Mission is not so much something we say but something we do. In Mathew 7:16, we are told,”by their fruits you will recognize them”. The fundamental characteristics of the mission and life of Christians is seen in James 2:14-25, which entreats us to be doers of the word .Faith without good deeds in useless. Mission therefore, is the way in which the church is sent out into the world to fulfill the great commission (Mathew 28:18-20).
Evangelism means to bring or to announce the good news .This entails dealing with very concrete needs of the people, hence evangelism is a process of concientization. It’s the liberation which lifts a person from a state of being inhuman to a state of being fully human, that is, holistic gospel according to John 10:10.Thus, evangelism is regarded as synonymous with the word mission but literary meaning preaching the gospel “and how shall they hear without a preacher? Yes, there must be a “preacher” The Missionary -and how shall thy preach except they are sent?”
Mission and Evangelism is the work of the whole church. It becomes vibrant when it is made a normal activity for all the church people all the time. On the contrary, it dims when it is considered as a special activity for special people at a special time. Mission and evangelism must be a regular part of the church program. No follower of our savior can dismiss mission work as someone else’s duty. In this regard there are no closed seasons for fishers of men.
Mission and Evangelism is the work of the whole church. It becomes vibrant when it is made a normal activity for all the church people all the time. On the contrary, it dims when it is considered as a special activity for special people at a special time. Mission and evangelism must be a regular part of the church program. No follower of our savior can dismiss mission work as someone else’s duty. In this regard there are no closed seasons for fishers of men.
In this regard, Kirinyaga Diocese mission has always been a priority but operating under the Youth Department. In January 2016, mission became a department by itself whereby the Diocesan Bishop RT.REV JOSEPH KIBUCWA appointed full time Co-ordinator to run the department. In actual fact, the fundamental calling of the church is to evangelize and everything else is secondary.
VISION
- A committed church which boldly proclaims the Gospel of Christ at Local churches, parish level, diocese and beyond.
MISSION
- To lead people throughout the diocese into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and to strengthen the local church, parish, diocese and beyond.
GOAL
- Transforming the world so that the structure of injustices and oppression will be gotten rid of .This way, justice and righteous is established in the society. Luke 4:18-19
PURPOSE
- To progressively reach the unreached with the Gospel of Christ hence perfecting human race and the Kingdom of God.
- To enhance the understanding of biblical teaching of Christianity maturity.
CORE VALUES
- Training and sending of missioners in and outside the diocese
- We endeavor to make mission and evangelism more fruitful by making use of the available gifts
- Enhance moral and spiritual uprightness
- Encourage team work and hard work
MISSION BRANCHES
- Mission and Evangelism oversight committee.
- Diocesan Evangelistic Team (DET ):this was started by Dr.JosiahMurage on 5th March 2011 and commissioned by the retired Bishop Daniel M.Ngoru on 27th August 2011.
- Diocesan Intercessory Ministry: started and officially launched by Bishop Joseph Kibucwa on 5th December 2014. Intercessors meet once in a month ie every first Friday of the month.
- Layreaders:Voluntary licensed lay people to work together with parish priests especially in preaching ,assisting in Holy Communion and burial services etc
- Gospel Seraph Singers: started by the Bishop Joseph Kibucwa and launched on 6th August 2016.The branch plans to put up their Music Studio.
They also have income generating projects.
- Evangelists: These are employed by the church to teach catechism and do any other duty given by the parish priest.
- South Ngariama-Diocesan Mission Area (DMA)
- In 2019 Boda and Sports was also included in mission department.
2024 UPCOMING EVENTS
- Lay readers Conference in August: exact date and venue to be communicated.
- DET Mission at Kiranja Parish from 12-18 August 2024.
- Diocesan Prayer Kesha on 23rd August 2024.
- Evangelists tour to Mombasa from 16-20 September.
- Diocesan Mission week from 25th November – 1st December 2024.
- Diocesan Prayer Kesha on 13th December 2024.
- Diocesan Intercessors Conference from 16-20 December at Mumbu.
- Brethren Conference from 11-14 December at Kianyaga.
- DET Kesha on 13th September 2024 at Kithiriti.
- DET fundraising on 9th November 2024 at Kutus.
- Diocesan Intercessory Prayers ongoing every first Friday of the month at St. Paul’s Kutus.
- Ongoing Pillar TV Intercessory program.
- DIP (Diocese in Prayer) launched on 3rd January 2020, continuing effectively.
2024 Vision
We aim to purchase a mission truck to enhance our outreach capabilities. Currently, we hire buses for missions outside the Diocese, but we trust that God will provide for this need.
FUNCTIONS OF THE MISSION AND EVANGELISM DEPARTMENT
- Organizing Diocesan Evangelistic mission, rallies ,door to door evangelism, revival fellowships and ,mission conferences
- Holding prayer Keshas and conferences
- Organizing retreats and workshops for various committees in the department
- Proclamation of the Good News through (DET) Diocesan Evangelist Team.
- Establish and strengthen intercessory groups at congregational level.
- Strengthen and extend the ministry in prisons
- Planning to extend mission and intercessory partnership
- Planning to extend mission / intercessory programs for Pillar TV
Generally, the department ensures that mission and evangelism work is carried out effectively through visits by the co-ordinator in Archdeaconries, Deaneries and Parishes.
Since our last Mission and Evangelism Celebration on 3rd June, 2023 we have done the following:-
- 8th July 2023:Retreat for Kandongu missioners at Miadi.
