How do you reach communities with very low literacy? It’s a difficult practical and missiological question. Some have suggested that the Waata (also called Sanye) of the Kenyan coast (Tana River and Kilifi Counties) have such low literacy (estimated at less than 5%) that printed Bibles and materials may not be helpful and that oral … Continue reading
From Lydia Maingi’s editorial: What comes to mind for most people when they hear the words ‘youth ministry’ is lights, top quality sound system, activities and food… With so many things battling for the attention of young minds today many youth leaders have responded by offering alternative ‘clean’ entertainment. But the problem with the entertainment solution … Continue reading
In the current issue of Conversation, Dr Gary describes one of the ways that the doctrine of the Trinity is so important: The world was created by the tripersonal God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are not created in the image of a unipersonal god. Creation—including human beings—is not the result of an individual … Continue reading
Titus Magua asks why an honouring of singleness is often seen as a relic of a bygone age and traces it back to three deeper issues. Many would agree with me that there is a problem with many young people today. The passion for God and zeal for Christian service that were a characteristic of Christian youths … Continue reading
A 2014 University of Nairobi study by the Department of Sociology found that only 9.2 per cent of urban families ever have a family meal together in a week — fathers are the worse culprits for missing the family dinner, followed by their teenage children. Women, though fairing better, were found to often miss out … Continue reading
Our 6th issue of Conversation (Volume 2 Issue 1) engages the recent debate in Kenya regarding the Religious Societies regulation. The issue that was claimed to have made the increased regulation necessary – “rogue preachers” – is a tricky one as it often connects with a whole theological-cultural-aspirational system. As a wise older pastor commented, even … Continue reading
Still somewhat in the Christmas season, Ian Paul questions whether the Bethlehem stable really is in the Bible after all… Jesus wasn’t born in a stable, and, curiously, the New Testament hardly even hints that this might have been the case. So where has the idea come from? I would track the source to three … Continue reading
Steve Rasmussen is Senior Lecturer in Intercultural Studies at NEGST-AIU. He writes in Conversation Magazine of his very personal interest in the intersection of suffering, witchcraft and Christian mission: Before I moved with my family to Northwestern Tanzania 20 years ago, we were quite healthy. I had written research papers on demons and powers in the Bible, but I … Continue reading
In Issue 5 of CM Scott Postma shares 10 worrying signs of decay in some areas of contemporary church leadership. I’m concerned about the pastor who is better at managing church programs than he is at making disciples of Jesus. Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger addressed this topic somewhat in the book Simple Church, but I’m not … Continue reading
3 years ago ACTS published a slim but very important volume called Gaining the World, Losing the Soul: How the Prosperity Gospel Distorts the Good News. It contained chapters from brothers Michael Maura and Ken Mbugua together with some material from John Piper. We reviewed it on this blog and it is available from the ACTS … Continue reading
Conversation Magazine 