Visual Theology
(2002-05-30) Nkansah, James Obrempong
Prayer among the Digo Muslims of Kenya and it's implications for Christian witness
(2003-02-28) Sesi, Stephen Mutuku
Social Change among Digo Muslim Women
(2007-06-30) Mutuku, Josephine Sesi
Conceptualization and Translation:
(2009-05-10) Mbua, Abigael
READING AND TRANSLATING GENESIS 28:10-35:15 AS A VOTIVE NARRATIVE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE DINAH STORY
(2010-03-30) Lechebo, Hankore Daniel
Drifting Loyalty
(2011-07-30) Makanda, Nelson Ndong'a
DRIFTING LOYALTY:
(2011-07-30) Makanda, Ndong'a Nelson
Benefaction and Patronage in the Pastoral Epistles
(2013-03-30) Nzyoka, Nathan Joshua
Description and evaluation of missions activitiesby various leaders of Africa Inland church Tanzania Pwani diocese (AICTPD).
(2013-06-24) Ndaro, Alfred Mang’ere
This study was intended to investigate the understanding of missions among various leaders of Africa Inland Church Tanzania Pwani Diocese (AICTPD). So it is a descriptive research in which 62 leaders from AICTPD churches were consulted. These leaders include the bishop, the assistant bishop, general sectary, pastors and missionaries with their wives, one evangelist, two church elders and AICTPD partners in the diocese. These partners are AIM Regional leader, TIMO leader and BFC leader. Among these leaders, 7 of them were interviewed in Arusha, the other seven were both interviewed and asked to fill the research questionnaire in Morogoro, and the 48 filled the research questionnaire. A questionnaire and interview were the two combined methods used to collect data. The research discovered that the predominant missions activities include training in theology, improving existing churches, sending work reports, reaching out to unreached, encouraging pastors and missionaries and training in missions. The main challenges among others are inadequate support to missionaries, inadequate missions training, extreme size of geographical area of the diocese, lack of strategic planning priority, vision and creativity. All this provide the grounds for the recommendation that is given below. The data also revealed that the church achieved some successes which are the establishment of IBM, evangelism and discipleship, reaching out to Muslim communities and initiating strategic planning. In order to maintain these successes, the leaders suggested that they will involve the entire church in missions, reduce the size of the diocese, hold annual conferences and allocate resources into the diocese. Other areas will include providing missionaries with opportunities to share their testimonies with churches, develop positive attitude towards missions, cultivate more partners and improve training in the IBM. Based on these research findings, the diocese had never been able to develop a master strategic planning until the year 2010, when they put one in place. AICTPD, therefore, has survived without concrete, measurable and tangible goals and objectives. The diocese needs to develop missions strategic planning that could be integrated into the master plan of the diocese. MAPANA (Missions Awareness Program for African Nations Abandoned) strategic planning has been recommended, which if well supervised and coordinated will bring efficiency into the entire church structure. Missions training and involvement from individual believers, local church to top leadership of the diocese, needs to be given priority as other church ministries.
A missiological study of Islamic strategies for converting Christians to Islam and their implications for Christian discipleship: a study of converts in Kawangware and Embul-bul areas of Nairobi-Kenya
(2013-06-24) Dikki, Michael Ezra
Islam has been acclaimed to be the fastest growing religion in the world today attracting converts from different cultures and religions across the world. Several studies have been conducted by several researchers in Africa on the phenomenon of conversion from Islam to Christianity, but not much research has gone into the investigation of why Christians convert to Islam. This study is an attempt to understand the factors that influence Christian conversion to Islam and also an attempt to discover the strategies employed by Muslims to achieve this conversion. This study was conducted among converts from Christianity to Islam in Kawangware and Embul-bul areas of Nairobi-Kenya. The study applied Lofland and Skonovd‟s conversion motifs in an attempt to discover the motifs behind these conversions through interviews with these converts using the qualitative research method. The findings of this study reveal that these Christians converted to Islam as a result of comparative investigation of the two religions and of the practices they see in Islam. Other factors reported are simplicity, clarity and unity of Islam, friendship, the search for the true God and deliverance from evil spirit. In applying the conversion motifs, the intellectual and the affectional motifs where present in the conversion biographies of all the converts, which was in consonance with the reasons given for conversion. However few of the converts reported the experimental and revivalist motifs. The mystical motif was not clear and none reported the coercive motif. The study reveals that conversion is influenced by several factors and validating Lofland and Skonod‟s position that there is the presence of more than one single motif in every conversion biography. The findings of the study also reveal that conversion from Christianity to Islam is not restricted to any Christian denomination or tribal grouping in Kenya and did not reveal material enticement as reasons for conversion. The findings further reveal that Muslims in Nairobi use debates/street preaching/dialogue, friendship and care, media, mosque visits and invitation to ask questions and availability/ability to answer them as strategies to influence conversion to Islam. In view of the findings, conclusions reached are that such conversions were possible because of the absence of effective discipleship and the conduct of Christians, which include denominational pluralism and disunity among churches. The study recommended the recourse to biblical theology for doing Bible study in our churches in Nairobi and Africa as whole, as opposed to systematic theology‟s topical approach in order to provide a holistic understanding of the Christian message and of the Bible. The introduction of Islamic education in the curriculum for the training of our pastors in all theological schools across Africa and church based Islamic education for the laity is recommended, which should include Bible study, seminars and workshops in order for Christians to provide answers to questions and challenges increasingly raised by Muslims in regards to their faith.
