Masters in Theology
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Item THE RELEVANCE OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE TO CHURCH GROWTH IN KENYA(2020-11-30) OLANG, JIM ROBERTOItem DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE:(2020-10-30) KIMITI, PHILIP KING'OOItem A PHILOSOPHICAL STUDY ON THE INFLUENCE OF THE INTELLIGENT DESIGN OF THE BRAIN TO PROVE GOD’S EXISTENCE BY THEOLOGY GRADUATES IN CITAM ASSEMBLIES, NAIROBI KENYA(2020-07-11) NYARANGI, JUDITH NYANCHAMAThe examination of explicit arguments and prospects to proof the existence or non- existence of God is necessary in these contemporary times, to help bring non- believers and atheists to faith. This conversation and argument frequently springs up in religious forums and especially in theological spaces. The study investigated the influence of the intelligent brain design on theology graduates to prove God’s existence in CITAM churches, Nairobi Kenya. The study focused on the structure, material, and functions of the human brain. The researcher argued that proving the existence or non-existence of God is necessary in these contemporary times, to help bring non-believers and atheists to faith. This is especially critical in Christ is the Answer Ministries, whose mission is “To know God and to make Him known through evangelism and discipleship.” The research objectives include: (1) to establish the influence of the intelligent brain structure in proving God’s existence by theology graduates in CITAM assemblies, Nairobi Kenya; (2) to examine the influence of intelligent brain material in proving God’s existence by graduates of theology in CITAM assemblies, Nairobi Kenya; and, (3) to evaluate the influence of the intelligent function of the brain in proving God’s existence by graduates of theology in CITAM assemblies, Nairobi Kenya. A review of literature established that the existence of an intelligent brain structure, material and functions points to a Supernatural Being, God. It revealed that the brain is the organ that discerns what is real, which means that the brain perceives God, or pure consciousness, to be more real than anything else. The target population for this research included graduates of theological studies from various church institutions in Nairobi area. A qualitative descriptive research was used through standardized open - ended interview questions. To select the appropriate categories of respondents, theoretical-purposive sampling was used for selecting 50 participants. The researcher thematically analysed the responses from the respondents, which provided for an inductive process of the researcher building from the data to broad themes to a generalized model or theory. The study revealed that graduate students of theology are knowledgeable about intelligent brain theories. They perceive the brain structure, material, and function as evidences of God’s existence. They are confident about using the concept of intelligent brain design to defend the existence of God to achieve CITAM’s mission statement of making the one eternal God known through evangelism and discipleshipItem THE CONTROVERSY OF WOMEN ORDINATION FOR MINISTRY(Africa international University, 2019-06-06) WENDOT, BETTY T.The Study sought to investigate the factors that affect Women ordination in Africa Inland Church (AIC) Kenya. The research focused on Nairobi South West Region. The design of the research was a mixed one in which part of the data (demographic) was collected using a questionnaire and the rest was collected using personal interviews. Personal interviews entailed in depth face to face interviews. Both methods of data collection were used for all the respondents .The research design was based on Grounded Theory which is a method used to discover a theory to explain a particular phenomenon. The research targeted to interview 20 respondents but achieved a response rate of 15 (75%). The findings indicate that the two key factors that hinder women ordination in the church under review are Church tradition (73.3%) and African culture (60%). It was established that the church has held onto the position of the Church founders (African Inland Mission) whose inclination was complementarianism. This is where women in ministry play a supportive rather than a key role. Contrary to the researcher’s hypothesis, the interpretation of Scripture by the church is not one of the key reasons for not ordaining women. As indicated by the findings African culture in which men play the leadership role while women remain subordinate is a major influence on the position the church has continued to assume about women ministry. Most lady pastors interviewed believe that church ministry and leadership, has been influenced more by African culture than Christian world view. On the basis of the findings, the research recommends that the church should consider reviewing its long held tradition that views women in ministry as playing supportive role. It should instead consider adopting Egalitarian view like Jesus did. In this view, both men and women are seen to be equally gifted and therefore pastors of both genders should be treated equally by the church. It is a process which of necessity begins with review of the Church Constitution. The provision for women ordination consequently enables them to participate at all levels of church leadership and ministry .This in effect gives women a voice in terms of influencing church policies among other things. The expected benefits to the church include reduced pastor’s turnover, church growth and increased motivation and commitment of lady pastors to ministry. The study recommends that similar study be undertaken in other regions in rural set ups where AIC is represented to compare the results of the study.Item THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN SHAPING POLITICS IN KENYA: A CASE STUDY OF CHRIST IS THE ANSWER MINISTRIES (CITAM)(Africa international University, 2019-06-07) KARANJA, MUGANE CHARLESThe