An Investigation Into The Strategies of Evangelism Among Three Evangelistic Ministries In Garissa

Abstract

In this study, an attempt is made to find out from the Ministries that are operating in Garissa the different methods of evangelism that are adopted for the evangelization of Garissa indigenes, and the level of Suitability of these methods. This wi11 aid the cross-cultural communicators in Garissa to identify ways of improving their methods so as to contextualize the gospel of Christ.

The population of study involves 16 missionaries! Christian workers of the "The Sheepfold Ministries I II "Lay Involvement for Evangelism Ministry" and "Food for the Hungry International" that are resident in Garissa, but responses were received from 14 people. The instrument used for study include a structured interview questions and a questionnaire which was validated and pi lot-tested. Part I is a 27-point closed-ended questionnaire designed to 'e1ucidate the various methods 0f evangelism; Part II consists of 27 statements designed to find out the level of suitability 1ity of these methods I based on the "likert scale of measurement."

The data was collected in January 1993; collated using ‘hand data cards'; and transferred to a summary-sheet. It was analysed by the use of frequency distribution table to determine the modal and the median ratings of each of the methods. The study reveals that the three Ministries are utilizing methods such as - Incarnation model, health evangelism, family evangelism, felt-needs approach, development\farm projects, bible story-telling method, person-to-person evangelism, prayer, film evangelism and several others as enumerated in the study, but the level of suitability of these methods differ. Some of them are found to be unsuitable in an Islamic context. There are some suitable methods and a few others as recommended by the researcher for the evangelization of Garissa.