Mentoring for effective Cross-cultural ministry: a case study among the University of Nairobi students
(2013-06-24) Yoon, Mark Koo
Mentoring is an ancient old wisdom to impact life-change and to inspire mutual growth, learning, and development. Mentoring relationships have the capacity to transform individuals, groups, organziations, and communities. This research attempts to understand traditional mentoring models, and to compare them with the recent mentoring models to examine which ones work effectively in a cross-cultural context. In addition, the research also searches for a new mentoring model that can work effectively in a cross-cultural setting. This research is based on the qualitative research to describe the implicit aspects of how Christian campus students of University of Nairobi view on mentoring. For this purpose, research design is employed as a tradition of qualitative research. Data is collected using focus group discussions and survey among members drawn from UBF ministry. The findings of this study reveal that traditional mentoring that African young people went through was mainly hierarchical and unidirectional. Such traditional mentoring can be still effective, but it needs to be adjusted according to modern context. They suggested that hierarchical authority must be discouraged, while communal responsibility should be encouraged. Most of all, they claimed that mentors in modern age, should consider the cultural change if they want to be effective in mentoring mentees of modern age. In consideration of a new model for effective mentoring in cross-cultural context, they proposed a holistic model. In the holistic model, God and the Holy Spirit play the role of an agent or supervisor between a mentor and mentee. A mentor can impact the mentee and vice versa. Through such spiritual interaction, both of them grow toward God in the likeness of Jesus. In view of the findings, recommendations for further studies are made that for the holistic model to be practically applicable, practical mentoring tools for effective interaction between a mentor and a mentee to be researched further. In addition, during the focus group discussions, a research question arose: What happens when a mentee grow faster than his mentor? How to measure the growth of both mentor and mentee through mentoring relationship? These remain for further studies.
A study on the use of chronological Bible storying as an evangelistic tool among Borana Muslim women in Kariobangi
(2013-06-24) Gitau, Everlyne Wanjiru
The purpose of this study was to gain understanding of Chronological Bible Storying as a strategy for Muslim evangelism and the relevance of this approach in evangelising the Muslim Borana women in Kariobangi. The research method chosen for this task was qualitative since it tried to understand CBS strategy and its relevance from the experience of the Borana Muslim women and the missionary storyer. The informants included women who had attended the storying sessions at Kariobangi and the missionary storyer who prepared and taught in the storying sessions. The sample selection was done using purposive sampling. The researcher chose to use participant observation and interviews to collect data. The data gathered through taped interviews was transcribed and reviewed looking for words, phrases or key words that gave information relevant to the research. These were picked out and coded for analysis. The condensed notes taken during the research were typed up and then coded. The data from both collection methods was then analysed thematically. The study found that Chronological Bible Storying was a relevant evangelism tool for Borana Muslim women in Kariobangi. The women were found to be most functionally illiterate and therefore considered to be oral communicators, making storying the best way to communicate the gospel. Since the Borana women are in need of economic empowerment, this strategy was found to be appropriate as it goes hand in hand with the framework of common interest created by a self help group.
An examination of the Socio-political contribution of Pentecostalism to Kenyan national development: a case study of Christ Is the answer ministries
(2013-06-24) Owojaiye, Babatomiwa Moses
This study is sought to shed light on the question of Pentecostalism’s sociopolitical role in Kenyan national development by looking at the case of Christ Is the Answer Ministries (CITAM). CITAM is one of the leading Pentecostal denominations in Kenya. Using CITAM was particularly important to this study because of the fact that the denomination targets people living in the urban settlements of Kenya. Besides, CITAM is a middle-class Pentecostal denomination, a significant percentage of CITAM members are educated, and are influential at different levels of Kenya’s socio-political strata. The purpose of this research is therefore to study whether a Pentecostal denomination like CITAM is involved in the socio-political development of Kenya as well as evaluate the effectiveness of its involvement. This is a socio-scientific and traditional theological research. To gather data for the research, the researcher made use of mixed research methodology. The mixed research methodology combined both the quantitative and qualitative research methods. Specifically, questionnaires were administered and interviews were conducted in order to achieve the purpose of the study and to successfully answer the research questions raised in the study. This method was used for complimentary purposes. The research is divided into five chapters. Chapter one of the study which is the introduction, gave a general overview on the background, rationale, purpose, research questions and the methodology used in the study. Chapter two dealt with theoretical review of literature. Here, the researcher presented the recent debates on the role of African Pentecostalism in the public space. Chapter three presented a full explanation of the methodology used for the collection of data for this study. The analysis of the data as well as the finding from the analysis is found in chapter four; while chapter five contained the conclusion of the study and recommendations for action for CITAM in order to improve its involvement in the socio-political development of Kenya. In conclusion, the study revealed that CITAM is involved in the socio-political development of Kenya but stronger in social involvement than political. Challenges of tribalism, financial constrains, and unclear policy on socio-political development are however some of the challenges affecting the effectiveness of its involvement.