study has examined the role of the Church in response to the political issues that are affecting Christians in Kenya in general and specifically in Nairobi. The study was structured on the belief that the Church lacks strong prophetic voice in shaping the dreadful politics occasionally affecting Christians. This has led to bad policies making, political hatred and negative ethnicity amongst Christians in Nairobi. The study was envisaged since people are comfortable in their lives when there is good political atmosphere and agreements in Kenya. However, when something awful in the politics happens that turns their lives upside down, then that is the time people will blame the church for not doing enough in preaching unity amongst the people and addressing the national leaders. However, in order to know this phenomenon and give a suitable theological and biblical response, the core cause of the role of the church has been explored. The research discusses the role of the Church and Christian perception on how the Church needs to respond to the social political issues affecting Christians resulting to the poor policies, killings, displacement of people, marginalization, hatred and bad ethnicity amongst Kenyan.Item THE RELEVANCE OF SPECIAL REVELATION IN AFRICAN INDEPENDENT CHURCHES: A CASE STUDY OF THE AKURINU CHURCH IN NYANDARUA COUNTY – KENYA(Africa international University, 2019-07-04) GITAHI, DANIEL NJAGIThe African Independent Churches (AICs) phenomenon also known as ‘independency’ appeared in the African continent in the late 19th century and early in the twentieth century. It occurred as a result of the Africans being dissatisfied with the way Christianity was introduced by the western missionaries. The missionaries did not understand the African worldview and assumed that Africans were irreligious. They therefore disregarded anything African. They required the African believers to discard all their cultural practices not knowing that the African religion was embedded in their culture. The missionaries who were leaders in these churches were also seen to collaborate with the European colonizers, something that did not please the African Christians. Some of them also misinterpreted the bible. These and other factors resulted in the Africans initiating their own churches where they would feel free to express Christianity the African way and also to champion the liberation movement which was the major political issue at the time. The interesting thing is that the independency did not end with the political independence of African nations from their western colonial masters. The independency is a common reality up to today. However, the orthodoxy of these churches was put to question from the onset and these churches were criticized for practising syncretism by the missionary churches from which they had separated and also by some theologians. This criticism necessitated that a sympathetic study be carried out to establish the relevance of the Bible in African Independent Churches with a view to determining whether these criticisms were justified. It is in this spirit that this research study was conceived and carried out. A case study of the Akurinu Church in Kenya was carried out toward this end. Nyandarua County of the Republic of Kenya was selected as the location of the study. A total of 100 respondents were sampled from five sub-counties out of the seven in Nyandarua County. 71 out of the 100 questionnaires were returned which translated to a questionnaire return rate of 71%. The data from the questionnaires was analyzed using SPSS computer software. The findings were presented in frequency distribution tables, bar graphs and pie charts. The findings from this study have revealed that the criticisms leveled against the African independent churches are not always justified. Recommendations for the reforms of the Akurinu Church and further research have also been made.Item A CASE STUDY ON THE RELEVANCE OF LADY PASTORS IN AFRICA INLAND CHURCH KENYA MAKUENI AREA(Africa international University, 2019-07-01) MWENGEI, RABECCA KATUNGEThe study aimed at examining the role of Lady Pastors as well as their significance in Africa Inland Church Makueni Area. This is in line with the scriptures which indicate importance of women and how they are committed in the service of the Lord. The study also sought to point out challenges faced by the lady pastors in the ministry and also reasons as to why they miss out the key positions in leadership. The research was conducted in seven regions. The study relied on questionnaires and interviews as instruments for data collection. Qualitative and quantitative research designs were employed to achieve the required results. Purposeful sampling was carried out to select respondents who could read and write in order to fill the questionnaires. The findings of the study revealed that the role of the pastor is clearly stipulated in the scriptures as preaching, teaching, evangelism and counseling among others. The study found that due to male dominance, lack of women ordination and licensing, lady pastors don’t officiate some ceremonies like burials, weddings, baptisms, and dedications. The study calls for co-operation of both male and female pastors, supporting and complimenting each other without discrimination because both are important before the Lord and given gifts as He wishes to serve himItem A syntactical study of the WAW- Consecutive and how it affects Biblical Hebrew Discourse:An Application to the Book of Ruth with special attention to the concept of use../(2014-05-26) Butorano, AminadabThe purpose of this study was threefold: (i) a question of general interest, i.e., to help understand important issues surrounding the study of the waw-consecutive phenomenon and the dichotomy mainline-exposition, in which the waw-consecutive is reflected; (ii) to do a discourse analysis of Ruth and to help understand how the structure of Ruth in the light of the dichotomy mainline-exposition