Community-based discipleship : a missional approach to urban African youth, the case of Nairobi, Kenya

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In response to the declining interest and participation of youth in urban churches in Africa,with a specific focus on churches in Nairobi, this study investigates a missiologically relatedproblem of ecclesial praxis that seems to ignore or fail to address the social needs of youth,particularly concerning the need to belong. The churches in Nairobi, as in other parts ofAfrica, have inherited ecclesial praxis that was shaped in the dualistic cultural context of theWestern Enlightenment and the clerical paradigm of Christendom. This dualistic view ofreality has dichotomised the understanding of the gospel by compartmentalising it into aspiritual sphere while failing to address the social and cultural dimensions of human life.Consequently, the church hermeneutically understands its primary mission as saving soulsand meeting the spiritual needs of its members through the institution of clergy and laity.In order to address the problem, the study proposes the praxis of discipleship based on acommunity approach that correlates three integrated dimensions of mission (worship,fellowship, and intentional mission) with a community structure guided by specific urbancontext, cultural values and missional theology. This constitutes the thesis of this researchstudy and also provides a methodological framework for organising the study. In the firstchapter, discipleship is conceptualised in the comprehensive missional understanding of thechurch as missionary in its nature and calling, sent by Christ into the world for the redemptionof the world. In that sense, the proposed discipleship community must be understood asmissionary in nature.The second chapter focuses on understanding the urban context. It examines some of theurban features of Nairobi that could be typical of other African cities, like rapid urban growth,high proportion of youth in the population, housing problems, unemployment, increasingpoverty, family disintegration, crime, violence and disease. In that context, the study assessedthe church's youth ministry by gathering primary empirical data through observation andpersonal interviews with youth pastors and leaders. The findings confirmed that most youthministries are based on the clerical paradigm and are driven by programmes. Participation byyouth has been found to be low in most churches. Many churches do not seem to address theirreal needs. Often the youth ministry is seen as a marginal ministry in the church.In response to understanding the community from an African cultural perspective, the studyinvestigated the traditional African community on the basis of literature and by using theancestral anamnesis (remembrance of ancestors) as the interpretative framework for analysis. In traditional African society, the community is understood as the heart of the culture, thestage where the whole of life is dramatised. Even those who live in modern urban contextscarry with them African community values which have their origin in the traditional Africancommunity. Some of the African community values were measured among the urban youththrough a survey questionnaire; most of the young people regarded these as important in theirlives (Chapter Five). Empirical findings have shown the validity of considering culturalfactors in constructing any kind of model for community-based discipleship.The importance of community was also validated theologically and missiologically bydemonstrating the normative praxis of discipleship through community structure in the life ofthe early church. Theologically, the early church understood itself as the community ofChrist on the basis of the concept of koinonia, a fellowship based on common faith in Christ.Missiologically, the church perceived itself from its inception as a missionary community sentinto the world to witness to the gospel. The research demonstrated that community was themeans through which the normative praxis of discipleship formation was carried out in theearly church. There was no sense of dichotomy between the spiritual and social dimensionsof the gospel as it is normally understood in today's church.The importance of community as a means for the formation of identity and character wasdemonstrated through this having been the cultural norm in traditional African society and thetheological norm in the life and praxis of the early church. Through the empirical research,the study also confirmed the positive perception of community values among the urban youth.Based on the evidence that was gathered, the study confronts the church in Nairobi andelsewhere to examine its present praxis critically and consider approaching its youth ministryfrom a community perspective in response to the present missiological problem in youthministry.In order to construct youth ministry on community foundation, the study suggests a modelcalled the covenant model. It takes the form of a small group existing as a part of the localchurch but coming together specifically as a community guided by a discipleship covenantthat integrates three missional dimensions. The group seeks to adapt in its specific urbancontext and integrate cultural values that complement the gospel. The covenant modelassumes that the urban context is complex and diverse. It allows each group to develop itsown shape and features, informed by its context, culture and tradition. It calls for diversity incultural and contextual expression while maintaining unity as God's people in Christ. Theearly church exemplified it in being one, holy, catholic and apostolic.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University