Conversion from Islam to Christianity among the Arsi Oromo: Missiological implications for Christian witness
(2013-06-24) Berhe, Anwar Mehammed
The Arsi Oromo people are part of the wider Oromo people group of Ethiopia and Islam is the dominant religion of the people despite the presence of minority Christians among them. This thesis attempts to understand the conversion process of the Arsi Oromo from Islam to Christianity. It employs Rambo‟s seven stage model of conversion process in order to understand the conversion experiences of Arsi Oromo MBBs (Muslim Background Believers). The changes resulting from conversion and how the western Arsi local churches engage in helping Arsi Oromo converts to adapt to the existing church context are examined. Twenty converts (ten MBB women and ten MBB men) have been interviewed in order to get emic data about their conversion process. The literature review part seeks to discuss conversion from the perspectives of different disciplines. The biblical and theological views of conversion are discussed as a basis for conversion from Islam to Christianity. The review also assesses and discusses conversion from the perspective of social sciences and the various works that have been done on conversion from Islam to Christianity. This research employs ethnographic research method, which is a branch of qualitative research method in order to gain understanding of the conversion processes of the Arsi Oromo MBBs. The data was collected through unstructured and semi structured interviews and moderate participant observation. The coded data (appendix 2) presents the emic view of conversion in the way the stories told by the interviewees. Based on this data the analysis has been carried out in order to get etic view of the conversion process. The aim of this study is to gain a deeper and wider understanding of the different processes involved in the conversion of Arsi Oromo. Through the findings of this research, it has been established conversion is a long time process and influenced by various factors: the context of the convert, crisis, quest, and interaction with the agents of the gospel. A strong desire for relationship with the divine and ethical community was the core factor in the conversion process of the Arsi Oromo. The study also registered peace, joy, assurance of salvation, and fulfillment are the immediate positive consequences of conversion despite all converts facing various degrees of persecution from their community. Allegiance, moral and cultural encounters are also the most important changes observed in the life of converts as a mark of genuine conversion. This study also shows that more conversion happened in the rural village which is very hostile environment for Christianity compared to the towns that enjoyed freedom of worship. In the final chapter, missiological implications for Christian witness are drawn from the research findings. Recommendations for further study are also proposed.
Translating the Metaphorical Uses of Φῶς ‘light’ in Lugbarati: A Relevance Theory Perspective
(2013-07-16) Alo, Andy Anguandia
This dissertation analyzes the metaphorical use of אוֹר /φῶς in the biblical texts of Isaiah (8:23-9.1) and Matthew (4:12-17) with the aim of evaluating its translation in Lugbarati (a Nilo-Saharan Language of northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC]). The theoretical perspective used is Relevance Theory developed by Sperber and Wilson. Quantitative method is used for treating the translation data. The threefold conclusion reached goes as follows: (a) The biblical metaphorical use of אוֹר /φῶς in Isaiah and Matthew is the expression of justice and peace in the existence of the people of God. The overarching concept is restoration from bondage of evil in its abstract or spiritual state, as well as in its materialization in socio-political settings; (b) The translation of this metaphor in Lugbarati requires a consideration of the distinction between ‘literal’ versus ‘metaphorical’ use of the linguistic expression. The metaphorical use of אוֹר and φῶς is best translated in Lugbarati by the expression dìzà which is the one used by a significant percentage of mother-tongue speakers in the translation survey. Illustrations in Swahili and Lingala, other languages, do attest such variation of expressions for translating the literal sense versus the metaphorical one. (c) RT remains a valid tool for analyzing metaphors. However, the RT account of metaphor developed by Wilson needs further development. My quantitative research has proved that the linguistic representation of a broadened concept can be linguistically represented by another expression. Thus, the broadened concept LIGHT* in Lugbarati is linguistically represented by dìzà, while the non-broadened LIGHT in Lugbarati is linguistically represented by àci. The Lugbarati speakers have the tendency to select one of the synonyms of the expression ‘light’ for metaphorical use, and the other(s) is (are) reserved for literal use(s). This is a new avenue of research that focuses on the linguistic representation of a concept (literal) and its broadened (metaphorical) form. This matters for translation because every language displays peculiarity in its conceptualization of realities, and metaphorical linguistic representations that are created from them.
