Church in Mabaan

 The last few weeks have given me much more of a insight into Mabaan church. Or rather it has shown me how little we understand about the church here. While SIM and other mission organisations have been in and out of Mabaan county since the 1930s, it seems we still don’t have a great grasp on how to disciple people and support the church.

We know how to impose our traditions and structures no problem. For example each church has a pastor, evangelist, and elders. However I have never seen one of the ‘evangelists’ tell anyone about Jesus. The churches are full of little traditions that are identical to church back home in the UK.  It is amazing that in only 2 generations, the church has become so religious, but yet lacking so much depth.

Even church leaders here have very little understanding of concepts like prayer, the Holy Spirit, or grace to name a few. Things that we take for granted in outr churches at home. I realised one Sunday when I was preaching, “I have no idea if anyone is understanding anything I am saying right now”.

Like many parts of Africa, Mabaan county has been evangelized frequently, but no one has taken the time and effort to disciple the church leaders, let alone the rest of the churches. How can the churches be expected to be changing their communities when they don’t even understand why they have hope and good news in the first place!

Thankfully there is hope. There are some young men and women who are hungry to learn more about Jesus and how to live for Him. And there are some folk from SIM twho understand that in order to change the communities here, people are going to have to invest time and energy to learn Mabaan, to invest their lives in the men, women and children of this place, and to pray that the Holy Spirit’s transforming power will continue to work in people’s lives.

Thankfully God hasn’t given up on His church anywhere just yet!

P

Above: Brick building or under a tree. Doesn't matter as long as Jesus is there!