| dc.description.abstract | This study is an investigation into the history, beliefs and
practices of the Jerusalem Church of Christ. The study describes
the historical background and development of the Church including
membership composition. Secondly, the study attempts to identify
the rituals and their significance. Thirdly, this study analyses the
leadership aspect of the Church. Finally, the use of the Bible and
the phenomenon of faith healing are also studied.
The Jerusalem Church of Christ was founded by a young
Kenyan woman known as Mary Akatsa. The church's headquarters
is situated at Kawangware estate in Nairobi and it has opened three
branches in the Western province of Kenya. Prophecy and healing
are the major attractions to this Church which appeal to people from
different social and cultural backgrounds.
The Jerusalem Church of Christ provides for the existential
needs of its members who are disoriented by the confusing trends
of a Society undergoing rapid changes. Women members are the
majority. They have been given leadership roles and thus have
been accorded status, dignity and respect.
There are indigenous elements in the worship of this church
such as dancing, clapping and ululations. The church has
accommodated certain traditional beliefs and practices to make its
Kenyan Africans who are the majority 'feel at home'. On the other hand some traditional practiceshave been rejected becausethey contradict the dominant concerns of this church: thus prophecy and
faith healing.
Kenya's national language, Kiswahili, is the worship language,
but there is much use of "sherig ", euphemistic and metaphorical
expressions as well at the headquarters; hence services are relevant
to the urban environment. Hymns are sung to the African tunes and
melodies while the sacredness of the Bible is emphasized. Besides
reading and interpretation, the Bible is also used as some kind of a
fetish to heal, bless or even curse. Faith healing and revelations
have a definite bearing on the leadership aspect of this church.
They show that it is only the foundress who can lead this church
because she has these charismatic gifts.
God and Jesus are viewed as persons while the Holy Spirit is
seen as some kind of a divine force or power. God is
pneumatologically viewed as present in power through the Holy
Spirit who reveals His will, guides amidst dangers and fills the
prophetess with the powers of revelation, prayer and healing.
This study concludes that Akatsa's charismatic powers well
compensates her lack of education her youth and her being a woman.
Secondly, there is room for growth in this church. Thirdly this
church is a christian denomination of a prophet - healing type and
not a sect or a cult. Fourthly, this Church has made a substantial
theological contribution to christianity in Africa and even beyond by
presenting a theology relevant to the people in their own needs,
situations and aspirations. finally, it is the local level that should
determine the pastoral approach and methods in the Church.
For the improvement of this church this study makes some
suggestions. The foundress should create room for her successor
to avoid possible conflicts and schisms after her demise. Members
of this Church should be allowed to speak in tongues. The Bishop
should assist the foundress in her healing and prophetic services.
The national and even international bodies of the Universal
Church should assist this and other similar churches in training
their ministers and should also open dialogue with them as part of
their ecumenical programme. This church should open branches in
other parts of the country. The Church Universal should integrate
the Gospel into people's cultures and should also encourage women
leadership in its rank and file. Both governmental and nongovernmental
bodies should assist this church in training counsellors
and self reliant instructors since it caters for both existential and
spiritual needs of its member. Finally,there is need for further research into this church.
This- study did not for instance exhaust the theological aspects.
Certain concepts which inspire the teachings in the JCC such as sin,
prophecy, salvation, discipleship and the concept of the 'Church'
should be studied as a contribution towards a further assessment of
this church and other prophet-healing movements. | |
