Understanding the challenge of the care of orphans in the Free Methodist Church of Kenya

Abstract

The problem of orphans in Kenya is blooming significantly. The challenge of how to care for them is increasingly critical to achieving a healthy society. Understanding the role of church leaders in the challenging care for orphans is necessary. To be able to understand how best the church functions in addressing the orphan problem, the principal objective of this study was to understand why church leaders of the FMCK have not been able to offer significant help in caring for orphans in the church. Using a descriptive approach, this study employed a closed-ended questionnaire as an instrument of data collection. Fifty church leaders were sampled. They included local congregation and denominational leaders of the Free Methodist Church of Kenya. Results of the study revealed that leaders perceived themselves to have a magnificent task of using their position of influence to offer care ministries to orphans in the church. Financial constraints and ignorance on the care of orphans were ruled out as excuses for not establishing a ministry to orphans. These leaders also indicated that the church has a social obligation to care for orphans. As a result the following recommendations emerged: 1) leaders should use their leadership positions to build a ministry for orphans. 2) Leaders should prioritize an orphan care ministry alongside other church ministries so as to raise up a healthy generation. Last but not least, church leaders are to be in the frontline to offer leadership guidance in the fight against HIV/AIDS which was noted as the highest cause in increase of orphans.