gives evidence for the thematic use ofi91J; and (iii) to draw a message in terms ofi91J from the study carried out in the paper and examine how this message is translatable into the life of the African Church today. The approach adopted for the paper was chiefly syntactic, with a relative use of semantic and pragmatic elements to substantiate the study, whenever this was helpful. The method used consisted of an interaction of the writer with written materials, notably books and articles from journals. Alongside the syntax of Ruth, the necessary exegesis was carried out, with special focus on the concept of io.IJ as implied in the context of Ruth. The present work was basically a literary research. The necessary data was thus collected in libraries. The only libraries that I was able to access were those in Nairobi. The study has revealed that writers are not always agreed on the terming and the usage of waw-consecutive. Nevertheless, it is clear the waw-consecutive phenomenon is important for Biblical Hebrew scholarship, inasmuch as it initiates wayyiqtol verbal forms and as such, makes it possible to establish the dichotomy "mainline-exposition." This dichotomy has helped us to unfold the plot development in Ruth and to better capture a fourfold message in this narrative. The message is as follows: the narrative helps understand (i) how Ruth's faithfulness could not be quenched by the tragic events she and her mother-in-law had to face in Moab, (ii) how God works i9IJ through human agents, (iii) how the concept of i9IJ in Ruth illustrates selfless compassion for the poor in general and widows in particular, and (iv) how the same iQIJ extended to Ruth the Moabitess by members of the Israelite family is a symbol and a foreshadow of the inclusion of the Gentiles into the family of God. The application of the study is twofold. Firstly, the study shows that a correct understanding of the waw-consecutive phenomenon is important for an accurate analysis of an OT past-time narrative, especially with respect to the usage of the dichotomy "mainline-exposition" in unfolding the narrative plot and a key theme/concept in the analysed narrative. Secondly, the concept of i9IJ needs to be at home in the African Church today, as it was in the case of Ruth. This is especially true in matters pertaining to faithfulness of people to each other, which in turn will display God's faithfulness to and through fellowman, together with compassion toward the poor and the powerless, as well as a Christian testimony to those in and out of the Church.Item The Encounter between Modernity and the Ja'aliyin Muslim Families of Khartoum :Implications for Christiantiy Witness(2014-05-26) Mweu, Peter BernardFamily is regarded as a cornerstone of a healthy and balanced Muslim society. This study explored the encounter between modernity and Ja'aliyin Muslim families in Khartoum - Sudan. Participant observation was used to collect data. The study was motivated by Voll's thesis: The growing significance of the modern and contemporary Islamic world to the global community requires that we understand the broad continuities, commonalities, new elements and local particulars of Muslim experience. Voll's findings informed the three-pronged approach: 1) impact of non- Muslim factors, 2) particularity oflocal factors, and 3) Islamic root faith. These elements, interacting with each other, form what it means to be a "Muslim" today. The investigation utilized Voll's Islamic models of how change is experienced: 1) Conservatism, 2) Adaptationism, 3) Fundamentalist and 4) Individualism. This study revealed the following: Firstly, Ja'aliyin Muslims believe that family is the basic institution in society, and harmonious gender relations are a prerequisite in the establishment of peaceful societies. They contend that family in the West lacks foundation, is weak and may not be followed as an example. For them, family preserves religious tradition and contributes to the development of religious law. Together with Christians and humanists, they affirm that family is essential to the welfare of society. Secondly, Ja'aliyin Muslims believe that rules ofIslamic family life regarding inheritance, the rights of orphans, the mixing of the sexes, and the extended family network are calculated to foster the integrity of the family in every way. Third, they believe that the Islamic way of family life is largely misunderstood, arguing that some values of the Islamic family code are close to Christian values. They assert that the Hijab, attitudes to polygamy and divorce can be understood as alternative ways of reaching a secure interdependence and a caring community of love. Fourth, they believe an objective of marriage is psychological, emotional and spiritual companionship between husband and wife. But, Islamic law has specified irretrievable marital breakdown as ground for divorce wherever attempts at reconciliation fail. Polygamy is defended by pointing to "concealed polygamy" in Western society. Fifth, they claim a stronger position in the world today because they possess stable systems of domestic relationships such as the West is trying to do without. Sixth, The Ja'aliyin, mostly Sunni Muslims, rely on the example of Prophet Muhammad for their faith and family practices. From observation, most contemporary Ja'aliyin families in Khartoum are largely adaptationist in tone. They are willing to integrate Islamic values and ideals with Western technology. Modern ideas are ,., borrowed and integrated to Islamic faith to form expressions that are contemporary in flavor, Ja'aliyin in culture, and Islamic in their root faith. Traces of fundamentalism (not exactly Voll's categorization) and individualism are evidenced among them. The findings of this inquiry raised several implications for Christian mission among Muslim Ja'aliyin families based in Khartoum. Appropriate recommendations and suggestions for further study have been stated in the concluding chapter of this research.