- 13th July 2023:Mission committee seminar at Thumaita Parish.
- 24th July 2023:Intercessors seminar at Mumbu Parish.
- 11th August 2023:Lay readers workshop at Kutus.
- 17th August 2023:Kutus Deanery Lay readers seminar at Kithiriti.
- 30th August 2023:Wang’uru Archdeaconry Lay readers’ workshop at Difathas.
- 25th August 2023:Diocesan prayer Kesha at ACK Kiamaciri, where two souls were won to Christ.
- 14th – 20th August 2023:DET mission at Togonye Parish, with 17 DET members participating and 47 souls won to Christ.
- Provincial Missions:
- 27th June – 1st July 2023:Kirinyaga Diocese participated in the Mbeere Mega mission, sending 98 missioners, the largest number.
- 23rd – 27th August 2023:Participation in the Nyahururu Mega Mission with 100 missioners, led by the Coordinator Rev. Canon Beth and Rev. Dorothy Munene. Kirinyaga had the highest number of missioners.
- 13th – 17th December 2023:Makueni Mega Mission, where Kirinyaga Diocese sent 46 missioners, the largest number.
- 13th September 2023:Mutira/Cathedral clergy training on mission facilitated by Rev. Canon Richard Mayabi.
- 27th October 2023:DIP coordinators retreat at Kutus facilitated by Rev. Richard Muriuki.
- 9th November 2023:Diocesan Intercessors committee retreat at Rurii parish.
- 15th November 2023:Kandongu Intercessors retreat at Holy Land Kenya.
- 21st November 2023:Estate leaders training at the cathedral for Cathedral and Mutira Archdeaconries in preparation for Kirinyaga central great mission.
- 25th November 2023:Prayer rally at Kiamaina parish concluding 30 days of prayer and fasting.
- 27th November – 3rd December:Kirinyaga central great mission, reaching 9,841 with the gospel, 797 conversions, and 17 new members admitted to ACK, 209 readmitted and 10 baptized.
- 15th December 2023:Lay readers workshop at St. Paul’s Kutus.
- 15th December 2023:Diocesan prayer Kesha at Mukinduri.
- 26th – 30th December 2023:Diocesan Intercessors conference at Archbishop Gitari Boarding Primary School.
- 15th – 17th March 2024:DET retreat at Thumaita Parish.
- 17th January 2024:Archdeaconry and deanery mission / DIP coordinators retreat at Holy Land Kenya.
- 17th January 2024:Parish mission chairpersons’ retreat at Safari ya Biblia.
- 22nd February 2024:Diocesan Intercessors committee retreat at Kithiriti parish.
- 15th March 2024:Evangelists retreat at Safari ya Biblia.
- Mission Workshops
- 21st March:Wanguru Archdeaconry Workshop at Kimbimbi with 54 missioners attending, visited 342 people, resulting in 17 souls won to Christ.
- 11th April 2024:Thiba Archdeaconry workshop at Rurii with 52 missioners, visited 412 people, leading to 19 conversions.
- 18th March 2024:Mutira Archdeaconry workshop at Mutira church with 36 missioners attending, visited 138 people, leading to 6 conversions.
- 25th March 2024:Kiandangae Archdeaconry workshop at Baricho with 54 missioners attending, visited 292 people, resulting in 3 conversions.
- 26th May 2024:Kabare Archdeaconry workshop at Kianjiru with 95 missionaries attending, visited 396 people, and 17 conversions.
- 22nd May 2024:Ngiriambu Archdeaconry mission workshop and door-to-door evangelism at Kithara Ichang’i parish with 58 missioners attending, visited 280 people, resulting to10 conversions.
- 24th May 2024:Cathedral Archdeaconry mission workshop and door-to-door evangelism at Kirimunge parish with 68 missioners, visited 247 people, resulting to 7 conversions
- 19th April 2024:Diocesan prayer Kesha at Rukenya Parish with 3 souls won to Christ.
- 17th – 19th May 2024:DET Secretariat retreat at Kanjinji.
Summary for Archdeaconry workshops
Through door-to-door evangelism, 2,107 people were reached with the gospel and 125 gave their lives to Christ. All workshops were facilitated by the Diocesan Coordinator.
South Ngariama Report:
1.Kadawa Sub-Parish Mission Report:
- Has four congregations: Kandawa, Gold, Njuguini, and Bethsaida, totaling about 60 congregants.
- Ministry activities ongoing peacefully, including church services and pastoral visits.
- Kandawa parish excelled in last year’s diocesan sports tournament.
- Kandawa church has nearly cleared its loan with ADOK.
- Bethsaida church paid off their one-acre land.
- Various construction and development projects completed.
- Njuguini Church fully paid for KPLC power connection.
- Other development works include: removal of iron sheets and replacing them with stones as walling for Kandawa and concreting the Church floor.
Challenges:
- Recent floods and winds have caused property damage and displacement.
- Impassable roads and lack of water.
2.ACK Ikurungu Sub-Parish:
- Comprises Miatuini, Kirathimo, Ngomano, and Ikurungu Churches.
- Various pastoral activities and services ongoing.
- Community support through Ikurungu Church borehole water and aid to the needy.
- Ongoing church construction and development projects as follows: concreting of church floor for Ikurungu, purchase of new church material worth 200,000 and completion drawings for construction of Miatuini Church.