A philosophical and theological response to the problem of evil: a focus on the mental, moral, natural problem of evil in the Luo cosmology
(2013-07-16) Ouma, George Odero
The problem of evil is the most discussed subject in every culture; for it poses enormous challenges to human existence and belief in the Christian God. Both religious and secular thinkers down through the ages have questioned the trustworthiness of the Christian God in face of evil in the world. Some have argued for the inability of the Christian God to eradicate evil, if indeed he existed, while others have contended that if indeed the Christian God existed, he does not have the intention of erasing evil from this world. These claims render null and void that belief in the Christian God, not only guarantees eternal life, but also exalts humanity above the threats of evil through faith in Jesus Christ; and in the promise that the Christian God shall finally subjugate evil at the end of history. In this thesis, fundamental questions regarding the problem of evil have been carefully addressed. This undertaking has been in the context of philosophical and theological responses to the problems of moral, mental and natural evil in Luo cosmology. Through this, it is shown that the appalling condition of the Luo community is attributable to Satanic and human free will in committing evil. This reality is exemplified by the presence of the forces of evil which are immanent in the physical creation and in the network of fallen human cultural practices. Exonerating God from evil, this thesis explains that even though it seems that God’s eternal decree rendered the entrance of evil into the world, God himself remains absolutely above reproach regarding the origins of evil in the world. God’s work remains perfect, for all his ways are just, faithful, righteous and upright despite what evil does among the Luo people. Whatever the enduring condition of Luo people under the scourges of moral, mental and natural evil, God has revealed his master plan to rescue mankind through the incarnation, crucifixion, death and resurrection, ascension and the second coming of Christ. Faith in Christ elevates humanity above the temptations of evil and empowers humanity to endure the afflictions of Satan to the very end of history. At the end of history evil will be rightly answered by its destruction, and the future hope that God offers will judge, compensate and put into perfect state this present world. Glorious mind and glorious morality shall be restored to man. Man will be a new being enjoying his full life through the perfect rule of Jesus Christ. This thesis includes strategies for a victorious Christianity among Luo people. These strategies are: studying the metaphysical, epistemological and ethical issues in Luo cosmology, the trainings of Christians on spiritual warfare, initiation interreligious dialogue, evangelism, Christian apologetics, a call for the church to engage in development schemes. The goal of all these is to bring the Luo people to the essentials of the Christian faith toward appreciating the demarcations of the life of the kingdom of Christ and their culture. The study concludes by calling the Luo people to depart from attitudes of mistrust, suspicion, bitterness, rebellion against the claims of the Christian faith; and to abandon their barbarous cultural practices, and promote to excellence their cultural aspects which are in agreement with Christian faith.
Reading and translating genesis 28:10-35:15 as a votive narrative with special reference to the Dinah story
(2013-07-16) Lechebo, Daniel Hankore
Many critical readers of the Jacob story wonder: “What is the relevance of Genesis 34 to the Jacob narrative?” Besides, my close examination of different biblical interpretations and translations of the Jacob story of Gen 28:10-35:15 in general and the Dinah story of chapter 34 in particular demonstrates that the episodes of this narrative unit (Gen 28:10-35:15) are treated as if they were isolated episodes, which has resulted in misunderstanding and mistranslating of the story. Consequently, the readers of the Dinah story have difficulty to see its relevance to the Jacob story. In this dissertation, I will attempt to address this problem and show how reading Genesis 28:10-35:15 as a votive narrative in the light of the Hadiyya culture and Relevance Theory will help us to explain the relevance of the Dinah episode to Jacob story. I wish to show that Gen 28:10-35:15 is a coherent narrative unit and each episode of the story, including the Dinah story, is a componential part of the building blocks of the discourse structure of Jacob’s votive narrative. I will demonstrate how the coherence of the narrative is developed and explain the communicative intention of the story in depth. I also wish to suggest, in brief, how to translate it in order to convey the same message to secondary audiences. Thus, resolving this problem will crucially help the readers and translators of the story to draw the intended communicative intention and translate it. I also intend to show that a correct understanding of the Hebrew concept נדר ‘vow’ in the context of the ancient Israelite’s social institution is fundamental for the reading and translating of Genesis 28:10-35:15. This same institutional framework of the vow will assist us to explain the relevance of Genesis 34 to the Jacob story.