UNDERSTANDING PASTORAL MINISTRY IN A COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE IN THE EVANGELIZATION OF MERU CATHOLIC DIOCESE, KENYA
Abstract
The Church in the world is expected to lead her children and the whole society to Good Christian living. She as to bear witness to others through her teaching and apostolic zeal. The Church has to use effective methods to reaching out to people and converting them to Christ. The model of Church as people of God has a theological connotation that will influence the people to respect God and themselves. Ministry is just what official designated ministers do but rather a function of the faith community. Ministry in the fullest sense means meeting the pastoral needs of the members of the community. Therefore, it would seem that one of the most important ministries of officially designated ministers is to facilitate the doing of ministry in the congregations. The paper capture the Challenges affecting the pastoral ministry in Meru Diocese .Pastoral planning as a factor that affect the effort of evangelization in the SCC. Practices of evangelization that affect African People/Family. We have admitted the existence of compliancy in observation of the commandment of God and Christian tenants in the local diocese of Meru. Challenge of Evangelization as regards the goal of Christian communities. We know that the option of the SCCs was inspired by a certain number of challenges. These challenges are problems that were affecting the growth of the Church and evangelization. The community therefore is where mutual relationship and love is expressed amongst members. The new community of Christ is expected to show love and charity towards the brothers and sisters by proclaiming the goodnews to all nations.
Keywords: Pastoral Ministry, Evangelization, Small Christian Communities, Church as Family of God, Meru Catholic Diocese, Christian Community
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